Anime Expo Cosplay
AX 2006
OMG!
I discovered a photo of myself (along with many other cool cosplayers from Anime Expo 2006) in the Japanese cosplay magazine "Cosmode" in the Character Style Overseas section!
It's quite a thrill for me, but of course, it would have to be the tiniest photo in the entire magazine...oh well!
My kanji translation is not the greatest, but the text under the photo basically says:
Shaka
Saint Seiya (then "something Seiya"...not too sure about that part)
Flawless Gold Saint Cloth reproduction.
(If anyone can translate this more accurately, please let me know!)
Shaka at Anime Expo 2006
Just a few of my favorite cosplay moments (yes, that's really me in all the gold armor, and yes, I really made the entire costume!) I was definitely the only Saint Seiya cosplayer at AX06. Most people recognized the character, or at least knew the anime series from which it came. (One guy thought I was Sagittarius, while another thought I was Shura! Right anime, wrong Saint!) There were a handful of folks who said "You look so familiar! I should know the anime...what is it?" The strangest guess, however, came from the person who thought I was Galaxia from Sailor Moon! I guess some people thought my character was female. I actually received an amusing marriage proposal from a (probably drunk) young man! It was rather sweet. He seemed to just pop out of nowhere while I was walking through the convention center, held my hand, got down on one knee and said "Daisuki desu...will you marry me?" I laughed and responded "Well, the character I'm cosplaying is male, but I guess we could work something out!" I then explained to the guy and his friend the meaning of "crossplay" amd we all enjoyed a good chuckle! Hmmm...I'm glad I wasn't cosplaying Pisces Aphrodite!
Photos courtesy of my awesome boyfriend who really doesn't like anime. He accompanies me to Anime Expo every year! What a good sport! He also helped me immensely when I was donning my Shaka costume. After putting on some of the larger pieces, it became very difficult for me to move, so I don't know what I would have done without him!
The majority of the images shown here were taken on July 2. (The few night shots posted below are from July 1.)
In the cosplay gathering areas inside and outside the convention halls. Oh no! Shaka's eyes are open! Run away! Run away!
Gold Saint Virgo Shaka being menaced by a couple of Hammerheads!
Shaka making friends with Kamen Raidaa (one of my favorite tokusatsu heroes of all time!)
I love this photo! A rather excited Japanese fellow pretended to be Ikki in a reenactment of the famous anime battle between Shaka and the Phoenix Saint! (Wish the image quality was better and unobstructed by the pony-tailed blonde...oh well!)
Shaka with some other cool cosplayers...
I guess my costume looked okay. Hundreds of people asked for my photo, including AX staff photographers.
Musn't forget the back! The first photo (on left) was shot in our hotel room at the con. It took me over an hour to get completely dressed (including false eyelashes, forehead bindi, makeup, wig and all costume parts). I really like the way the cape turned out!
These images were the inpiration for my armor design. If you look closely, you'll see elements from all three versions (Myth Cloth figure, original manga and original anime) in my costume.
AX 2005
Me again...this time as Maetel from Galaxy Express 999
Inspiration for Maetel costume:
