A-Kon 16
by Chris Worthington
A couple of months back Space-Gun made its first official con trip to A-Kon 16. While there I had the fortune to get an interview with Ayanami Lisa, a local fixture in cosplay. Lisa holds the unique honor of being the first, and thus far only, interview with Space-Gun. At a vacant table in the back of the Artist's Alley, I sat down with Lisa to get some of her insights and impressions dealing with cosplay at conventions.
Throughout the course of the interview several people stopped by to get pictures and it was interesting to see the conflict on the faces of the photographic hopefuls. On one hand they were clearly aware that they were interrupting something, but on the other hand I could see the fear in the con-goer's eyes. It was as though they were 35mm hunters stalking brightly garbed prey, and if they allowed this rare opportunity to pass by there could be no certainty that they would ever get another shot. It was also interesting to see Lisa's response to the situation. Being the nice person that she is, she obviously wanted to give the con chroniclers their chance to get a photo, while at the same time give me the chance to complete the interview. Of course everything worked out fine, as it was no trouble stopping the interview for a few moments so that photos could be taken.
In the end, I had a great time taking with Lisa, and learned a little about cosplay, from the cosplayer's point-of-view. What follows is a transcript of the interview that Space-Gun's own Luan was nice enough to pick out of the recording I took at the time. Below you will find information for the aspiring cosplayer as well as the con-goer.
Space-Gun: Well, they've left me with a massive list of questions to ask you.
Ayanami Lisa: Oh, that's fine.
SG: So, I guess I'll just run down the list and we'll see where it takes us: Name, rank, serial number, commanding officer.
AL: Oh, that's a lot to answer. Well, my name is Lisa, but I go by Ayanami Lisa. Ayanami was my favorite character in Evangelian, Rei Ayanami, but the Japanese would say Ayanami Rei, like that.
SG: Ah, okay, cool. Well, we got the basics first. So, how long have you been doing this?
AL: Well, I've actually been cosplaying for about seven years, but I've only been making my costumes for about one. Before that, I bought them.
SG: Would you say that is more rewarding, to actually sit down and make it yourself?
AL: Actually it's a lot more rewarding, I think anyone can really appreciate cosplaying more when they make it themselves. Actually, I think they turn out better when you make it yourself, 'cause you're able to put it on your own body, instead of somebody wearing it and giving it to you. I've had problems when they didn't fit right.
SG: Well, I looked at your site and noticed you've got some other exceptional contacts, where you pick these up at?
AL: I get them [from] 9mmsfx.com, they're a theatrical contact production group. They make contacts for movies, like 28 Days Later and a lot of music videos.
SG: So there are film quality contacts?
AL: Yeah, they'll last up to 4 years if you take care of them.
SG: Oh wow. So are these the full eye kind or just the normal?
AL: These are normal size. I don't have any full eyes yet.
SG: What really got you to start doing this?
AL: The short answer would be from watching anime; I guess another answer would be that, you know everybody likes to dress up, everyone likes Halloween but cosplayers are always taking it to a level of art. I really [like] to construct them as well as wear them. That's [what] really what got me into it.
SG: Why do you still do it?
AL: Why do I still do this, after all this time...I guess it's because I still enjoy it. The day I stop enjoying it is the day I stop doing it.
SG: Which conventions do you try to hit every year?
AL: The conventions that I have to hit every year are A-Kon and AnimeFEST, and on top of that is Anime Expo in California.
SG: Is that a big one?
AL: Yeah, it's huge, and really fun. Totally worth it.
SG: Why those in particular? Well, Expo is obvious 'cause it's huge.
AL: A-Kon and AnimeFEST are closer to home. I really don't go to any out-of-state cons besides the one in California. If I had more money I would, but you know, it's expensive. So I guess a short answer would be expenses for a lot of them.
SG: Would you say that there is a regional difference between the cosplayers here and at AX?
AL: Well, in the sense that cosplay is kind of like a community, I guess the people you're closest to there's kind of like a little of that going on, but cosplayers in general I say are pretty much the same.
SG: You seem to do a lot more solo stuff than group stuff, do you prefer that?
AL: Well, I like the solo stuff more than the group stuff 'cause it's hard to keep up with five other people at the same time. And I guess it's because I like doing stuff on my own to begin with, and you can get kind of lost in a group, if they don't like you.
SG: What's you're average cost of a costume that you make yourself?
AL: It's really hard to give a cost 'cause I do it in small increments. The short answer around two hundred. It sounds like a lot but when you do it a little bit here and a little bit there, it's really not that bad.
SG: What would you say the easiest costume you ever made was?
AL: Maybe Sasuke, that wasn't hard at all. I mean, I can get into it.
SG: Is that something that happens a lot, that it's sort of trouble to get into?
AL: It's crazy because that costume is so simple, but it's a lot harder to get into 'cause you got all those white wrappings. Stuff like that. I try to make my costumes flexible because they're not clothes 'cause you're building them.
SG: What would you say the hardest one you ever built was?
AL: The hardest one I ever made...everyone thinks it's the warrior Rikku one I made but it's actually a J-Rock one that I made: Yurasama from a Japanese band called Psycho Le Ceme. It looks easier 'cause it's all red but I had to work a lot with vinyl and (fabric) and a lot of little details in geometrical patterns that was a lot harder.
SG: Do you have any last minute, night before the con, costume horror stories?
AL: I'm trying to think. I mean when I made Rei for AX, we made all the armor right before I left. It didn't match the rest of my outfit; I had to make the armor in like two days. It really sucked; it didn't turn out as well as I would like.
SG: What store would you consider a cosplayers' best friend?
AL: My best friend is witchwigs.com. They can look up any wig you want for a really reasonable price and really fast shipping, I really like that aspect of it.
SG: Would you say it's more important to you that when you decide who to cosplay it's a character you like or the design that you like?
AL: I think it's important to like the character, but it's also a good choice to pick characters you resemble. Like I'm never going to do Naga from Slayers or a really big tall guy. If I would cosplay, I would pick a little boy or somebody that I can look like. So I would say it's a little bit of both. I like to appreciate [the] character that I picked to cosplay rather than just some guy.
SG: Which costume are you most proud of?
AL: I'm going to say that Yurasama one even though it's not as popular. It was really hard and really tough, and it turned out really well. It you look at it closely, it was a lot of mask building.
SG: What do you do with these when you're done with them?
AL: I know some people sell them on ebay, but I don't think anyone wants to wear them after someone [has] been in them for three days. I usually just put them away in my closet. If I wear it again, yeah, if not then it's retired; I haven't thrown them away yet.
SG: What do you think the biggest difference between going to a con as a regular and a cosplayer would be?
AL: I think the biggest difference is it's a lot easier to meet and talk with people when you're wearing a costume because someone can say “Hey, Rikku”. You already have something to talk about, you already know you have something in common. I know it's the same with anime fans, but when I wear a costume, people seem to talk to me. That's one big difference. Another difference is...I dunno, when you wear a costume, you have something you go in, and you're proud that you made it, and that's part of the experience too. And obviously it's a lot of attention, and nobody doesn't like that. I think it's better in costume, I know I have more fun.
SG: Since you brought it up, with the attention, does that ever sort of go south?
AL: Yeah, it has. There's been a couple of times where people either write things about me or say things to me on the internet on how much they don't like me, but I've never actually met them in person. They're, you know, like “I hear you're a jerk” and blahblahblah. I've actually happened upon some things about me on forums written by people who don't know me. It's almost like I wish was famous to deserve that attention. [*editor's note* in the short time I spent talking with Lisa, I could find no reason for anyone to speak ill of her.]
SG: Which brings up, has there been any weird people sort of following you around, stuff like that?
AL: A couple of times. I'm always in a big group, with friends.
SG: Safety in numbers?
AL: Pretty much.
SG: What would you say are common misconception about cosplayers?
AL: I would say the biggest misconception is the thought that cosplayers truly think they're the character, and that they're totally into that character. I mean, like I said, a lot of the time, I like the character, but my choice in making it is based on character design. You're dressing up, but you don't have to act like the character to be that character. It's all about getting a look down I think, not really the whole thing really.
SG: How often do you run in these misconceptions in particular?
AL: Not a whole lot because people don't usually say that to your face. I got to a lot of [stares] being in costume. People lump it in with Star Wars and Star Trek fans. I think it's more comparable to Renaissance faires and things like that.
SG: Are there some stereotypes about cosplayers you actually think have some truth to them?
AL: One stereotype about cosplay that I don't like that is kind of true is some of the cosplayers really let [the] attention that they get at cons go to their heads a little bit. And once you step out of this arena, you're not as...recognized, whatever you want to call that. So I think some people let it go to their heads a little bit more. I think they should remember that it's just a hobby. It's just fun. I don't think it has to be a big competition.
SG: So you do feel that there is quite an air of competition on the floor?
AL: Yeah, there is. It's not so bad back here, I think most people are pretty supportive here. But once you get into actual cosplay competition, I think that the atmosphere changes a little bit.
SG: With the competition, what's the worst you ever experienced of that?
AL: The worst I've ever seen it is when people say negative things about other competitors, especially when they're really young. I mean, they're so little and they're trying so hard. This isn't a professional thing, so I think people should remember that it's not a real life or death thing.
SG: Do you feel the cosplay scene has changed much since you started?
AL: Oh yeah, I think between when I first started and now, the quality of the costumes has changed a lot. It's starting to rival Japan. When I starting looking at pictures from Japan, I used to go ‘Man, we're terrible', and now there are so many good costumes out there. Another thing is that there are more male cosplayers, and they're getting recognized, and I think that's great. And then there is the age: when I first started cosplay, I think I was like 18, and I think was the only 18 year old there.
SG: So you think that people involved are getting younger?
AL: Yeah, definitely.
SG: You go to these three anime conventions, do you go to any other kinds of conventions or just the anime ones?
AL: Well, I actually go to other anime conventions: Ushi-con and two new ones this year, Oni-con and KamiKazeCon. But outside of the realm of anime conventions, I've been to a couple of other ones. It's not the same; not because it's not anime, it's a different crowd.
SG: What's one odd/creepy/surreal experience you've had with cosplay?
AL: I'll first go with surreal or odd. It's so surreal when I cosplay Rikku and someone came up to me with a poster and asked me to sign it. I thought ‘Do I sign it as Rikku or what.' That's one thing. I've had a couple kids come up to me and go "This is Ayanami Lisa! Come meet my mom." I meet their mom and their family, and I was like "Hey guys!" that was kind of surreal I think. Again, a reason why some people let it go to their head a little bit is because it is kind of surreal, all this attention.
Editor's Note: At this point in the recording Luan swears he hears a horse. Now, I don't recall any horses being present at the time of the interview, but I have reviewed the tape, and there is a distinct "neigh" in the background.
SG: If you could tell other cosplayers one or two general rules that they should remember when cosplaying, what would they be?
AL: I think one good rule is: don't be afraid to ask questions. I mean, ask anyone who knows how to make anything. Ask for help. Secondly, I think a really good rule is to try your hardest. A really simple costume can be a lot better if you tried harder at it. And buy good material. Sometimes spending a couple extra dollars on material really makes a big difference.
SG: And to go on the other side of the coin, if you could tell con-goers a few rules when dealing with cosplayers, what would you suggest?
AL: Don't be afraid to ask for pictures, that's one thing. But sometimes cosplayers will refuses pictures, it could be that they're on their way to the bathroom or something like that, so give them a little leeway, they need a little break too.
SG: Well, I want to thank you for taking your time to do this, 'cause you didn't have to. Is there anything you would like to add here?
AL: I guess just to have fun, there's nothing wrong with that.
