Cosplay Experience With Amanda

Posted by Cricket in Anime, Conventions, Cosplay on 07 28th, 2010 | one response

Cosplayers: they’re fun, creative and hardcore! And they deserved to be featured so we can learn about the creative process on their costumes and the fun times they have at conventions. Today, we have Amanda, who dressed up as Princess Zelda at this year’s Anime Expo. She has been cosplaying for a year but her costume suggests she has been doing it longer. Let’s get to her cosplaying experience:

NERDSociety(NS) : What attracts you to cosplaying?
Amanda: The thing that attracts me to cosplay is the fact I can be one of my favorite different characters each day at the conventions and that makes me happy! On top of that, as a cosplayer, you know you’re dressing up as someone else’s favorite character too, which makes them happy!

NS: When was the first time you cosplayed?
Amanda: Last year at AX 2009, I was convinced to cosplay as Anise Tatlin from Tales of the Abyss and that was my first planned cosplay. Ever since then I’ve been hooked!

NS: What’s your favorite moment?
Amanda: When you stopped me and asked for an interview, of course! Haha, that and when I entered my Zelda cosplay for the Cosplay.com costume contest, I was chosen as a finalist! I didn’t win anything though but it was an awesome experience especially since it was my first costume!

NS: So I take it you made the costume yourself?

Amanda: Last year I bought my costumes, but for this year’s Anime Expo I wanted to make them. I had just finished watching Death Note and I loved Misa’s character, so I started with that! After I finished that costume, I decided to be a little ambitious and make Princess Zelda. It took forever but it was totally worth it! I even got my boyfriend into it and made him a Link costume

NS: And your boyfriend’s reaction?
Amanada: Oh boy.. He against it at first actually. I had to do a lot of convincing haha. But eventually I got him to change his mind a bit, and you know what, I think he might actually like it now! He was really happy with the Link costume I made him. So I think that made it an easier transition into the cosplaying world

Link and Zelda in the forest Cosplay Experience With Amanda

The reluctant Link!

NS: Back to the Zelda costume, how long did it take to make?
Amanda: My Zelda costume took FOREVER! I started the project in February and was tinkering with it up until the night before I wore it! It was the first thing I’ve ever sewn, costume or otherwise. So it was a very ambitious costume choice to say the least. I hear its one of the most difficult costumes to actually make. I’m very happy with how it turned out though (laughing).

NS: What’s the weirdest experience you had wearing a costume?
Amanda: Haha! Oh lord…. too many to choose from… but I guess I’d have to go with the time when I was walking to get food before going to the AX convention center this year. I was in my Misa costume and I was getting cat calls and whistles from homeless men and guys driving by. It was super awkward but pretty funny.

Amanda as Misa from Deathnote

NS: What’s one tip you can give to fellow cosplayers?
Amanda: I have to say be fearless!! Go into it thinking positively and have fun. Otherwise, what’s the point right! Its all about having a good time and feeling great. Here’s another tip, for those just starting out making their own costumes. Please don’t give up! It will get hard every now and again… maybe something doesn’t go right, but its ok! Be calm and know there is always a way to overcome all cosplay obstacles.

NS: Besides cosplaying, what else are you into?
Amanda: I’m an artist by trade and I love drawing, painting, and anything artsy… but probably above all else, I LOVE playing video games!! I love RPG’s, FPS’s, Action adventure games…. well, I guess everything!

End Of Interview

I want to thank Amanda for the awesome interview! Her Princess Zelda costume really blew me away and I’m glad she had a great time at Anime Expo. We’ll see you at future conventions Amanda!

Are you a cosplayer? Please drop us a line at cosplay@nerdsociety.com and let us know about your cosplaying experience and we’ll feature it on the site!