Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi, my name is Cyrus. I'm currently a university student at the University of Toronto and, as is with most cosplayers, I'm a bit of a nerd. I love movies, video games, anime/manga, books - pretty much anything that can immerse you in another world. I actually just started cosplaying, with my Destiny Hunter costume as my first ever. Being a cosplayer is fun, it's especially rewarding when people tell you they love your costume, or want to take a photo of you, after you put in hours and hours of hard work to make it. Although, I have to admit it can make you a bit nervous walking down busy streets and taking public transit dressed in a costume with so many people going about their regular daily business, but hey, you get to wear a bad-ass costume so it evens out, right?

What are your next goals?

I'm not 100% satisfied with everything about my costume, so I'll likely go back and re-work some of the pieces. Maybe in a year or two I'll tackle a new costume.

Cosplay Characters

My Destiny Hunter cosplay happens to be my first ever cosplay!

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Cosplay, to me, is a way to express your love for various worlds and characters, whether they be from real life, manga and anime, books, video games or TV shows. It's your way of saying "hey, I think this is really cool." For me, it was a way of expressing my excitement for the game's upcoming release and the characters and world it revolves around.

Who have been your biggest influences/role models/mentors?

My sister started cosplaying 5+ years ago, so that's definitely been an influence in encouraging me to give it a shot. It also has given me easy access to someone who is knowledgeable about the subject, so I can ask her about how she thinks certain things will work out. Obviously if you're on the internet enough, your bound to encounter some of the more famous cosplayers, or just really well-done costumes, and those have definitely pushed me towards trying it as well.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Research, research, research. If you plan on doing a quick, throw-together costume this probably doesn't apply as much, but if you want your costume to be the best it can be, you need to research and plan. Get as many photos of your character as you can, from different angles. Start thinking of how you might be able to make each individual part, and how you plan on attaching them at the end. Research what materials you want to use. There is more than one way to make a costume, and different materials tailor better to different people. Look online for tips and tricks, and remember, if it's your first time, you're bound to make a mistake or two and that's OK. Mistakes are how you learn.

What is the most negative experience you've dealt with while cosplaying, and how did you handle it?

I can't say I've had a negative experience cosplaying.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Shout out to my mom and sister for helping me with my costume, and my dad for helping pay for some of it.