Introduction - What is it like being a Cosplayer?

Hi! My name is Morgan, but a lot of people call me Tor. Being a cosplayer is just a whole lot of fun. I first got into it because it really makes a difference going to a convention in a costume, instead of plain clothes. After that, I got into more of the photography scene, and even things like fashion and lolita culture. Cosplay's really helped to develop me in terms of confidence, motor skills (prop-making, sewing, painting), photo editing, and speaking to people. I have been diagnosed with social phobia and anxiety, and for some reason being a character makes it a lot easier to interact with people and enjoy the convention. I'm still working on the reasons behind that, but it's been a blessing for making new friends. People I know who aren't particularly into the convention and cosplay scene still find it kind of cool that I can sew together outfits from scratch, and while it's a bit awkward explaining the whole cosplay idea to them, I've been met with a lot of genuine interest and respect. At the end of the day I acknowledge I'm just a nerd who takes their appreciation of something to the next level by becoming a nerd in a costume.

What are your next goals?

I'm still going to go to as many conventions as I can without jeopardising my studies. My skills are currently suited better to sewing than prop-making, so some more elaborately-sewn costumes are a must. My plans are currently Komaeda Nagito [I know] from Danganronpa, with two friends as Hinata and Chiaki. And I've been promising my younger self for a long time that I'd cosplay Guybrush Threepwood from the Monkey Island series. That game is a huge part of my childhood, and it'd really mean a lot to complete a costume from it and wear it out sometime.

Cosplay Characters

I've been cosplaying since 2009, so this might be a big list! Sorry! My very first cosplay was of Crona Makenshi from Soul Eater, when I was 13. It was a bit of a disaster. The wig I had chosen was a terrible colour, so I left it off. I wore my glasses all day, and my mother made me wear an anorak in case it rained. Not a good look. It didn't discourage me, and to this day I've cosplayed: *Austria, Hetalia: Axis Powers *China, Hetalia: Axis Powers *Dave Strider, Homestuck *Finn, Adventure Time *Garry, Ib *GLaDOS, Portal *Haruka Kokonose, Kagerou Project/Mekakucity Actors *Homura Akemi, Puella Magi Madoka Magica *Jade Harley, Homestuck *Kaibutsu, .flow *Kazuaki Nanaki, Hatoful Boyfriend *Konoha, Kagerou Project/Mekakucity Actors *Light Yagami, Death Note *Luppi Antenor, Bleach *Mion Sonozaki, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni *Nekozawa Umehito, Ouran High School Host Club *Ousama/The King, Hatoful Boyfriend *Rin Tezuka, Katawa Shoujo *Sherlock fandom, Tumblr/Fandomstuck *Shinji Ikari, Neon Genesis Evangelion *Shuu Iwamine, Hatoful Boyfriend *Switzerland, Hetalia: Axis Powers *Terezi Pyrope, Homestuck *Tsubomi Kido, Kagerou Project/Mekakucity Actors *Zera [Hiroyuki Tsunekawa], Litchi Hikari Club

What does Cosplay mean to you?

Being a nerd in a costume! That's pretty much it, to be honest. It's a really nice way for people to show how much they appreciate a certain show, game, book, comic etc., and hone their skills. One of my favourite moments at a convention is queuing for entry with a bunch of friends and pointing out all the different characters we recognise.

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

All the friends I've made through conventions. Admittedly there was a lot of jealousy at the beginning. Being on Facebook and seeing people post photos of their costumes, I used to get a bit despondent and down-hearted at how great theirs looked. But if they were capable, so was I! I kept practising and working on it, and the recognition I got from the people I'd looked up to as I steadily got better was one of the best feelings.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for upcoming Cosplayers?

Keep trying! Please keep trying! I think it's an established law of the universe that your very first cosplay will be a bit naff. But you really can't let that discourage you. Every single person has to be a beginner at some point. Take your time, work on it bit by bit [and for the love of God, don't throw it together a day before the convention... I... still haven't mastered that one...], look up as many tutorials as you need; they're there to help you!

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

Oh, blimey. I've gained the title of "creeper magnet" due to my uncanny ability to attract the more unsavoury types at conventions. The worst thing I've probably dealt with was when I was cosplaying China from Hetalia. I was hanging around with the other Hetalia cosplayers. They tend to form a rather large group. Then this person who was cosplaying Undertaker from Kuroshitsuji appeared. I'd never seen Kuro besides a few episodes, so I thought the fact they were hissing at me and snapping their teeth was totally in character. I thought they wanted to LARP, so I pretended to be frightened of them, and hid behind one of my friends, making an exaggerated "ahh!". This seemed to placate them, and I lost sight of them. Then, out of nowhere, I feel this horrible, searing pain in my right shoulder. I manage to turn my head as much as I can, and this person's managed to creep up on me and has sunk their teeth into my shoulder. They were really, really going for it, too. I ended up screaming because of how much it hurt, and my knees involuntarily buckled. I ended up semi-collapsing onto the floor, but this person STILL clung onto my shoulder. They finally let go. I was crying from the pain. They'd left a ring of spit on my uniform shirt, and a huge bruise which actually scarred and stayed there on my shoulder for about two years. It's finally faded. I managed to laugh the whole thing off when the pain faded, chalked it up as one of those bizarre incidents, and went on with the rest of my day, really.

Any final remarks or shout-outs?

Thank you so much for contacting me to complete this, really! A shout-out to all the fantastic people I've met from many many years of London MCM Expo! They've helped make it a fantastic experience, year after year!