On Full Sail’s first day of Hall of Fame X, they already started with a bang! Both students and teachers got the opportunity to don the personas of their favorite characters from their favorite movies, shows, games, and anime for Hall of Fame’s very first Cosplay Contest. They all faced off in the name of truth, justice and bragging rights for who had the best costume. Before they went to face their competition, we asked what their origin stories were and their highs and lows in participating in a activity like cosplay.
“If anyone is interested in this activity, they ought to take their time and learn from trial and error, because everyone has to start from somewhere.”
Our first hero was Patricia Buckley as Mipha from the Legend of Zelda universe. She fights alongside the Champions of Hyrule against Calamity Ganon! She started with simple costumes, but as time progressed, she dug deeper into the realm of cosplay. Her main focus is on the video game genre, whether it’s characters from the Legend of Zelda or Mad Moxxi from Borderlands. Buckley believes that the mark of a great cosplay comes from passion and time. If anyone is interested in this activity, they ought to take their time and learn from trial and error, because everyone has to start from somewhere.
From the shadows came Agent Carter from the Marvel Universe, cosplayed by Robin Buda. She fights alongside S.H.I.E.L.D to make sure Hydra doesn’t rise again! She was one of the first teachers that we encountered. This was her first time ever doing it! She said that it is important to take your time with small details and to make your own spin on the character you want to portray.
“Anyone can be whatever character they want, no matter how you look, and it can also help for you to become more approachable.”
Our next encounter was the Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi. Mario was cosplayed by Derek Marunowski and Luigi by Phillip Marunowski. They are actually brothers--twins to be exact! They were judges for the contest and they are also teachers at Full Sail. Cosplaying is a pastime that they both do together. They always find a way to cosplay as a duo, whether it’s from video games, movies, and even anime. For a great cosplay, they say that the amount of effort put in and staying in character are the most important. Their advice for newcomers is that anyone can be whatever character they want, no matter how you look, and it can also help for you to become more approachable, because people have an attachment to these characters.
Bow down to the Ultimate Supreme Leader of D.I.C.E.!!! Stacy Blake decided to portray Kokichi Oma, the antagonist turned anti-hero from “Danganronpa.” She has been cosplaying for an impressive nine years! Even though she has been in the game for a while, it was not easy for her to get started. One of the things that was intimidating was the people that had more experience than she had, already getting to a professional status. She stated that the markings of a great cosplay depends on the person, but for her it is how to truly embody a character and what they represent to others, and to yourself. Her advice for newcomers is to get started somewhere, because when you wanna try something new you always gotta start from somewhere.
For those individuals that are interested in cosplay they should try it out and cast their fears aside. Like Stacy Blake stated everyone has to start from somewhere. It also shouldn’t matter how the person looks as long as they can embody the character they want to be.
Share your first time experience with us @wearemcbs.
Author & Photographer: Angel Ortiz
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