Let's Talk Cosplay with Manic Misha Cosplay and Spectrum Sparkle Arts
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Vaporeon here is Spectrum Sparkle Arts (Kim) with her trainer Manic Misha (Hilary). They often try to do couples cosplay.
This time for Let's Talk Cosplay, I have the wonderful chance of interviewing cosplay duo Manic Misha Cosplay (Hilary) and Spectrum Sparkle Arts (Kim). They've done a lot of interesting things with cosplay, and have some positive light to shed on it for everyone!
So for starters, tell us a little bit about yourself!
Kim and Hilary first met at Animazement 2013 in Raliegh, NC, and started dating many months later. They are currently engaged and have their wedding set in May!
A little about our professional hobby background,
Kim: I’ve been cosplaying since 2007. I started my cosplay journey with Children’s Day Hungary from Hetalia and then my first mascot was Silver the Hedgehog from Sonic the Hedgehog. I premiered these in Florida at Megacon 2008.
Hilary: Hello! I’ve been cosplaying since Anime Weekend Atlanta 2011, where my first cosplay was Meirin from Black Butler, followed by The Witch from Left 4 Dead. Kim’s the sewing genius and mascot maker, while I do more wigs and props.
What do you like to do outside of cosplaying?
Kim: I’m a Sonic the Hedgehog expert fan and I love playing MMORPG’s, I’m also obsessed with watching YouTube gamers.
Hilary: My passions are vast, but I prefer to spend my evening watching a movie and unwinding after a long day of work, and of course— planning on cosplay when inspired!
Which do you like: comics, manga/anime, movies/tv shows, video games, or books?
Kim: I enjoy all of those things, except books— unless they are graphic novels. Some of my favorites are Wolf Children, Skyrim, Full Metal Alchemist, and Okami.
Hilary: Growing up I always read the Archie comics and watched DBZ on Toonami, but I really enjoy videogames and anime as my favorite out of that list.
Cosplayers are often inspired by other cosplayers and their work. Do you have any sort of “favorite cosplayers” out there that inspire you?
Hilary: “KamuiCosplay” is a huge inspiration to me. I own both of their armor and prop making books, but I have a variety of inspiration cosplayers to choose from throughout my various fandoms. Kim really enjoys looking at art online and getting inspired through those.
How exactly did you start your journey into the cosplay world? How long have you been cosplaying?
Kim: Fursuiting and Mascots actually introduced me to cosplaying. I attended Megacon and enjoyed being able to talk to my favorite voice actors and see other people that had the same interests as me.
Hilary: I had no idea there was an anime convention close to me in Atlanta, Anime Weekend Atlanta, and booked my first tickets and trip there in 2011. I wanted to cosplay someone and try something new. It turned out that I enjoyed myself so much, I continued on after all these years.
What currently is your favorite cosplay you have made?
Kim: Vaporeon from Pokémon. The mascot took me approximately 60 hours. I used a lot of prior knowledge to designing mascot suits like patterns, stitching, and how the design would lay. Even the fabric I used took a few tries to get right, but in the end this is one of my favorite cosplays.
Hilary: Netherlands from Hetalia. It was one of my first sewn-from-scratch shirts. I ran out of fabric on my first time and used a similar pattern on the inside to make the cuffs! It matched his Holland themed outfit. The wig took a few tries, and I ended up buying a new lace front one for this “tulip-shaped” hair. I spent many hours on the outfit, but he is one of my favorites.
Do you have that one cosplay that’s the bane of your existence? If so, which one is it?
Hilary: Sebastian from Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji). I wanted to do the cosplay for a friend, and quickly threw it together. No infamous pocket watch, a shabby wig, and attempted first-time make-up. I have seen a reoccurring picture of this cosplay and I shudder at the thought. I learned from that point on to never do a cosplay on the fly, but to take your time and put your heart and soul into it. I’ve seen so many people pull off cosplays so quickly and I’m proud that they can, but because of my OCD and perfection tendencies I never could feel comfortable in them. Kudos to them!
Is there some specific process you have to choose what character you’ll cosplay?
Kim: No, I tend to go with the flow and do whatever inspires me. Also, usually when Hilary is inspired we both will try to do a couples cosplay. Right now, we are both into Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mystery Skulls.
When you make a cosplay, how long does it normally take for the entire thing to be completed?
Hilary: It honestly depends on the cosplay. Some characters may take a few days, while others may take months. I’ve helped with Kim’s mascot costumes, and those have literally taken 6 months with working a little time each day on them.
Everyone’s process of making a cosplay is different. Can you describe your process for us?
Kim: For making mascots, I usually have to make a pattern that is similar to the body shape and still fits on my body. I use a large sheet and have it pinned to me, cutting out the shape and then adding parts to the sheet that would be the pattern for tails, wings, or extras. I then make one clean pattern and sew it through.
Hilary: I assist Kim with complex patterns, but we also usually sew what we can with our fabric, and then focus on making props and wigs once we have a set budget and plan.
In the case of making your own cosplay, what sort of tips do you have?
Hilary: Always buy extra fabric! You will never know when you might mess up or need to make something extra to match your cosplay.
Kim: Measure twice and cut once.
Hilary: That also includes for wigs and prop material!
Do you use wigs when cosplaying? Is there a specific reason why?
Hilary: Yes! I adore wig shaping and making a character come to life through the hair. I use wigs and style all of Kim’s as well. Anime has crazy hair styles and colors, and I want to make it as realistic as possible while still catering to the wearer’s face. Even if my own hair matches closely to the character, I still use a wig because it gives me the freedom to do what I want with my own hair.
How do you approach wigs when styling?
Hilary: I see the shape of the wig. Do I need a lace front? Do I need extra wefts to put in? I look at it from a thickness view and go to my two main shops— epiccosplay or ardawigs. They are US based so you’re not waiting for a month on a wig to start it.
For example, I’m currently working on a wig for Lewis from Mystery Skulls. I need extra wefts in the front to create a pompadour style. The wefts needed to be long to blend in with the back, and the colors needed to match without being so “pastel pink” as he’s seen in some concepts.
Synthetic hair can be styled using boiled water for curls or straightening, and can be styled differently depending on what you want your wig to look like. There are some wigs with lace front styles, parted hair styles, or even add-ons like buns and braids to make your wig work a lot easier!
Often times cosplayers use makeup to accentuate their cosplay. Do you use makeup in cosplay, and if so, why?
Hilary: Yes, I do “crossplay” which is where I cosplay the opposite gender that I identify as. I use make-up to accentuate my face and highlight more manly portions, and give myself a more masculine contour and view. (i.e. more dark contour around the eyes and forehead, and high-lighting a more box feature for the face. )For females, I contour my face for women and a more feminine look. (i.e. soft blending and softer lines, thinner nose and minimizing larger features while accentuating the eyes.)
Kim: Yes, I usually change the color of my eyebrows. Hilary has always helped me apply crepe hair to my face for a bearded character before. It was itchy, but well worth the long application process!
Some cosplayers find makeup a daunting task, so do you have any tips for them and makeup?
Hilary: Tutorials, tutorials, tutorials! Skincare is KEY to getting better make-up results. Always use a primer, foundation (liquid or powder) and also seal it on with a matte clear powder. Less shiny in the hot costumes and it helps keep your make-up on your face. Also, invest in some make-up wipes. It helps inbetween costumes or just taking off complicated make-up after a long day.
For cosplayers, there’s always one aspect of getting on a costume they love. What is it for you?
Kim: I adore the way the children react to me when I’m Catbug or Vaporeon. They want to touch my costume and receive a hug, and that for me is my favorite part.
Hilary: I enjoy slipping into a different person for a while, getting into the shoes of another persona and having people to enjoy it with.
Any dream cosplays you’d like to do?
Hilary: Cassandra from Dragon Age: Inquisiton, I adore her sassy romance-loving, but “I’m too cool for that” self.
Kim: Wilderness Warrior Matt from 2P Hetalia. He would be adorned in faux leathers and furs and have antlers as the “moose king.”
What about cosplays you know you’ll never do? Why are they something you’ll never do?
Kim: Sometimes you know when you’re not meant to cosplay something. Whether if its expense, time, or something else, there are those times when you say “I’ll add that to the bucket list.”
Hilary: I really want to cosplay Daryl Dixon from the Walking Dead, but I’m afraid that with my time between my jobs and family life, I won’t have time to spend as much time on him as I would like. I have a full list of cosplays I would enjoy doing, but life comes first.
There’s a lot of conventions of all different sorts to go to, so which ones do you like to attend?
Animazement in Raleigh, NC, is one of our favorite. We see many friends each year and love the way the hotel has nearby food and a great walking layout.
Hilary: I always attend Yamacon, in Pigeon Forge, TN, and I am exicited to have Kim join me this year.
Kim: We also enjoyed going to Hoshicon in Charlotte, NC, this past year. The smaller cons are more enjoyable and less crowded (and also less expensive).
Is there a dream con you want to go to? If so, which one is it?
Hilary: Between you and me, it’s Yaoi con. I’ve got some favorite artists I’ve always wanted to meet that go there.
Kim: San Diego comic-con, all expenses paid. California is so far from the East coast.
Finally, any inspirational words for those just starting to get into cosplay?
Kim: No matter what anyone says, you can do anything you want as far as it concerns cosplay.
Hilary: You may feel defeated looking at the beautiful images on DeviantArt and Tumblr, wanting and longing to be the perfect size or shape to be this one character. News flash— You can cosplay that character anyway! I’ve been there. Looking at the images of a cosplay you want to do, thinking “I could never do that” or “I’m too _____ for that.” No, no. You CAN do that!
Don’t judge yourself on someone else’s cosplay. If someone picks on you or looks down because of it, they are not worth your time. Enjoy yourself, be respectful of fellow congoers, and have fun enjoying meeting people who have the same interests as you. We spend far too much money on conventions, cosplay, travel, hotel rooms, and everything that involves cosplaying with friends— make the most of your time and enjoy yourself!
You can find more Manic Misha Cosplay here:
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