Fanboys (and girls) are a special breed in the gaming world. With their zealous enthusiasm they single-handedly have the ability to make or break games, breathe life back into flailing franchises and (if they use their powers for evil) start flame wars across the Internet. Their undying devotion for a developer, game or character has spawned web-rings, epic works of art and the desire to participate in the ultimate fan tribute – cosplay. This weekly blog highlights some of the best cosplay found around the net. These fans put their blood, sweat and tears into their work, and it shows.
Irenes, a mermaid from the game Chrono Cross.
Why: The Decision
Chrono Cross is a game that I have been in love with since it's release nearly ten years ago. The music, story and designs really had an impact on me. While I've never really cared for mermaid costumes, I found Irene's design to be brilliant. The colors, the armor, the hair, just everything about it worked so well together. I also really enjoyed Irenes' back-story and her cute accent.
What: The Process
This costume took around 6 months of planning but only two months to actually construct. I used craft foam, Crayola's Model Magic, metallic spandex,wire, acrylic paint, and an incredible amount of hairspray. If I had to add up the cost of materials, I would guess it would be around the $400.
Overall it was a very difficult costume to make but the hardest part of all was the wig. I'm still learning how to style wigs and making hair go vertical proved to be quite the challenge.
Where and When: The Debut
I wore my Irenes costume for the first time at Otakon 2008.
I thought that having a photoshoot next to the ocean would be ideal but the waterfalls outside the Baltimore Convention Center proved to be even better. It wasn't until I examined the photos later that I realized that the setting was almost identical to Irenes' home location (Marbule) in the game. It had multiple waterfalls, pools, and varying pathways; things that I really didn't notice until I made comparisons. Needless to say, it was a pleasant surprise.
Links: The Cosplayer
Besides Cosplay.com, I also have an account on ACParadise.com
The Gallery
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