Hello Again! We hope everyone enjoyed the Sailor Moon Photo shoot pictures from Section V of our Otakon 2010 Coverage because today in Section VI, we had the pleasure of interviewing one of those cosplayers. Introducing…Kero!

Kero cosplaying as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Question 1 – Please introduce yourself for our readers:

Hi! I’m Kero, or at least that’s what I go by. I’m your average American girl who hates bugs, beaches, and sunshine yet finds herself trapped on an island. I’m short, I have an attitude, and I can kick you in the head. My bark is also much worse than my bite. Oh wait, I’m not supposed to quote my profile? Sorry!

I’m actually very nice, so don’t let any of that fool you.

I’ve been involved with costuming all my life, and have been making my own for at least six years now. Cosplay is my secret addiction next to drawing, and because of it I’ve met the love of my life so I guess it’s a good thing. I’ve been attending conventions for 8 or 9 years now, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon either.

Question 2 – What made you first begin cosplaying? Who was your first cosplay?

I don’t know if it counts as cosplay per se, but as a kid we had costume day at school based off of books we would be reading so I would dress up like those characters. I remember being Robin Hood and Laura Ingalls a few times. I was also raised by Trekkies, so I had a Next Generation captains uniform for quite a few years too. My mom was into theatre in college so she did a lot of costumes back in the day, so as a kid if I wanted a costume she could usually make it happen for me. When it came to anime, my first cosplay was… Sailor Moon! Dun dun duuuun! It was made from the old pattern when Sailor Moon was new on TV, and I remember begging for it on Halloween. I wore that costume till it fell apart!

Question 3 – When you cosplay, do you feel like the character you’re cosplaying?

It really depends on the character to be honest. Some of them I can see myself doing their actions and it feels more forced than natural, so I’m a bit upset because just wearing the outfit isn’t fun if you don’t enjoy it fully. I’m usually most comfortable trying to be Rukia from Bleach though, because I can do the two-sided actions very easily.. and I’m always arguing with the groups Ichigo no matter what we are doing, which is probably how we wound up cosplaying those two.. but this is Sailor Moon related, so forget him!

I’m far too loud and obnoxious to be most of the people I cosplay as though, which is rather aggravating. I try my best to respond and act like that particular character would if I can, and I do get complimented on it from time to time. Most of the time though I’m just trying to have fun, living out old childhood dreams dressed up as people I wish I could be, someone iconic that so many people know. Sailor Moon is harder to imitate for me, simply because she is so carefree and happy constantly. I try my best though!

Question 4 – What made you decide to cosplay as Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and not any of the anime or manga versions?

Well, when I was in grade school I had cosplayed the anime version, but to be honest I’ve never really read that much of the manga. I think up to book seven? Regardless, I had wanted to remake my Sailor Moon costume for years but never could decide on what version, and seeing all of them every year at the cons made me want to do one that had never been done before. I wanted to be somewhat one of a kind, one you would notice out of a sea of Sailor Moon(because let’s face it, until recent times you would see more of Moon than any other senshi, which has slowly turned the other way it seems).. and then the Live Action series came out. I thought it was a good combination between the anime and manga versions of the costume, and since it was made to be worn by real people it would be easier to replicate.. or at least I thought it would be. I’m still trying to get it right. I also figured that since it was based off of a real girl, I wouldn’t have to worry about the fact that I’m your stereotypical brown hair, brown eyed girl and not a blue eyed blonde.

Question 5 – In your own opinion, what are the benefits of cosplaying?

I would guess it gives you the chance to show off your skills that no one else would know you have. I have some people that until I started making costumes they didn’t know I had any crafty talents at all, and because of cosplay I’ve been able to improve those talents rather well. I also found out through cosplay that I can actually look good when I try to! That was definitely a nice benefit from cosplay, it was a big confidence boost for me. If nothing else, it gave me the chance to be my hero, and every so often you meet a little kid who is completely blown away to see you dressed as that character.. and it always makes you smile.

Question 6 – Do you make all of your cosplays yourself or do you commission them?

It depends on the costume, but most of my stuff is made by me. I try not to buy my stuff if I can help it. I have a few purchased pieces, and it’s actually upsetting to me when people compliment it because I’m getting a compliment for something I didn’t do. My sewing skills aren’t where I want them to be, so my own work fluctuates in quality and unfortunately it shows. That’s usually when I ask for help or give up and buy it. Sailor Moon was made by me though, well the sewn pieces at least. I have more handmade costumes than purchased in my closet, so that’s a plus. Some of the accessories I purchase if I can find the right style though… modifying shoes is a pain in the foot, no pun intended.

Question 7 – How long does it take you to plan out and finish a cosplay outfit from start to finish?

Oh my, that’s a hard question. I’ve had some costumes I’ve completed in a few days.. my fastest being my Little Sister dress I made in two days to get to an event I had heard about a few days prior. I’ve had some that took a week or two, some a few months.. I have one I’ve been working on for over two years now. That one I’m hoping to have ready to go next year, but that could still be wishful thinking. I’m a horrible procrastinator, a lot of my stuff was finished a day or two before I needed it.. one or two mere hours before, despite having the supplies at least a month and a half before I needed it done. Don’t follow my example, kiddies!

Question 8 – On average, how many [cosplays] do you make in a year?

That really depends on who is going with us to the conventions. This year I had.. three new ones I made for myself. If the rest of my group wants new costumes, though, I have to make those as well since none of them can sew to save their lives.. So I made them two this year technically. That makes five costumes so far this year, and it’s not over yet.. I have a few I want to try to do before my next con. I think the year before I only made two though, so it really depends on what we want our group to be. I try to at least have one new thing every year, if nothing else just to give me something to do and to keep my sewing ability from taking a step or two backwards.

Question 9 – Any plans on who you’re going to cosplay as next year?

That depends on what happens to the stuff I currently have! If any new variations get announced I try to make them, but I think Rukia and Usagi will be coming back for at least one more run. I’m trying to get my foot back into my ultimate fandom, but I’ll be keeping that one a secret until I finish it up.. Those who know me well can tell what it is already though. Besides, with my friends and family, there’s probably going to be a cosplay wedding in our future. Well, maybe a fake one, but it would still be tons of fun and I am planning on it happening.

Question 10 – Do you have any advice for people who are beginning to consider cosplay? Any advice to people who want to perfect their cosplay skills?

Haha, this is one I can really throw a lot of information into.

Start out simple. It sounds stupid, but the first costume I ever made 100% by myself was a Kingdom Hearts II version of Sora for my then only group member. I started with a lot of time, and still wound up not sleeping a few nights and sewing the day before he had to pack and leave for the con. He loved it, but looking back at it I want to do so many things differently. I constantly find myself staring at it and wanting to remake it, even if we retired our Kingdom Hearts costumes. Basically don’t bite off more than you can chew! Start off slow and work your way up to the harder stuff. Rome wasn’t built in a day and such!

Research is your best friend! I would try and get as many photos as you can before you even go hunting fabric, and sketch things out yourself. I find it so much easier to sketch the outfit out before I start trying to draft a pattern, if you sketch it out it feels to me as if I understand how it should lay and fold, or how it should move… how many pieces and stuff like that. If possible, having a figure or access to a 3d model of the outfit helps a bunch too.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help either. I was terrified to ask for help on things I didn’t understand, but most other cosplayers are nice and willing to help. Over the years that I’ve gotten more into it, I’ve only had one person tell me they didn’t want to tell me how they did it. Even if they don’t tell you, someone else may know the answer or might be able to push you in the right direction if you have ideas on how to do it as it stands.

As for perfecting your skills, I really don’t know how besides to just not stop working. I’m still trying to do this one myself.

Below is a gallery we made up of Kero’s cosplays at this year’s Otakon convention. We wanted to give a very special thank you to Kero for allowing us to interview her and we hope to do this again with more cosplayers very soon. Next time, it’s onto Section VII and the end of our Otakon 2010 Report!

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