He Cosplay It has been the clear visible face of the recent Comic-with Malaga: Media and curious They focused their attention, of course, in the dozens of assistants characterized as his favorite comic, anime, cinema and video game characters, among other corners of popular culture. We already had the opportunity to chat with some attendees when we related Our first 24 hours in Malagabut we wanted to go a little further.
For this we have spoken with two relevant personalities within the world of cosplay. On the one hand, Sergio and Anabeldirective dome of Wondercosthe Almería Cosplay Association. On the other, with Furanoveteran Spanish cosplayer based in London, who has been Spanish representative at the Polymanga Global Easter Competition in Switzerland, or representative of the United Kingdom with his Vinnie partner in the World Cupy, the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan, with more than 40 participating countries.
We have perceived a regrowth of the popularity of the cosplay in Spain, and we start there. Has it been our feeling? “Before the pandemic the cosplayers were a minority, few people disguised. But from 2021 A boom has been noticedespecially in events such as Comic-Con, “they tell us in Wondercos. But why is that date?” Simply, when they were locked up, people found there a hobby that they did not know. Also post-pandemic there has been a certain rise of geek or otakus events: before there were at most six or seven large events in Spain and already, and now it is spreading and each city tries to have its own version of the event, so that the fans are more visible. “
And of course, this leads to the business: “There are companies that have realized this and get more and more outfits. As a consequence, the price of the materials has also been democratized. Before making a suit cost a lot of money, now it can cost you between 200 and 400 euros, depending on your economic and clear possibilities, it also depends a little on how professional you want the layer or the helmet to be.”
Because of course, in cosplay there are levels of dedication and professionalization. Furano tells us that “people think it is simply to dress as Spider-Man, but Do not see all the work behind: paint, sewing, embroidery, 3D modeling… Because the seam has been done for centuries, but the level of sewing in the world of cosplay of 10 years ago was totally different. “And he continues:” Now people are done to their own shoes. I saw some girls from Germany last year in the World Cup who were dressed in ‘Monster Hunter’ who had cultivated their own cotton and with it they made their fabric to make some little braids that carried in the suit … “
Photo: Zippy Cosplay
In a few years, the techniques have lived a tremendous evolution: “When I started, things were done with the eva rubber of the corner bazaar (the yoga sterilla material) stuck with Superglue in a Zara shirt with three stickers and we were very happy.” But the thing was changing: Furano affirms that “the first revolutionary change of cosplay was the Worbla, a thermoplastic material that when heating is malleable, and when it cools it is hard. It serves to create armor, props, all that kind of thing”
As for the future of the fans in technical terms, the people of Wondercos are clear: “3D impression has made The cost is the most accessible in history: It is easy to look for the STL file of your character, climb and print it. That is helping that many people who do not want to get cumbersome with Eva rubber or silicone gun to have the opportunity to get into the world. ”
Furano agrees, but with a nuance: “If you simply want to make your cosplay and take it to the comic-with, you download a file from wherever, you print it, you sand it, you paint it and that’s it. But if you want to participate in a cosplay contest, that 3D model you will have to do it yourself, and you have to know 3D modeling. Is it simpler? Yes.” What seems to both coincide is that “there are a lot of more information now.”
Photo: Furano
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What is detected under this whole work is a certain sense of community and collective hobbies, which is precisely for what is created an association like Wondercos: “The goal was to help people create their zero costumes, teach techniquesmake talks, classes, a little of everything, from making a fabric suit like working materials. We consider ourselves a training association. “And they add:” We believe that if a person learns to get a suit, then things like going to events, to photo sessions, etc., fall alone. “
However, within the Cosplayers themselves are divided into diverse groups. For example, Wondercos tells us that “there are those that we usually call within the community Cosmakersthat it would be the people who buy a normally manufactured suit and put it during an event. They are more dedicated to the issue of makeup, wigs, and so on. And then we have the PROPMAKERSthat they would be the ones who make the zero suit. “
Furano also sees a division, but of another type: “Cosplay comes from Costume and Playand there are people who enjoy the Costume and people who enjoy the Play. I believe that the new generations prefer to buy a suit, put it on, have fun. And there are others who enjoy is spending six or seven months, or two years, making a suit, and then they put it five minutes to go to the event, get on stage and get off. That is my case: The side that I like is to sew, the construction and others. And now we are a minority. “
However, the message sent by these prominent members of the Cosplayer community is not the division or conflict, rather the contrary. The Wondercos bosses summarize it as follows: “The community we have today is very grateful and when they discover a new technique, they run to make a video of ‘Oida, I have tried this in this way in this suit and it has done very well.’ Furano clarifies that “Cosplay has probably been what in my life, on a personal level, I have contributed.” It is no small thing for a hobby that started with a handful of Otakus staying to disguise his favorite anime characters.
Header | Furano – Comic -with Malaga – Anabelle Cosplay
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