24 replies to this topic

[Wyu]

Hi fellow cosplayers and alike~
I'm a kigurumi cosplayer... heard of kigurumi before?
Kigurumi are like those Mickey mouse, Barney, Miss Moo mascots u see often... there are mainly 3 types
Mascot: Mickey mouse from Disneyland
Sentai: Power Rangers, Mask rider
Anime kao: All anime lookalike faces(thats me^_^)

The type I'm involved with is anime kao styled kigurumi.
Firstly, I'll like to explain a little about kigurumi to u since its Asian origin and it might not be well understood here.
Kigurumi originated in Japan and anime kao is a particularly new genre of cosplay.
The anime kao masks are not easily obtained as fewer than a handful makes these masks and less than that makes good looking ones >_<

In Japan, the anime kao cosplayers are mostly male...
Here I'll like to emphasise that anime kao kigurumi is gender INDEPENDENT.
It is NOT cross dressing nor trans when a male cosplays as a female kigurumi character...
Just think about Minney Mouse mascots in Disneyland may not always be role played by a female...noting that the suit is sometimes heavy which challenges the wearer.
Glad to have that perception cleared.

Well, a little about me.
I've been kigurumi-ing for abt 7 months now and my website has been quite well recieved in the english kigurumi circle internationally~
I took most of my shoots in my pad and thought that I'm more or less ready to head out(with some assistance).
I'm not sure how cosplayers in SA will receive kigurumi cosplay, but i hope it'll be good.
Below are some of my work.






Please drop some comments ~
Please drop by my website at:
Live Wear Yu

Edited by Wyu, 23 September 2007 - 03:19 PM.

[yukihotaru]

they look really good! how did u make the head? i never thought i'd see a kigurumi cosplayer here on adelaide! XD

talking abt full body costumes, i went to a cosplay con last year and there was a guy dressed up as optimus prime from transformer (and he did a super job of it! (o^-')b), when we all saw it everyone went "EEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEE! Transfomaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" XDXD" it was just so awesome! XD

[Starfire Phoenix]

Welcome to our forums! Thanks for the information too, I know little about it and it sounds interesting.

[Wyu]

they look really good! how did u make the head? i never thought i'd see a kigurumi cosplayer here on adelaide! XD

talking abt full body costumes, i went to a cosplay con last year and there was a guy dressed up as optimus prime from transformer (and he did a super job of it! (o^-'), when we all saw it everyone went "EEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEE! Transfomaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" XDXD" it was just so awesome! XD

Yeap, i made the mask myself... finished it last year end and took me like 3 years in all for research and scultping... 95% idling time... hehe.
Would take me abt 1.5months each now that i know how to make it well... provided i work on it full time
Commissions or collaborations are welcomed
I was requested to start a kig group in my home country but I'm here for studies so i can't go back till I finished.
However, I could start something in Adelaide if I've got some time ...heh~

Oh I think i forgot to mention another genre of kigurumi which is what u mentioned the mecha suits...
Lately there has been lots "mecha suit" kigurumi cosplays appearing... yeah, I've seen some cool ones too...

So interested in doing kigurumi?

Edited by Wyu, 23 September 2007 - 02:37 PM.

[yukihotaru]

Yeap, i made the mask myself... finished it last year end and took me like 3 years in all for research and scultping... 95% idling time... hehe.

Oh I think i forgot to mention another genre of kigurumi which is what u mentioned the mecha suits...
Lately there has been lots "mecha suit" kigurumi cosplays appearing... yeah, I've seen some cool ones too...

So interested in doing kigurumi?

sometimes mecha suits scare me...they look so....o_O i really respect the ppl who do that though...sculpting? o_O wow! sounds hard!!!! >___<
nah, sorry, but im not interested in doing kigurumi, i dont even cosplay much..^^;; i prefer dressing up instead....^^;; the only cosplay i've ever done so far is Bou from An Cafe (and that wasnt even that good...-_-lll). but i like seeing kigurumi cosplays! (o^-')b keep them coming! ^_^ my friends here and adelaide think it's weird though...-_-lll they dont know what they're missing...

[Metanoia]

I've been working on mine, but I've been mightily slack. It was supposed to be finished last july, but I seriously ran out of time for that goal.

My progress is here: http://www.costumewardrobe.com/gallery/mai...p?g2_itemId=581

[Wyu]

sometimes mecha suits scare me...they look so....o_O i really respect the ppl who do that though...sculpting? o_O wow! sounds hard!!!! >___<
nah, sorry, but im not interested in doing kigurumi, i dont even cosplay much..^^;; i prefer dressing up instead....^^;; the only cosplay i've ever done so far is Bou from An Cafe (and that wasnt even that good...-_-lll). but i like seeing kigurumi cosplays! (o^-')b keep them coming! my friends here and adelaide think it's weird though...-_-lll they dont know what they're missing...

yeah... from the feedback i'm receiving, westerners are often put off by anime kao mask cosplayers...
I could almost understand if they claim its weird... but some thinks they're hideous or ugly... I can't see why for that.

Hmm if you like seeing kigurumi, and u like dressing up... I don't see why u don't want to try kigurumi cosplay.
Your face won't be revealed, and u don't even need a proper costume... haha the mask is the cosplay^^
Well... just my thoughts


>>>Metanoia>>>
WOW... u make costumes, you know some the the latest animes and you're making your own kig mask too.
It'll be great if i can get you to make costume for me... I always buy them and they cost heaps >_<
I'm only good at small modifications at best.

I can tell you really know what you're doing with your kig mask making pics ... It took me 3 years (on and mostly off) to touch up and do little bits at a time on my mask to finish it... the process is very similiar indeed. Takes a while doesn't it... hehe.
In case you're ready to go ahead with that head form, I must say this... it is advised that your head form be a full head instead of just the front. This is because the mask itself has to be almost a full head(front and back)... I made a similar attempt and realised this. Also, I can tell that you do have talent in sculpting as the face resembles a human's face pretty much. I'm not sure what you want its final look to be, but anime styled face's features are slightly different from a human's face features. The pictures of Japanese figurines' heads should be copied to exact likeness to get the anime kao look.

Hehe... I haven't got the chance to practice on mask making for a while now... ever thought of making masks for a kigurumi group in Adelaide? Please call me if u do

Edited by Wyu, 23 September 2007 - 04:11 PM.

[Wyu]

Well since this is a lolita section too... I'll put up my attempt at it.
Are people in here always this quiet? ^^

[Starfire Phoenix]

There was a lolita meetup today, so many of us were out and away from our computers or at work. Give it time. Most of our members are online at night, rather than during the day.

[Metanoia]

I was talking to Wyu just before I went out... I had to abandon him to do my hair XD

Wyu... As I said, its still in progress. It isn't beautiful enough yet. I feel it needs more emphasis on the nose and chin, it needs lips and ears and it needs more around the back. I ran out of clay at the time. heh. Thankyou for the compliments. That is my first time sculpting.

My main inspiration is this mask from japanese commissioner Depas and the peorth mask by Buildup Studio Sigma. Both very beautiful. I am going to go with a closed mouth kig mask.

I don't know if there is enough demand for a kigurumi group in Adelaide yet, but if you are in Adelaide around next July please do contact me as I would love you to be a part of AVCon by maybe doing an informative panel or something!!

[yukihotaru]

wyu, is that loli outfit also a modified costume of suigintou from rozen maiden? it looks lovely!

[Wyu]

wyu, is that loli outfit also a modified costume of suigintou from rozen maiden? it looks lovely!

Nope, its wasn't meant to resemble Suigintou's costume.
I know what u mean, it turned out very alike... must be the wings I guess...
Its a custom lolita design which I liked very much~

I saw your lolita meet images... they were all pretty cute~

Edited by Wyu, 23 September 2007 - 10:15 PM.

[Atory]

Very interesting... maybe you'll be able to give me some guidance on my major costuming project that I'm hoping to finish next July.



It's not your normal style, although I will be needing to make a mask and your expertise may come in handy.

Edited by Atory, 23 September 2007 - 10:12 PM.

[Wyu]

ow... okay~
but what do u mean by not my normal style?
Oh u just added that pic... u want to make a Rem mask?... hmm should be fun~

Actually I'm hoping to start a kigurumi group in Adelaide if factors allow.
I won't be here for long... I'm an international student doing my bach. in AU afteral...

Edited by Wyu, 23 September 2007 - 10:31 PM.

[Atory]

Yeah sorry... I was having trouble putting the image up.

I'm actually constructing a complete Rem cosplay. The mask is just one of the major components so I want to do it well.

By "not your normal style" I simply meant that it's quite a different mask compared to the ones you posted.

[Wyu]

Yeah sorry... I was having trouble putting the image up.

I'm actually constructing a complete Rem cosplay. The mask is just one of the major components so I want to do it well.

By "not your normal style" I simply meant that it's quite a different mask compared to the ones you posted.

True, not my normal style indeed.
This genre of kigurumi is the same as anime kao... so i think the same mask making process can apply.
Start early, it takes aaaaages... to finish. mostly because the process tends to idle too much due to other commitments ><

[Metanoia]

Your secret is out now Atory!!

[Atory]

What secret? That I'm doing Remu? Plenty of people know by now and I've had it listed in my currently working on list for quite a while now.

I don't care if it's not a surprise anymore... if I do it well it will still be impressive.

[Metanoia]

oh it most definately will be impressive. Have a look at the reports on Wyu's website. He shows how he makes his masks.

[papa_travaal]

For me, Costuming is Costuming, and your kigurumi look FANTASTIC! Something else for me to add to my wishlist of projects. You should try and come to the "Take a Day" and show off your stuff - or at least one of the Pancake House meetups (first thursday night of the month from 6:30 - next is on the 4th of October)