Blue Trash Bin: DMMd

Caracas Comic Con & 1st Cosplay Experience

By Bunny.† 13:48 caracas comic con, comic con, convention, cosplay, DMMd, DRAMAtical Murder, english, español, Nitro+CHiRAL

Hi everyone! I wasn't sure of how to post this entry since it's an experience I lived in my country, surrounded by the community so I wanted to express my thoughts in spanish; but since the blog will go through a re-building process soon I didn't want to split the same entry in two yet. So until that happens, I'll post this in both spanish and english in the same entry.

Hola a todos! Hace mucho que no publicaba en español, pero ahora quiero hacerlo con mayor frecuencia y hasta que se hagan las modificaciones de este blog, entonces compartiré en esta entrada ambos idiomas.

We decided quite late that we'd go to this second Comic Con in Venezuela. There was one a few months earlier and it was so successful they organized another one, giving us the opportunity to debut a cosplay I had been planning with Starry Berry.

Ir al Comic Con de nuestro país (Venezuela) fue una decisión algo repentina, pero perfecta para debutar los cosplays que había estado planeando junto a Starry Berry desde hace algún tiempito.

Been writing about cosplayers for more than a year but I hadn't cosplayed since 2008?!

Más de un año escribiendo sobre otros cosplayers (cosa que me encanta hacer) pero aún no entraba en la piel de otro personaje desde el 2008!

packing process the night before

I suppose stressing is a normal thing for cosplayers, right? A week before I was already stressing over many details and still hunting for a few extra accessories the costume was missing.

El estrés pre-convención ha de ser algo muuuuy normal quien haga cosplay. Una semana antes del evento ya estaba en pánico por pequeños detalles que resultan ser más importantes para uno que visibles para el resto. Fui a la caza de algunos accesorios faltantes; incluso la bata de Clear llegó a nuestras manos un día antes de la partida.

I transformed a dog plushie I had, which was a long process that seems to be unfinished (it still bleeds blue)

La transformación de Sabu a Ren fue algo trabajosa, y aún no termina (sigue botando tinta azul ugh) pero espero finalizarla para que valga la pena haber mutilado al peluchito.

But Ren wasn't the only one to go through preparations. Moments before entering the con....

Ren no fue el único en pasar por latonería y pintura; momentos antes de llegar a la convención...

I got to do Starry Berry's makeup, and then my own turn

#OOTD

So excited ;-; I had never cosplayed like this

I also got to hang out with great people. It was quite a funny group, we were all cosplaying heroes in our own way:

Pude compartir con un grupo de increíbles personas. De una u otra forma, todos hacíamos cosplay de algún héroe:

Clear, Aoba, Tony Stark, Hit Girl!

The place was soooo crowded, there were MANY terrific cosplays. It was exciting because to me I hadn't been able to see other cosplayers in real life in a long long time. I took pictures with some of them:

El lugar? Estaba REPLETO! Hubo muuchos cosplayers increíbles. Fue emocionante porque hace mucho no veía cosplays en vida real. Me tomé fotos con algunos de mis preferidos:

Serenity: Natsuo Cosplay / Mad Hatter: Unknown

There were also so many activities of all kind that I can't remember them all. But there were Photography booths (we took some pictures there for a very good deal), as well as some special guests.

También hubo gran variedad de actividades en distintas áreas de entretenimiento. Los stands de fotografía fueron muy útiles, y por un buen precio nos sacamos un set de fotos que me gustaron bastante. También hubo invitados especiales.

By: Creaciones Comicphoto

The cosplayers above were special guests on this field, very admired and recognized for their amazing recreations of characters! First Mappy and then Jhon

Ellos son cosplayers muy admirados en mi país por sus producciones tan fieles y cuidadas, lo que requiere un esfuerzo tremendo si haces cosplay en un país como el nuestro. De arriba a abajo: Mappy y Jhon

I made some shopping around the place, and it was amazing how many people got to recognize our cosplays. I seriously had no idea DMMd was already a hit in our territory, which is beyond amazing. Everyone's reactions were so sweet I felt less nervous.

Hice algunas compras alrededor del lugar. Muchas personas reconocieron nuestros cosplay, yo no tenía ideaaa de que DMMd fuese así de popular, pero eso solo ayudó a que relajara más en el ambiente y se fueran los nervios.

Mini Levi poster. HP keychain sold by an organization that helps homeless animals. Tattoo tights. And a sticker by local artist hikkarinart

The final day of the event we met two cosplayers who also went as DMMd character, such a big shock! So we tried our best to at least get some shots together. They were great, seriously:

El último día del evento encontramos a dos cosplayers que también iban de DMMd, otra enorme sorpresa! Hicimos lo posible para obtener algunas tomas juntos. Estaban geniales:

One of the special guests I mentioned, Jhon, as Koujaku. His friend, who went as Noiz, was produced by him for his cosplay debut.

Jhon, uno de los invitados especiales, fue de Koujaku. Su amigo cercano, Alexander, hizo un Noiz extremadamente convincente en actitud y modificaciones corporales.

Enjoying your passions in events like these is totally different, I had forgotten what it felt like, so it was nice to be reminded. Even for those of us who are more comfortable enjoying hobbies individually, going out there, meeting people, going through challenges... it's a rich experience, and I learned many new things that I want to put in practice for days to come and hopefully any other future event.

Disfrutar de tus pasiones en eventos como este es una cosa de otro nivel, había olvidado lo que se sentía, y fue una bonita manera de recordarlo con sus altos y bajos. Incluso para aquellos que usualmente disfrutan de hobbies en formas más cerradas, eso de ir allá afuera, conocer personas, enfrentar desafíos... es una experiencia enriquecedora. Aprendí cosas nuevas que quisiera poner en práctica en los días por venir y, ojalá, en algún otro futuro evento.

Thank you everyone that shared this experience with me, it was amazing!

Gracias a todos los que compartieron la experiencia conmigo!!!

For more pictures of the event and our cosplays visit:

My facebook page

Starry Berry's facebook page (she went as Clear with me)

The Cosplay Sessions: Kiki's Walkthrough (DRAMAtical Murder - Aoba Seragaki)

By Bunny.† 21:58 Allmate, anime, Aoba Seragaki, Beni, BL, Clear, contouring, cosplay, DMMd, DRAMAtical Murder, english, eyebrows, eyes, Honyalala, interview, Kiki Kabuki, make up, Nitro+CHiRAL, The Cosplay Sessions, Tutorial

Hello, Thank you for calling. This is Junk Shop Heibon!

...Well, not really.

Sorry, we don't have any custom parts for S II type Allmates either. But don't leave! Please take a seat, you're just in time for something that might catch your attention. Yes, more than custom parts for Allmates.

You're on The Cosplay Sessions, a place to learn more about different characters from the perspective of their cosplayers. Exciting, right? If you're a cosplayer in search of inspiration, ideas, tips... We DO have the custom parts for that. Our intentions are provinding you with different tools suggested by each cosplayer. You can choose what's convenient for you, adjust it to your own needs... or just kill curiosity on how your favorite cosplayers do it.

So while your Allmate won't get its parts replaced (we're sorry, really) we do have an expert to occupy this Session's seat to answer many concerns about cosplay and life in Midorijima. (why do I keep saying 'we'? There's just one person writing wtf)

So far I've had the pleasure to share with you the Walkthroughs to Koujaku, Ren and Mink... but with many Sessions ahead, and the final episode of the anime aired today I couldn't keep delaying the chance to have our narrator and hero of the adventure on the seat for your enjoyment. Then, shall we?

If you don't recognize this face already, you're about to discover someone to admire. Kiki Kabuki's "2D to 3D", as she describes it, has actually a 4th Dimension to its magic that I was looking forwad to share with all of you. A magic that's specially put in practice when she incarnates Aoba Seragaki, a guy with so many sides to him that it's required to go beyond the costume for a successful "Scrap", if you know what I mean. The perfect chance for a versatile cosplayer to have fun in front of a camera or during conventions.

Kiki's cosplay catalogue is extensive and impressive. But it's not about the amount, what got my attention was her ability to switch between characters. There's a really long list of them achieved by Kiki, and ALL of them contrasting in features, styles, stories, personalities... all incarnated by the same person, making clear there are no limits when you're passionate enough about a character.

So don't worry, the only seeds to be planted in your minds will be inspiring ones. I'll let Kiki take care of you from now on, you're in good hands!

B: Tell us how you first learned about cosplay

K: My introduction to cosplay was through seeing it online? You know back when you didn’t know what social media sites were and you only used google to look up photos of your favourite character? I found a Cloud cosplayer that looked unreal and thought “oh my gosh, that must be the best career in the world!" Not realizing that it was a hobby, not a profession! Years later I was invited to a convention with a friend and decided to give it a shot!

B: What about the experience with your first Cosplay?

K: It was at a small local convention, I cosplayed Lelouch from Code Geass right after the series had its anime finale! It was a huge hit at the con and I instantly fell in love with the way people interacted with me when I was portraying a character! That convention is where I met many of the people that I cosplay with to this day.

Picture - Koujaku // gif source - Clear

Despite the great quality of Kiki's solo shots, when you see her interact with others be it on video or pictures, the connection with the character she's cosplaying at the moment is revealed. Expressions and poses set the dominant mood of every shot.

B: What do you like the most about Cosplay?

K: I can’t say if there’s any one thing I like “the most”, but there’s many things I love about the hobby a lot! At the top of that list is being able to create things? Bringing the 2D to real life is such an incredible experience. I love the feeling of starting with nothing but a heap of folded fabric and ending with a 100% personalized rendition of something on a screen. Aside from that, I really truly love meeting others with similar interests. This hobby has easily made me some of the greatest friends I could ask for and my life wouldn’t be the same if I hadn’t met the people I met through cosplay.

B: What's your first step to make the costume a reality once you've decided on the character?

K: Definitely buying the fabric. I’m an impulse shopper so if I’m in the middle of a series and decide I’m totally in love with a character, I’ll drop what I’m doing and run to the store to buy the fabric for them. It’s a bad habit, but it’s resulted in many successful costumes and experiences!

B: How did you learn about DRAMAtical Murder?

K: I’ve been playing Nitro+Chiral games since the release of Togainu no Chi. As a fan of most BL, I loved the idea of novel-style games where you could choose a route and pick who you wanted the protagonist to end up with. It was after an Aoba cosplayer complimented me on winning in a masquerade, that I decided to finally give DMMd a shot? It was before the English patches or translations were out so a friend had to help me a lot with figuring out the translations!

As Keisuke from Togainu no Chi (Picture)

B: Was Aoba your first cosplay option? Why?

K: I honestly had no plans on cosplaying Aoba at first, despite the fact that he was my favourite n+c protag, simply because I didn’t think I would fit the design well… but after a while I finally caved in and made the cosplay to go with Brinni’s Clear.

Picture - Clear

Letting a friend drag you into a certain cosplay you didn't consider at first is a less lonely way to get out of the comfort zone. What do you think of Kiki's results?

B: Have you cosplayed other characters before? What does it take for you to decide what characters you want to cosplay?

K: Noiz was my first DMMd cosplay! He was my favourite character in the series and the one who’s backstory really hit home the most with me… he’s one of those characters that will always be important to me beyond measure.

A character instinctively chosen whatever your reasons are, is the best start. But what about second options? Maybe third options? We can make a connection with different characters when they represent different parts of ourselves. There lays a chance to challenge yourself while doing some personal exploring.

What other DMMd characters would you imagine Kiki as?

(picture by Honey Hanako)

Just a few of Kiki's sides projected through cosplay. It's all about the attitude, from the most serious photoshoots to the basic test at home.

(Credits: Souda: Samsal Cosplay Photography, Leon, Rin: Kiki's Official Facebook, Ren)

Actually, now that we're talking about sides and attitudes...

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B: Do you share any habits or qualities with Aoba?

K: …Definitely sass. The way he and Clear interact is very similar to the way Brinni and I do, so Aoba is very relatable to me in Clear’s route! I also really admire how Aoba harbors patience and a gentle nature, without getting walked all over? He knows how to be kind to others, yet still stand up for himself and what he believes is right, and that’s truly admirable to me. I’d like to think we’re similar in that manner.. or at least I aspire to be!

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Don't be embarrassed to compare a character's best qualities to yourself. Cosplay can result in self-discovery if you want. For Kiki, Aoba's best qualities serve as encouragement to become a better person. With so many life lessons shared during every story in anime, manga or games... why not make some extra use of it while having fun?

B: Is there anything you do to enter character when you're going to wear the cosplay?

K: Anytime I’m getting into cosplay, I listen to the OST from that series! It really helps me relive moments of the series and reawaken feelings for the characters.

by Samsal Cosplay Photography

B: How do you feel about the reactions from people to your cosplay?

K: Outside of conventions, I get lots of “cool hair!”, and lots of staring, and definitely a lot of shocked people when I tell them I made the costume myself. In convention environments, most of the reactions have to do with fandom jokes or such haha. Many compliments too, which I’m always grateful for! I feel like my Aoba cosplay is really well-received…which makes me more overjoyed than I can even begin to express. He’s a very admirable character and again, he is my favourite n+c protagonist so it always makes me immensely grateful when people like my portrayal of him or compliment me on my handiwork.

Kiki's dancing Aoba videos helped many (myself included) to discover her work as a cosplayer. Goes without saying the feedback received has been very positive. Who wouldn't consider this possible when Aoba's such a music enthusiast? Here's a dancing Sly because... if Aoba can dance, you bet Sly Blue's got even better moves.

B: Which has been the weirdest experience you can remember related to this cosplay?

K: At Sabakon, some very good friends baked me an Aoba cake and gave it to me while I was in Aoba cosplay…. I really love that derpy cake that was going around the internet so much.. so when I saw that they had recreated it for me, I lost my cool and ended up crying from happiness in front of everyone… they were recording it and everything too, haha! Super embarrassing.

B: Once you decided to cosplay Aoba, what were your first thoughts about achieving the make up look that would bring you closer to him?

K: When I made the decision to cosplay Aoba, I was really nervous about portraying him the right way… and to be honest, I’ve done my makeup for him differently every single time I’ve worn the costume, with the intent of perfecting it more and more each time. I’d like to think that practice makes perfect and I’ll always continue to improve how I do the makeup! I try to focus on a look that’s sassy and pretty while still maintaining a boyish look. It’s rather difficult, to be honest!

Many are the aspects of cosplay that perform their gravity on Kiki, but the main of them would be makeup: "...a little makeup can really do some serious reconstructing of the facial features and it’s really the cherry ontop of the illusion of cosplaying and becoming a character!!" and she remains loyal to her words. Here's the contrast between two entirely different characters during home tests.

B: While working on the look for Aoba, what features did you pay attention to the most?

K: Brows and contouring were really important to figure out for Aoba. Eyebrows are always my favourite facial feature and I really wanted to be able to perfect his “I won’t take any crap from you!” brow structure. The contouring was important to me because I didn’t feel like my facial structure suited him at all, so I tried to slim down my own features to match his more! His eyes have a very “happy” shape to them too so I tried to focus on recreating that as well.

The windows to the soul need frames to complement what they're transmitting. A simple pair of eyebrows can determine whether you're Aoba... or Sly Blue. For real! See how it works for Kiki:

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B: How long does it take you to achieve the look?

K: Roughly 15-20 minutes, depending on how much I mess up in the process, haha!

KIKI'S SELECTION

The cosplay life can demand a lot from the pockets. So any opportunity to save is welcomed! Kiki's choice might be a helpful guide for those who want a balance between "on budget" and effective.

"I’m not picky about makeup products? I always choose whatever is the cheapest! The only thing I’m ever picky about is my base foundation! I use a foundation that’s acne-friendly since I had fairly bad skin most of the time. Other than that, I use anything that’s cheap and in the right colours! Liquid eyeliner in black for $1, blue eyeshadow from a palette on clearance ages ago….. there’s really no rhyme or reason to how I choose my makeup."

This selection is based on Kiki's preferences and suggestions about budget. Feel free to adjust it to your needs!

B: Three basics you'd use for a flash transformation into Aoba?

K: Foundation, eyeliner, and blue eyeshadow; The foundation being to even out the skin, the eyeliner to create a sharp look to the eyes, and the eyeshadow to fill in and shape the brows so as to match the wig colour.

TRANSFORMATION TIME

You know you don't have to have a wounded pocket for a radical transformation, you've got your tools and the determination to make it happen. How about some extra guidance? Try your Aoba makeup the Kiki way

STRONG POINTS IN KIKI'S ROUTINE

Each face being unique, many are the details that can be adjusted to our particular canvas when recreating an existent routine. Kiki's version is extremely straightforward, which makes it suitable for most people or easier to adapt to an infinity of different features on everyone.

These are the most outstanding points in her routine, with some extra tips in case you're considering it:

-Foundation: save all you want on other products, but always make sure the foundation you're going to use agrees with your skin. Sounds like same old song, but it's a common thing to neglect, specially if you're not entirely sure about the kind of foundation suitable for your skin type. Nice skin is also part of your cosplay accessories. Think of a good skin pampering session before a con or a photoshoot, too. They're also special occasions after all.

-Contouring: contouring is the opposite of highlighting. The dark shades are meant to leave those parts you want to make less obvious in the shadows, and whatever is left untouched by that will stand out more. Kiki pays extra attention to her jaw and nose. But think of it while looking at your own face: what are the features you want to stand out, and the ones you want to conceal? Compare them to the character you'll cosplay.

If you're interested in making the most out of contouring, get to know your face. What's its shape? Heart, square, round, inverted triangle... it might sound complicated, but a face shapes chart and a mirror will help you find yours.

source: @samerkhouzami Instagram

Yes, guys. Just like the makeup transformation meme. But don't let yourself be fooled by the Kardashianess of it. It can be as accentuated or as natural as you want it to be. Kiki's eyeshadow contouring follows the same principles with different products. But here you can see the many possibilities of contour shapes, based only on face shape!

-Arched brows: Aoba's attitude goes hand in hand with his eyebrows, the frames to every expression. Kiki used this in her favor to transmit Aoba's sass, and the key to that is the arch of the brow.

If you don't want to compromise your original brow shape or cover it, just keep in mind exaggerating the arch with make up for that automatic "you little shit" expression. But if you plan to draw them from zero, a good pair of thin+arched brows will do half the job for you when posing for pictures! Conclusion: the sass is in the arch.

And you're ready to go!

As far as Mink lets you go, that is

B: If you were a character from the game, how would your route be?

K: If I were a character in DMMd, I’d probably be a mashup of Makoto Mita from Sweet Pool, and Asato from Lamento! Happy-go-lucky, loves food, loyal, and very very affectionate (or rather, needy, haha!).

Asato picture: @AngelWithDragons

B: Thank you so much for your participation, Kiki! We were hoping you'd let Aoba have the last words by sharing some advice for those who love cosplay?

A: Don’t give up on the things you want! If there's something you're after, work hard for it and there’s no way you’ll lose. “You only fail by giving up!” is what Obaasan always says! Even when things get rough, it’s okay to mess up? As long as you keep on giving it your all and doing your best!!

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Kiki in Midorijima!

picture / Clear

Bad End: If I were a nitro+chiral character, I’d like to think I’d have a really crazy bad ending. Something along the lines of “They’re gone now. Everyone. Everyone who tried to take you from me. Everyone who looked at you the wrong way… or used cruel words against you….. all for you, I destroyed it all. Everything is gone now. ……everything but us.” …Who can resist the classic yandere-causes-the-apocalypse-to-be-alone-with-their-lover spiel?

Good End: I’d probably have a sad good ending too. It would involve my diseases? ending up hospitalized, and a premature death… along with a confession, followed by a dying wish that the protagonist would return the “I love you”, even if they didn’t mean it, even if they deserved better. T-Tragic endings are my favourite.. TvT

Ideal Allmate: My allmate would definitely be a sea otter! They’re so cute and sassy ahhh~

Kiki as an Allmate: I think I would be… a ferret.

Good Ending theme: When you cry - Kerli

Bad Ending theme: Say something - Great big world or Obsession - Inner party system

Cosplay Anatomy

I hope the inspiring seeds were successfully planted in your mind by this great cosplayer. Keep supporting Kiki and her works !!

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The Cosplay Sessions: Casil's Walkthrough (DRAMAtical Murder - Mink)

By Bunny.† 16:06 Allmate, anime, BL, cosplay, DMMd, DRAMAtical Murder, english, Honyalala, make up, Mink, Nitro+CHiRAL, The Cosplay Sessions, Tutorial, Visual Novel

It's been a while since we last met for a session, so I tried my best to make this possible before going on a little trip tonight. Besides, I'm looking forward to share this with you, it's so full of useful material that you can use as reference or starting point... or simply to entertain yourself if you're a fan of the toughest of the four DMMd "boyfriends". So now I'll go finish packing and leave you in nice company.

Being a man of few words, other are the elements to speak about Mink, consciously or not. You'll find that despite the many beautifully designed characters and their individual features in DMMd, when it comes to this guy in particular, details can't be taken for granted if you want to approach him.

I've found each cosplayer pays special attention to different parts of Mink when it comes to bringing him into the flesh. In the process of adapting the character to the cosplayer, those details that captured each person's attention the most will be taken care of as much as possible. The results are endless Mink renditions that stand out different parts of him, different pieces of one puzzle. So in the end... words weren't truly necessary.

Casil's rendition is one I'll let you interprete on your own as we go through this Session. The same way you would while playing a Route on the game. One could hardly guess it's been only three years since Casil started cosplaying, they just make it seem like a long path walked... and I do consider it that way. Among first impressions while meeting them in their Mink incarnation personally, a subtle cinnamon scent has left its print, making it easier to understand Aoba.

Let's hurry and make the best out of this chance, Casil's Mink is willing to answer questions to bring you closer to this character from their perspective...

B: What's your first memory related to cosplay?

C: My first cosplay memory was when I was able to go to a little con called StarFest based out in Colorado.

There was an Edward scissorhands cosplayer. He was amazing, I got so spooked I tripped into a wall that’s how much of a real deal he was to me.

But he gave me a call and happened to be a really awesome person. That really made my whole weekend.

B: Do you remember your experience with your first Cosplay?

C: Let’s see.. I actually bought a Miku Hatsune wig a year before I had ever gon to a con or done anything cosplay related..

I had an amazing friend named Ava, she was the one to really get me into anime. So I’d put on the wig, kind of like dress up and we’d run around her back yard pretending to be Vocaloids.

I guess you can consider that… My first cosplay?

This is like sharing embarrassing baby pictures

B: Your favorite thing about this hobby?

C: CRAFTING, I love crafting, my main go to is wonder flex.

I also consider making wig crafting soo, I enjoy styling cutting and wefting wigs~

B: Tell us your very first step to bring a character into reality through cosplay:

C: For me it’s all about the hair and makeup, if those aren’t on point it just doesn’t seem to work in my favor. I’ve had this happen to a few of my cosplays and it SUCKS.

B: You've probably been asked this one, but how did you get to know DRAMAtical Murder?

C: Hmm, my friends had made a cosplay group for DRAMAtical Murder, I was super interested in the character design. So I talked to my friend who’d been playing the game since it came out.

She told me a bit about it then came over and put it on my laptop.. After that moment.. I realized I had found something amazing. Not to mention the fandom is great and so so chilled out.

B: Was Mink your first cosplay option? Why?

C: Like every DMMd cosplayer.. I think it starts out as Aoba.

The reason was because my friend who had put DMMd on my laptop was cosplaying Clear and she really wanted someone to be her gay protagonist.

Photo Credit

B: What other cosplays have you done before? What does it take for you to decide on a character?

C: I’ve done quite a few, Levi from Attack on Titan, Vinyl Scratc (AKA DJ pon3) from My little Pony and Saito from Hakuouki.

Photo Credits Shutter Crazy Photos & Oscar A. Arcena.

When your first impression of a cosplayer comes from a character as strong and intimidating as Mink (my case), a glance to their history of contrasting characters is a source of encouragement to step out of your comfort zone. But no matter what, Casil's version of any character projects a strong attitude.

B: Would you say you share any qualities or habits with Mink?

C: Quite a few actually, that’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with him. He’s distant but loving to those who matter and that sums me up pretty well. Not to mention he doesn’t take shit from anyone, and we both look sexy in dreads.

Casil's connection with this character helped them achieve a part of their cosplay you can't sew, build or buy. When it comes to someone as complex as Mink, going past the shell can be as important as a perfectly styled wig.

B: Any ritual to enter character when it comes to wearing this cosplay?

C: Do you really want to know?...

Haha, well it involves cinnamon air freshener and the song Strut (By Adam Lambert) playing in the background.

B: What are your thoughts on people's reactions to your Mink?

C: Mixed, very mixed.. I have people jumping on me yelling “CINNAPAPA”, then I also have people who see me and take a V line away from me. But for the most part I get AMAZING feedback and it makes me so thankful that people appreciate my Mink cosplay so much. It means the world to me it truly does.

B: The weirdest experience related to your Mink cosplay?

C: Let’s see, It was my first time taking Mink to a con.. My friend Mike was also cosplaying Mink. So I walked over and gave him a hug right… But then when I pulled away, our dreads… They were attached.It was amazing, since then my dreads have only been able to attach to the hair of other Mink cosplayer. That’s really special to me.

Two or more Minks interacting during conventions isn't a weird sight at all, is it? A fan's enthusiasm can transport the toughest character to the cutest of settings. When it comes to cosplay, the same can happen, and it's probably one of the nicest things about cosplay. Here's Casil bonding like a Mink with other amazing cosplayers.

B: Mink's facial features are sure the strongest and even more outstanding among DMMd characters. What were your first thoughts on the makeup department to achieve his look?

C: First of all, I’m beyond pale when it comes to skin tone. So for me it was getting a blush to tan up my face and contouring in my jaw lines perfectly.

B: From his facial features, which is the principal one you think any Mink cosplayer should pay attention to?

C: Here’s my principal, if you’re going todo the lines under his eyes don’t make it one dark line and be done. Shading, blending and choosing natural looking dark colors is the way to go.

B: How long does it take you to achieve the look?

C: I don’t think I ever timed myself; he’s pretty simple to slap on and be done. But the main problem I run into is the eyes and getting them PERFECT and symmetrical.. So I’d say an hour on a good day, and maybe one and a halfish hours if I just can’t get those eyes right.

DRAMAtical transformations often characterize the look for this character. Of course your chosen products will depend on the features you want to stand out the most. Whether you prefer a bare face, layers and layers or something in between, perhaps Casil's selection might give you an idea to start or improve your routine for Mink:

-Most The Brushes I used are a brand called Too Faced, I get them at Sephora.

-Hard Candy Sheer Envy, Primer 137

-e.l.f. Eyeshadow 32 Piece Palette, Natural, 0.99 Ounce

-e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner

-A cover up matching your skin tone, I use True Match by L’Oreal

-I also got a random blush box from Sephora with a shade a little darker than my skin to make the natural tan look. (here's a suggestion that looks similar to what Casil owns)

B: Imagine you have to quickly transform into Mink with only three of those products. Which would you choose?

C: It only takes me 4 makeup products to transform into him.. But I’d go without the foundation if anything.

From Casil to Mink

Whether you're a cosplayer who is constantly after improvement, or you're indeed interested in this particular character to add to your list, Casil's suggested routine might give you an idea or two.

Remember each routine can be adapted to your own needs and features, the same way your choice of products.

This is Casil's starting point *drum roll*

Grab your tools and spray some Cinnamon scent around. Let's begin!

For the make up I use 4 brushes.

Foundation brush.

2 Blush brushes. (One for the tanning color of blush and one for the contouring.You really don't want to mix those up)

and an eye-shadow brush slightly angled so you cleanly shade in under your eyebrow and side of the nose.

/I didn't put in contacts for this, I also didn't do one side of my face. Just so you could see the difference./

You want to cover you face and lips with your concealer (Be sure to put some clear lip-gloss or chap-stick on your lips before covering them in concealer)

A LOT of people ask me if I use a darker concealer for my skin and that's a BIG no. If you do that you won't be able to blend your face correctly.

It'll leave lines and look terrible, trust me. You'll be tanning up your skin with the blush so don't worry about needing a dark concealer.

You can even lighten up your skin this way if you wanted, just use a lighter blush.

After Primer+Foundation, Casil gradually builds up the perfect cinnamon shade with bronzer on top

1,2,3 color mix for perfect shading!

To create the darker lines under his eyes you want to start under you eyebrow.

Take the angled eye-shadow brush & follow down to the side of you nose and end where they natural bags under your eyes would be. I do that a few times going up and down until I get the color how I want it.

The I just shade it and spread it out to look natural, especially on the bridge of my nose to make it look wider(Mink as a big nose bridge)

1,2,3 instant bone structure change!

Now take your other blush brush for the contouring. You could use to 2 colors I pointed out or whatever works for you.

It's okay to go darker for the jaw contouring AS LONG as you blend it in nicely. Don't wanna look you just got smacked by a dusty tree branch.

I suck in my cheeks and tilt my head down from the light to see the normal shadows. I add the contouring there first then blend it out to give it a very strong look. I go right under the apple of my cheeks and kinda box it out then blend in. That's what works best for me.

Results of some dedicated blending

Now for eyeliner. I'm not too thrilled with how I do it because you can't look down for pictures otherwise it looks silly and curvy.

But for me its the best way to get his very straight and squinted eye look.

So from the top.. err Bottom? of your upper eye lids. (As in right above your eyelashes) make a straight line. Right to where you have that natural line on your eyelid. To do the next part I just pull the skin up and to the side to make it easier for adding the small little line that'll go to the end of where you 2 eyelids connect. Then adding the bottom line, I just keep it as straight as possible and as close to the water line as you can get without stabbing your eye with the liquid eyeliner.

Mink vs. Casil

So yeah straight lines are your best bet for eyes, it'll look better with contacts in. (The just make a squinting female dog face and you're good to go.)

STRONG POINTS IN CASIL'S ROUTINE

Casil's method is really friendly for anyone who is starting with characters that require intense transformations OR of it you are more from the Natural Looking make up instead of Theatrical ways. The main focus in this look is blending, as Casil said it. But here are other few details that stand out in this routine and might be helpful for you:

-The right shade: Casil uses bronzer to darken their skin. This is a way more subtle technique, and you are more in control on how dark or light your results will be, because it's buildable. Meanwhile, foundation's color cannot be modified by itself when applied to the skin.

-Know your undertones: in this routine, for both bronzer and contouring shades Casil plays with colors to achieve a tone that flatters their skintone and looks natural enough. Whether it's by instinct or knowledge, Casil makes good use of colors to match the undertones of their skin. Just because you're trying to achieve a tanned look does not mean it's automatically a Warm undertone!

Are your undertones Cold? Are they Warm? Knowing this will help you A LOT when it comes to choosen the best foundation for yourself, as well as blush, bronzers, etc. It will look way more natural.

-Eyeshadows for your face: this might be a trick many of you are familiar with, but I'd like to mention it because of how it was used during this routine. You can start experimenting with just one shade that isn't TOO pigmented, and then try mixing two colors and so on. You'll create new shades like the one Casil used for contouring their nose and cheekbones.

credit

B: If you were a character from the game, how would your route be?

C: Let’s see, I’d be a very tusundere character for sure.. Start off quiet until you found out my true power.
C: I’m not honestly sure.. WAIT, I would be an MMA instructor who could really kick ass. The silent but deadly type. Back flips.. Jumping from wall to wall, breaking more than 2 bricks at a time with my hand… And I’d definitely have some of Liliana Vess’s outfit incorporated with mine.. Especially the glowing eyes.

Random fact: Casil genuinely practices Mixed Martial Arts during their free time.

Would you like to play a Route like this one?

B: Thank you so much Casil for your time and the many things shared! However, this question is directed to Mink, if you'd let me... it'd be nice to hear some encouragement words from him to all cosplayers reading this

M: Listen, I’m pretty sure you tell yourself you aren’t capable of doing something you really want to.

But you need to stop letting that get in the way. Don’t let your insecurity’s bitch you around.

Just, go out and do the best you can even if it doesn’t seem right to others. Do something how YOU think it should be done.

And that was Mink for all of you. I hope you can make proper use of his advice

CASIL's ROUTE

Bad End: Black hair same length but it wouldn’t be slicked back just some mild J rock style. Karate Gi pant and a wife beater tank top with a snake design… But I’ve have some really epic bracelets that go all the way up my arms, just tons of them.

Aoba would be able to pull me away from the power growing within. The purple in my eye’s would die down and eventually I'd go back to my day job as an MMA Sensei, Aoba would teach the little kids class and we’d live happily ever after the end.

Some Polyvore-kind of sorcery for an approach to Casil's vision (Kirito's hairstyle somehow seemed to fit Casil's description)

Ideal Allmate: Snake

Yourself as an Allmate: Goat

Good End Theme: Don’t fear the reaper, by Blue Öyster Cult

Bad End Theme: Cannibal song, by the Ministry

COSPLAY ANATOMY

Easiest part to work on: Bracelet (Even though it broke ten times)

Most difficult part to work on: The wig, took 2 months to finish. There was a lot of adding in hair, lengthening and drying taking place.

Most expensive piece: The jacket

Cheapest piece: The pants? Does that count?

Favorite part of the costume: JACKET

First item to work on: Headband

Last item to finish: The wig

Piece you would wear in everyday fashion: The jacket

Piece you would NEVER wear out of cosplay: The neck shackle

And this is how we reach the end of another session. I hope this was helpful and entertaining to those of you who stumble upon this corner. To me it was a pleasure to read Casil, and let myself be fascinated by this cosplay which took a lot of dedication and passion... characteristics that casually can be found in Mink himself.

See you next session!

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