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