What is the most important thing that a cosplayer needs to go international? Especially if they want to become a representative in WCS.
J: You just need to love what you do
S: True, I think you must enjoy yourself and perform the skit with spirit and love about cosplay.
D: Hmmm, I think what important is hard work. You must be willing to put so much work and effort to stand on the international stage.
Y: Passport. Without it, you can’t go international.
(laughing)
Y: The serious answer, well, if we go international through a competition like WCS, then we have to keep trying to improve our skill because in international competition, each competitor is the best among the best.
Z: And for me the first one is motivation, and the second is mindset. You can’t go international without the right mindset. A mindset to become the best, to become the number one. Mindset can set your discipline, your schedule, and so on.
Do you have any tips to newbie cosplayer who want to participate in WCS/ICGP? It is definitely not something instant, but how to start?
Z: Well, it’s motivation again. You need to have strong motivation and do not be afraid to start. Because you can’t achieve anything if you don’t start at all.
J: You can start by joining a competition. Step by step. Learning from that and overcome your weakness little by little. Stuff like that.
Z: So many cosplayers lack motivation. Many cosplayers think that ICGP is hard, so high level or something. Not like that. When some friends do it, they become familiar with it and it will be easier.
How about you guys? When did you start cosplay?
D: I started in 2012, which means it has been seven years. We started in university, it was actually one of my college assignment, so my friend thought maybe I should try cosplay, and I thought why not. I tried it and I like it.
J: For me, it was when I was 15 years old. I was in middle school, It was also my friend who recommended it, giving me manga and anime costumes for me to try.
S: For me, it is actually when I found a magazine about cosplay competition. So I tried the competition and I loved it.
Y: I am 23 years old now. Or 24 maybe? I am not sure myself (laugh). I started to cosplay in 2009. In 2017, I competed as Yogyakarta representative and that’s when I got the podium, as the third winner in Ennichisai. In the following year, I became Indonesia representative.
Z: I started in 2008 when I was in college. First time joining WCS was in 2012 with my partner Konnichi (Kon). That’s when I went to Japan. After that, I met Emi-san to held the Indonesian preliminary until now.
What character did you cosplay in WCS? And what did you feel when you saw cosplayers from around the world in WCS. Did you feel nervous or something?
J: Monster Hunter World. I think other cosplayers are very cool.
D: I cosplayed Phos from Land of the Lustrous. I was not nervous. I saw characters from my favorite TV series and games like NieR: Automata, or Ghost in the Shell. I was so excited because they are the series that I love so much. I felt excited and wanted to talk more to them, to know if they also like that series, etc.
S: Antarc from Land of the Lustrous. So I was very excited that there are other people who love this series as well.
Y: At WCS last year I cosplayed Warriors Orochi 3. What did I feel about others? Some kind of “wow” because the other country representatives must be the best in their respective countries. I couldn’t be nervous at that time. In fact, it made me more passionate.
Z: We cosplayed Patlabor, an anime we watched in the 90s. Me and Kon at that time were really confident because we were doing a backflip with mecha costume. That’s the first time in the world and probably would not happen again.
The Indonesian Anime Times | Text by Dany | Photo by Kiki
