With applications now open for the March leg of the Supanova Cosplay Odyssey, we revisit the inspiring efforts on display during Brisbane’s high stakes heat, as well as the awesome ensembles that made their mark in the Cosplay Dash! mini-event.
We caught up with some of Brisbane’s talented contestants to ask them about their costumes, how they got their start and their favourite thing about the art form that is cosplay. All images provided by our friends at Elementice.
The Green Duchess
Flame Princess (Adventure Time)
Cosplay Dash!, Contestant
“My costume took three weeks, and then it was over a hundred hours to do the sequins and beading. I love dressing up as my favourite characters and seeing all of my friends. It’s super fun.”
Crying on the Floor Cosplay
Gerudo Link (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
Cosplay Dash!, Third Place
“My costume took 400 hours. There’s a lot of hand embroidery. When I first started coming to conventions, I was really jealous of everyone who could make their own cosplay, so last year I decided to start. This is only my second one ever. I love learning new skills. It’s a way to be creative, and it’s super fun.”
Carcali Cosplay, Sparkdos Cosplay & Jack
The Legend of Zelda
Cosplay Dash!, Second Place
Carcali Cosplay as Kimono Zelda
“I started in cosplay about ten years ago. A school friend dragged me along to the first Brisbane Supanova, and I’ve been hooked since. I love the people. I love meeting new people and seeing old friends. It keeps me coming to every single convention.”
Jack as Link
“Sparkdos Cosplays made my costume. I came to my first convention ten years ago, I think. I had a keen interest in anime before that. I got my sister to make me an item of clothing from the anime I was interested in. I started there and pieced together my first costume. I’ve been into it ever since. I love being able to become other characters to a degree. I love coming to the convention to see everyone’s takes on all the characters. There are lots of great costumes around the place as well.”
Sparkdos Cosplays as Midna
“Carcali Cosplay made my costume as well. It took her about two weeks. She got me into cosplay. It was 2016. She asked if I wanted to join her at Supanova and I said, ‘Yes, sure, we wear costumes to that, right?’ So I put together my first costume and came along. When I saw everyone in their amazing costumes, I was like, ‘I want that.’ It was amazing, and ever since then I was hooked.”
Countess Coraline
Merida (Brave)
Cosplay Dash!, Winner
“My wig got detained in customs for two months, which put the whole costume on hold. The bow took me about a week-and-a-half, the quiver took a day, the dress took about four days, and the belt was two days. I love making costumes. I like putting them together because I like puzzles. And then, when you’re in them, you feel like a completely different person. I blame my mum for starting me in cosplay. She used to be a seamstress, so when I was little she taught me to sew and she would always make us costumes. Then I really liked the costume from one of the comics I liked, so I decided I was going to make and wear it. And I’ve been doing it since then.”
The Pale Gurkin Cosplay
Queen Amidala (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
Lumin’s Workshop Achievement Award
“It took about 60-70 hours in total. I took a long time thinking about all the aspects of the costume. I wanted to be sure about what I was doing before I started. I got started in cosplay about ten years ago when a friend of mine started watching anime. She wanted to do this cosplay thing, and I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a go.’ Ten years later I’m still doing it. I love the creativity of cosplay. I’m a scientist by day, so having a creative outlet where I can let off a bit of steam gives me some relaxation. It lets me get my creativity out and get ready for the next workday.”
Joozu Juuzou
Mollymauk Tealeaf (Critical Role)
Cosplay Odyssey, Brisbane Winner
“My costume currently has about 150 hours of work on it. My older brother was a cosplayer. I idolised him so I started cosplaying too. Then he stopped, and I kept going. Now I’m the pro-cosplayer. My favourite part of cosplay is the people. I love coming to conventions because everyone in the groups you meet are really lovely. It’s just a good time.”
Joozu Juuzou as Mollymauk Tealeaf (left)
