FAM 2016

Kira and I popped by the Funan Anime Matsuri (FAM) that was going on through all of last week - we went on Thursday because that was the only day off that I had from classes, and we really wanted to check out the stalls and displays as well as try out our finished cosplays.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers a slightly old post of mine when I said that I was working on a personal project, and that I'd reveal all the details in time - tadaa, this is it! I spent the whole trimester break working on the costume and props for this cosplay, and I have to say that I really put all of my effort into it.

Yes, I was working on the cosplay for San from Mononoke Hime - anyone who knows me well knows that I'm absolutely obsessed with this movie, having watched it at a young age. As a child I wanted so badly to be able to be as strong and fierce as San was, and this is a sentiment that still rings true even as a young adult.

The cosplay wasn't very easy - I had trouble with some bits of the props and the costume (I almost cried when I had to work with paper clay to make the accessories for San - it was such a bitch to work with - and getting the cape to stay on without pulling my top off was so difficult), but the effort really seems to have paid off.

My cosplay's not 100% perfect, but it seems to work pretty well for now.

This was a really neat picture - I'm super fond of it!

What made this cosplay special - besides the fact that I was cosplaying a character that I held incredibly close to my heart - was that it was a pair cosplay because Kira decided to cosplay with me and went as Lady Eboshi from the movie.

This is what Lady Eboshi looks like.

Good likeness, no?

It's a fun dynamic between San and Lady Eboshi because the two absolutely loathe each other - San wants to save the forest because it's a sacred place and home to many animals including her, but Lady Eboshi wants to destroy the forest to dig up the iron that can be found in the mountain. She also wants to kill the Great Forest Spirit, which is like the god of gods in the movie - you can understand why San is so vehemently against it.

The original fight in the movie...

...and our version.

We didn't manage to try going at each other's throats for real just yet, because a rifle and a spear work so much better for long-distance.

We'll try for the close-up shots next time!

Panda accompanied us to the FAM as well, and he was really sweet and patient - the poor boy got caught in the rain while making his way to the meeting point, and was fast on the way to catching a really bad cold, but he insisted he was alright and waited for Kira and I while we changed into our costumes and did our hair and makeup, and helped me with the red triangles on my face because I couldn't see them properly.

I couldn't choose a favourite between these two pictures - he's too sweet, honestly.

We left the event earlier than expected because we were all exhausted and needed to rest, but here's looking forward to the next event! I can't wait to fix my cosplay - there are some changes and tune-ups needed to be made - and get back out there as San.

BONUS PIC: Who says San and Eboshi can't get along?

It's cute how selfies taken while in cosplay can add a whole new dimension of possibility to a character - this is exactly what I love so much, that we can take a character and put said character in a different situation and ask "what if?"

In this case, what if San and Eboshi got along well enough that San could take a selfie with Eboshi doing her eyes in the background?