Cosplay Artist Spotlight: iShinobi Studios Part 1
Anime, Fanboys, and video game cosplays, OH MY! Join us this week as we meet a cosplayer with energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to smize so hard he might as well be a super villain. This week we’re diving into the world of iShinobi Studios!
A few weeks ago the world stopped. That’s right folks, it stopped completely because HOW CAN THE WORLD EVEN – CONSIDER – continuing on its normal routine when the new, shiny, Final Fantasy VII Remake just came out?! I dropped everything and began my more than 40 hour playthrough (don’t judge me, I’m an incurable completionist) but SOMEHOW managed to scrape together a list of some of the best Final Fantasy Cosplays I’ve seen to date- some of whom are included HERE. Among that list is today’s subject of ooooohs and aaaaaahs- iShinobi Studios!
Cloud Strife cosplay- image by iShinobi Studios
How did you get your start in cosplay? How long have you been creating your projects? What inspires you to work in the cosplay realm?
I first dabbled into cosplay during 2010 when my friends invited me to Momocon. They told me that other attendees would be dressing up as their favorite game, movie, anime characters! After I was told this, my jaw was on the ground in disbelief. I’ve never heard of something so interesting, what a great combination of community and craft! Even thought it was my first cosplay (mind you it was a very terrible Ninja Ryu Hayabusa cosplay I quickly put together) and no one else from my group dressed up I still had a wonderful first-time cosplaying!
Since 2010 my interest in cosplay has only grown exponentially. With the discovery of new characters, designs, materials, tools and technology I doubt I’ll ever lose interest in creating new projects.
I draw my inspiration from the character I’m cosplaying. When i find that special character I’m drawn to, my meticulous brain begins to mentally break-down the costume, the makeup, the accessories, the wig, to see what I can do to bring it to life. What I’m usually left with is many opportunities for upgrades, improvisation and innovation. This is a space where my brain thrives. I cannot even begin to explain how much joy I get bringing a prop/accessory/costume to life with functionality. My latest prop I completed was Overwatch Link’s shield. There are LED lights with multi programmed functionality, there’s a safe place to hold my wallet, a strap that secures my usb power brick, a wireless phone charging plate with a custom dock that also has a conductive screen so it is all enclosed and still useable while charging. Oh, did I mention a special spot for a flast, because there’s that too 😊 for potions of course!
What awards/commendations for Cosplay have you achieved?
Probably my favorite achievement was working with Coke and Overwatch at their collaborative event. They reached out to a small handful of cosplayers to represent characters from their franchise. It was AWESOME!
Second to that was probably when I was chosen as a sponsored cosplayer from a cosplay materials and tool brand called Coscom Cosplay Supplies. This really helped me jump start my cosplay career because all the materials for my next two cosplays were covered.
I’ve actually never entered a cosplay competition before. I have mad respect for those who do and until this year I never really had an interest in giving it a try. I was going to enter at SCCC back in March, but… yea, pandemic and stuff.
What is your strongest construction aspect?
I think free form templating for armor pieces might be my strongest construction aspect. I’ve always had a very geometrical based brain and because of that it gives me a big upper hand when visualizing something in 3D space flattened out into 2D space. In a rush for my latest Cosplay (Overwatch Link) I wore to Katsucon, I had to fast track a few cosplay armor parts, one of those armor parts being the shin pads. They had some weird bends and angles over the calf area. Not an organic shape (those can sure be a pain) but the shin pad calf design took me staring at a reference picture for about 3 minutes before I figured it out and drew a template. That template became a final product with no iterations from my brain to what I wore to Katsucon. I think that’s pretty sweet!
What is your favorite type of cosplay work to do?
I’m a sucker when it comes to foam builds because my fabric and sewing knowledge is still on a newb level, but I’m learning! I also love to work with LED’s they can really bring a cosplay to life and as tedious it can be learning how to solder it’s definitely worth it!
5 Odogaron armor from Monster Hunter- photo by @limitedaperture
What are your favorite completed projects, or your most popular?
Probably my favorite at the moment is Cloud Strife. Not only is Final Fantasy super popular right now because FF7 Remake game just came out but he is a great combination of skill and craft that went into him. Big foam prop? Check. Some sewing work involved? Check. Makeup/Contacts? Check. How about an obnoxiously spikey wig? CHECK
What material is your favorite to work with?
EVA Foam, without a doubt. It is limitless when it comes to what you can do with it. Every year I go to Dragoncon, my mind is blown from what I see others do with it. EVA Foam! (PS. Just make sure you wear a respirator if you’re dremmeling for hours. Trust me, it’s not cool having black snot for two days)
What are your favorite fandoms? Favorite characters?
Favorite fandoms and characters? Wow, well we could be here all day talking about this but I’ll save you the geek splurge and give you just a few. Right now my favorite fandoms are League of Legends, Overwatch, Final Fantasy 7, Monster Hunter and Naruto. Some of my favorite Characters are Genji Shimada, Cloud Strife, Kakashi Hatake and Vi!
What kind of games do you play? Videogames? Tabletop? Wargames?
Currently I play mostly Overwatch due to staying heckin’ busy with new builds, working on cosplay tutorials, cooking and working out.
What are your social media/website links? Where can we find you?
Insta: @ishinobistudios
Facebook: @iShinobiStudios
Youtube: @iShinobiStudios
Website: ishinobistudios.com
~Join us next week for more Cosplay Coverage~
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