Heroes of Cosplay (2013) s01e04 Episode Script
Anime Matsuri
1 male narrator: PREVIOUSLY ON HEROES OF COSPLAY - THE COSPLAY CONTES AT MEGACON IS REALLY HIGH PROFILE.
- MY ROCKET PACK GOT RECOGNIZED.
IT SETS YOU APAR FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.
- THE CAR IS VERY IMPORTAN BECAUSE THE COSTUME ITSELF IS VERY SIMPLE.
- IT WAS IN THE BOX.
- OH, MY GOD.
WHILE I MAY BE GIVING UP ON THE CAR, I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS COMPETITION.
- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SECOND RUNNER UP, JESSICA AS TANK GIRL.
- I WIN A COSTUME CONTES AND HOLLY DOESN'T.
THIS IS LITERALLY INSANE.
- WE'RE NOT GONNA COMPETE SEPARATELY AGAIN.
- WE ARE A TEAM.
- AND YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING FIRST ONE OF THESE DAYS.
narrator: AND TONIGHT, ON HEROES OF COSPLAY - ACTION! - HOLLY LANDED US AN AMAZING GIG WITH GUILLERMO DEL TORO, BUT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
- HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE GONE? - IT'S LIKE A FULL WEEK.
- I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW ANY OF THA IS LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
- VICTORIA IS O.
C.
D.
ABOUT THE ACCURACY.
- YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WOULD THINK TO GROUP WITH.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MY LEVEL.
[all gasp.]
- OH, NO! - HEY, ARE YOU OKAY? - YES.
OH, JEEZ! - THE FUN IS JUST ABOUT TO START.
[upbeat techno music.]
@Cwluc == S01E04 Anime Matsuri == narrator: THE NEXT STOP FOR THE HEROES OF COSPLAY IS ANIME MATSURI IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ANIME MATSURI IS ONE OF THE PREMIER ANIME CONVENTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, DRAWING THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE FANS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR COSPLAY.
THIS IS THE FIRS ANIME CONVENTION FOR OUR HEROES OF COSPLAY, AND COSPLAY PERFORMANCES OR SKITS ARE THE RULE, AND NOT THE EXCEPTION.
AND AT ANIME CONVENTIONS, A HIGHER STANDARD IS PLACED UPON THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE COSTUME.
YAYA HAN IS BACK FROM HER TRIP TO DENMARK AND HAS A PHOTO SHOOT THAT WILL HELP EXPAND HER BRAND IN 2014, BUT WITH ANIME MATSURI LOOMING, HER TIME IS LIMITED.
- HI, BENNY.
- HEY, BENNY, HOW YOU DOING? - GOOD, THANKS AGAIN.
- NICE TO SEE YOU.
SO WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY? - WELL, WE HAVE A ALL-DAY PHOTO SHOO FOR MY 2014 CALENDAR.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, FOR SURE.
- I'M EXCITED.
- I'M A JUDGE AT ANIME MATSURI IN TWO WEEKS, AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOING TO GET THE CALENDAR DONE, SO I'M TRYING TO SQUEEZE A THREE-DAY PHOTO SHOO INTO A ONE-DAY SHOOT.
YOU CAN HELP ME PUT MY SHOES ON, MY BOOTS.
- OKAY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A SECOND? - NO.
I'M READY TO SAVE THE PLANET.
- THE DRESS SUITS YOU.
- NEXT COSTUME.
WATCH MY CROTCH-AL REGION [laughs.]
FOR ANY MISHAPS.
HELP ME PULL IT UP.
JUST DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T NEED TO BREATHE.
THIS 2014 CALENDAR SHOO IS VERY EXCITING, BUT ALSO REALLY STRESSFUL.
WE REALLY GOTTA HURRY, 'CAUSE I GOTTA TAKE THIS OFF.
- YOU GONNA FAINT? ARE YOU OKAY? - I DON'T KNOW.
[grunts.]
- HERE.
YOU OKAY? YOU NEED A BREAK? - I THINK I JUST NEED TO TAKE THIS CORSET OFF.
- ALL RIGHT.
- THE YAYA HAN CALENDAR IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY BRAND.
IT IS WHAT SETS ME APART FROM OTHER COSPLAYERS.
AND I JUST CANNOT STOP RIGHT NOW.
- ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
- HOLY CRAP.
OH.
[bleep.]
GET THIS CORSE OFF ME, OKAY? THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW.
JUST CUT IT OFF, JUST CUT THE LACE OFF.
BENNY HAS THE SCISSORS.
CRAP.
- BENNY, WE NEED THE SCISSORS TO GET THE CORSET OFF OF HER.
- UGH! - I GOT IT, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
- AH.
- THERE WE GO.
- [sighs.]
IT'S LIKE I'VE NEVER BREATHED BEFORE IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR COSPLAY.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, MONIKA IS SKYPING WITH VICTORIA TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF COSPLAYING TOGETHER AT ANIME MATSURI.
[phone tone ringing.]
- HELLO? - HELLO.
- HEY, GIRL, WHAT'S UP? I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE SEATTLE, HOW'S IT BEEN? - IT'S BEEN GOOD, IT'S BEEN GOOD.
WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS COMING UP IN TERMS OF COSPLAY? - I HAVE ANIME MATSURI COMING UP IN HOUSTON.
- YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY-- I'M GOING THERE TOO.
- WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING TOGETHER MAYBE? - YEAH, I'D LOVE THAT.
- WE COULD MAYBE DO SOMETHING ANIME.
- WHAT ABOUT FUSHIGI YUGI? DID YOU EVER WATCH THA WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? - OH.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO COSPLAY THAT.
- I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE IT WITH YOU.
- I ACTUALLY DON' COSPLAY ANIME THAT OFTEN, BUT FUSHIGI YUGI, FOR ME, WAS THE ONE ANIME THAT I WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, PASSIONATE AND EXCITED ABOUT.
SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT CHANCE TO DO THE CHARACTERS.
- BUT YEAH, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ART IMAGES FOR YUI AND MIAKA.
THE CHARACTER OF YUI HAS A BIT OF A-- SHE'S A DRAGON PRIESTESS, BUT THE KEY TO HER LOOK ARE HER HORNS THAT ARE MADE OUT OF CORAL AND FINS COMING OUT OF HER HEAD.
- I'LL START MAKING A LIS OF THE STUFF I NEED SINCE WE'RE KIND OF LIMITED ON TIME.
- YEAH, WE ARE.
- JUST AS LONG AS YOU CAN PROMISE ME THAT YOU WON'T WAI TILL THE LAST MINUTE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN THE HOTEL ROOM TRYING TO WORK ON STUFF.
- I'LL BE WORKING ON I NON-STOP.
- OKAY, I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON, OKAY? - ALL RIGHT, I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, BABE.
- OKAY, BYE.
[chuckles.]
narrator: AFTER MEGACON, HOLLY AND JESSICA ARE BACK COSPLAYING TOGETHER, AND ARE PLANNING ON COMPETING AT ANIME MATSURI TO BRING CRABCAT INDUSTRIES TO A NEW AUDIENCE.
- SO ANIME MATSURI IS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, IT'S ALSO, LIKE, A HUGE COSPLAY CONTEST, SO IT'D BE A REALLY GOOD WAY FOR US TO GET EXPOSURE.
- YEAH.
THE MORE WE RESEARCH ANIME MATSURI, THE MORE CRAZY COMPLICATED THIS COSTUME CONTEST IS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO TAP INTO THE ANIME FANDOM FOR CRABCA AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ONLINE AND OUR COMPANY, CRABCAT INDUSTRIES.
SOWHAT IF WE DID SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? BUT WE NEED A REALLY CLEVER GIMMICK TO CAPTURE THE ANIME CROWD.
- I'M REALLY NOT LIKING WHERE THIS IS GOING.
- OKAY, ARE YOU READY? - NO.
- CATS THE "MEMESICAL.
" JAPANESE CATS ARE HUGE, SO WE DO FAMOUS INTERNET CATS, BUT IN THE STYLE OF CATS, THE MUSICAL.
YOU COULD BE GRUMPY CAT! YOU'RE MAKING THE FACE RIGHT NOW! COME ON, WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO THIS.
AGREE TO IT, AGREE TO IT! PINKY PROMISE ME! - THIS IS GONNA BE IN MY OBITUARY.
- OKAY, LET'S-- - OW, [bleep.]
, MY PINKY! - EVERYONE KNOWS CATS, BUT TO PUT A WEIRD SPIN ON IT, - I'M GONNA BE GRUMPY CAT, AND JESSICA IS GOING TO BE MARU THE BOX CAT.
- "THE RUM TUM TUGGER IS A CURIOUS CAT.
" - IF THE ANIME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A DISASTER.
- "AND THERE ISN'T ANY NEED FOR ME TO DOUBT IT, "FOR HE WILL DO AS HE DO, DO, AND THERE'S NO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
" I'M USUALLY NOT VERY CONFIDEN ABOUT WINNING ANYTHING, BUT THIS IS, LIKE, THE PERFECT STORM COMING TOGETHER.
AS LONG AS EVERYONE GETS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
- I'M GONNA SLAM MY HEAD INTO THIS LAPTOP AND END IT ALL UNTIL YOU TELL ME HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS.
- WE HAVE TO MAKE THE WIG FROM SCRATCH.
- [sighs.]
- WE CAN USE CREPE WOOL, OR WE CAN USE THIS SYNTHETIC STUFF.
- AREN'T YOU ALLERGIC TO WOOL? - YES, I AM, BUT YAK HAIR IS, LIKE, SO EXPENSIVE, AND SO IS THE SYNTHETIC STUFF.
WOOL MAKES ME REALLY ITCHY, AND I BREAK OUT IN HIVES WHEN I WEAR IT.
I THINK WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BITE THE BULLE AND USE THE SYNTHETIC STUFF, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO WOOL.
- I WILL DO THIS BECAUSE YOU LIKE CATS AND WE BOTH HAVE A CONNECTION TO IT, AND IT SEEMS EASY TO MAKE, AND IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONE, SO-- - MACAVITY! narrator: ACROSS TOWN, JINYO AND VICTORIA ARE HARD AT WORK ON THEIR FUSHIGI YUGI COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- VICTORIA WANTED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFEREN WITH THIS COSTUME, SO WE'RE DOING A LO OF SILICONE PIECES ON IT, CASTING THE FINS THAT GO ON HER HEAD AND SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE OUTFI TO SORT OF GIVE I THAT TRANSLUCENT, ORGANIC LOOK.
EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GO ALL THESE SILICONE PIECES CAST, IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COSTUME COME TOGETHER WELL.
[phone ringing.]
- HELLO.
OH, REALLY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I'M WORKING ON MY YUI COSTUME WHEN I GET THE BES AND WORST NEWS IN THE WORLD.
SO THAT WAS WIZARD WORLD.
- YEAH? - YES.
- WHAT ABOUT WIZARD WORLD? - UH, I THINK I MIGHT BE WORKING FOR THEM NOW.
- REALLY? - YEAH.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR NEXT CON NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS IN ST.
LOUIS, WHICH IS, LIKE, THE WORST TIMING EVER.
- WELL, HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE GONE EXACTLY? - IT'S LIKE A FULL WEEK.
- I WAS REALLY WORRIED WHEN VICTORIA TOLD ME HOW LONG SHE'D HAVE TO BE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS JOB, AND WITH ANIME MATSURI BREATHING DOWN OUR NECKS, I'VE GOT, LIKE, TWICE THE PRESSURE.
- I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I STILL HAVE A SOLID WEEK THEN I CAN STILL KNOCK IT OUT, LIKE, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MIND WORKING ON I WHILE I'M GONE IN ST.
LOUIS.
- SCHEDULE-WISE, IT'S REALLY TIGHT.
narrator: COMING UP - I GOT ALL MY MATERIAL FOR MY MIAKA COSTUME.
I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF ANY OF THE PARTS OF THE COSTUME, BUT VICTORIA BARELY HAS A COSTUME SEWN TOGETHER.
I'M GETTING REALLY FREAKED OUT.
- THIS IS LITERALLY A DREAM PROJECT.
- HOLLY LANDED US A GIG WITH OUR FAVORITE ARTIST, GUILLERMO DEL TORO.
I STARTED SCULPTING THE HEAD, AND NOW I'M KIND OF DOING THE DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN GET I CAST AND MOLDED, BUT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
narrator: MONIKA'S DREAM JOB IS TO WORK IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY, SO SHE'S FLYING TO LOS ANGELES TO AN INTERVIEW AT BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMEN FOR A SUMMER INTERNSHIP SHE HOPES WILL LEAD TO A CAREER.
- HEY.
- HI.
- MONIKA LEE? - YES.
- I'M KATHERINE, I WORK IN LICENSING.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY? - I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMEN IS A VIDEO GAME COMPANY, AND THEY MAKE REALLY POPULAR GAMES SUCH AS DIABLO, STARCRAFT, AND WORLD OF WARCRAFT.
THEY'RE A HUGE DEAL.
LIKE, YOU DON'T GET TO WORK FOR BLIZZARD UNLESS YOU'RE, LIKE, JESUS.
- EVERY EMPLOYEE GETS AWARDS FOR BEING HERE.
FIVE YEARS, YOU GET A SWORD.
TEN YEARS, YOU GET A SHIELD.
- WOW.
[artificially deep voice.]
HELLO.
OH, MY GOD, IT'S SO COOL.
I LOVE THIS COSTUME.
SHE'S SO PRETTY.
OH, MY GOD.
THE DETAIL IS-- OH, I CAN'T GET OVER IT.
I WISH I COULD DO THAT.
LIKE, THAT IS AN ART.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO A COSTUME OF ONE OF THE ELVES.
I AM SOAKING IT ALL IN, SO COOL.
- [chuckles.]
- I'M SO NERVOUS FOR MY INTERVIEW.
MY HEART'S JUST GOING A MILLION MILES AN HOUR, AND I'M SITTING HERE LIKE, "DID I PRACTICE ENOUGH? WHAT AM I GONNA SAY?" MONIKA, WE ARE HERE.
THIS IS OUR LIBRARY.
- HI, NICE TO MEET YOU.
- HEY, GUYS.
- MONIKA.
[laughs.]
- MATT BEECHER AND JASON BISCHOFF, THIS IS MONIKA LEE.
- HI, HOW ARE YOU? I'M MONIKA.
- WELCOME.
- HAVE A SEAT.
- CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BI ABOUT YOUR TECHNIQUES FOR COSTUMING? - IT FOSTERS MANY, I GUESS SKILLS, LIKE TIME MANAGEMENT, AND I THINK JUST THE PRIDE OF, LIKE, HAVING AN END PRODUCT.
WHEN I PUT ON THE COSTUME AND I WALK OUTSIDE, AND I'M LIKE, "THERE IS NO OTHER ULTIMATE WAY "THAT I COULD EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR THIS GAME OR THIS CHARACTER, BECAUSE I AM THAT CHARACTER.
" THE HOURS YOU SPEN ON GETTING THAT LITTLE DETAIL, ON JUST THAT ONE LITTLE PART, TO HAVE IT BE ENGINEERED RIGHT.
- YEAH, THAT KIND OF SPEAKS TO THE BLIZZARD GOLD STANDARD.
- EVEN JUST, LIKE, WALKING AROUND THE CAMPUS AND SEEING, LIKE, THE QUALITY AND, LIKE, THE SCULPTURES, IT'S EVIDENT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
MY COSPLAY IS A REPRESENTATION OF HOW HARD I WORK AND WHAT I CAN BRING, YOU KNOW, UNIQUE TO A COMPANY.
IF I KEEP GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION, LIKE, BIG THINGS COULD HAPPEN FOR ME.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ME HERE, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BLIZZARD IS FORT KNOX, SO-- [laughs.]
- YOU GOT INTO FORT KNOX.
- YES.
- WELL, BEFORE YOU GO TOO, DON'T BE SHY, WE'LL SWAG YOU OUT.
- [gasps.]
- SO WE'LL VISIT WHAT WE CALL "THE SWAG CLOSET.
" - [laughs.]
AFTER MY INTERVIEW, I FEEL LIKE MY CHANCES ARE REALLY GOOD.
I FEEL AWESOME AND I CAN'T WAI TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
narrator: HOLLY AND JESSICA HAVE THEIR PLAN IN PLACE FOR THEIR COSTUMES FOR ANIME MATSURI, BUT THEY'VE JUST LANDED A BIG-TIME COSTUME COMMISSION JOB.
- THIS IS LITERALLY A DREAM PROJECT FOR ME.
- HOLLY JUST LANDED US AN AMAZING GIG WITH OUR VERY FAVORITE ARTIST-- HERO, GUILLERMO DEL TORO FOR PACIFIC RIM.
- LITERALLY MY BIGGEST HERO.
- GUILLERMO DEL TORO IS AMAZING.
SOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE JUST SO-- SO CREATIVE.
- NO.
- YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "YOU BELONG IN A MUSEUM.
" - YEAH.
- "I WANT YOUR BRAIN AFTER YOU DIE.
" - WE'RE DESIGNING AND MAKING A CREATURE SUI FOR THE FILM PACIFIC RIM THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA BE WEARING FOR A VIRAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.
THEY'RE HAVING OUR MONSTER FIGHT THREE JAEGERS, WHICH ARE THE BIG ROBOTS, BUT WE'RE DOING IT, LIKE, POWER RANGERS STYLE, WHERE IT'S, LIKE, SUITS FIGHTING EACH OTHER ON A GREEN SCREEN.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO LOVED THE DESIGN, BUT OUR NEXT STEP IS TO MAKE THE ACTUAL MONSTER, SO I'VE STARTED SCULPTING THE HEAD, AND NOW I'M KIND OF DOING THE DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN GET I CAST AND MOLDED.
I THINK MY FAVORITE THING TO DO IS DETAILING.
I LOVE DOING ALL THE LITTLE NOODLINGS ON THE MONSTER.
THAT BRINGS IT TO LIFE, MAKES IT LOOK REAL.
- WHILE HOLLY'S DOING ALL OF THE SCULPTING OF THE CREATURE HEAD, I HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH FIGURING OU HOW THE BODY IS GOING TO WORK.
- SO THE HEAD'S LIKE THIS, LIKE, OUT IN FRONT OF A PERSON.
- OKAY.
- SO YOU SEE HOW THE ANGLE IS RIGHT NOW? - YEAH.
THIS SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 13 1/2 INCHES.
AND WHILE WE ARE MAKING ALL OF THIS CRAZY, AMAZING, FUN STUFF, IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, ALL I'M THINKING IS, "OH, MY GOSH, WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
" narrator: BEFORE HEADING BACK TO ATLANTA, MONIKA DECIDES TO MEET UP WITH VICTORIA AND JINYO TO PICK UP FABRIC FOR THEIR COSTUMES.
- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? - I'VE BEEN SITTING IN L.
A.
TRAFFIC.
- WHERE'S VICTORIA? - UH, SHE'S OUT OF TOWN, SHE'S WORKING.
- OH.
SOOKAY.
SO AFTER MY INTERVIEW AT BLIZZARD, I SCHEDULED A TRIP TO THE FABRIC DISTRICT IN L.
A.
WITH JINYO AND VICTORIA TO WORK ON OUR COSTUMES FOR ANIME MATSURI, AND SO AFTER WAITING FOR AN HOUR, ONLY JINYO SHOWS UP AND NOT VICTORIA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA WORK ON OUR COSTUMES WHEN IT'S JUST HIM AND NOT HER.
- OKAY.
- SO HOW MUCH HAS SHE GOTTEN DONE? - IT'S JUST DOWN TO CUTTING I AND SEWING IT TOGETHER.
- HOW MUCH OF I IS SHE DOING AND HOW MUCH OF I ARE YOU DOING? [laughs.]
- IT WAS KIND OF MOSTLY HER BEFORE SHE GOT THIS JOB AND HAD TO GO OFF TO WORK.
- YEAH.
VICTORIA HAS AN ISSUE GETTING HER COSTUMES DONE IN TIME AND GETTING HER [bleep.]
TOGETHER.
I DON'T NEED VICTORIA BRINGING ME DOWN.
SHE DIDN'T FINISH HER STUFF AT WIZARD WORLD, RIGHT? SO YOU DON'T THINK IT'LL BE THE SAME SITUATION? - I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME SITUATION.
- JUST BECAUSE I'VE SEEN I BEFORE, I'M WEARY ABOUT IT.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, YAYA IS REFINING A COMPLICATED COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- I'M GOING TO ANIME MATSURI AS A COSPLAY GUEST.
I WILL BE JUDGING THEIR COSTUME CONTEST.
I'M WORKING ON MY DARK ELF FROM LINEAGE 2, BECAUSE IT IS A MORE ELABORATE COSTUME, AND I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE WHY I WAS INVITED TO THIS CONVENTION.
IT IS A REALLY BADASS COSTUME THAT IS REALLY ARMOR-HEAVY, DETAIL-HEAVY, AND IT'S VERY SEXY.
AND I LOVE THAT CHARACTER, BECAUSE SHE IS A GREAT COMBINATION OF A POWERFUL WOMAN, SEX APPEAL, AND INTRICATE ARMOR.
WHAT I'M THE MOST UNHAPPY WITH ON THIS COSTUME IS THE TORSO, AND THEN I DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY MOMENTS WHEN I'M WORKING ON A COSTUME WHERE I'M THINKING ABOUT CUTTING CORNERS AND MAYBE TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, BUT IN THE END, I'M TOO MUCH OF A PERFECTIONIST.
I SET THE STANDARDS WAY TOO HIGH FOR MYSELF, AND I'M WILLING TO STAY UP MULTIPLE NIGHTS JUST TO GET IT DONE, TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT'S HERE, THAT'S HERE.
GOOD.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, MONIKA'S BLIZZARD INTERVIEW HAS PUT HER BEHIND, AND THERE'S STILL LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE ON HER MIAKA YUKI COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- SO I'M BACK FROM L.
A.
I GOT ALL OF MY MATERIAL FOR MY MIAKA COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF ANY OF THE PARTS OF THE COSTUME, 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE, "OH, I'LL JUST DO THIS, USE THIS PATTERN," AND SO I CU THE PIECES OUT, AND THEN I JUST PINNED ALL THE WAY UP ON MY LEG, AND THEN I SEWED I TOGETHER.
ALL I COULD THINK ABOU IS MY INTERVIEW WITH BLIZZARD, AND IF VICTORIA CAN GE HER COSTUME FINISHED IN TIME.
- HOW'S IT GOING? - WELL, I FEEL SICK AND I'M STRESSED OUT.
- SO BLIZZARD, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BLIZZARD? HOW WAS THE INTERVIEW? - IT WENT REALLY WELL.
I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON.
I USED TO GIVE COSPLAY MY ALL, BUT WITH SCHOOL GOING ON AND THIS BLIZZARD THING, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO PUT IT A LITTLE BI ON THE BACK BURNER AND KIND OF FOCUS ON WHAT MY CAREER IS GONNA BE.
- DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE? - I JUST NEED PEACE AND QUIE RIGHT NOW.
narrator: STILL ON ASSIGNMEN FOR WIZARD WORLD AND WITH TIME RUNNING OU FOR ANIME MATSURI, VICTORIA MUST CHECK IN WITH JINYO ON SKYPE TO SEE HOW HER COSTUME IS PROGRESSING.
- HI.
- HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU THE MOCKUP THAT I'VE GO OF THE DRESS.
- YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT.
- YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YEAH, I KNOW THE BOTTOM IS KIND OF LONG.
- YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S NO REALLY WHAT I WAS-- THAT'S NO WHAT I WAS THINKING.
THAT'S JUST-- IT JUST LOOKS INCORRECT.
WHAT IT'S DOING IN THE FRON IS NOT WHAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF ILLUSTRATED IN THE DRAWING.
I ALWAYS WANT THINGS DONE A VERY PARTICULAR WAY, AND THE DRESS DESIGN IS VERY SPECIFIC.
I DON'T CARE THAT IT'S A DRAWING.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO REPLICATE IT PROPERLY, AND HE'S NOT DOING IT, AND HE'S WASTING TOO MUCH TIME.
- THIS IS WHA I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
- I KNOW, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW ANY OF THAT IS LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
- VICTORIA IS THE MOST O.
C.
D.
ABOUT GETTING THE ACCURACY RIGH ON A COSTUME.
SOMETIMES, IT EVEN REALLY HAMPERS HER ACTUALLY GETTING A COSTUME DONE.
- IT'S ONE THING IF I MESS UP FOR MYSELF, OR I DON'T GET A COSTUME DONE FOR MYSELF.
I CANNOT LET MONIKA DOWN.
I'M GONNA HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO ON THIS DRESS WHEN I GET BACK HOME.
- IT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE, HUGE CHALLENGE.
[cracks knuckles.]
narrator: COMING UP - ACTION! - EVERY TIME HE GETS HIT, HE HAS TO HAVE A NEW COAT OF PAINT.
AFTERWARDS, WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI TO GO TO.
OOPS.
narrator: IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF ANIME MATSURI, AND COSPLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE ARRIVING, INCLUDING JUDGE AND SPECIAL GUEST, YAYA HAN.
- I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THIS HOTEL BEFORE.
FOR ANIME MATSURI, I AM JUDGING THEIR BIG COSTUME CONTEST.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ENTRIES, AND THE TEXAS COSPLAYERS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY DEDICATED.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PREJUDGING THIS TIME WHERE I GET TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE THEIR COSTUMES UP CLOSE, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER.
AT ANIME MATSURI, THIS COMPETITION IS OF A DIFFERENT CALIBER.
THEY HAVE A VIDEO SCREEN FOR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
THEY HAVE GREAT SOUND, AND THEY ALLOW SKITS AS WELL AS WALK-ONS, SO THE COMPETITION WILL BE TOUGHER.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET READY FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES WHERE THE JUDGES AND THE GUESTS OF THE CONVENTION ARE INTRODUCED.
I THINK I AM GOOD TO GO.
[adventure music.]
- I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE EXCITED FOR OUR GUESTS THIS YEAR.
[cheers and applause.]
- MISS YAYA HAN.
- WOW.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
- CAN'T WAIT TO GE INTO THE HOTEL, RIGHT? - SO WE ARRIVE IN HOUSTON.
I HAVE SOME STUFF LEFT TO DO, BUT VICTORIA IS WAY BEHIND, SHE BARELY HAS A COSTUME SEWN TOGETHER, AND SHE PROMISED ME THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
I'M GETTING REALLY FREAKED OUT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO DO, THOUGH.
- YES.
- THERE'S A LO OF DETAIL WORK TO YUI, AND AN IMMENSE AMOUN OF EMBROIDERY.
- IT'S JUST WHEN YOU WAI LAST MINUTE, THIS KIND OF [bleep.]
HAPPENS, AND I DON'T WANT I TO LOOK HALF-ASSED.
THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR ME, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE GOING INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY.
IF I'M PRESENTING MYSELF AS A COSPLAYER TO A COMPANY LIKE BLIZZARD, I WANT TO BE IMPRESSIVE AND BE THE BES THAT I CAN.
- I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN, I PROMISE.
narrator: AS VICTORIA AND MONIKA WORK ON THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW, BECKY HAS ARRIVED AT ANIME MATSURI AS A GUEST, AND HAS SOME IMPORTANT DUTIES TO PREPARE FOR.
- THE ORGANIZERS OF ANIME MATSURI CONTACTED ME TO BE A GUES AT THEIR CONVENTION THIS YEAR, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING, BECAUSE I GET TO JUDGE THE MARVEL COSPLAY CONTES AND EVEN POSSIBLY HOSTING SOME STUFF ONSTAGE, SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE EVENT.
[applause.]
- FIRST UP, WE HAVE-- BECKY YOUNG IS HERE.
[cheers and applause.]
- [laughs.]
TO BE INVITED TO BE A GUES AT A CONVENTION-- ESPECIALLY A COSPLAY GUEST-- IT'S REALLY EXCITING, BECAUSE YOU'RE UP THERE WITH SOME OF THE BEST COSPLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN, YAYA IS A GUEST.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE STRUT, THAT WAS GREAT.
AND FOR THEM TO THINK OF ME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YAYA IS, I DON'T KNOW, THAT FEELS GOOD.
[applause.]
narrator: MONIKA AND VICTORIA ARE STILL HARD AT WORK ON THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW'S PREJUDGING, BUT HAVE YET TO DISCUSS THEIR STAGE PERFORMANCE PAR OF THE COMPETITION.
- HOW'S IT GOING? - I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY MAYBE FINALLY HAVE THE SURGER FIGURED OUT.
- OKAY.
I'M WORRIED FOR OUR SKIT THING.
LIKE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE STAGE, SO I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY RUN DOWN AND LOOK AT IT.
- YEAH, CAN YOU GET-- LIKE, IT'S OPEN AREA THAT YOU CAN GET TO? MONIKA, SHE DIDN'T WAN TO DO A SKIT, SO WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE BIT OF DANCE MOVEMENT, SOME NICE FLOW OF THE FABRICS TO JUST CREATE KIND OF A BEAUTY ONSTAGE, HOPEFULLY.
- ARE YOU GETTING EXCITED? - YEAH! [cheers and applause.]
- THIS IS AWESOME! WE'RE IN HOUSTON, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO WATCH PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS MARVEL CHARACTERS.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE CHRIS AS HAWKEYE.
[cheering.]
- VERY NICE, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE IN LOVE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE BLACK WIDOW AND HAWKEYE.
- I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT BECKY WAS JUDGING THE COSTUME CONTEST, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MANY CREDENTIALS AS FAR AS CRAFTSMANSHIP IS GOING.
- GUYS, GET EXCITED! YEAH! [cheers and applause.]
- HEY.
- HEY.
- SO I JUST GO BACK TO THE STAGE - YEAH, HOW DOES THAT LOOK? - AND I THINK IT'LL BE BIG ENOUGH AND IT'S OKAY.
- MM-HMM.
- BUT WHEN I WEN TO GO CHECK IT, THEY WERE DOING THE MARVEL COSPLAY CONTEST.
- OH, YEAH? - AND, LIKE, BECKY WAS JUDGING IT.
- MM.
- I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS A GUEST HERE.
HOPEFULLY, THERE WASN' CRAFTSMANSHIP INVOLVED, BECAUSE - RIGHT.
- I DON'T REALLY THINK SHE'D BE A GOOD, ACCURATE JUDGE OF THAT.
- MM-HMM.
narrator: BACK IN LOS ANGELES, HOLLY AND JESSICA ARE SEEING ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK COME TO FRUITION ON THE SET OF THEIR PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOOT.
- WE'RE READY.
- WE'RE READY, YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
ACTION! - WE'RE ON THE PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOO TO WATCH THE KAIJU MONSTER THAT WE DESIGNED FIGHT THE JAEGERS, WHICH ARE THE GIANT ROBOTS, POWER RANGERS STYLE.
- GO, GO, POWER RANGER.
EVERY TIME HE GETS HIT, HE HAS TO HAVE A NEW COAT OF PAINT.
- THESE PROJECTS KIND OF REALLY ARE WHAT SET US APAR FROM A LO OF DIFFERENT COSPLAYERS, IS THAT WE DO THINGS THA ARE REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, BUT THAT ALSO MAKES US BETTER COSPLAYERS, IN THAT WE GET TO REALLY LEARN NEW SKILLS THAT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY LEARN DRESSING YOURSELF.
- TURN YOUR HEAD A LITTLE TO THE LEFT.
EXCELLENT.
ACTION! - SO WE FINISH UP OUR 12-HOUR SHOOT, AND I REMEMBER THAT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI TO GO TO.
OOPS.
[laughs.]
- ALL IN A DAY'S WORK.
narrator: AFTER JUDGING THE AMATEUR COSPLAY CONTEST, BECKY DECIDES TO VISI MONIKA AND VICTORIA, WHO ARE FINISHING THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW'S MAIN COSPLAY COMPETITION.
- I FEEL SO NERVOUS ABOUT DOING BEAD WORK.
I'M ALWAYS--IN MY HEAD, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, "OH, SOMETHING'S GONNA COME UNDONE.
" I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE CHECKING OUT THE CON AND WHAT IT'S LIKE.
INSTEAD, I'M NOT GONNA SEE OUTSIDE MY HOTEL ROOM.
IF WE BUCKLE DOWN REALLY HARD, WE CAN GE BOTH OF OUR COSTUMES DONE RIGHT IN TIME FOR PREJUDGING.
[knocking at the door.]
- OH, WHO'S THAT? - I DON'T KNOW.
I'S BUSY.
[laughs.]
[door opening.]
HELLO.
- HI! HOW ARE YOU? - HOW'S IT GOING? - GOOD.
- WHAT'S UP? - I REALLY WANT TO COMPETE IN KANSAS CITY PLANET COMICON, AND THIS YEAR, KANSAS CITY COMICON IS HOSTING TWO COSTUME COMPETITIONS.
ONE IS INDIVIDUAL, AND THE OTHER IS WITH A TEAM.
I JUST REALLY RESPECT MONIKA AS A COSPLAYER, SO I'M GONNA SEE IF SHE WANTS TO TEAM UP WITH ME.
YOU GUYS GETTING READY FOR COMPETITION? - YUP.
- YEAH.
WE'RE JUST OBVIOUSLY PLUGGING AWAY, 'CAUSE VICTORIA DOESN'T HAVE HER STUFF DONE.
I KNOW, RIGHT? - THAT SEEMS KIND OF-- HAPPENS OFTEN NOWADAYS.
[laughs.]
SO ACTUALLY, I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU, MONIKA.
ARE YOU GOING TO PLANET COMICON IN KANSAS? - YEAH, UM-- - SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING TOGETHER.
- UM-- I DON'T SEE BECKY THAT OFTEN.
I DON'T TALK TO HER THAT OFTEN.
LIKE, I WOULDN'T REALLY THINK TO COME TO YOU.
LIKE, WE'RE ACQUAINTANCES.
- I MEAN, I THINK THA THE COOL THING ABOUT COSPLAYING IS MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH NEW PEOPLE.
- IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WOULD THINK TO GROUP WITH.
CRAFTSMANSHIP IS, LIKE, THE NUMBER ONE THING, AND I'VE SEEN YOUR CRAFTSMANSHIP STUFF BEFORE, AND I WOULDN'T REALLY EVEN WANT THAT.
- I DON'T THINK MY CRAFTSMANSHIP'S THAT HORRIBLE.
- IF WE REALLY WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MY LEVEL.
- I HAVE A LOT OF RESPEC FOR YOU, AND THE FIRST THING YOU TELL ME IS THAT I'M THE LAST PERSON THAT YOU'D WANT TO COSPLAY WITH? SHE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE CRAP.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
UM, THANKS.
narrator: IT'S THE MORNING OF THE COMPETITION AT ANIME MATSURI.
EXHAUSTED AND OUT OF TIME, HOLLY AND JESSICA FINALLY ARRIVE.
- SO WE JUST FINISH UP OUR AMAZING PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOOT, AND WE ARRIVE AT ANIME MATSURI THE MORNING OF THE CONVENTION.
- WE HAVE LITERALLY BEEN AWAKE 47 HOURS NOW.
- THERE WE ARE.
- THE PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO WAS ONE PROJEC WHERE WE PUT OUR HEART AND SOUL INTO THE WHOLE THING, POSSIBLY AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR "CATS: MEMESICAL" COSTUMES, SO WE JUST HAVE TO WORK IT.
narrator: MEANWHILE, VICTORIA IS FINISHING HER COSTUME MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE JUDGES.
- ARE YOU STILL NOT DONE YET? - UH, JUST PUTTING THE LAS FEW FINISHING TOUCHES.
- IT'S AN HOUR BEFORE PREJUDGING.
VICTORIA IS SITTING HERE HOT-GLUING HER COSTUME TOGETHER.
- OH, THAT MAKES ME SO NERVOUS.
- I JUST DON'T WANT THOSE TO FALL OFF.
- THAT'S ACTUALLY-- IT'S ALREADY DRY.
- YOU'RE MAKING ME REALLY WORRIED, VICTORIA.
narrator: THE PERFORMANCE PORTION OF THE COMPETITION IS STILL HOURS AWAY, BUT PREJUDGING WILL FIGURE HEAVILY INTO THEIR SCORES AND CAN DERAIL THEIR CHANCES OF WINNING THE COVETED "BEST IN SHOW" AT ANIME MATSURI.
- PREJUDGING FOR A COSTUME CONTES IS ALWAYS INTIMIDATING, BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE-ON-ONE WITH A JUDGE.
I JUST NEED EVERYTHING TO BE PERFECT RIGHT NOW.
- I LOOK LIKE A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY, BUT IT'S FINE.
- YOU'RE A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WITH HAIRY--WITH A HAIRY CHEST.
IN COSTUME CONTESTS, WHEN THERE'S PREJUDGING, THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOUR FABRICATION, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW YOU MADE THINGS AND HOW ACCURATE IT IS.
A LOT OF TIMES, THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR COSTUME.
- I DID HAND-MAKE THE WIGS.
I USED THE CREPE WOOL BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BEST THING AVAILABLE TO ME ON THE TIME THAT WE HAD, AND I'M FREAKING ALLERGIC TO IT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO BUY SOME KIND OF SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVE, BUT I FEEL LIKE BEING A LITTLE BIT ITCHY IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR AN AMAZING COSTUME.
narrator: YAYA PREPARES: FOR PREJUDGING, THE JUDGES' OPPORTUNITY TO NITPICK THE TINIEST DETAILS OF THE COMPETITORS' COSTUMES, AND ACCOUNTS FOR 50% OF THEIR FINAL SCORE.
- PREJUDGING IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS IN A GOOD COSTUME CONTEST, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE JUDGES TO REALLY GET AN IDEA OF HOW SOMEBODY MADE A COSTUME AND WHAT SKILL LEVEL THEY'RE AT.
- I LIKE THE DRAPING ON THIS, LOOKS REALLY PRETTY.
- THE JUDGES FOR THE ANIME MATSURI COSPLAY CONTES ARE MYSELF, KATHY FROM GOD SAVE THE QUEEN FASHIONS, WHO IS THE BEST CRAFTSMAN YOU'LL GET, BILL WINANS, WHO IS A PROP MAKER, AND RYN, WHO WAS THE 2010 U.
S.
REPRESENTATIVE FOR WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT.
- IT'S REALLY NERVE-WRACKING TO KNOW THAT YAYA IS ONE OF THE JUDGES, BECAUSE SHE'S LOOKING FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK.
- THE CRITERIA WE'RE GETTING JUDGED ON IS DIFFICULTY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND SHOWMANSHIP.
- I HONESTLY THINK IT'S ONE OF OUR MOS ACCURATE COSTUMES WE'VE DONE.
- YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT.
- YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING.
- I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS'S SKIT.
- HOLLY AND JESS SHOWED UP IN, LIKE, THESE CAT COSTUMES, AND I DIDN'T REALLY GET IT.
I DON'T THINK THE GENRE THEY CHOSE MAKES SENSE.
- OH, MY GOSH.
- BEFORE WE START, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? - 58.
- 58, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? - HOLLY CONRAD AND JESSICA MERIZAN, CRABCAT INDUSTRIES.
- STAND OVER HERE, THAT WAY BILL AND RYN CAN SEE.
- OH, SORRY.
- OVER HERE.
- WE'RE, LIKE, AFRAID OF YOU.
- WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAND NEXT TO THEM SO THEY CAN SEE IT.
- KATHY IS, LIKE, ALL BUSINESS.
LIKE, SHE IS BUSINESS TO THE MAX.
SHE JUST CAME UP AND, LIKE, CHUN-LI'D US, AND IT WAS OVER.
- KO'D.
- DID YOU GUYS MAKE EVERYTHING? - TO BE VERY UP-FRONT, THE ONLY THING THAT ISN' COMPLETELY, 100% HANDMADE IS WE BOUGH THESE UNITARDS.
- HOLLY AND JESSICA LOOK ADORABLE, BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A BODYSUIT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T MAKE THEM, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE PREJUDGING AND INSPECTING THEM.
I WISH THEY HAD MADE THEIR BODYSUITS.
- I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A DIVA, OR ANYTHING, BUT WE JUST FINISHED A PROJEC FOR GUILLERMO DEL TORO FOR PACIFIC RIM.
I THINK WE KNOW HOW TO FABRICATE.
- CAN WE SEE THE BACKS OF THE COSTUMES? - WE PAINTED THE BODYSUITS, WE-- - DID, LIKE, ONE OF YOU WEAR I AND THE OTHER ONE PAINTED? - YES.
- DID YOU HAVE A LOOM FOR THE KNITTING PROCESS, OR-- - SO, LIKE, YOU PAINTED THA AND YOU PAINTED THIS? - UM-- - SO, LIKE, WAS IT AIRBRUSHED? - NO, IT WAS-- - NO, WE HAND-PAINTED-- SO THEY'RE ALL ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE SAME TIME, IN OUR FACES, AND WE'RE LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" - THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN, YOU GUYS.
- THANKS A LOT, GUYS.
- NO, THANK YOU, GUYS.
- THAT'S A BIG PAR OF THE COSTUME THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE.
- SO THAT WAS KIND OF AN INTENSE-- - YEAH.
- I JUST FELT LIKE AN IDIOT.
- YEAH.
- ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, I AM GETTING A HEADACHE NOW.
I AM, LIKE, NOT FEELING WELL.
IS IT THE WOOL? AM I GETTING AN ALLERGIC REACTION? AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, I BET I WOULD FEEL A LOT BETTER IF I JUST RIPPED THIS COSTUME OFF AND RAN AROUND NAKED.
narrator: NEXT UP FOR PREJUDGING ARE MONIKA AND VICTORIA.
WITH MONIKA'S INTERNSHIP AND VICTORIA'S REPUTATION ON THE LINE, THESE PREJUDGING SCORES COULD MAKE OR BREAK THEIR CHANCES AT ANIME MATSURI.
- WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? - GOD, DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER? - I'M SURE YOU WERE GIVEN A NUMBER.
- "UNKNOWN NUMBER.
" - DID YOU GUYS MAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE WEARING? - YUP.
- I GUESS LET'S GO, LIKE, HEAD TO TOE.
- WELL, I CUT-STYLED THE WIG.
THE WINGS, I DYED THEM.
ALL OF THE JEWELRY PIECES I MADE MYSELF.
EVERYTHING'S SURGED, I USED ROLLED HEMS ON THE CHIFFON.
- OKAY.
- WATCHING THE JUDGES LOOK SO INTENSELY OVER MONIKA'S COSTUME IS FREAKING ME OUT, BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED MINUTES BEFORE IN THE HOTEL ROOM.
MY COSTUME IS NOT GONNA HOLD UP TO LOOKING AT IT SO CLOSELY.
- OKAY, MOVING ON.
- SO NOW VICTORIA.
- SO ON MINE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SHE'S KIND OF SUPPOSED TO BE A-- [all gasp.]
- OH, NO! - AH, [bleep.]
.
SORRY, WE GOT HIT A LO ON THE WAY OVER.
- I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED.
VICTORIA'S COSTUME IS BASICALLY FALLING APART IN FRONT OF ME.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HOT GLUE FOR THE METHOD TO ATTACH THOSE? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS KIND OF-- - YEAH, I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH E-6 AND HOT GLUE FOR DIFFERENT PARTS.
- BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU, LIKE, EMBED WIRE INTO IT? - I WOULD NEVER BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I KNEW MY COSTUME WOULD FALL APART.
I WOULD NEVER GO AHEAD INTO SOMETHING WHERE, LIKE, "THIS MIGHT FALL APART.
HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN'T.
" - YEAH, I KNOW.
- IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S VERY HEAVY.
IF YOU HAD EXTENDED THE WIRE, YOU--IN HERE, THEN YOU COULD'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING.
- WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO WIRE IN THERE.
UM-- - WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IF YOU HAD INSERTED WIRE-- - YEAH.
- IN MY DECADE OF JUDGING, I'VE ONLY SEEN COSTUMES FALLING APAR MAYBE A HANDFUL OF TIMES.
- I FEEL LIKE A COMPLETE FAILURE, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT AS A PARTNER TO MONIKA.
I-I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HER.
- GOOD LUCK FIXING EVERYTHING.
narrator: THE STAGE IS SE FOR THE ANIME MATSURI COSTUME COMPETITION.
THIS IS HOLLY AND JESSICA'S CHANCE TO INTRODUCE CRABCAT INDUSTRIES TO THE ANIME WORLD.
AND WITH THE EYES OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY ON MONIKA, SHE NEEDS TO CEMEN HER REPUTATION FOR PUTTING ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN HER COSPLAY.
FOR VICTORIA, THIS IS HER OPPORTUNITY TO GE THE RECOGNITION SHE DESIRES FROM AN ELITE PANEL OF JUDGES.
[cheers and applause.]
- HERE WE GO! COME ON! MORE THAN THAT! [cheers and applause.]
- I'M NOT DOING VERY WELL.
I THINK IT'S THE WOOL.
narrator: WITH THE STAGE COMPETITION ONLY MINUTES AWAY, JESSICA'S WOOL ALLERGY IS FINALLY CATCHING UP WITH HER, JEOPARDIZING HER OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HER DREAM COSPLAY TO THE AUDIENCE.
- I FEEL PRETTY TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW, WITH THIS WOOL CRAP ON MY HEAD.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING BUT I'M NOT A BABY.
I'M NOT GONNA, LIKE, WIMP OUT.
- ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO GET UP AND DO THE SHOW? - YES, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
[cheers and applause.]
- WE HAVE AN AMAZING ARRAY OF VERY TALENTED COSPLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HERE TO COMPETE TODAY.
narrator: AFTER VICTORIA'S DISASTROUS PREJUDGING SCORES, SHE AND MONIKA MUST HAVE A FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE IF THEY'RE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF WINNING "BEST IN SHOW.
" - THIS IS STAGE FRONT? THIS IS STAGE FRONT.
- OKAY.
- OKAY.
NOW THAT I HAVE SINGLE-HANDEDLY RUINED HOW OUR CRAFTSMANSHIP SCORES WERE GONNA GO FOR MONIKA AND ME, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHOWMANSHIP PART OF I GOES OFF CLEANLY, AND THAT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL FIGURING OU WHAT EXACTLY THAT SHOWMANSHIP IS.
PAUSE, POSE.
- WHO'S READY TO GET THIS CONTEST STARTED? [cheers and applause.]
- FIRST UP.
- JAM FROM GUILTY GEAR.
[cheers and applause.]
- BIOSHOCK 2.
- OH! [cheers and applause.]
- THE LEAGUE OF DRAVEN.
[cheers and applause.]
- I HAVE THE CHILLS NOW.
- WELL, LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH AND THEN WE'RE DONE.
JESSICA LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE SHE WAS HIT BY THE SICK BUS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
YOU OKAY? - I REALLY HOPE I DON' THROW UP IN THERE.
- BLAIR THE CA FROM SOUL EATER.
- FINAL FANTASY VII.
[cheers and applause.]
- [coughs.]
OH, MY GOSH.
I AM GOING TO THROW UP.
[gagging.]
[gagging.]
[retches.]
- IT'S OKAY.
THIS IS EMBARRASSING.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS.
[sighs.]
- HERE.
JUST DRINK THE WATER.
OKAY.
- I REALLY WANT TO PULL OUT.
I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T DO THIS, BUT IT'S MY DREAM COSTUME.
I CAN'T PULL OUT NOW.
I CAN'T--I CAN'T QUIT.
I--WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS.
- "STEP ASIDE, YOU PANSIES FROM TWILIGHT.
LET A REAL VAMPIRE SAVE THE WORLD.
" - THE XENO BROTHERS.
[cheers and applause.]
NEXT UP, THE RED DRAGON.
- OH, MY GOD.
WHAT IF HE STEPS ON THE TAIL? [both cheering.]
narrator: FOR THE PERFORMANCE SECTION OF ANIME MATSURI, MONIKA AND VICTORIA HAVE A FUSHIGI YUGI -THEMED DANCE TO PERFORM, BUT AFTER VICTORIA'S FAILURE IN PREJUDGING, IT MUST BE PERFEC TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF WINNING.
- WHAT? - WE'RE ABOUT TO ONSTAGE, AND I'M FEELING REALLY NERVOUS.
VISUALIZE--OKAY.
- WHAT, YOU FORGOT IT, WHAT? - WE'RE SITTING, WE GOT UP, LEFT ARM, BOTH ARMS, SPIN.
WE PUT SO MUCH WORK AND EFFOR INTO THIS THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE I OUR ALL, AND I JUST HOPE WE DON'T [bleep.]
UP ANYMORE.
- BEST FRIENDS TURNED BITTER ENEMIES.
MIAKA, PRIESTESS OF SUZAKU, AND YUI, PRIESTESS OF SEIRYU.
[applause.]
[Asian techno music.]
[cheers and applause.]
- THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY.
[cheers and applause.]
- UGH! [laughs.]
- STEP OVER HERE.
THE ORGANIZERS FOR ANIME MATSURI HAVE ASKED ME TO INTERVIEW THE CONTESTANTS WHEN THEY COME OFFSTAGE.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS.
- WELL, WE'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ANIME 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF OLD, AND, LIKE, WE STARTED OFF WITH I WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.
- WELL, YOU GUYS BOTH LOOK FANTASTIC.
- THANK YOU.
- GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- THANK YOU.
- WERE YOUR KNEES SHAKING WHEN YOU GOT OFF? SO WE PERFORMED, AND GIVEN HOW MUCH TIME WE HAD AND WHAT WE HAD TO DO, I THINK WE DID PRETTY DAMN WELL.
[cheers and applause.]
- CREED'S ASSASSIN.
- IN THE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, JUSTICE COMES.
- [cheers.]
- THE SCARECROW.
narrator: IT'S TIME FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR HOLLY AND JESSICA, AND THE PAIR MUST DECIDE HOW IMPORTAN THEIR "CATS: THE MEMESICAL" COSPLAY IS.
- I'M NEARING THE END OF WHAT MY BODY CAN TOLERATE WITH THIS WOOL ALLERGY.
- YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ONSTAGE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
I DON'T WANT YOU, LIKE, PASSING OUT.
JESSICA IS SO SICK AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER, SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S WORTH HER HEALTH.
- ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE CRABCAT INDUSTRIES PRESENTS "CATS: THE MEMESICAL.
" [laughter and murmuring.]
- SWEETIE, YOU DON' HAVE TO DO IT.
[murmuring.]
- I DON'T CARE IF I'M SICK.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
WE PROMISED THE FANS CAT COSPLAY LOVE.
[cheers and applause.]
[quirky music.]
- JESSICA AND HOLLY ARE DOING SOME SORT OF AN IN-JOKEY MEME-RELATED SKIT WITH CATS, AND I AM COMPLETELY LOS AND CONFUSED.
[cheers and applause.]
I THINK JESSICA AND HOLLY REALLY HAVE GONE OFF THE DEEP END ON THIS ONE.
- GUYS, HOW DID IT GO ONSTAGE FOR YOU? - JESSICA WAS SICK, LIKE, TWO SECOND AGO BECAUSE SHE'S ALLERGIC TO WOOL.
FANCY THAT.
[laughs.]
- OH, MY GOD.
- I DON'T KNOW WHICH IS THE WORST PART, HOW SICK I AM, HOW TERRIBLE OUR CHOREOGRAPHY ENDED UP BEING, OR HOW MUCH ABSOLUTELY NO ONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE DOING.
- THANK YOU, LADIES.
- THANKS, BECKY.
- I AM REALLY EMBARRASSED RIGHT NOW.
- WHERE IS THE ELEVATOR, THIS WAY? - I ABSOLUTELY LOOK LIKE THE REJECTED MEMBER FROM KISS RIGHT NOW.
I'M SORRY, I'M REALLY, REALLY SICK.
NO, I'M--I'M NOT MOVING, I'M SORRY.
I'M NOT MOVING.
- SHE'S REALLY-- - NO, I [bleep.]
THREW UP TWICE.
- SHE THREW UP TWICE.
- I'M SITTING DOWN.
- SHE'S REALLY SICK.
SHE'S BEEN THROWING UP.
- I AM DIZZY.
AS IF THIS HASN'T BEEN THE WORS CONVENTION OF MY ENTIRE LIFE, LIKE, IT CANNO GET ANY WORSE, OH, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO GET ARRESTED.
- WE NEED TO GO UP TO OUR ROOM.
- GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OUR PERFORMERS.
narrator: THE ANIME MATSURI COMPETITION HAS CONCLUDED.
NOW, THE JUDGES MUST BEGIN DELIBERATIONS.
- THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT, SIMPLE SKI THAT REALLY GOT A GREAT REACTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
- PREJUDGING WENT PRETTY POOPY, 'CAUSE VICTORIA'S COSTUME, LIKE, FELL APAR WHEN WE WENT IN THERE, BUT I WAS HAPPY WITH HOW OUR PERFORMANCE WENT.
- THE FABRIC FLOWING ON THE STAGE AND THE RIBBON HAD A REALLY PRETTY VISUAL IMPAC - I AGREE.
WHAT ABOU "CATS: THE MEMESICAL"? I WANT TO SEE MORE CATS.
- IF IT'S JUST ON CRAFTSMANSHIP, THEY DID IT.
- WHAT DO WE DO? - THIS IS HORRIBLY DIFFICULT.
[cheers and applause.]
- AND OUR JUDGES HAVE DELIBERATED.
THEY ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.
- I HAVEN'T WON OR PLACED IN THIS CONTEST SEASON SO FAR.
I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME VALIDATION THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS REMOTELY GOOD.
- IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICUL DELIBERATIONS.
- I KNOW I ALWAYS TELL HOLLY THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE WIN OR LOSE, BUT IT'S MY DREAM COSTUME.
- THIRD PLACE GOES TO - LIKE, MY WHOLE BODY ACHES.
I'M, LIKE, ACHING, AND, LIKE, I HAVE CHILLS.
- WELL, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU MEDICINE, SO IT'LL STOP HURTING IN A SECOND.
- BECAUSE I AM SO SICK, WE HAVE TO SEQUESTER OURSELF INTO THE HOTEL ROOM, SO WE ARE GONNA MISS THE JUDGING TONIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M, LIKE, SUPER HUNG OVER, EXCEPT I REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
- THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
- ALL RIGHTY.
AND OUR JUDGES HAVE DELIBERATED.
THEY ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.
- WHOO! - YES.
- I HAVEN'T WON OR PLACED IN THIS CONTEST SEASON SO FAR.
I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME VALIDATION THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS REMOTELY GOOD.
- THIRD PLACE GOES TO BENIHIME WITH A COSTUME FROM GATE 7.
- WELL DONE.
[cheers and applause.]
- JEEZ, THIS IS TENSE.
- SECOND PLACE.
DRAVEN.
[cheers and applause.]
THAT IS HIS SECOND COSTUME EVER.
[cheers and applause.]
- I'M SITTING HERE, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BLIZZARD STUFF, BUT IT SEEMS ALMOS INSIGNIFICANT IN COMPARISON TO THIS COMPETITION.
- AND NOW, FIRST PLACE WE ARE PROUD TO GIVE TO THE XENO BROTHERS.
[cheers and applause.]
- TAKE A BOW, GUYS.
[cheers and applause.]
- GREAT SHOW! - YOU OKAY? - YEAH.
- IF ANYTHING, THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NOT TO CRAP OUT A COSTUME IN, LIKE, TWO SECONDS.
SO AT LEAST I ACTUALLY HAVE BLIZZARD TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
LET'S GO.
narrator: THE ANIME MATSURI COMPETITION IS OVER, SO BECKY WANTS TO CHECK IN ON JESSICA TO SEE IF HER COSPLAY FRIEND IS FEELING ANY BETTER.
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? - HI.
I JUST CAME TO SEE HOW JESS WAS DOING.
- GOD, I'M GONNA COME UP THERE, 'CAUSE SHE'S STILL ASLEEP.
- OH, OKAY.
- I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CARED TO COME CHECK UP ON POOR JESSICA WAS BECKY, WHICH I THOUGH WAS REALLY SWEET.
HOW WAS YOUR CONVENTION OTHERWISE? YOU WERE HOSTING.
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
- YEAH.
- IT WAS LIKE, "OH, IT'S BECKY!" [both laughing.]
- ACTUALLY, I APPROACHED MONIKA TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT I COULD JOIN UP WITH THEM.
SHE WAS ACTUALLY REALLY MEAN.
- YOU SERIOUS? - YEAH, LIKE, SHE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON THAT SHE WOULD EVER THINK OF.
- WHAT? - MY SKILL LEVEL IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THEIRS.
- WHAT MONIKA SAID TO BECKY GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE STAND FOR AS COSPLAYERS.
COSPLAY ISN' ABOUT ALIENATING PEOPLE OR ELITISM OR BEING BIG JERKS.
IT'S ABOUT GOING OUT THERE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND JUST HAVING FUN AND GETTING BETTER AT YOUR CRAFT.
- IT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT BAD ABOUT MYSELF.
AND MY--MY OWN STUFF.
- OH, MY GOD, PLEASE DO NOT.
YOU CANFIGURE OU SOMETHING WITH US IF YOU WANT, BECAUSE-- - ARE YOU SURE? - YEAH, WE ARE INCLUSIVE, WE WANT YOU TO LEARN.
WE WANT YOU TO HANG OU WITH US, AND WE LIKE YOU, WHICH IS, LIKE-- - [laughs.]
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE TWO GIRLS.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR KANSAS CITY PLANET COMICON, BECAUSE THE FUN IS JUST ABOUT TO START.
- MY ROCKET PACK GOT RECOGNIZED.
IT SETS YOU APAR FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.
- THE CAR IS VERY IMPORTAN BECAUSE THE COSTUME ITSELF IS VERY SIMPLE.
- IT WAS IN THE BOX.
- OH, MY GOD.
WHILE I MAY BE GIVING UP ON THE CAR, I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THIS COMPETITION.
- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SECOND RUNNER UP, JESSICA AS TANK GIRL.
- I WIN A COSTUME CONTES AND HOLLY DOESN'T.
THIS IS LITERALLY INSANE.
- WE'RE NOT GONNA COMPETE SEPARATELY AGAIN.
- WE ARE A TEAM.
- AND YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING FIRST ONE OF THESE DAYS.
narrator: AND TONIGHT, ON HEROES OF COSPLAY - ACTION! - HOLLY LANDED US AN AMAZING GIG WITH GUILLERMO DEL TORO, BUT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
- HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE GONE? - IT'S LIKE A FULL WEEK.
- I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW ANY OF THA IS LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
- VICTORIA IS O.
C.
D.
ABOUT THE ACCURACY.
- YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WOULD THINK TO GROUP WITH.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MY LEVEL.
[all gasp.]
- OH, NO! - HEY, ARE YOU OKAY? - YES.
OH, JEEZ! - THE FUN IS JUST ABOUT TO START.
[upbeat techno music.]
@Cwluc == S01E04 Anime Matsuri == narrator: THE NEXT STOP FOR THE HEROES OF COSPLAY IS ANIME MATSURI IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ANIME MATSURI IS ONE OF THE PREMIER ANIME CONVENTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, DRAWING THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE FANS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR COSPLAY.
THIS IS THE FIRS ANIME CONVENTION FOR OUR HEROES OF COSPLAY, AND COSPLAY PERFORMANCES OR SKITS ARE THE RULE, AND NOT THE EXCEPTION.
AND AT ANIME CONVENTIONS, A HIGHER STANDARD IS PLACED UPON THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE COSTUME.
YAYA HAN IS BACK FROM HER TRIP TO DENMARK AND HAS A PHOTO SHOOT THAT WILL HELP EXPAND HER BRAND IN 2014, BUT WITH ANIME MATSURI LOOMING, HER TIME IS LIMITED.
- HI, BENNY.
- HEY, BENNY, HOW YOU DOING? - GOOD, THANKS AGAIN.
- NICE TO SEE YOU.
SO WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY? - WELL, WE HAVE A ALL-DAY PHOTO SHOO FOR MY 2014 CALENDAR.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, FOR SURE.
- I'M EXCITED.
- I'M A JUDGE AT ANIME MATSURI IN TWO WEEKS, AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOING TO GET THE CALENDAR DONE, SO I'M TRYING TO SQUEEZE A THREE-DAY PHOTO SHOO INTO A ONE-DAY SHOOT.
YOU CAN HELP ME PUT MY SHOES ON, MY BOOTS.
- OKAY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A SECOND? - NO.
I'M READY TO SAVE THE PLANET.
- THE DRESS SUITS YOU.
- NEXT COSTUME.
WATCH MY CROTCH-AL REGION [laughs.]
FOR ANY MISHAPS.
HELP ME PULL IT UP.
JUST DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T NEED TO BREATHE.
THIS 2014 CALENDAR SHOO IS VERY EXCITING, BUT ALSO REALLY STRESSFUL.
WE REALLY GOTTA HURRY, 'CAUSE I GOTTA TAKE THIS OFF.
- YOU GONNA FAINT? ARE YOU OKAY? - I DON'T KNOW.
[grunts.]
- HERE.
YOU OKAY? YOU NEED A BREAK? - I THINK I JUST NEED TO TAKE THIS CORSET OFF.
- ALL RIGHT.
- THE YAYA HAN CALENDAR IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY BRAND.
IT IS WHAT SETS ME APART FROM OTHER COSPLAYERS.
AND I JUST CANNOT STOP RIGHT NOW.
- ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
- HOLY CRAP.
OH.
[bleep.]
GET THIS CORSE OFF ME, OKAY? THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW.
JUST CUT IT OFF, JUST CUT THE LACE OFF.
BENNY HAS THE SCISSORS.
CRAP.
- BENNY, WE NEED THE SCISSORS TO GET THE CORSET OFF OF HER.
- UGH! - I GOT IT, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
- AH.
- THERE WE GO.
- [sighs.]
IT'S LIKE I'VE NEVER BREATHED BEFORE IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR COSPLAY.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, MONIKA IS SKYPING WITH VICTORIA TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF COSPLAYING TOGETHER AT ANIME MATSURI.
[phone tone ringing.]
- HELLO? - HELLO.
- HEY, GIRL, WHAT'S UP? I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE SEATTLE, HOW'S IT BEEN? - IT'S BEEN GOOD, IT'S BEEN GOOD.
WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS COMING UP IN TERMS OF COSPLAY? - I HAVE ANIME MATSURI COMING UP IN HOUSTON.
- YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY-- I'M GOING THERE TOO.
- WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING TOGETHER MAYBE? - YEAH, I'D LOVE THAT.
- WE COULD MAYBE DO SOMETHING ANIME.
- WHAT ABOUT FUSHIGI YUGI? DID YOU EVER WATCH THA WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? - OH.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO COSPLAY THAT.
- I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE IT WITH YOU.
- I ACTUALLY DON' COSPLAY ANIME THAT OFTEN, BUT FUSHIGI YUGI, FOR ME, WAS THE ONE ANIME THAT I WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, PASSIONATE AND EXCITED ABOUT.
SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT CHANCE TO DO THE CHARACTERS.
- BUT YEAH, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ART IMAGES FOR YUI AND MIAKA.
THE CHARACTER OF YUI HAS A BIT OF A-- SHE'S A DRAGON PRIESTESS, BUT THE KEY TO HER LOOK ARE HER HORNS THAT ARE MADE OUT OF CORAL AND FINS COMING OUT OF HER HEAD.
- I'LL START MAKING A LIS OF THE STUFF I NEED SINCE WE'RE KIND OF LIMITED ON TIME.
- YEAH, WE ARE.
- JUST AS LONG AS YOU CAN PROMISE ME THAT YOU WON'T WAI TILL THE LAST MINUTE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN THE HOTEL ROOM TRYING TO WORK ON STUFF.
- I'LL BE WORKING ON I NON-STOP.
- OKAY, I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON, OKAY? - ALL RIGHT, I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, BABE.
- OKAY, BYE.
[chuckles.]
narrator: AFTER MEGACON, HOLLY AND JESSICA ARE BACK COSPLAYING TOGETHER, AND ARE PLANNING ON COMPETING AT ANIME MATSURI TO BRING CRABCAT INDUSTRIES TO A NEW AUDIENCE.
- SO ANIME MATSURI IS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, IT'S ALSO, LIKE, A HUGE COSPLAY CONTEST, SO IT'D BE A REALLY GOOD WAY FOR US TO GET EXPOSURE.
- YEAH.
THE MORE WE RESEARCH ANIME MATSURI, THE MORE CRAZY COMPLICATED THIS COSTUME CONTEST IS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO TAP INTO THE ANIME FANDOM FOR CRABCA AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ONLINE AND OUR COMPANY, CRABCAT INDUSTRIES.
SOWHAT IF WE DID SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? BUT WE NEED A REALLY CLEVER GIMMICK TO CAPTURE THE ANIME CROWD.
- I'M REALLY NOT LIKING WHERE THIS IS GOING.
- OKAY, ARE YOU READY? - NO.
- CATS THE "MEMESICAL.
" JAPANESE CATS ARE HUGE, SO WE DO FAMOUS INTERNET CATS, BUT IN THE STYLE OF CATS, THE MUSICAL.
YOU COULD BE GRUMPY CAT! YOU'RE MAKING THE FACE RIGHT NOW! COME ON, WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO THIS.
AGREE TO IT, AGREE TO IT! PINKY PROMISE ME! - THIS IS GONNA BE IN MY OBITUARY.
- OKAY, LET'S-- - OW, [bleep.]
, MY PINKY! - EVERYONE KNOWS CATS, BUT TO PUT A WEIRD SPIN ON IT, - I'M GONNA BE GRUMPY CAT, AND JESSICA IS GOING TO BE MARU THE BOX CAT.
- "THE RUM TUM TUGGER IS A CURIOUS CAT.
" - IF THE ANIME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A DISASTER.
- "AND THERE ISN'T ANY NEED FOR ME TO DOUBT IT, "FOR HE WILL DO AS HE DO, DO, AND THERE'S NO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
" I'M USUALLY NOT VERY CONFIDEN ABOUT WINNING ANYTHING, BUT THIS IS, LIKE, THE PERFECT STORM COMING TOGETHER.
AS LONG AS EVERYONE GETS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
- I'M GONNA SLAM MY HEAD INTO THIS LAPTOP AND END IT ALL UNTIL YOU TELL ME HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS.
- WE HAVE TO MAKE THE WIG FROM SCRATCH.
- [sighs.]
- WE CAN USE CREPE WOOL, OR WE CAN USE THIS SYNTHETIC STUFF.
- AREN'T YOU ALLERGIC TO WOOL? - YES, I AM, BUT YAK HAIR IS, LIKE, SO EXPENSIVE, AND SO IS THE SYNTHETIC STUFF.
WOOL MAKES ME REALLY ITCHY, AND I BREAK OUT IN HIVES WHEN I WEAR IT.
I THINK WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BITE THE BULLE AND USE THE SYNTHETIC STUFF, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO WOOL.
- I WILL DO THIS BECAUSE YOU LIKE CATS AND WE BOTH HAVE A CONNECTION TO IT, AND IT SEEMS EASY TO MAKE, AND IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONE, SO-- - MACAVITY! narrator: ACROSS TOWN, JINYO AND VICTORIA ARE HARD AT WORK ON THEIR FUSHIGI YUGI COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- VICTORIA WANTED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFEREN WITH THIS COSTUME, SO WE'RE DOING A LO OF SILICONE PIECES ON IT, CASTING THE FINS THAT GO ON HER HEAD AND SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE OUTFI TO SORT OF GIVE I THAT TRANSLUCENT, ORGANIC LOOK.
EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GO ALL THESE SILICONE PIECES CAST, IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COSTUME COME TOGETHER WELL.
[phone ringing.]
- HELLO.
OH, REALLY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I'M WORKING ON MY YUI COSTUME WHEN I GET THE BES AND WORST NEWS IN THE WORLD.
SO THAT WAS WIZARD WORLD.
- YEAH? - YES.
- WHAT ABOUT WIZARD WORLD? - UH, I THINK I MIGHT BE WORKING FOR THEM NOW.
- REALLY? - YEAH.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR NEXT CON NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS IN ST.
LOUIS, WHICH IS, LIKE, THE WORST TIMING EVER.
- WELL, HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE GONE EXACTLY? - IT'S LIKE A FULL WEEK.
- I WAS REALLY WORRIED WHEN VICTORIA TOLD ME HOW LONG SHE'D HAVE TO BE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS JOB, AND WITH ANIME MATSURI BREATHING DOWN OUR NECKS, I'VE GOT, LIKE, TWICE THE PRESSURE.
- I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I STILL HAVE A SOLID WEEK THEN I CAN STILL KNOCK IT OUT, LIKE, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MIND WORKING ON I WHILE I'M GONE IN ST.
LOUIS.
- SCHEDULE-WISE, IT'S REALLY TIGHT.
narrator: COMING UP - I GOT ALL MY MATERIAL FOR MY MIAKA COSTUME.
I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF ANY OF THE PARTS OF THE COSTUME, BUT VICTORIA BARELY HAS A COSTUME SEWN TOGETHER.
I'M GETTING REALLY FREAKED OUT.
- THIS IS LITERALLY A DREAM PROJECT.
- HOLLY LANDED US A GIG WITH OUR FAVORITE ARTIST, GUILLERMO DEL TORO.
I STARTED SCULPTING THE HEAD, AND NOW I'M KIND OF DOING THE DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN GET I CAST AND MOLDED, BUT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
narrator: MONIKA'S DREAM JOB IS TO WORK IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY, SO SHE'S FLYING TO LOS ANGELES TO AN INTERVIEW AT BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMEN FOR A SUMMER INTERNSHIP SHE HOPES WILL LEAD TO A CAREER.
- HEY.
- HI.
- MONIKA LEE? - YES.
- I'M KATHERINE, I WORK IN LICENSING.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY? - I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMEN IS A VIDEO GAME COMPANY, AND THEY MAKE REALLY POPULAR GAMES SUCH AS DIABLO, STARCRAFT, AND WORLD OF WARCRAFT.
THEY'RE A HUGE DEAL.
LIKE, YOU DON'T GET TO WORK FOR BLIZZARD UNLESS YOU'RE, LIKE, JESUS.
- EVERY EMPLOYEE GETS AWARDS FOR BEING HERE.
FIVE YEARS, YOU GET A SWORD.
TEN YEARS, YOU GET A SHIELD.
- WOW.
[artificially deep voice.]
HELLO.
OH, MY GOD, IT'S SO COOL.
I LOVE THIS COSTUME.
SHE'S SO PRETTY.
OH, MY GOD.
THE DETAIL IS-- OH, I CAN'T GET OVER IT.
I WISH I COULD DO THAT.
LIKE, THAT IS AN ART.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO A COSTUME OF ONE OF THE ELVES.
I AM SOAKING IT ALL IN, SO COOL.
- [chuckles.]
- I'M SO NERVOUS FOR MY INTERVIEW.
MY HEART'S JUST GOING A MILLION MILES AN HOUR, AND I'M SITTING HERE LIKE, "DID I PRACTICE ENOUGH? WHAT AM I GONNA SAY?" MONIKA, WE ARE HERE.
THIS IS OUR LIBRARY.
- HI, NICE TO MEET YOU.
- HEY, GUYS.
- MONIKA.
[laughs.]
- MATT BEECHER AND JASON BISCHOFF, THIS IS MONIKA LEE.
- HI, HOW ARE YOU? I'M MONIKA.
- WELCOME.
- HAVE A SEAT.
- CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BI ABOUT YOUR TECHNIQUES FOR COSTUMING? - IT FOSTERS MANY, I GUESS SKILLS, LIKE TIME MANAGEMENT, AND I THINK JUST THE PRIDE OF, LIKE, HAVING AN END PRODUCT.
WHEN I PUT ON THE COSTUME AND I WALK OUTSIDE, AND I'M LIKE, "THERE IS NO OTHER ULTIMATE WAY "THAT I COULD EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR THIS GAME OR THIS CHARACTER, BECAUSE I AM THAT CHARACTER.
" THE HOURS YOU SPEN ON GETTING THAT LITTLE DETAIL, ON JUST THAT ONE LITTLE PART, TO HAVE IT BE ENGINEERED RIGHT.
- YEAH, THAT KIND OF SPEAKS TO THE BLIZZARD GOLD STANDARD.
- EVEN JUST, LIKE, WALKING AROUND THE CAMPUS AND SEEING, LIKE, THE QUALITY AND, LIKE, THE SCULPTURES, IT'S EVIDENT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
MY COSPLAY IS A REPRESENTATION OF HOW HARD I WORK AND WHAT I CAN BRING, YOU KNOW, UNIQUE TO A COMPANY.
IF I KEEP GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION, LIKE, BIG THINGS COULD HAPPEN FOR ME.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ME HERE, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BLIZZARD IS FORT KNOX, SO-- [laughs.]
- YOU GOT INTO FORT KNOX.
- YES.
- WELL, BEFORE YOU GO TOO, DON'T BE SHY, WE'LL SWAG YOU OUT.
- [gasps.]
- SO WE'LL VISIT WHAT WE CALL "THE SWAG CLOSET.
" - [laughs.]
AFTER MY INTERVIEW, I FEEL LIKE MY CHANCES ARE REALLY GOOD.
I FEEL AWESOME AND I CAN'T WAI TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
narrator: HOLLY AND JESSICA HAVE THEIR PLAN IN PLACE FOR THEIR COSTUMES FOR ANIME MATSURI, BUT THEY'VE JUST LANDED A BIG-TIME COSTUME COMMISSION JOB.
- THIS IS LITERALLY A DREAM PROJECT FOR ME.
- HOLLY JUST LANDED US AN AMAZING GIG WITH OUR VERY FAVORITE ARTIST-- HERO, GUILLERMO DEL TORO FOR PACIFIC RIM.
- LITERALLY MY BIGGEST HERO.
- GUILLERMO DEL TORO IS AMAZING.
SOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE JUST SO-- SO CREATIVE.
- NO.
- YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "YOU BELONG IN A MUSEUM.
" - YEAH.
- "I WANT YOUR BRAIN AFTER YOU DIE.
" - WE'RE DESIGNING AND MAKING A CREATURE SUI FOR THE FILM PACIFIC RIM THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA BE WEARING FOR A VIRAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.
THEY'RE HAVING OUR MONSTER FIGHT THREE JAEGERS, WHICH ARE THE BIG ROBOTS, BUT WE'RE DOING IT, LIKE, POWER RANGERS STYLE, WHERE IT'S, LIKE, SUITS FIGHTING EACH OTHER ON A GREEN SCREEN.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO LOVED THE DESIGN, BUT OUR NEXT STEP IS TO MAKE THE ACTUAL MONSTER, SO I'VE STARTED SCULPTING THE HEAD, AND NOW I'M KIND OF DOING THE DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN GET I CAST AND MOLDED.
I THINK MY FAVORITE THING TO DO IS DETAILING.
I LOVE DOING ALL THE LITTLE NOODLINGS ON THE MONSTER.
THAT BRINGS IT TO LIFE, MAKES IT LOOK REAL.
- WHILE HOLLY'S DOING ALL OF THE SCULPTING OF THE CREATURE HEAD, I HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH FIGURING OU HOW THE BODY IS GOING TO WORK.
- SO THE HEAD'S LIKE THIS, LIKE, OUT IN FRONT OF A PERSON.
- OKAY.
- SO YOU SEE HOW THE ANGLE IS RIGHT NOW? - YEAH.
THIS SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 13 1/2 INCHES.
AND WHILE WE ARE MAKING ALL OF THIS CRAZY, AMAZING, FUN STUFF, IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, ALL I'M THINKING IS, "OH, MY GOSH, WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI COSTUMES TO MAKE.
" narrator: BEFORE HEADING BACK TO ATLANTA, MONIKA DECIDES TO MEET UP WITH VICTORIA AND JINYO TO PICK UP FABRIC FOR THEIR COSTUMES.
- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? - I'VE BEEN SITTING IN L.
A.
TRAFFIC.
- WHERE'S VICTORIA? - UH, SHE'S OUT OF TOWN, SHE'S WORKING.
- OH.
SOOKAY.
SO AFTER MY INTERVIEW AT BLIZZARD, I SCHEDULED A TRIP TO THE FABRIC DISTRICT IN L.
A.
WITH JINYO AND VICTORIA TO WORK ON OUR COSTUMES FOR ANIME MATSURI, AND SO AFTER WAITING FOR AN HOUR, ONLY JINYO SHOWS UP AND NOT VICTORIA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA WORK ON OUR COSTUMES WHEN IT'S JUST HIM AND NOT HER.
- OKAY.
- SO HOW MUCH HAS SHE GOTTEN DONE? - IT'S JUST DOWN TO CUTTING I AND SEWING IT TOGETHER.
- HOW MUCH OF I IS SHE DOING AND HOW MUCH OF I ARE YOU DOING? [laughs.]
- IT WAS KIND OF MOSTLY HER BEFORE SHE GOT THIS JOB AND HAD TO GO OFF TO WORK.
- YEAH.
VICTORIA HAS AN ISSUE GETTING HER COSTUMES DONE IN TIME AND GETTING HER [bleep.]
TOGETHER.
I DON'T NEED VICTORIA BRINGING ME DOWN.
SHE DIDN'T FINISH HER STUFF AT WIZARD WORLD, RIGHT? SO YOU DON'T THINK IT'LL BE THE SAME SITUATION? - I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME SITUATION.
- JUST BECAUSE I'VE SEEN I BEFORE, I'M WEARY ABOUT IT.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, YAYA IS REFINING A COMPLICATED COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- I'M GOING TO ANIME MATSURI AS A COSPLAY GUEST.
I WILL BE JUDGING THEIR COSTUME CONTEST.
I'M WORKING ON MY DARK ELF FROM LINEAGE 2, BECAUSE IT IS A MORE ELABORATE COSTUME, AND I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE WHY I WAS INVITED TO THIS CONVENTION.
IT IS A REALLY BADASS COSTUME THAT IS REALLY ARMOR-HEAVY, DETAIL-HEAVY, AND IT'S VERY SEXY.
AND I LOVE THAT CHARACTER, BECAUSE SHE IS A GREAT COMBINATION OF A POWERFUL WOMAN, SEX APPEAL, AND INTRICATE ARMOR.
WHAT I'M THE MOST UNHAPPY WITH ON THIS COSTUME IS THE TORSO, AND THEN I DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY MOMENTS WHEN I'M WORKING ON A COSTUME WHERE I'M THINKING ABOUT CUTTING CORNERS AND MAYBE TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, BUT IN THE END, I'M TOO MUCH OF A PERFECTIONIST.
I SET THE STANDARDS WAY TOO HIGH FOR MYSELF, AND I'M WILLING TO STAY UP MULTIPLE NIGHTS JUST TO GET IT DONE, TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT'S HERE, THAT'S HERE.
GOOD.
narrator: IN ATLANTA, MONIKA'S BLIZZARD INTERVIEW HAS PUT HER BEHIND, AND THERE'S STILL LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE ON HER MIAKA YUKI COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
- SO I'M BACK FROM L.
A.
I GOT ALL OF MY MATERIAL FOR MY MIAKA COSTUME FOR ANIME MATSURI.
I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF ANY OF THE PARTS OF THE COSTUME, 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE, "OH, I'LL JUST DO THIS, USE THIS PATTERN," AND SO I CU THE PIECES OUT, AND THEN I JUST PINNED ALL THE WAY UP ON MY LEG, AND THEN I SEWED I TOGETHER.
ALL I COULD THINK ABOU IS MY INTERVIEW WITH BLIZZARD, AND IF VICTORIA CAN GE HER COSTUME FINISHED IN TIME.
- HOW'S IT GOING? - WELL, I FEEL SICK AND I'M STRESSED OUT.
- SO BLIZZARD, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BLIZZARD? HOW WAS THE INTERVIEW? - IT WENT REALLY WELL.
I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON.
I USED TO GIVE COSPLAY MY ALL, BUT WITH SCHOOL GOING ON AND THIS BLIZZARD THING, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO PUT IT A LITTLE BI ON THE BACK BURNER AND KIND OF FOCUS ON WHAT MY CAREER IS GONNA BE.
- DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE? - I JUST NEED PEACE AND QUIE RIGHT NOW.
narrator: STILL ON ASSIGNMEN FOR WIZARD WORLD AND WITH TIME RUNNING OU FOR ANIME MATSURI, VICTORIA MUST CHECK IN WITH JINYO ON SKYPE TO SEE HOW HER COSTUME IS PROGRESSING.
- HI.
- HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU THE MOCKUP THAT I'VE GO OF THE DRESS.
- YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT.
- YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
YEAH, I KNOW THE BOTTOM IS KIND OF LONG.
- YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S NO REALLY WHAT I WAS-- THAT'S NO WHAT I WAS THINKING.
THAT'S JUST-- IT JUST LOOKS INCORRECT.
WHAT IT'S DOING IN THE FRON IS NOT WHAT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF ILLUSTRATED IN THE DRAWING.
I ALWAYS WANT THINGS DONE A VERY PARTICULAR WAY, AND THE DRESS DESIGN IS VERY SPECIFIC.
I DON'T CARE THAT IT'S A DRAWING.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO REPLICATE IT PROPERLY, AND HE'S NOT DOING IT, AND HE'S WASTING TOO MUCH TIME.
- THIS IS WHA I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
- I KNOW, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW ANY OF THAT IS LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
- VICTORIA IS THE MOST O.
C.
D.
ABOUT GETTING THE ACCURACY RIGH ON A COSTUME.
SOMETIMES, IT EVEN REALLY HAMPERS HER ACTUALLY GETTING A COSTUME DONE.
- IT'S ONE THING IF I MESS UP FOR MYSELF, OR I DON'T GET A COSTUME DONE FOR MYSELF.
I CANNOT LET MONIKA DOWN.
I'M GONNA HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO ON THIS DRESS WHEN I GET BACK HOME.
- IT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE, HUGE CHALLENGE.
[cracks knuckles.]
narrator: COMING UP - ACTION! - EVERY TIME HE GETS HIT, HE HAS TO HAVE A NEW COAT OF PAINT.
AFTERWARDS, WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI TO GO TO.
OOPS.
narrator: IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF ANIME MATSURI, AND COSPLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE ARRIVING, INCLUDING JUDGE AND SPECIAL GUEST, YAYA HAN.
- I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THIS HOTEL BEFORE.
FOR ANIME MATSURI, I AM JUDGING THEIR BIG COSTUME CONTEST.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ENTRIES, AND THE TEXAS COSPLAYERS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY DEDICATED.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PREJUDGING THIS TIME WHERE I GET TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE THEIR COSTUMES UP CLOSE, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER.
AT ANIME MATSURI, THIS COMPETITION IS OF A DIFFERENT CALIBER.
THEY HAVE A VIDEO SCREEN FOR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
THEY HAVE GREAT SOUND, AND THEY ALLOW SKITS AS WELL AS WALK-ONS, SO THE COMPETITION WILL BE TOUGHER.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET READY FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES WHERE THE JUDGES AND THE GUESTS OF THE CONVENTION ARE INTRODUCED.
I THINK I AM GOOD TO GO.
[adventure music.]
- I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE EXCITED FOR OUR GUESTS THIS YEAR.
[cheers and applause.]
- MISS YAYA HAN.
- WOW.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
- CAN'T WAIT TO GE INTO THE HOTEL, RIGHT? - SO WE ARRIVE IN HOUSTON.
I HAVE SOME STUFF LEFT TO DO, BUT VICTORIA IS WAY BEHIND, SHE BARELY HAS A COSTUME SEWN TOGETHER, AND SHE PROMISED ME THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
I'M GETTING REALLY FREAKED OUT.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO DO, THOUGH.
- YES.
- THERE'S A LO OF DETAIL WORK TO YUI, AND AN IMMENSE AMOUN OF EMBROIDERY.
- IT'S JUST WHEN YOU WAI LAST MINUTE, THIS KIND OF [bleep.]
HAPPENS, AND I DON'T WANT I TO LOOK HALF-ASSED.
THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR ME, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE GOING INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY.
IF I'M PRESENTING MYSELF AS A COSPLAYER TO A COMPANY LIKE BLIZZARD, I WANT TO BE IMPRESSIVE AND BE THE BES THAT I CAN.
- I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN, I PROMISE.
narrator: AS VICTORIA AND MONIKA WORK ON THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW, BECKY HAS ARRIVED AT ANIME MATSURI AS A GUEST, AND HAS SOME IMPORTANT DUTIES TO PREPARE FOR.
- THE ORGANIZERS OF ANIME MATSURI CONTACTED ME TO BE A GUES AT THEIR CONVENTION THIS YEAR, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING, BECAUSE I GET TO JUDGE THE MARVEL COSPLAY CONTES AND EVEN POSSIBLY HOSTING SOME STUFF ONSTAGE, SO I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE EVENT.
[applause.]
- FIRST UP, WE HAVE-- BECKY YOUNG IS HERE.
[cheers and applause.]
- [laughs.]
TO BE INVITED TO BE A GUES AT A CONVENTION-- ESPECIALLY A COSPLAY GUEST-- IT'S REALLY EXCITING, BECAUSE YOU'RE UP THERE WITH SOME OF THE BEST COSPLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN, YAYA IS A GUEST.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE STRUT, THAT WAS GREAT.
AND FOR THEM TO THINK OF ME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YAYA IS, I DON'T KNOW, THAT FEELS GOOD.
[applause.]
narrator: MONIKA AND VICTORIA ARE STILL HARD AT WORK ON THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW'S PREJUDGING, BUT HAVE YET TO DISCUSS THEIR STAGE PERFORMANCE PAR OF THE COMPETITION.
- HOW'S IT GOING? - I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY MAYBE FINALLY HAVE THE SURGER FIGURED OUT.
- OKAY.
I'M WORRIED FOR OUR SKIT THING.
LIKE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE STAGE, SO I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY RUN DOWN AND LOOK AT IT.
- YEAH, CAN YOU GET-- LIKE, IT'S OPEN AREA THAT YOU CAN GET TO? MONIKA, SHE DIDN'T WAN TO DO A SKIT, SO WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE BIT OF DANCE MOVEMENT, SOME NICE FLOW OF THE FABRICS TO JUST CREATE KIND OF A BEAUTY ONSTAGE, HOPEFULLY.
- ARE YOU GETTING EXCITED? - YEAH! [cheers and applause.]
- THIS IS AWESOME! WE'RE IN HOUSTON, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO WATCH PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS MARVEL CHARACTERS.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE CHRIS AS HAWKEYE.
[cheering.]
- VERY NICE, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE IN LOVE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE BLACK WIDOW AND HAWKEYE.
- I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT BECKY WAS JUDGING THE COSTUME CONTEST, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MANY CREDENTIALS AS FAR AS CRAFTSMANSHIP IS GOING.
- GUYS, GET EXCITED! YEAH! [cheers and applause.]
- HEY.
- HEY.
- SO I JUST GO BACK TO THE STAGE - YEAH, HOW DOES THAT LOOK? - AND I THINK IT'LL BE BIG ENOUGH AND IT'S OKAY.
- MM-HMM.
- BUT WHEN I WEN TO GO CHECK IT, THEY WERE DOING THE MARVEL COSPLAY CONTEST.
- OH, YEAH? - AND, LIKE, BECKY WAS JUDGING IT.
- MM.
- I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS A GUEST HERE.
HOPEFULLY, THERE WASN' CRAFTSMANSHIP INVOLVED, BECAUSE - RIGHT.
- I DON'T REALLY THINK SHE'D BE A GOOD, ACCURATE JUDGE OF THAT.
- MM-HMM.
narrator: BACK IN LOS ANGELES, HOLLY AND JESSICA ARE SEEING ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK COME TO FRUITION ON THE SET OF THEIR PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOOT.
- WE'RE READY.
- WE'RE READY, YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
ACTION! - WE'RE ON THE PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOO TO WATCH THE KAIJU MONSTER THAT WE DESIGNED FIGHT THE JAEGERS, WHICH ARE THE GIANT ROBOTS, POWER RANGERS STYLE.
- GO, GO, POWER RANGER.
EVERY TIME HE GETS HIT, HE HAS TO HAVE A NEW COAT OF PAINT.
- THESE PROJECTS KIND OF REALLY ARE WHAT SET US APAR FROM A LO OF DIFFERENT COSPLAYERS, IS THAT WE DO THINGS THA ARE REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, BUT THAT ALSO MAKES US BETTER COSPLAYERS, IN THAT WE GET TO REALLY LEARN NEW SKILLS THAT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY LEARN DRESSING YOURSELF.
- TURN YOUR HEAD A LITTLE TO THE LEFT.
EXCELLENT.
ACTION! - SO WE FINISH UP OUR 12-HOUR SHOOT, AND I REMEMBER THAT WE STILL HAVE ANIME MATSURI TO GO TO.
OOPS.
[laughs.]
- ALL IN A DAY'S WORK.
narrator: AFTER JUDGING THE AMATEUR COSPLAY CONTEST, BECKY DECIDES TO VISI MONIKA AND VICTORIA, WHO ARE FINISHING THEIR COSTUMES FOR TOMORROW'S MAIN COSPLAY COMPETITION.
- I FEEL SO NERVOUS ABOUT DOING BEAD WORK.
I'M ALWAYS--IN MY HEAD, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, "OH, SOMETHING'S GONNA COME UNDONE.
" I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE CHECKING OUT THE CON AND WHAT IT'S LIKE.
INSTEAD, I'M NOT GONNA SEE OUTSIDE MY HOTEL ROOM.
IF WE BUCKLE DOWN REALLY HARD, WE CAN GE BOTH OF OUR COSTUMES DONE RIGHT IN TIME FOR PREJUDGING.
[knocking at the door.]
- OH, WHO'S THAT? - I DON'T KNOW.
I'S BUSY.
[laughs.]
[door opening.]
HELLO.
- HI! HOW ARE YOU? - HOW'S IT GOING? - GOOD.
- WHAT'S UP? - I REALLY WANT TO COMPETE IN KANSAS CITY PLANET COMICON, AND THIS YEAR, KANSAS CITY COMICON IS HOSTING TWO COSTUME COMPETITIONS.
ONE IS INDIVIDUAL, AND THE OTHER IS WITH A TEAM.
I JUST REALLY RESPECT MONIKA AS A COSPLAYER, SO I'M GONNA SEE IF SHE WANTS TO TEAM UP WITH ME.
YOU GUYS GETTING READY FOR COMPETITION? - YUP.
- YEAH.
WE'RE JUST OBVIOUSLY PLUGGING AWAY, 'CAUSE VICTORIA DOESN'T HAVE HER STUFF DONE.
I KNOW, RIGHT? - THAT SEEMS KIND OF-- HAPPENS OFTEN NOWADAYS.
[laughs.]
SO ACTUALLY, I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU, MONIKA.
ARE YOU GOING TO PLANET COMICON IN KANSAS? - YEAH, UM-- - SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING TOGETHER.
- UM-- I DON'T SEE BECKY THAT OFTEN.
I DON'T TALK TO HER THAT OFTEN.
LIKE, I WOULDN'T REALLY THINK TO COME TO YOU.
LIKE, WE'RE ACQUAINTANCES.
- I MEAN, I THINK THA THE COOL THING ABOUT COSPLAYING IS MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH NEW PEOPLE.
- IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON I WOULD THINK TO GROUP WITH.
CRAFTSMANSHIP IS, LIKE, THE NUMBER ONE THING, AND I'VE SEEN YOUR CRAFTSMANSHIP STUFF BEFORE, AND I WOULDN'T REALLY EVEN WANT THAT.
- I DON'T THINK MY CRAFTSMANSHIP'S THAT HORRIBLE.
- IF WE REALLY WANT TO WIN, I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MY LEVEL.
- I HAVE A LOT OF RESPEC FOR YOU, AND THE FIRST THING YOU TELL ME IS THAT I'M THE LAST PERSON THAT YOU'D WANT TO COSPLAY WITH? SHE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE CRAP.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
UM, THANKS.
narrator: IT'S THE MORNING OF THE COMPETITION AT ANIME MATSURI.
EXHAUSTED AND OUT OF TIME, HOLLY AND JESSICA FINALLY ARRIVE.
- SO WE JUST FINISH UP OUR AMAZING PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO SHOOT, AND WE ARRIVE AT ANIME MATSURI THE MORNING OF THE CONVENTION.
- WE HAVE LITERALLY BEEN AWAKE 47 HOURS NOW.
- THERE WE ARE.
- THE PACIFIC RIM VIRAL VIDEO WAS ONE PROJEC WHERE WE PUT OUR HEART AND SOUL INTO THE WHOLE THING, POSSIBLY AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR "CATS: MEMESICAL" COSTUMES, SO WE JUST HAVE TO WORK IT.
narrator: MEANWHILE, VICTORIA IS FINISHING HER COSTUME MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE JUDGES.
- ARE YOU STILL NOT DONE YET? - UH, JUST PUTTING THE LAS FEW FINISHING TOUCHES.
- IT'S AN HOUR BEFORE PREJUDGING.
VICTORIA IS SITTING HERE HOT-GLUING HER COSTUME TOGETHER.
- OH, THAT MAKES ME SO NERVOUS.
- I JUST DON'T WANT THOSE TO FALL OFF.
- THAT'S ACTUALLY-- IT'S ALREADY DRY.
- YOU'RE MAKING ME REALLY WORRIED, VICTORIA.
narrator: THE PERFORMANCE PORTION OF THE COMPETITION IS STILL HOURS AWAY, BUT PREJUDGING WILL FIGURE HEAVILY INTO THEIR SCORES AND CAN DERAIL THEIR CHANCES OF WINNING THE COVETED "BEST IN SHOW" AT ANIME MATSURI.
- PREJUDGING FOR A COSTUME CONTES IS ALWAYS INTIMIDATING, BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE-ON-ONE WITH A JUDGE.
I JUST NEED EVERYTHING TO BE PERFECT RIGHT NOW.
- I LOOK LIKE A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY, BUT IT'S FINE.
- YOU'RE A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WITH HAIRY--WITH A HAIRY CHEST.
IN COSTUME CONTESTS, WHEN THERE'S PREJUDGING, THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOUR FABRICATION, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW YOU MADE THINGS AND HOW ACCURATE IT IS.
A LOT OF TIMES, THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR COSTUME.
- I DID HAND-MAKE THE WIGS.
I USED THE CREPE WOOL BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BEST THING AVAILABLE TO ME ON THE TIME THAT WE HAD, AND I'M FREAKING ALLERGIC TO IT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO BUY SOME KIND OF SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVE, BUT I FEEL LIKE BEING A LITTLE BIT ITCHY IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR AN AMAZING COSTUME.
narrator: YAYA PREPARES: FOR PREJUDGING, THE JUDGES' OPPORTUNITY TO NITPICK THE TINIEST DETAILS OF THE COMPETITORS' COSTUMES, AND ACCOUNTS FOR 50% OF THEIR FINAL SCORE.
- PREJUDGING IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS IN A GOOD COSTUME CONTEST, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE JUDGES TO REALLY GET AN IDEA OF HOW SOMEBODY MADE A COSTUME AND WHAT SKILL LEVEL THEY'RE AT.
- I LIKE THE DRAPING ON THIS, LOOKS REALLY PRETTY.
- THE JUDGES FOR THE ANIME MATSURI COSPLAY CONTES ARE MYSELF, KATHY FROM GOD SAVE THE QUEEN FASHIONS, WHO IS THE BEST CRAFTSMAN YOU'LL GET, BILL WINANS, WHO IS A PROP MAKER, AND RYN, WHO WAS THE 2010 U.
S.
REPRESENTATIVE FOR WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT.
- IT'S REALLY NERVE-WRACKING TO KNOW THAT YAYA IS ONE OF THE JUDGES, BECAUSE SHE'S LOOKING FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK.
- THE CRITERIA WE'RE GETTING JUDGED ON IS DIFFICULTY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND SHOWMANSHIP.
- I HONESTLY THINK IT'S ONE OF OUR MOS ACCURATE COSTUMES WE'VE DONE.
- YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT.
- YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING.
- I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS'S SKIT.
- HOLLY AND JESS SHOWED UP IN, LIKE, THESE CAT COSTUMES, AND I DIDN'T REALLY GET IT.
I DON'T THINK THE GENRE THEY CHOSE MAKES SENSE.
- OH, MY GOSH.
- BEFORE WE START, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? - 58.
- 58, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? - HOLLY CONRAD AND JESSICA MERIZAN, CRABCAT INDUSTRIES.
- STAND OVER HERE, THAT WAY BILL AND RYN CAN SEE.
- OH, SORRY.
- OVER HERE.
- WE'RE, LIKE, AFRAID OF YOU.
- WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAND NEXT TO THEM SO THEY CAN SEE IT.
- KATHY IS, LIKE, ALL BUSINESS.
LIKE, SHE IS BUSINESS TO THE MAX.
SHE JUST CAME UP AND, LIKE, CHUN-LI'D US, AND IT WAS OVER.
- KO'D.
- DID YOU GUYS MAKE EVERYTHING? - TO BE VERY UP-FRONT, THE ONLY THING THAT ISN' COMPLETELY, 100% HANDMADE IS WE BOUGH THESE UNITARDS.
- HOLLY AND JESSICA LOOK ADORABLE, BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE A BODYSUIT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T MAKE THEM, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE PREJUDGING AND INSPECTING THEM.
I WISH THEY HAD MADE THEIR BODYSUITS.
- I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A DIVA, OR ANYTHING, BUT WE JUST FINISHED A PROJEC FOR GUILLERMO DEL TORO FOR PACIFIC RIM.
I THINK WE KNOW HOW TO FABRICATE.
- CAN WE SEE THE BACKS OF THE COSTUMES? - WE PAINTED THE BODYSUITS, WE-- - DID, LIKE, ONE OF YOU WEAR I AND THE OTHER ONE PAINTED? - YES.
- DID YOU HAVE A LOOM FOR THE KNITTING PROCESS, OR-- - SO, LIKE, YOU PAINTED THA AND YOU PAINTED THIS? - UM-- - SO, LIKE, WAS IT AIRBRUSHED? - NO, IT WAS-- - NO, WE HAND-PAINTED-- SO THEY'RE ALL ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE SAME TIME, IN OUR FACES, AND WE'RE LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" - THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN, YOU GUYS.
- THANKS A LOT, GUYS.
- NO, THANK YOU, GUYS.
- THAT'S A BIG PAR OF THE COSTUME THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE.
- SO THAT WAS KIND OF AN INTENSE-- - YEAH.
- I JUST FELT LIKE AN IDIOT.
- YEAH.
- ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, I AM GETTING A HEADACHE NOW.
I AM, LIKE, NOT FEELING WELL.
IS IT THE WOOL? AM I GETTING AN ALLERGIC REACTION? AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, I BET I WOULD FEEL A LOT BETTER IF I JUST RIPPED THIS COSTUME OFF AND RAN AROUND NAKED.
narrator: NEXT UP FOR PREJUDGING ARE MONIKA AND VICTORIA.
WITH MONIKA'S INTERNSHIP AND VICTORIA'S REPUTATION ON THE LINE, THESE PREJUDGING SCORES COULD MAKE OR BREAK THEIR CHANCES AT ANIME MATSURI.
- WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? - GOD, DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER? - I'M SURE YOU WERE GIVEN A NUMBER.
- "UNKNOWN NUMBER.
" - DID YOU GUYS MAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE WEARING? - YUP.
- I GUESS LET'S GO, LIKE, HEAD TO TOE.
- WELL, I CUT-STYLED THE WIG.
THE WINGS, I DYED THEM.
ALL OF THE JEWELRY PIECES I MADE MYSELF.
EVERYTHING'S SURGED, I USED ROLLED HEMS ON THE CHIFFON.
- OKAY.
- WATCHING THE JUDGES LOOK SO INTENSELY OVER MONIKA'S COSTUME IS FREAKING ME OUT, BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED MINUTES BEFORE IN THE HOTEL ROOM.
MY COSTUME IS NOT GONNA HOLD UP TO LOOKING AT IT SO CLOSELY.
- OKAY, MOVING ON.
- SO NOW VICTORIA.
- SO ON MINE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SHE'S KIND OF SUPPOSED TO BE A-- [all gasp.]
- OH, NO! - AH, [bleep.]
.
SORRY, WE GOT HIT A LO ON THE WAY OVER.
- I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED.
VICTORIA'S COSTUME IS BASICALLY FALLING APART IN FRONT OF ME.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HOT GLUE FOR THE METHOD TO ATTACH THOSE? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS KIND OF-- - YEAH, I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH E-6 AND HOT GLUE FOR DIFFERENT PARTS.
- BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU, LIKE, EMBED WIRE INTO IT? - I WOULD NEVER BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I KNEW MY COSTUME WOULD FALL APART.
I WOULD NEVER GO AHEAD INTO SOMETHING WHERE, LIKE, "THIS MIGHT FALL APART.
HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN'T.
" - YEAH, I KNOW.
- IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S VERY HEAVY.
IF YOU HAD EXTENDED THE WIRE, YOU--IN HERE, THEN YOU COULD'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING.
- WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO WIRE IN THERE.
UM-- - WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IF YOU HAD INSERTED WIRE-- - YEAH.
- IN MY DECADE OF JUDGING, I'VE ONLY SEEN COSTUMES FALLING APAR MAYBE A HANDFUL OF TIMES.
- I FEEL LIKE A COMPLETE FAILURE, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT AS A PARTNER TO MONIKA.
I-I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HER.
- GOOD LUCK FIXING EVERYTHING.
narrator: THE STAGE IS SE FOR THE ANIME MATSURI COSTUME COMPETITION.
THIS IS HOLLY AND JESSICA'S CHANCE TO INTRODUCE CRABCAT INDUSTRIES TO THE ANIME WORLD.
AND WITH THE EYES OF THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY ON MONIKA, SHE NEEDS TO CEMEN HER REPUTATION FOR PUTTING ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN HER COSPLAY.
FOR VICTORIA, THIS IS HER OPPORTUNITY TO GE THE RECOGNITION SHE DESIRES FROM AN ELITE PANEL OF JUDGES.
[cheers and applause.]
- HERE WE GO! COME ON! MORE THAN THAT! [cheers and applause.]
- I'M NOT DOING VERY WELL.
I THINK IT'S THE WOOL.
narrator: WITH THE STAGE COMPETITION ONLY MINUTES AWAY, JESSICA'S WOOL ALLERGY IS FINALLY CATCHING UP WITH HER, JEOPARDIZING HER OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HER DREAM COSPLAY TO THE AUDIENCE.
- I FEEL PRETTY TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW, WITH THIS WOOL CRAP ON MY HEAD.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING BUT I'M NOT A BABY.
I'M NOT GONNA, LIKE, WIMP OUT.
- ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO GET UP AND DO THE SHOW? - YES, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
[cheers and applause.]
- WE HAVE AN AMAZING ARRAY OF VERY TALENTED COSPLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HERE TO COMPETE TODAY.
narrator: AFTER VICTORIA'S DISASTROUS PREJUDGING SCORES, SHE AND MONIKA MUST HAVE A FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE IF THEY'RE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF WINNING "BEST IN SHOW.
" - THIS IS STAGE FRONT? THIS IS STAGE FRONT.
- OKAY.
- OKAY.
NOW THAT I HAVE SINGLE-HANDEDLY RUINED HOW OUR CRAFTSMANSHIP SCORES WERE GONNA GO FOR MONIKA AND ME, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHOWMANSHIP PART OF I GOES OFF CLEANLY, AND THAT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL FIGURING OU WHAT EXACTLY THAT SHOWMANSHIP IS.
PAUSE, POSE.
- WHO'S READY TO GET THIS CONTEST STARTED? [cheers and applause.]
- FIRST UP.
- JAM FROM GUILTY GEAR.
[cheers and applause.]
- BIOSHOCK 2.
- OH! [cheers and applause.]
- THE LEAGUE OF DRAVEN.
[cheers and applause.]
- I HAVE THE CHILLS NOW.
- WELL, LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH AND THEN WE'RE DONE.
JESSICA LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE SHE WAS HIT BY THE SICK BUS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
YOU OKAY? - I REALLY HOPE I DON' THROW UP IN THERE.
- BLAIR THE CA FROM SOUL EATER.
- FINAL FANTASY VII.
[cheers and applause.]
- [coughs.]
OH, MY GOSH.
I AM GOING TO THROW UP.
[gagging.]
[gagging.]
[retches.]
- IT'S OKAY.
THIS IS EMBARRASSING.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS.
[sighs.]
- HERE.
JUST DRINK THE WATER.
OKAY.
- I REALLY WANT TO PULL OUT.
I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T DO THIS, BUT IT'S MY DREAM COSTUME.
I CAN'T PULL OUT NOW.
I CAN'T--I CAN'T QUIT.
I--WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS.
- "STEP ASIDE, YOU PANSIES FROM TWILIGHT.
LET A REAL VAMPIRE SAVE THE WORLD.
" - THE XENO BROTHERS.
[cheers and applause.]
NEXT UP, THE RED DRAGON.
- OH, MY GOD.
WHAT IF HE STEPS ON THE TAIL? [both cheering.]
narrator: FOR THE PERFORMANCE SECTION OF ANIME MATSURI, MONIKA AND VICTORIA HAVE A FUSHIGI YUGI -THEMED DANCE TO PERFORM, BUT AFTER VICTORIA'S FAILURE IN PREJUDGING, IT MUST BE PERFEC TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF WINNING.
- WHAT? - WE'RE ABOUT TO ONSTAGE, AND I'M FEELING REALLY NERVOUS.
VISUALIZE--OKAY.
- WHAT, YOU FORGOT IT, WHAT? - WE'RE SITTING, WE GOT UP, LEFT ARM, BOTH ARMS, SPIN.
WE PUT SO MUCH WORK AND EFFOR INTO THIS THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE I OUR ALL, AND I JUST HOPE WE DON'T [bleep.]
UP ANYMORE.
- BEST FRIENDS TURNED BITTER ENEMIES.
MIAKA, PRIESTESS OF SUZAKU, AND YUI, PRIESTESS OF SEIRYU.
[applause.]
[Asian techno music.]
[cheers and applause.]
- THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY.
[cheers and applause.]
- UGH! [laughs.]
- STEP OVER HERE.
THE ORGANIZERS FOR ANIME MATSURI HAVE ASKED ME TO INTERVIEW THE CONTESTANTS WHEN THEY COME OFFSTAGE.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS.
- WELL, WE'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ANIME 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF OLD, AND, LIKE, WE STARTED OFF WITH I WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.
- WELL, YOU GUYS BOTH LOOK FANTASTIC.
- THANK YOU.
- GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- THANK YOU.
- WERE YOUR KNEES SHAKING WHEN YOU GOT OFF? SO WE PERFORMED, AND GIVEN HOW MUCH TIME WE HAD AND WHAT WE HAD TO DO, I THINK WE DID PRETTY DAMN WELL.
[cheers and applause.]
- CREED'S ASSASSIN.
- IN THE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, JUSTICE COMES.
- [cheers.]
- THE SCARECROW.
narrator: IT'S TIME FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR HOLLY AND JESSICA, AND THE PAIR MUST DECIDE HOW IMPORTAN THEIR "CATS: THE MEMESICAL" COSPLAY IS.
- I'M NEARING THE END OF WHAT MY BODY CAN TOLERATE WITH THIS WOOL ALLERGY.
- YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ONSTAGE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
I DON'T WANT YOU, LIKE, PASSING OUT.
JESSICA IS SO SICK AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER, SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S WORTH HER HEALTH.
- ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE CRABCAT INDUSTRIES PRESENTS "CATS: THE MEMESICAL.
" [laughter and murmuring.]
- SWEETIE, YOU DON' HAVE TO DO IT.
[murmuring.]
- I DON'T CARE IF I'M SICK.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS.
WE PROMISED THE FANS CAT COSPLAY LOVE.
[cheers and applause.]
[quirky music.]
- JESSICA AND HOLLY ARE DOING SOME SORT OF AN IN-JOKEY MEME-RELATED SKIT WITH CATS, AND I AM COMPLETELY LOS AND CONFUSED.
[cheers and applause.]
I THINK JESSICA AND HOLLY REALLY HAVE GONE OFF THE DEEP END ON THIS ONE.
- GUYS, HOW DID IT GO ONSTAGE FOR YOU? - JESSICA WAS SICK, LIKE, TWO SECOND AGO BECAUSE SHE'S ALLERGIC TO WOOL.
FANCY THAT.
[laughs.]
- OH, MY GOD.
- I DON'T KNOW WHICH IS THE WORST PART, HOW SICK I AM, HOW TERRIBLE OUR CHOREOGRAPHY ENDED UP BEING, OR HOW MUCH ABSOLUTELY NO ONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE DOING.
- THANK YOU, LADIES.
- THANKS, BECKY.
- I AM REALLY EMBARRASSED RIGHT NOW.
- WHERE IS THE ELEVATOR, THIS WAY? - I ABSOLUTELY LOOK LIKE THE REJECTED MEMBER FROM KISS RIGHT NOW.
I'M SORRY, I'M REALLY, REALLY SICK.
NO, I'M--I'M NOT MOVING, I'M SORRY.
I'M NOT MOVING.
- SHE'S REALLY-- - NO, I [bleep.]
THREW UP TWICE.
- SHE THREW UP TWICE.
- I'M SITTING DOWN.
- SHE'S REALLY SICK.
SHE'S BEEN THROWING UP.
- I AM DIZZY.
AS IF THIS HASN'T BEEN THE WORS CONVENTION OF MY ENTIRE LIFE, LIKE, IT CANNO GET ANY WORSE, OH, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO GET ARRESTED.
- WE NEED TO GO UP TO OUR ROOM.
- GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OUR PERFORMERS.
narrator: THE ANIME MATSURI COMPETITION HAS CONCLUDED.
NOW, THE JUDGES MUST BEGIN DELIBERATIONS.
- THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT, SIMPLE SKI THAT REALLY GOT A GREAT REACTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
- PREJUDGING WENT PRETTY POOPY, 'CAUSE VICTORIA'S COSTUME, LIKE, FELL APAR WHEN WE WENT IN THERE, BUT I WAS HAPPY WITH HOW OUR PERFORMANCE WENT.
- THE FABRIC FLOWING ON THE STAGE AND THE RIBBON HAD A REALLY PRETTY VISUAL IMPAC - I AGREE.
WHAT ABOU "CATS: THE MEMESICAL"? I WANT TO SEE MORE CATS.
- IF IT'S JUST ON CRAFTSMANSHIP, THEY DID IT.
- WHAT DO WE DO? - THIS IS HORRIBLY DIFFICULT.
[cheers and applause.]
- AND OUR JUDGES HAVE DELIBERATED.
THEY ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.
- I HAVEN'T WON OR PLACED IN THIS CONTEST SEASON SO FAR.
I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME VALIDATION THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS REMOTELY GOOD.
- IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICUL DELIBERATIONS.
- I KNOW I ALWAYS TELL HOLLY THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE WIN OR LOSE, BUT IT'S MY DREAM COSTUME.
- THIRD PLACE GOES TO - LIKE, MY WHOLE BODY ACHES.
I'M, LIKE, ACHING, AND, LIKE, I HAVE CHILLS.
- WELL, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU MEDICINE, SO IT'LL STOP HURTING IN A SECOND.
- BECAUSE I AM SO SICK, WE HAVE TO SEQUESTER OURSELF INTO THE HOTEL ROOM, SO WE ARE GONNA MISS THE JUDGING TONIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M, LIKE, SUPER HUNG OVER, EXCEPT I REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
- THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
- ALL RIGHTY.
AND OUR JUDGES HAVE DELIBERATED.
THEY ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.
- WHOO! - YES.
- I HAVEN'T WON OR PLACED IN THIS CONTEST SEASON SO FAR.
I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME VALIDATION THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS REMOTELY GOOD.
- THIRD PLACE GOES TO BENIHIME WITH A COSTUME FROM GATE 7.
- WELL DONE.
[cheers and applause.]
- JEEZ, THIS IS TENSE.
- SECOND PLACE.
DRAVEN.
[cheers and applause.]
THAT IS HIS SECOND COSTUME EVER.
[cheers and applause.]
- I'M SITTING HERE, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BLIZZARD STUFF, BUT IT SEEMS ALMOS INSIGNIFICANT IN COMPARISON TO THIS COMPETITION.
- AND NOW, FIRST PLACE WE ARE PROUD TO GIVE TO THE XENO BROTHERS.
[cheers and applause.]
- TAKE A BOW, GUYS.
[cheers and applause.]
- GREAT SHOW! - YOU OKAY? - YEAH.
- IF ANYTHING, THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NOT TO CRAP OUT A COSTUME IN, LIKE, TWO SECONDS.
SO AT LEAST I ACTUALLY HAVE BLIZZARD TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
LET'S GO.
narrator: THE ANIME MATSURI COMPETITION IS OVER, SO BECKY WANTS TO CHECK IN ON JESSICA TO SEE IF HER COSPLAY FRIEND IS FEELING ANY BETTER.
- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? - HI.
I JUST CAME TO SEE HOW JESS WAS DOING.
- GOD, I'M GONNA COME UP THERE, 'CAUSE SHE'S STILL ASLEEP.
- OH, OKAY.
- I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CARED TO COME CHECK UP ON POOR JESSICA WAS BECKY, WHICH I THOUGH WAS REALLY SWEET.
HOW WAS YOUR CONVENTION OTHERWISE? YOU WERE HOSTING.
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
- YEAH.
- IT WAS LIKE, "OH, IT'S BECKY!" [both laughing.]
- ACTUALLY, I APPROACHED MONIKA TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT I COULD JOIN UP WITH THEM.
SHE WAS ACTUALLY REALLY MEAN.
- YOU SERIOUS? - YEAH, LIKE, SHE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE THE LAST PERSON THAT SHE WOULD EVER THINK OF.
- WHAT? - MY SKILL LEVEL IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THEIRS.
- WHAT MONIKA SAID TO BECKY GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT WE STAND FOR AS COSPLAYERS.
COSPLAY ISN' ABOUT ALIENATING PEOPLE OR ELITISM OR BEING BIG JERKS.
IT'S ABOUT GOING OUT THERE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND JUST HAVING FUN AND GETTING BETTER AT YOUR CRAFT.
- IT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT BAD ABOUT MYSELF.
AND MY--MY OWN STUFF.
- OH, MY GOD, PLEASE DO NOT.
YOU CANFIGURE OU SOMETHING WITH US IF YOU WANT, BECAUSE-- - ARE YOU SURE? - YEAH, WE ARE INCLUSIVE, WE WANT YOU TO LEARN.
WE WANT YOU TO HANG OU WITH US, AND WE LIKE YOU, WHICH IS, LIKE-- - [laughs.]
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE TWO GIRLS.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR KANSAS CITY PLANET COMICON, BECAUSE THE FUN IS JUST ABOUT TO START.