Blikku is a cosplayer based out of Atlanta, GA. She’s been cosplaying for 7 years. She has brought to life such diverse characters as Esmerelda from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mitsuko Souma from Battle Royale, and The Bride from Kill Bill, as well as fan favorites including Tifa from FFVII: Advent Children, Jill Valentine from Resident Evil: Apocolypse, and Yoruichi from Bleach.

(Interview conducted in 2011 in partnership with Cosplay in America.)

Zippy: So Blikku what got you into ‘geek’ fandom and specifically what got you into cosplay?

Blikku: Well I have always been interested in gaming and technology. Later on I picked up an interest in anime as well and actually stumbled onto cosplay accidentally.

Zippy: Did you realize that you were essentially cosplaying at the time?

Blikku: No I didn’t. I really didn’t even know it existed. While I was doing research for the costume, I came across a couple of cosplay sites and that’s when I realized that it had a name. I had so much fun making Rikku that I decided to make another one. And now that I knew there were events dedicated to the hobby, I was even more excited about it.

Zippy: I presume we can assume that this was also the origin of your name ‘Blikku’?

Blikku: Yeah pretty much. I chose that name because I really identified with that character at the time. It’s a shortened version of Black Rikku since the character is obviously of a different origin than myself. I thought the name was cute, so it became my cosplay alias.

Zippy: Do you remember what you used to make your original Rikku cosplay?

Blikku: I used all kinds of things. Rikku had so many accessories going on that I had to be really creative in some cases. I used various types of fabric such as cotton, suede cloth, knits. I ended up making the shoes from a modded pair of rain boots! That was my first experience at drafting which came out pretty well. It also took a lot of trial and error. I learned a lot from making that costume!

Zippy: Did you have any prior experience sewing before making your first cosplay?

Blikku: Very little. Looking back on it now, I was pretty clueless about sewing back then. 

Zippy: Do you still make all your costumes/cosplays by yourself?

Blikku: Most of my costumes are self-made with the exception of a couple that were commissioned just for fun/ lack of time, although I haven’t commissioned anything for a few years now.

Zippy: Going more into the realm of fandom, what was your first con experience like? Did you attend cons before you began to cosplay, or did you cosplay at your first con?

Blikku: I never attended a con before I started cosplaying. I wasn’t even aware that they existed. I did however cosplay at the first one I attended, which was Kunicon back in ’05. Even though it was a smaller convention, I didn’t really know that at the time, it was kind of overwhelming at first. It ended up being pretty cool though because I got to meet a bunch of new people with similar interests. It was also my first time entering a competition.

Zippy: How well did you do in the competition?

Blikku: Best of show! I was completely shocked by that because my friends and I were just entering for fun. We just wanted to make people laugh! We were doing a cosplay skit for Final Fantasy X.

Zippy: That sounds like a pretty awesome con moment. Do you have any other cool con moments? Or perhaps an interesting cosplay story?

Blikku: I think some of the most awesome moments have been meeting celebrities and voice actors during the cons. If it weren’t for cosplay I doubt I would have even had the opportunity. It’s so cool meeting someone you have admired for years or even since childhood!

As for interesting stories, there are so many it’s really hard to choose! 

I was actually at a photoshoot in Centennial Park (Atlanta) and my friend and I were cosplaying from Kill Bill. I was dressed up as The Bride (yellow tracksuit/ Game of Death version) complete with Hattori Hanzo sword. So we were waiting to cross the street and there was a row of about 6 biker police officers. The whole time I am thinking “OMG they are going to see this sword , cuff me, and take me to jail!” but the funny thing was they never did, and I heard one of them comment “Hey, isn’t she from Kill Bill? She’s got the sword and everything”. So anyway, we make it to the CNN center and since I’m indoors now I was expecting the same thing again. I made eye contact with an officer who I KNEW was going to say something, instead he walks right past me….whistling the Elle Driver theme. Moral of the story: Fandom is EVERYWHERE!

Zippy: That’s too cool!

Photo by Benny Lee

Blikku: I thought it was pretty funny. It’s definitely not typical behavior that you would expect from the police!

Zippy: Have you ever had a cosplay go terribly wrong at a con? Perhaps in a way that looking back now it’s humorous but at the time it defined fail?

Blikku: Honestly, I really can’t think of any at the moment. I usually try to make the best out of bad situations, so they usually work out in the end.

Zippy: Switching gears for a moment I noticed that you tend to cosplay strong female characters. Is this a reflection of what you strive to be or more a reflection of who you are?

Blikku: I think I choose characters as more of a reflection of myself. I usually choose characters that I can identify with or ones that I’m drawn to for whatever reason. I do venture out every now and then and do something that’s not typical of me just to switch things up and keep it interesting.

Zippy: You certainly do a variety of cosplays from comics, J-Pop, anime, Disney, and games. I saw on your Twitter (@blikku) that you might venture into K-Pop cosplay next. Is that correct?

Blikku: Yes! Actually I have already started my first K-pop cosplay. I don’t think anyone will be expecting this one so I hope to reveal it soon. J-pop is still my first love though. My favorite artist is Namie Amuro and I plan to make one of her many, many costumes later on this year.

Zippy: What would you say have been your 3 favorite cosplays that you’ve done?

Blikku: Rikku (of course), Black Cat, and B. Jenet

Zippy: Would you mind going into detail about what you used for one of those three cosplays? Materials? Any special sewing techniques/costume techniques you had to use for the cosplay?

Blikku: Sure. I guess I will talk about B. Jenet since it’s probably the easiest to explain. I modified a pattern to make a base for the dress. The fabrics I used were an iridescent taffeta and a cotton based pink material for the lining. I actually hand drafted a pattern for the jolly roger symbol and transferred it to a bottom weight material. To attach it to the dress I used heat bonding and reinforced it with a zigzag stitch. The dress was completely lined with the same materials. The heart accents were hand sewn on to the accessories, which were also hand drafted. The shoes were a lucky find after intensive searching. And I guess that’s about it!

Zippy: What’s the strangest item/fabric you’ve ever had to use for a cosplay?

Blikku: I haven’t done anything too crazy I suppose. The strangest thing I’ve used so far has been a wooden door knob (for a costume I am currently working on) and a soda bottle. Those sorts of things usually come along when making props and accessories.

Actually I used a hula hoop once for a cosplay. I haven’t revealed that one yet though!

Zippy: How do you decide what materials you need for a cosplay?

Blikku: Before I start making a cosplay I usually do some brainstorming and research. I also use prior knowledge from other trial and error experiences. Fabric wise, I try to base it on the character and what would be realistic and appropriate for that character. Although sometimes I like to put my own spin on things, so I might deviate from the design a bit.

As a rule I usually buy more than I need to allow myself to make mistakes.

Zippy: How much of your yearly budget would you say goes towards cosplaying?

Blikku: Maybe around 30%. I don’t always plan for cosplay and prepping like I should. There are times where I will just see something and immediately think “That would be perfect for this cosplay!”, but then I won’t get anything else for a while. Cosplay is definitely an expensive hobby!

Zippy: During your time cosplaying have you developed a particular trade secret perhaps that you’d be willing to share that’s helped you? Maybe it’s a relatively unknown cosplay resource, or a sewing technique, or even something else entirely?

Blikku: I don’t really have a trade secret. There are so many more cosplay resources available now than when I first began. I think it’s a good thing to talk to people that have more experience because you can learn a lot from them. It’s good to be receptive to constructive criticism because it makes you a stronger cosplayer. I would definitely suggest that if you plan on being in the cosplay hobby for a while that you invest in good sewing equipment such as fabric (only) scissors, a dress form, and a sewing machine with button and overlock functions. It saves you a lot of work in the long run.

Cosplay forums are definitely good resources. You can interact with other cosplayers and learn a lot from them. Also, don’t be afraid to email another cosplayer if you have a question, because they might be able to help you out or at least give you some hints. The worst thing that could happen is they say no (which hopefully doesn’t happen!).

Zippy: Since you’ve been cosplaying for awhile I want to know what has cosplay done for you?

Blikku: There are so many things I have acquired from cosplay. I’ve met some great people, gotten to travel to some fun and interesting places, developed new skills such as sewing, and it’s definitely boosted my creativity level and problem solving abilities. I have hosted panels at various conventions, but aside from that it hasn’t really opened any doors for me just yet, but maybe someday! I just enjoy the hobby and it’s a fun outlet for me and definitely an interesting discussion topic.

Zippy: What would you say have been the biggest changes for you as a cosplayer, for cosplay fandom, and for cosplay in general since you started to cosplay?

Blikku: As a cosplayer, I think I have gotten more focused with my costume construction. I know a lot more now than I did back then and my sewing skills have improved greatly. I feel like I have gained more confidence in general since the beginning.

For the fandom, I personally feel like it has become a lot more competitive. People seem to be doing cosplays for the wrong reasons nowadays. Cosplay definitely seems to be evolving. Back when I started it seemed more underground, whereas now some aspects of it have become almost mainstream.

That’s not to say that everyone is like that, but I see it happening more frequently.