Trends in cosplay

Cosplay is currently one of the fastest growing trends in Japan and the quality of costumes is remarkable. Fans of the crafting hobby goes to great length to create proffessional hair, make up and props. In Japan, a cosplay meet can bring 100 000 visitors without raising an eyebrow.

As a Swede, and a noob cosplayer,  I can also say that the interest for Cosplay over all has increased greatly even here in Sweden. It has always been around since a long time back but only during the last few years it has exploded. In someways, you can even say that it has become a little more mainstream. This has been proved by Swedish public service television in recent years broadcasted the Swedish and Nordic Championships at NärCon live, first online, later live on the main channel. In 2016, NärCon is hosting a third convention for the first time in Gävle, with qualification contest för the championship show on TV in February 2017. Cosplay is growing.

Photo: Shila Forsman Photography

  

The levels of Cosplay in Sweden is wide, from the beginners like myself, to experienced cosplayers holding high international standard. One of a handful is Linn Eriksson from Stockholm. She finished at least top 3 in every Swedish or Nordic Championship she has entered. To the left Linn as The Emperor from Final Fantasy 2, a costume which she won the Swedish championship with in 2015.

Trends

Trends come and go, that's why it's called a trend, duh! Often it is inspired by films, TV-series, games and comic books that have become popular. Last year it was not uncommon to see atleast a handful of Dead Pools at almost every convention. The trend now Among many female cosplayers is Harley Quinn as of the movie Suicide Squad. The comic book version we saw even erlier. During the last six months we also have seen a lot of pokémon cosplays since that darn game showed up...

Some try to be as unconventional as possible deciding their next cosplay. the most obscure costumes can be seen at most conventions, and sometimes you have to ask the character name and from the wheret it belongs. Some odd costumes you might know, but may also surprise you since you couldn't dream someone would pick that particular character. At The San Diego Comiccon 2015 there was a Triceracop costume present from the kickstarter marvel Kung Fury. If you do not know what the hell I am talking about, follow the link. You should though.

Mostly, cosplayers chose a costume based of a character they like. I am a Star Wars fan, and when I think of cosplay my thoughts goes to characters from that universe, and that's a big universe. My two current projekts revolves around Star Wars characters.

What will we see in the future then? Probably the usual stuff from the big productions coming to theatres, the most recent and old computer games and comic books. I would like to see more characters from the background, or characters that probably wouldn't be the first pick of most people. Perhaps someone from the recent movie The Girl with All the Gifts? 

Well, cosplay is here to stay and is coming closer to the homes of average Joes.

Later, awesome nerds!  

A hell of a summer....and good ending of the year 2016

In my last post I promised more to come during the summer, well I hit a wall with my studies this spring and got behind some. Been catching up since and suffered from a minor depression during the same time. So with the lack of strength I have not held up my promise. Sorry about that, but I hope I can make it up to you know when feeling better again.


I have been taking it easy during the summer not doing much but been outside fishing on the lake nearby or working a little on my next cosplay and helping my youngest son with his cosplay.

Sabine Wren helmet in the making

Curious? Well, if you follow me on twitter I revealed my cosplay there not long ago, If you missed it the costume is a Sabine Wren of Star Wars Rebels genderbend. I really like that show since it is part of the new canon and actually Sabine is my favorite character. The idea was to have it ready for Swedish cosplay convent Närcon (more about that further down) in my town last weekend of this October, but I will not be able to finish it in time...and I packed on a few so I really want to lose some weight before I make a tight outfit like that, LOL. I have begun on the helmet, armor and weapons though, and I am pretty far in the progress of that as you can se in the pictures. Hopefully I can lose some weight and be able to finish the costume for The Scandinavian Sci-Fi, Game & Film Convention in early December.

Dinner party Jason 

My 10-year old son, Mattias, has caught up with the liking of cosplay and wanted to join me at the convention in December, where they have a cosplay contest for kids. Because of the small amount of time we decided to make a mash up cosplay we call Dinner part Jason, basically it is a Jason Vorhees costume but instead of the movie G.I. Joe kind of gear we have resown an old black suit of mine, adding a white shirt and a red bow tie. Voilà! Dinner party Jason! LOL. 

Making a cast of Mattias head to build goalie mask and rotten head

I helped him ofcourse but he did do a lot himself on the head part we made from a bald cap bought from a movie make up shop. We then sculpted burnt and distorted skin on it with latex, grease make up and acrylic paint. The picture provided isn't the best but I will upload better ones. The iconic goalie mask we will make from scratch in polyester resin.


Conventions comes in three....? 

This fall and winter is heaven for a convention lover like myself. First up October 28-30, it is Närcon in my town of all! Amazing I´ll say. Närcon is the largest convention in Sweden with around 8000 visitors when they crown the Swedish champion of cosplay every year in February and The Nordic Champion in July every year. These two conventions take place in Linköping, but this year they decided to have yet another convention in another town so the luck fell on my town. Happy me! Fifteen minutes from home to the convention arena. No cosplay ready for this since they dropped the announcement as late  as June, and I was in the making of my Sabine Wren costume. Did not have the energy to start something new.

The weekend after, November 4-6, the MCM Comiccon takes place in Kista Convention Center north of Stockholm, less than 2 hours travel with train from where I live. Nothing to argue  about. Taking girlfriend (am I aloud to use that word at the age of 42?) there and staying att the Kista Victoria Tower Hotel wall to wall with the convention center. Can not be better I think. We also celebrate the first year together that particular weekend.

A little rest then for a about a month before The Scandinavian Sci-Fi, Game & Film Convention, December 10-11. Lots of vendors at this convention, hopefully for my liking a lot more Star Wars vintage than usual. Lots of cool other stuff it will be though, and cosplay competition debut for my son also. My friend Björn and my girlfriend will probably acompany us there.

A couple of days later is premier date for Rogue One - A Star Wars Story. I really usually don´t like fall and winter, hard not to like this one.

Later, awsome nerds!

I dream about Rey and BB-8

Bad Swedishfanboy, bad Swedishfanboy. No post since April 3rd. Sorry for that. For the last couple of months I have had a lot of exams at the university but now I am almost finished with school for summer. You will all get frequent posts from now on. I am always available on Twitter of course. Check my feed in the right panel. Please do follow!

Most people know me as a Star Wars fan and a collector of mostly Star Wars vintage, but also other pop culture stuff and gadgets. Since The Force Awakens (TFA) hit the cinemas in December last year, I have had my eys on a very special collectible which is not released yet. I dream about her constantly. Day and night. This lady and her companion is haunting me...

Sideshow Collectibles sixth scale Rey & BB-8.

I am talkning about Sideshow Collectibles sixth scale Rey & BB-8. This is a truly great and high detailed figure that will stand out in any collection. How do I know if no one hasn't seen it live yet? Well with the reservation that it is released in the last few days. Anyway, Sideshow Collectibles is known for their high quality products and pictures of this figure looks completely ridicoulus! Ridiculously good I mean...

Collecting is of course an expensive hobby sometimes, and Sideshow figures is high in demand and you always get your moneys worth. I have no reason to believe otherwise.

The Rey & BB-8 sixth scale figure comes with a lot of features...

• Authentic and detailed likeness of Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Newly developed head sculpt with a highly-accurate facial expression and make-up
• Head wrap with goggles can be freely worn onto the head sculpt to achieve 2 additional looks
• Body with over 28 points of articulation
• Approximately 28 cm tall
• Six (6) pieces of interchangeable palms including:
  - One (1) left fist
  - One (1) relaxed right palm
  - One (1) pair of palms for holding staff
  - One (1) pair of palms for holding blaster
• Six (6) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including:
  - One (1) left fist
  - One (1) relaxed right palm
  - One (1) pair of palms for holding staff
  - One (1) pair of palms for holding blaster
• Each head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume:

• One (1) beige top
• One (1) beige wrap dress
• One (1) pair of beige arm wraps
• One (1) detachable left shoulder pad
• One (1) leather-like left wrist cuff
• One (1) brown belt with pouch
• One (1) pair of beige pants
• One (1) pair of dark grey boots

Weapons:

• One (1) lightsaber with blue colored blade
• One (1) staff with strap
• One (1) blaster pistol

Accessories:

• One (1) leather-like backpack with accessories
• Resistance emblem hexagonal figure stand with Rey nameplate and Star Wars logo

The BB-8 Sixth Scale Collectible Figure specially features:

• Authentic and detailed likeness of BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Newly developed spherical body embedded with self-balancing mechanisms
• Metallic white, silver and orange painting
• LED light-up eyes (white light, red and blue lens, battery operated)
• Approximately 11cm tall

Accessory:

• Specially designed Jakku desert-themed figure base attachable to Rey’s hexagonal figure stand

This will be yours for the sum of 289.99 USD. Well, I know what I want for christmas! 

I will be back with new fanboyish stuff soon!

Later, awesome Nerds!