My Cosplay Origin Story

It took me way too long to make this video because I totally forgot about it, BUT! We're making it now. 😅👍🏻
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Thank you so much for watching, it seriously means a lot! ❤ If you'd like to see more cosplay and nerd-related videos, please consider subscribing!
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[@tinafarina6580]

It's so nice that you would rather lose your friends than stop pursuing a new activity that makes you happy, especially in high school. 😊

[@AnyaPanda]

@@tinafarina6580 Yesss I'm really glad it all worked out the way it did, because I really didn't need to surround myself with people who were so judgemental of something that was so important to me.

[@failure-at-failing]

This just made me realise we met like 15 years ago 🥹 I love hearing cosplay origin stories- the little baby Rin walking into the panel and getting celebrated must have felt so surreal!

[@AnyaPanda]

@@failure-at-failing We did!! I can't believe it's been so long. 🥹 And omg yeah such a surreal moment, I remember it so vividly even after 15 years because it was such a core memory.

[@DreamWorld-1960]

How I Got Into Cosplay: I've always liked costumes. I liked dressing up as characters I was interested in. So when i was introduced to the cosplay community, I. Was. AMAZED. The art of cosplay helped me branch out a bit of my creativity and I now have 2 bags of accessories and a HUGE suitcase of cosplay and a opened container box of makeup. Side Note: My parents aren't surprised I'm into cospaly. Because of my skills in art and creativity, it would be a matter of time I decide to make my own costumes for Halloween (and other festive occasions).

[@Amia-san]

Really inspiring for people who wanna start cosplaying!

[@AnyaPanda]

Aww yay I'm so very glad! 🥰

[@cartoonprincessnellie8260]

I absolutely loved your cosplay story so much, Anya.

[@AnyaPanda]

@@cartoonprincessnellie8260 Thank you so much, I'm really glad to hear that! 🥰

[@KellyGreeny94]

How I get into cosplay was wild and only because of the right circumstances. A firend of mine (which I haven´t much contact with anymore) had a cousin, who did cosplay. We were so into anime and we thought about giving it a shot. Then there was a cosplay shop in the city and there we could buy everything we needed (for me, even the cosplay and yeah, my first one was bought). But then we went to meet ups of this anime and anime conventions neaby, meeting my up til today cosplay friends. I was always pulled into groups, who celebrate my cosplay and that was amazing! I hadn´t much friends in school, but now, I meet so many awsome poeple, who have the same interests. Because I was so pulled into this hobby, I started to teach me sewing and later crafting. I figured out that crafting suits me more, but anyway, I love this hobby! The cosplay community can be so wholesome at times.

[@Miool_11]

Since people are sharing their cosplay storys. Im gonna share mines So basically this all happen around 2018 when I was at my cousin's house and we were watching a anime called "Maid-sama!" And My sister was on her phone and she said "hey guys would you guys wanna cosplay?" I said sure cause why not. So my cousin decided to do vocaloid since tahtw ss the easy option she can do. And I was Miku, my sister was Luka, and my cousin was Len. When we went to the anime convention I was surprised omto how much people were different characters amd I feel in love with cosplay. So now, I just enjoy cosplay. And now my current cosplay is Sparkle from Honkai star rail

[@SeerOfTime577]

I am so glad you found your people, Anya!

[@MsMaddieTheOdd]

Love the lighting! And the story too of course 💜

[@Starslime1780]

What a wonderful story! It's incredible to see how you chose what made you happy.

[@TayHG]

Woah, thanks for sharing your story 💚 we started cosplaying the same year! I can't remember since when i follow you but i can understand your journey in this awesome hobbie (now is my job, but i still enjoy it the same way i did at the begining) . Greetings from México 🫂

[@ShiggitayMediaProductions]

That was wholesome to watch! What's funny is that I'm a fellow cosplayer and my first ever cosplay was also from Vocaloid... a genderbent Senbonzakura Miku, though I started the hobby in 2016. I didn't wanna crossplay, so I had EZ Cosplay (never again after I had to get it replaced... more on that later) make me pants instead of the mini skirt Miku wears when in her Senbonzakura module/outfit, and when I wear it to conventions I get instant recognition! I get asked for pics, the whole nine yards. My second ever cosplay (meant to be a Day 0 aka Thursday of a Fri-Sun con cosplay) was one my mom and I made together. Yet another genderbent Miku, but it was the ever so obscure Heat Haze Days aka Kagerou Days "Street Pop" Miku module from Project Diva F2nd. My mom and I made it down to the details of the hat she wears... It was awesome... BUT... my dumb@$$ lost my clothing luggage on the way to Otakon 2017 in NYC's Grand Central Terminal (I currently live in Massachusetts, and I was headed to my old home area in Connecticut to meet up with a friend and we were going to drive down to Washington, D.C. for Otakon's first year there. I did attend Otakon 2017 anyway, but it was a challenge pyschologcally). I was TORN mostly due to the fact that I lost something that I actually made with my mom's time and help. I also lost version 1 of my Senbonzakura. I literally only had the clothes on my back and my electronics bag(s).. i.e. laptop, tablet of the time, etc. Since then I reordered my Senbonzakura again from EZ Cosplay (they got my pant size wrong, and I had to send it back, risking it not getting back in time for I think it was Anime Boston 2018? I can't remember), and I also got Miroku the Monk from InuYasha (staff prop and all) from I believe Cosplay Fu. I now cosplay Miroku and Senbon Miku at all the anime conventions I attend each year. I'm 41, but I won't stop cosplaying until my legs are jelly/rubber etc. lol. Cosplay makes me happy like it does for you, Anya. I'm glad you didn't let your "friends" of the time bring you down. I also didn't realize you're not that much younger than me. haha. Great video!

[@sugarcubecosplay6024]

Im so happy to have heard your story!!! Im a cosplayer of 4 years and I felt awkward telling people I like anime and cosplay. My mom didn't really understand my passion but she supported me nonetheless. She cosplayed with me to my first ever con and it was so special!! Im so happy to have found this hobby. Thanks for sharing this. I have anxiety and depression and it is definitely a coping mechanism. Thank you for inspiring me Anya and I wish you the best 😍

[@lordjs9726]

Very nice video. Sweet to find out this stuff about ya, girl.

[@Faneliacosplay]

Thank you for sharing this sweet, personal story!! It warmed my heart!!

[@AnyaPanda]

@@Faneliacosplay I'm so happy to hear that, thank you so much for watching! 🥰

[@linajohannaleimbrock4901]

It's so crazy how different people's reactions are. I'm not sure if it's because of the time or place or something else but almost every time I told someone I wanted to do cosplay and especially when I tell them now that I do cosplay (for around 5 years now) people get super excited and want to see what I do and how that looks etc. I have never gotten a really bad feedback from it (except a toxic ex boyfriend). Maybe it's because I was 17/18 when I started. But anyway, I really loved hearing your story and how you started :D I feel like we sometimes had small snippets out of that story but hearing it all together was really cool. ❤

[@AnyaPanda]

@@linajohannaleimbrock4901 Most of the reactions I've gotten have been positive thankfully, especially as cosplay became more and more mainstream. But that one friend, I'm not sure what her problem with it was haha. 😅 I'm so glad you've had such positive reactions!! 😃 And thank you so much!! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. 🥰

[@so_batty_gaming]

I'm so happy you were able to step away from a toxic friend group like that and find your people!❤ The cosplay community is so amazing. I've met some really lovely people through cosplay!

[@AnyaPanda]

@@so_batty_gaming I'm so happy to hear that!! I agree, the community can be so amazing, I've met some wonderful people. 🥰

[@lucodak]

Thank you for making such a nice video! So much of this resonated a lot with me, I've only been cosplaying since 2017 and it's been on and off a lot, but when I went to a convention with some friends of which i have long since fallen out with due to bullying, the usual yadda yadda. I remember the first time I went to one, it was a bit bigger than the one you went to, but i just felt so alive, i suppose, it just felt right. I felt like i belonged and I don't really get that anywhere else. I feel like I'm at the bottom of the journey or ladder (okay jimmy and curly get this ladder analogy outta here) but maybe it is possible for me to improve in time. For the longest time I would buy parts for my cosplay but I've only recently tried to properly make them, and you've seen how thats going for me lmao. but it feels comforting (i suppose?) that a cosplayer as good as you was in the same position that I'm in, like yes it's a struggle now and i feel way out of my depths and questioning my life choices but it will get better in time, thats just how practice works. I hate how this just reminds me of the ladder conversation in the cockpit, you're high up on the ladder and im at the bottom, about to crash this ship (/j)

[@erinashestak7855]

I have always enjoyed dressing up and accessorizing. How I got into cosplay was a friend of mine (who I'm no longer friends with unfortunately) told me about this convention and wanted me to join her. It was all new for me but at the same time she also wanted me to go all out and it felt like there was this big overwhelming wave coming at me. I told her she had to let me ease into it and let me figure it out. She backed off but then tried to control any cosplay I was interested in doing. This put a downer in my cosplay experience unfortunately but I got over it. Now I'm cosplaying, learning some tricks on how to make it stand out and just have fun with it. The whole point of cosplay is to have fun. Sorry if this sounded like a bit of a rant but that's how I got into cosplaying. I did want to ask, are you going to be at Sakura con this year? Btw your videos are awesome, I enjoy watching them.

[@andraiamatrixxx6139]

So inspiring, thanks for sharing🩵

[@418Im_a_teapot]

You inspire me so much to continue doing cosplay 🖤🖤

[@AnyaPanda]

@@418Im_a_teapot That means so much oh my goodness 🥹🥹🥹

[@avevee9708]

I had a friend who was also weirdly disdainful of my interests. She was my best friend in elementary and middle school, and she was always nasty. I recently had an epiphany about her just a year ago a decade after our friendship eroded. She was never kind. She used to call me “special” in a mean way. I’m glad I never tried to conform to be her friend after she decided she was done with me. Weirdness is SO much better

[@AnyaPanda]

@@avevee9708 Yes absolutely!! Gotta stay true to yourself, and if your friends won't support you or your passions, it's time to move on.

[@Tape_Cos]

Wholesomeeeeeeeeee ❤

[@omgsars]

Wait how did I not know you were a Tsubasa fan!!

[@AnyaPanda]

@@omgsars It's been a while, so I don't really post about it but yeah I was super into CLAMP back when I was a teenager. 😊

[@omgsars]

@AnyaPanda yesss I wanna reread my Tsubasa nanga soon, tbh I never got really into the anime version but the manga sucked me right in.

[@AnyaPanda]

@@omgsars Yesss same here! I read the manga and loved it. 😊

[@slackymoo8311]

You and I have a very similar life experience with this stuff. Could we possibly chat at some point and possibly be friends?

[@spectrablaze3760]

Eh? 😐