Why Link won the cosplay contest

[Katsu]

Anyone ever see a Link cosplay that actually included a REAL fairy?



just thought this pic was too good not to post

[Candeldandel]

That is a sweet picture!! She was an awsome cosplayer; I hope she comes back next year! Talk about dedication...

That is a sweet picture!! She was an awsome cosplayer; I hope she comes back next year! Talk about dedication...

Before she left Zidane and I were talking to here, she lives all the way up in San Francisco, she said it was alot of fun besides the fact that people really didn't talk to her that much, she might come back, but most likely not, it wasl ike a 10 to 12 hour drive X.X

[zenix]

cool pic i have driven to sf for me it turned out to be like 14hours but we stoped and took a nap

[SailorNaboo]

Why do I get the feeling that the glow in the mirror near Link should be saying, "Wait...Listen!"?

[hikaru_maxwell]

I talked to her for a little while. Her costume rocked.  

I would have talked to her more, but I was almost constantly in search of my wandered off friends.... :cry:

[Radien]

Haha!! That's great... The Marriott sure had a lot of mirrors, didn't it? Fortunately, I've only seen them mess up one picture so far. Interestingly, two of the shots of this Link backed up against a mirror did nothing more than give a much needed view of her awesome scabbard.

I am so totally not surprised that this Link won the cosplay contest. It's the best Link costume I've ever seen by far. I'll have a lot to live up to if I ever attempt to do a Link...

[Sushi_Glomper]

that is very neat!!!!

[omniwarrior]

The costume was so good it was almost unfair to the first time people who worked hard on their costume...

[Nightblayde]

That is a great pic. And that cosplay was well deserving of winning.

[MistressLegato]

I thought it was a tad unfair since her dad made the costume and is a professional costume designer and that it was made in 1996.

There were some of us who made our own costumes recently and spent months on them that didn't win.  I'm bitter still . . .

I suggest a separate category next time in the cosplay for people who didn't make their own costumes.

It was a good cosplay, though.  Murgh . . . my problem was that it was a pretty simple costume if you take away the weapons.  Not too complex to make.

I'll shut up now . . .

[Rushifa]

I suggest a separate category next time in the cosplay for people who didn't make their own costumes.

I think there was a seperate category, like "tailored" or something.

Anyway, the point was that the costume was cool, regardless of who made it.

[hikaru_maxwell]

Yeah!  and the fairy effect in the pic was awesome.  Kudos to whoever took it.

[Rivenchan]

I suggest a separate category next time in the cosplay for people who didn't make their own costumes.

I think there was a seperate category, like "tailored" or something.

Anyway, the point was that the costume was cool, regardless of who made it.

I'd like to step in and say something: I was a last-minute judge for the craftsmanship awards that night (I was dressed as Belle) So while I may be off slightly in the details (I only had the 5 hours of judging to figure everything out, afterall  ^_^;  I tried to do my best and judge fairly), this is my understanding of Kumoricon's different catagories.  There were 4 catagories in the competition:

-Child (costumes made by children or their parents, no official age limit, but we figured about 12 and under - we had no entries in this catagory)

-Novice (costumes made by people who have not yet won any craftsmanship awards for their costumes thus far - this was the rank most of the contestants fell under.)

-Journeyman (this catagory was what Link was entered as.  it is reserved for cosplayers who have won larger awards in a previous costume craftsmanship competition, or are deemed to be of the same skill level as those who have)

-Master (We had no master competitors. the catagory was reserved for costumers who have won major awards (such as best of show) more than 3 times.)

The Novice catagory was in no way judged against the Journeyman catagory, and vice-versa. In fact, many more awards were awarded to those in Novice, than were awarded to Journeyman.  The Best in Show award was designed not to be a competition between the different levels, but simply to show off what we thought was exceptionally good cosplay or was just darn COOL (which you can't deny, those props were very cool  ^_~) (an aside: Sometimes the simpelist looking characters can be the most difficult to emulate because there is nothing to "distract" the eye away from the form, fit, and accuracy of the portrayal of the character.)

I thought it was a tad unfair since her dad made the costume and is a professional costume designer and that it was made in 1996.

It has been mentioned in this thread that Link's father made the entire costume, but from what I remember when I spoke to her about the costume durring judging was that she was responsible for sewing the fabric parts of the costume, the design of the costume, wig cutting, adding wefts of hair and styling, boot covers, etc, and helped make the props with her father.  Personally, I don't see anything wrong with getting family members of friends to help with costumes, especially since she seemed very honest about what he helped her with.

As for the claim that she made the costume back in 1996, I decided to do some URL research.

It sounds like she made a version of this costume for the first time in 1998, but then heavily revamped it in 2003. I'm all for revising costumes until they're just how the cosplayer wants them to be (That's why we (the judges) took so much time to teach the cosplayers we met in judging how they could improve their cosplay ^_^ Cosplay will never get anywhere if we all don't help eachother out  ^_^).  I think it shows long-term dedication, and shouldn't be something that's looked down upon - it's just another way or showing love for cosplay.

I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion and bad feelings I've seen in this thread, and I hope to see you all at next year's Kumoricon  ^_^

-Rivenchan (the Belle cosplayer)
Last-minute Judge of Cosplay Craftsmanship Kumoricon 2004

[Fade]

She won because she looked awesome.  'nuff said.

[ndarkeral]

Anyone ever see a Link cosplay that actually included a REAL fairy?

The.. lens flare? In this case its cool. It doesn't mess up the picture at all.

Usually when you take a picture with a mirror in it, it helps to angle the camera so it's NOT directly facing the mirror, and so you wont get the flash reflected right back. You can get some really bad pictures that don't show your subject if you don't do it right. Those are the cases when it's not cool.

Just a little photography 101

[celticangel]

she said it was alot of fun besides the fact that people really didn't talk to her that much.

I think people were a little intimidated. I was involved in/overheard many conversations about her. A lot of people thought she was a boy. Some people thought that she didn't even speak English. I totally would have talked to her, if I'd had something to say. XD I usually start conversations at cons by either over-hearing something or saying something in character. So almost everyone I talk to is dressed from the same thing...

[Nikker]

Wait wait.. That was a her? o.o`

[Nikker]

she said it was alot of fun besides the fact that people really didn't talk to her that much.

I think people were a little intimidated. I was involved in/overheard many conversations about her. A lot of people thought she was a boy. Some people thought that she didn't even speak English. I totally would have talked to her, if I'd had something to say. XD I usually start conversations at cons by either over-hearing something or saying something in character. So almost everyone I talk to is dressed from the same thing...

I didn't know much about her, but I didn't realise that she was a girl.  I heard from some random person that she didn't speak english, which I thought was kind of wierd when she was talking later.

[zenix]

i didnt know link was a she eather but then again i never got a good look at her

i hated all those mirrows i was afriad i would lean on one and break it

[FateRuins]

That's a great photo. XD Uwaahaa.

[SailorNaboo]

The costume was so good it was almost unfair to the first time people who worked hard on their costume...

It wasn't made very clear by the announcers, but there were 2 classes of cosplay juding.   The first 7 or so were in the Novice Catagory, and the rest of them, up until the skits started were in the Journeyman catagory.  Then almost all of the people in skits that were also eligible to win a costume prize were in Novice.

Link was only competing against other more experienced costumers.

[Radien]

She complained about not being talked to?... Aw, that's too bad. I didn't really talk to her because she seemed very shy, always talking quietly when anyone talked to her. Although, yes, uncertainty about her gender could certainly intimidate people... Her father was with press, I believe, so it made me wonder whether she intended to be a regular or was just tagging along for that particular trip.

When the flash reflects off the mirror, it's not really a lens flare, it's just a reflection.  While the pillars were avoidable, I can see how it would be hard to avoid the mirrors behind the piano. Oh well; it turned out for the best.

[MistressLegato]

I suggest a separate category next time in the cosplay for people who didn't make their own costumes.

I think there was a seperate category, like "tailored" or something.

Anyway, the point was that the costume was cool, regardless of who made it.

I'd like to step in and say something: I was a last-minute judge for the craftsmanship awards that night (I was dressed as Belle) So while I may be off slightly in the details (I only had the 5 hours of judging to figure everything out, afterall  ^_^;  I tried to do my best and judge fairly), this is my understanding of Kumoricon's different catagories.  There were 4 catagories in the competition:

-Child (costumes made by children or their parents, no official age limit, but we figured about 12 and under - we had no entries in this catagory)

-Novice (costumes made by people who have not yet won any craftsmanship awards for their costumes thus far - this was the rank most of the contestants fell under.)

-Journeyman (this catagory was what Link was entered as.  it is reserved for cosplayers who have won larger awards in a previous costume craftsmanship competition, or are deemed to be of the same skill level as those who have)

-Master (We had no master competitors. the catagory was reserved for costumers who have won major awards (such as best of show) more than 3 times.)

The Novice catagory was in no way judged against the Journeyman catagory, and vice-versa. In fact, many more awards were awarded to those in Novice, than were awarded to Journeyman.  The Best in Show award was designed not to be a competition between the different levels, but simply to show off what we thought was exceptionally good cosplay or was just darn COOL (which you can't deny, those props were very cool  ^_~) (an aside: Sometimes the simpelist looking characters can be the most difficult to emulate because there is nothing to "distract" the eye away from the form, fit, and accuracy of the portrayal of the character.)

I thought it was a tad unfair since her dad made the costume and is a professional costume designer and that it was made in 1996.

It has been mentioned in this thread that Link's father made the entire costume, but from what I remember when I spoke to her about the costume durring judging was that she was responsible for sewing the fabric parts of the costume, the design of the costume, wig cutting, adding wefts of hair and styling, boot covers, etc, and helped make the props with her father.  Personally, I don't see anything wrong with getting family members of friends to help with costumes, especially since she seemed very honest about what he helped her with.

As for the claim that she made the costume back in 1996, I decided to do some URL research.

It sounds like she made a version of this costume for the first time in 1998, but then heavily revamped it in 2003. I'm all for revising costumes until they're just how the cosplayer wants them to be (That's why we (the judges) took so much time to teach the cosplayers we met in judging how they could improve their cosplay ^_^ Cosplay will never get anywhere if we all don't help eachother out  ^_^).  I think it shows long-term dedication, and shouldn't be something that's looked down upon - it's just another way or showing love for cosplay.

I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion and bad feelings I've seen in this thread, and I hope to see you all at next year's Kumoricon  ^_^

-Rivenchan (the Belle cosplayer)
Last-minute Judge of Cosplay Craftsmanship Kumoricon 2004

Ah.  I just remembered what she'd told me about her costume.  I don't look down upon her for her dad making stuff, but I thought it ought to be a separate category from someone who did their own, ya know?

And I thought some of the categories were a little bit confusing.  I didn't know which one I should have entered.  I'd only ever cosplay at anime clubs of like 20 people max. but I didn't know if that counted as "at an anime convention or similar event."  'Cuz I thought it  was sort of similar, i chose to slap myself into the Journeyman section, but it was a bit confusing.

I have no bad feelings towards Link, 'cuz she was a really nice girl and all, I was just sayin' how I felt.  Didn't mean to offend anybody if I did.

[Radien]

It's pretty hard to rate these things, since they require a knowledge of people's background. I don't envy Beth's job in trying to consider all these different aspects at once while making rules for judging. In a way, karaoke is quite simple to judge, since we don't worry about those different (yet important) aspects seen in cosplay.

[SailorNaboo]

Ah.  I just remembered what she'd told me about her costume.  I don't look down upon her for her dad making stuff, but I thought it ought to be a separate category from someone who did their own, ya know?

And I thought some of the categories were a little bit confusing.  I didn't know which one I should have entered.  I'd only ever cosplay at anime clubs of like 20 people max. but I didn't know if that counted as "at an anime convention or similar event."  'Cuz I thought it  was sort of similar, i chose to slap myself into the Journeyman section, but it was a bit confusing.

I have no bad feelings towards Link, 'cuz she was a really nice girl and all, I was just sayin' how I felt.  Didn't mean to offend anybody if I did.

I will make that more clear for next year's event forms.  I meant similar sized or larger events.  The judges could have easily made the decision to move you to novice on the spot if you had explained your situation, but they don't make that decision unless the cosplayer suggests it because it could be very insulting to some people if they think they are doing Journeyman level work and the Judges think they are not.

You're costume was still beautiful and at least you got a hall cosplay award!

[MistressLegato]

Thank you very much!  Yeah, I'm really proud of my costume and my award    And I'm glad I got to meet all the nice cosplayers, etc.  I tried to ask one of the people at the info desk about where I ought to put myself, but they didn't seem to know.

At least I know for next time!  I think I'll go in as journeyman anyway.  I won a hallway award, so that should count!

[pikminlink]

I thought it was a tad unfair since her dad made the costume and is a professional costume designer and that it was made in 1996.

There were some of us who made our own costumes recently and spent months on them that didn't win.  I'm bitter still . . .

I suggest a separate category next time in the cosplay for people who didn't make their own costumes.

It was a good cosplay, though.  Murgh . . . my problem was that it was a pretty simple costume if you take away the weapons.  Not too complex to make.

I'll shut up now . . .

honestly i was surprised you didnt win, really. i loved your costume, and the hard work you put into it, im sorry -_-

though, at most cons, the rules say no one is allowed to enter a commissioned costume (not made by the wearer) into any cosplay contest.

but to get things cleared up, i started the costume in 98, i made my first version of link (i didnt post pics of it anywhere becuase it was horrid), i remade the whole costume at least 6 times, making new boots, gloves, tunic, most of it all over, becuase i didnt like them, and i didnt have much costuming experience at that time since link was my first costume. on all of my costumes i made all of the tailoring, i made everything, except the weapons (props) my dad helped me with those becuase he wouldnt let me touch the machines at first, and hes better at them, but he wouldnt have been able to make them without my help, i spent alot of time hand sanding, and designing, cutting..it was a very long processes which took alot of time, the link i had at the con was so far my final one, but there are a few things im still going to redo,

im not mad at you at all in anyway, and im really sorry you didnt win, and you should have gotten an award too. Im just clearing some stuff up.


i also dont know how people thought i didnt speak english ^^;;;; this was my first time at an out of state con, and i didnt know anyone there ._.

[MistressLegato]

I wonder why people assumed you didn't speak English!  That's odd, ne?

*glomps Link*  I heart you!  You were really nice.  WOW, you made it that many times?!  I guess it's hard to tell how much time somebody's put into something when it comes to cosplay.

Will you be at Sakuracon?  I'm hoping I'll be able to save up my money so I can go.

[celticangel]

i also dont know how people thought i didnt speak english ^^;;;; this was my first time at an out of state con, and i didnt know anyone there ._.

People assume weird things. I think they thought that 'cause you seemed to always be sitting alone and didn't every say much. *shrugs* Of course, I was sitting with a group of people for the pre-costume contest thing that were amazed to find out you were a girl. (I wasn't in the contest, just bugging some people).

So sad that you didn't know anyone. Perhaps if you go to next year's con, you'll know more people. From here (the forum). I know I'll have more to say than "OMFG Good costume!!" 'Cause if I don't have anything beyond that to say, it's hard to get to know people. Ya know?

[Candeldandel]

this was my first time at an out of state con, and i didnt know anyone there ._.

Oh, I do hope you come back; I'm sure you'll find people to talk to! Really, though, I understand what you mean... I was a little wary of talking to people myself, but once you start talking to one nice person...

Anyway, you certinly know more about conventions than me (this one being the first I've gone to), so I'll just stop while I'm ahead. =)

[Rushifa]

honestly i was surprised you didnt win, really. i loved your costume, and the hard work you put into it, im sorry -_-

though, at most cons, the rules say no one is allowed to enter a commissioned costume (not made by the wearer) into any cosplay contest.

but to get things cleared up, i started the costume in 98, i made my first version of link (i didnt post pics of it anywhere becuase it was horrid), i remade the whole costume at least 6 times, making new boots, gloves, tunic, most of it all over, becuase i didnt like them, and i didnt have much costuming experience at that time since link was my first costume. on all of my costumes i made all of the tailoring, i made everything, except the weapons (props) my dad helped me with those becuase he wouldnt let me touch the machines at first, and hes better at them, but he wouldnt have been able to make them without my help, i spent alot of time hand sanding, and designing, cutting..it was a very long processes which took alot of time, the link i had at the con was so far my final one, but there are a few things im still going to redo,

im not mad at you at all in anyway, and im really sorry you didnt win, and you should have gotten an award too. Im just clearing some stuff up.


i also dont know how people thought i didnt speak english ^^;;;; this was my first time at an out of state con, and i didnt know anyone there ._.

I wanted to talk to you, but I only saw you wondering around a few times...  I was the Kiki who played in the band on saturday (I think one of my friends got your picture with my camera while you were playing).  I love your costume, it really turned out.  I looked through your site, and all your other costumes are great too.  Link is still one of my favorites, though.  How did you make the gauntlets?  They're so shiny!

[pikminlink]

I wonder why people assumed you didn't speak English!  That's odd, ne?

*glomps Link*  I heart you!  You were really nice.  WOW, you made it that many times?!  I guess it's hard to tell how much time somebody's put into something when it comes to cosplay.

Will you be at Sakuracon?  I'm hoping I'll be able to save up my money so I can go.

sakura con? ^^ i really want to, and i had much fun at this con and i want to go next year.

yeah maybe more people will talk to me, or i should put a sign on my back saying "i speak english" XD!!

was that costume you were wearing your very first one? i still <3 the goldness of it <3<3<3

I wanted to talk to you, but I only saw you wondering around a few times...  I was the Kiki who played in the band on saturday (I think one of my friends got your picture with my camera while you were playing).  I love your costume, it really turned out.  I looked through your site, and all your other costumes are great too.  Link is still one of my favorites, though.  How did you make the gauntlets?  They're so shiny!

thanks so much^^
my guantlets were vinyl, but i hate the shinyness to them so im going to remake them from hide.

[Rushifa]

thanks so much^^
my guantlets were vinyl, but i hate the shinyness to them so im going to remake them from hide.

I kind of like the shininess, it gives it that more "animated" look that is hard to get when you're dressed as a computer animated/cel animated character.  But hide would make it look more realistic, which would be really cool.  

I looked around your site a bit, and I really like the Jedi outfits.  Go Jedi!  lol, I really need to get to more conventions (anime and other).

[MistressLegato]

It was my first convention costume.  My BEST costume so far!  I've made a few other costumes.  I'm sorta a novice cosplayer, still.  I have much to learn!

I'm workin' on a website with my past cosplay stuff.  The first version of it was http://cs.clark.edu/~mclar2765/lab2.html
It was a html class project  XD

Glad you liked the shininess!!!

[Runa]

It wasn't made very clear by the announcers, but there were 2 classes of cosplay juding. The first 7 or so were in the Novice Catagory, and the rest of them, up until the skits started were in the Journeyman catagory. Then almost all of the people in skits that were also eligible to win a costume prize were in Novice. Link was only competing against other more experienced costumers

I was "she who announced the Costume Awards for Cosplay". Sorry that I didn't make it more clear about which division each award was in, I was exhausted by that time. I'll try to remember to include the category as well as the ribbon's name as each is announced, instead of mentioning the category only once. Here's the list (category is listed in parenthesis at end of citiation):
KEY: d = designer / m = maker / w = wearer

Best Use of Velcro for Washable Costume - "Dr. Faust" by Derek Hayes (d/m/w)
(Novice)

Best Modest Hentai - "Imari" from "Bible Black" by Meg Uhde (d/w) & Jalen
Uhde (m) (Novice)

Best Leg Wrap - "Ino: by Elmira Utz (d/m) & Audrey Utz (w) (Novice)

Best Props - "Jiro" from "Street Fighter" by (name unknown) (d/m/w) (Novice)

Best Group - "Ninja of the Night" by Alyssa Radtke (d/m/w) & Kayla
Castronovo (d/m/w) (Novice)

Best Historical Accuracy - "Sakura" from "Sakura Taisen" by Alicia Faires
(d/m/w) (Journeyman)

Best Tailoring - "Yu-Ki" from "Malice Mizer" (J-Rock) by Maren Conch (d/m/w)
(Journeyman)

Best in Show - "Link" from "Legend of Zelda" by Liz Kovacs (d/m/w)
(Journeyman) (prop-making help from Dad)

Costume judges were:
Andie Letourneau
Brenna Sharp
Melinda Russell (Last-minute pick-up as judge. Thank you, Melinda!)


Melinda (the one dressed as "Belle" from Kingdom hearts) gave an excellent rundown on how the judging process worked and what the categories were. We were given 9 ribbons -- 8 generic and one "best of show"-- to award to the winners in whatever manner worked for the group of entries we recieved. There we 4 entries in "Journeyman" and 18 or 20 or however many it was (it had been a VERY long day and we judges had NOT eaten anything since early morning!) in novice. Because the numbers were so unbalanced -- with such a huge novice division and a small journeyman division, that we divided up the ribbons so that 2 went to journeyman and 6 went to novice categories.

 Now, naturally, with 9 ribbons and 20-something entries, it was IMPOSSIBLE for every person to win in cosplay. I'm sorry that we couldn't give all entries an award, but that's what happensin competition.
 
 By the way, if you didn't get a hall costume award, but did wear a costume, it may be because one of the people passing out the awards simply didn't walk by you or see you while you were wearing the costume.

-Runa

[/i]

[MistressLegato]

I think that's a great idea to have the different categories for self-made, etc.

Good job, judges.  We appreciate all the hard work you did.  I appreciate all the tips, too!  My next costume will be made with all of that at the front of my mind!  Just wait for it!