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Eyes on Final Fantasy Cosplay - An Interview with Liliana
Hello again! Unfortunately this edition was slightly delayed due to a few last minute hitches - but have no fear! We made it for a very special edition indeed.
Our first edition looked at some fantastic Terra Cosplays and gave you, the reader, the chance to vote on which one was your favourite. Well, the results are in and the winner was Liliana! She's been gracious enough to sit down and answer a few questions for us.
If you have any other questions you'd like to put to Liliana then please post them in the comments where she will hopefully be able to see and reply to them.
So without further ado!
Hey Liliana, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us. Congratulations on being the first ever reader vote winner!
Jump'n chocobo's, I really did win?! *DIES EPICALLY* okie dokie then! I spend a long time putting my thoughts together on this, here ya go! Haha! XD And no problem... I should be the one thanking you!! For this great experience!
Q. How did you get into Cosplay?
A. I blame quite a number of things that got me into this hobby: First and foremost is the cosplay community, secondly, Final Fantasy, and thirdly, Yoshitaka Amano!
Q. What made you decide to Cosplay Terra?
A. It was really random and out of the blue actually. However, I had ALWAYS had plans at one day making a Terra cosplay because she is one of my favorite Final Fantasy female characters and I can relate to her quite a bit. Plus, I LOVE her design so much! It was just one of those cosplays that I HAD to do. One day, during a very busy convention season, I was getting very tired of working on my same old cosplays, trying to get them done in time for the con. (I was burnt out I think haha) So I just said to myself, "Hmm! I should make a Terra cosplay, I've always wanted to cosplay her." And before I knew it, I had bought all of the supplies I needed to make her. Which kinda... gave me more work to do. Buuut as foolish as that move may have been, it was very refreshing to make and put me back on my feet again to continue my other costumes. I wish I had more cosplay days like that when I made Terra, as she was probably the MOST fun cosplay that I have ever made.
Attachment 39805Q. Roughly how much did the costume cost to make and how long did it take?
A. Terra was more expensive than my other cosplays. Usually I can make a cosplay under $30-$50, But Terra cost me about $80! The wig was actually the most expensive part! It took me 5 days to make Terra, which KILLED my hands. 3 days of nonstop beading will do that, hahaha…
Q. What was the most challenging part of the Terra outfit to make?
A. The dress maybe? Though I think it was more time consuming than hard, because of all the sequins and beads that I had hand sewn on one by one.
Q. Have you Cosplayed as any other Final Fantasy characters?
A. Yes. At least 1 of every character from the entire main series. (minus IX, XI, and XIV which are actually in the works right now, especially lots of IX's) I have close to 60 Final Fantasy cosplays at the moment, most of them are from II, IV, and VI.
Q. Is there another Final Fantasy character you'd love to Cosplay?
A. Lots! Maybe the whole cast of the entire series, but considering that's over well over 800 characters I don't think I'll ever live long enough to do so. Hahaha! Exdeath, Warrior of Light, Cid Raines, Seymour, Ultimecia (griever), Firion (Amano), Faris (Amano), and Minerva are just some examples which will happen… eventually.
Attachment 39807Q. What's your favourite Final Fantasy?
A. This is a question that I always have trouble with. I love all of the Final Fantasy's very much! each one is so different from the other, it is really hard to compare one to the other. However, Final Fantasy VI has always had a special place in my heart. I'm not sure what it is about that game, but there is something about it that really captures my heart.
Q. Are there any Cosplayers you look up too in the community?
A. Many! Probably anyone who is cosplayer, hahaha! But yes, I can never favor one cosplayer over the other. Though the kind of cosplayers that I find myself looking up to the most are the humble, down-to-earth, and kind-hearted cosplayers, who put others before themselves.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start Cosplaying?
A. My advice would be to never ever doubt yourself when it comes to making a cosplay, no matter how difficult the design of your character is. I always say that cosplaying is kinda like climbing up a mountain, and some mountains are taller than others. There is no mountain that is too tall to climb, whichever character you want to cosplay as WILL happen if you just give yourself that nudge to actually start doing it - climbing to the top of that mountain where the finish line is. It is very easy to look down, get scared and start Attachment 39806doubting yourself as if you’ll never make it, which happens to a lot of people and then they end up giving up too soon… The climb is never easy, there is a lot of rocks to grab on to and choices to be made, and it is easy to grab the wrong ones and fall, and sometimes, there just isn’t any rocks to grab on to at all! You WILL fall many times in this hobby, but don’t ever give up. Just keep looking towards the top of the mountain, and never look down. Eventually before you even know it, you’ll already be there. Sometimes the results of the climb (aka your new cosplay you’ve made) are not quite the results that you wanted… But that doesn’t matter, what matters is that you DID it, you made it. You made that climb, you made that cosplay, and the next time you climb again, it will get easier and easier. So yeah, don’t ever doubt yourself, don’t ever give up. You are a lot more hardy and have more a lot more skill than you think you do.
(P.S, if you want to take the cable car up the mountain and buy your cosplay, that is perfectly ok too! Hehehe! But not all mountain’s have cable cars, some cosplays you cannot buy so easily.)
Q. The question to end all questions! Which is better: Moogles, Chocobos or Tonberries?
A. Oh dear oh dear, the hardest decision in my life!! CHOCOBO'S MAYBE?!?! ...They came in the series first.
Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us Liliana. If you'd like to see more of her Cosplays then be sure to check out her Gallery!
If you've found a Final Fantasy or Square Enix related Cosplay you think should be featured in a future edition then be sure to drop me a Mognet Message.
Our next edition should be up on 9th February and will feature a very popular villain from the series. One things for certain about Cosplays of this character; it'll feature a lot of chest and a lot of leather!
Until next time!
