Introduction: 25 (Nerdy) Facts

Alright- as promised, here is my Introduction post!

I plan to turn some of this into a video as well with my room-mate for the Freaks of a Feather YouTube channel so, keep on the look out for that sometime. I'm sure it will be loads funnier than this textual version.

Some of these facts are pretty basic and generic in the beginning but they're essential to a proper introduction!
Let's get started~


1) Name?
     As most know, my cosplay name is Taka Kagaku. You don't have to use the full name; Taka is fine. ^^

2) Birthday?
     May 15, 1993

3) Hometown/state?
     I'm from Ohio- born and raised here. I live in Columbus during the school year and then I'm back home for summer and breaks. I don't live in my legitimate hometown anymore (the place where the school I attended for 13 years and graduated from is) but I only live about 5-10 minutes South of it.

4) First manga/anime?
     Well, the anime I instantly say was my first is Sailor Moon. It's the one I remember the most of as a child. But, I also know that- at around the same time- I was watching Pokemon, Cardcaptors, and Digimon. But, Sailor Moon had the biggest and longest lasting impact on me.
     As for manga, I don't recall ever reading a manga until I was in about 5th or 6th grade and it too was Sailor Moon.

5) Favourite manga/anime?
     Sailor Moon is no contest; in both anime and manga, I adore it. But... because it holds such precedence over my character, I don't think it's fair to even include that. It's just one of those "givens" about me. So for "favourite anime", I have to say Elfen Lied- I've seen it like 4 or 5 times, 2 or 3 times in both English and Japanese. For "favourite manga", that's a tough one. It's a tie between Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne and Petshop of Horrors.

6) First convention?
     My first convention was Matsuricon in 2010. It was about 2 or 3 weeks before I started my senior year of high school and I went with my best friend whom has been my cosplay partner ever since.

7) First cosplay?
     Ugh... well, I didn't know what the term "cosplay" was when I did my first "cosplay" which was Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service. It was for Halloween so I don't know if it counts much. But, my first "cosplay" in which I knew it was such was Nana Osaki from NANA. Which, within that weekend, I also did Eiri Yuki from Gravitation and Taion version Ruki from the J-Rock band, the GazettE. The only picture that really survived of my cosplays of that weekend was of Taion Ruki... so here you go- I'm sorry.

8) First competitive cosplay?
     That would be the Vocaloid, Miku Hatsune, at Ikasucon 2011.

9) How long have you been sewing?
     I didn't get my own personal sewing machine until Christmas of 2011- so it was after Ikasucon 2011. I was going over to a neighbor's house who did all my sewing and I observed while also serving as the mannequin since they were my costumes. So my first 100%-sewn-by-me costumes didn't happen until March 2012. So this is going on my 4th year sewing. I took half a year of "Clothing & Textiles" in my Senior year (January - May 2011) so I knew the basics and was comfortable with a machine by the time I got one.

10) How many competitions have you been in?
     I have participated in 7 cosplay competitions for craftsmanship and my first one for skits this year. In terms of different conventions I've competed at, it's only been 3.

11) How many awards have you won?
     I have won 4 awards out of the 7 competitions I've been in- and they're all at Ikasucon. 2011 Judge's Award, 2012 Honorable Mention, 2013 Judge's Award, and 2014 Runner-up Large Construction.

12) What has been your favourite costume and why?
     This is a tough one... cause, each costume gives me different emotions and memories. It's a tie between Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne (debuted January 2015), Sakuyamon (debuted July 2013), and Black Rock Shooter (debuted August 2014).
   

<-- Jeanne is because of the sheer reaction of other people. That series is a more obscure magical girl series from the late 90s and it didn't have as large of a lasting impression like Sailor Moon. It's one of those "you'd have to be really dedicated to the magical girl scene" to remember or even know about. I have nearly cried every time someone recognized who I was because their way of recognizing is amazing. It's been a mixture of sheer fangirling and shock. I went in making this costume with the thoughts of "wow, I can't wait to finish her. I'm so excited" and "gosh, no one is going to know who I am... I mean, it's ok but darn". And I've been proven wrong on that second thought at least once at every convention I wear her to.
   

     Sakuyamon--> is because she was a "dream cosplay" of mine since I was little. She was my first experience making armor and a prop that was a bit more extreme than what I've done previously. She also has a lot of the nostalgia factor to her similar to Jeanne- the reactions to her have been amazing. Since Digimon Tamers was my favourite season (and Renamon my favourite Digimon line), I felt immensely proud to finish her and wear her. Sadly, I think she may only be able to take 1 more wear before it's time to remake her.
   

<--Black Rock Shooter was sort of another "dream cosplay" with just the prop alone- the Rock Cannon. It was my first time making a prop 80-90% by myself. My dad had helped me with previous props at least 60-70% of it so it was a challenge for myself to prove that I can do something as ridiculous as a 5ft tall gun-cannon that lights up. For sewing, it was my first time doing lining in a jacket... and well, my first time making a hooded coat actually. I plan to remake the coat and boot covers in the future but that cannon is my baby.












13) What has been your least favourite costume and why?
     Oof, I have 2... and 1 of which is a bit surprising for most people to hear about.
     Elsa and Sailor Moon.
   

 <-- Elsa is because I had never ever made a dress like her's before (or a dress ever) and I was also doing it as a 'spur of the moment' decision. Which was both refreshing and not a good idea for me- I was up until 5AM the day of the convention I was going to wear her to. The only parts of that costume that was I most proud about was the bodice with all the beading I did- but, even then, it needed refitted-; I have a really nice lace front wig (my first); and the shape of the end of my train was nicely rounded. The skirt was bulging in places it shouldn't; the train wasn't attached as well as it could have been; the sleeves were itchy and just utter poop- so yea, I could go on. I actually scraped most of that costume and turned the bodice into my "Alternative Elsa" cosplay.
   

"Revival" Sailor Moon; Ikasucon 2012

Proto-Moon; Colossalcon 2014

Sailor Moon is the one people are shocked by. She was one of my first ever costumes I made all by myself in 2012. I'm grateful for trying her then because I was able to find so many Sailor Scout tutorials that I use to this day but... I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't make my base the typical way people do (the Green Pepper skating pattern)- I /tried/ but I noticed the pattern was too small for me and, at the time, I had no idea how to make it bigger. So I used a super long, stretchy T-Shirt, added the "bust armor", and sewn the shoulders and collar to it. I made my skirt attached to the hip-roll and it just slipped on over the shirt- I had to keep pulling the end of the shirt down since it kept rolling up.
     She went through a "revival" later that year- mainly new glove ringlets. And then she was scraped and re-made into the Prototype Moon in 2014. She is still not 100% satisfactory as Proto-Moon but she is close. I have to remake the cape, touch up the mask, and see if I can do anything to help fit the boots better.

14) What costumes do you have planned for the rest of the year?
     For Ikasucon in July, I'm calling that my Sailor Moon Weekend. I will hopefully be doing Super Sailor Moon for Friday & Sunday (if not the "Super fuku", then it will be the original first manga/Crystal fuku) and I will be Queen Nehelenia on Saturday.
     For Midoricon in September, that is our RWBY Weekend. I'll be doing various forms of Weiss Schnee all weekend. Saturday (and maybe Sunday), I will be the original battle Weiss. Friday will be a casual cosplay and MAYBE swimsuit Weiss if the weather is appropriate.

15) Do you already have costumes planned for next year?
     Hahahaha kind of?
     I made a list of costumes I'd like to get to in 2016 as well as a list of conventions I would like to go to. All of it, of course, is wishful thinking-
     Ohayocon - J-Rock costume; I'm caught between about 3 ideas at the moment.
     Animarathon - Seira Hoshikawa from Daybreak Illusion
     Colossalcon - between Kei from Pretear or Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho
     Ikasucon - possibly the W.I.T.C.H. group; I'll be Cornelia
     Midoricon - Lina Inverse from Slayers

16) Time for some general nerdy questions; what is your favourite video game?
     On what platform?
     GameBoy/DS - Pokemon; favourite Pokemon game- Ruby
     Computer - Touhou 6: Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil or Skullgirls
     Playstation - Spyro The Dragon or Mortal Kombat

17) How many figures do you own and of what?
     I don't own many actual like "figma" type figures- I have mostly Pop! Vinyls. I don't have many figures that I want to buy because they tend to be too expensive for me to even try to rationalize dropping that much money on them. But I'll count all of them- 12.
     Taomon (Digimon Tamers), mini Kyoko Sakura (Madoka Magica), nendoroid Black Rock Shooter, mini Sailor Moon, Reshiram (Pokemon Black/White), Weiss Schnee (RWBY), and Lily the Vocaloid.
     Pop! Vinyls: Loki (Avengers), Elsa (Frozen), Michonne (Walking Dead), Marceline (Adventure Time), and Maleficent

18) How many posters do you have and of what?
     Haha... HAHAHA. This is going to be fun considering I collect posters. I love posters- if my walls are barren, it drives me nuts.
     I have mostly music posters in my room at the moment but the living room is where all the fandom posters are and I have about 46 posters or clippings up on my walls.

In the living room, I have: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Angelic Layer, Black Rock Shooter, DN Angel, Big Hero 6, Vampire Knight, DeathNote, Suckerpunch, Loki (Avengers), Sailor Moon, Elsa (Frozen), RWBY, Lucy (Elfen Lied), Kingdom Hearts, and FullMoon O Sagashite in terms of fandom. I have a Paramore, Ashley Purdy (Black Veil Brides), and Lady Gaga poster out here because there wasn't enough room for them in my room.

     My room has: Renee Phoenix (Fit For Rivals; signed by the band), One Ok Rock (signed), Icon For Hire (signed), Amy Lee (Evanescence), Exist Trace tour towel + photo cards (framed and signed), Exist Trace clipping, 3 the GazettE posters/clippings, 12012, SuG, D'espairsRay, MUCC, Nightmare, Antic Cafe, 2 Phantasmagoria posters/clippings, D=OUT, D, Versailles, ScReW, BORN, Penicillin, Dir en Grey, Maya (LM.C), and a Fixer (j-rock related webcomic) poster.

19) How many manga do you own? How many anime DVDs?
     I own more manga than anime because I like to read it over watch it. If I do buy the anime, it's because I REALLY like the series.
     I own 108 volumes of manga- some of those are omnibuses so it condenses the number of actual books down.
     I own 6 complete season or seasons of anime on DVD and 14 singular anime DVDs. I have 15 different anime titles among that. If that makes sense... I'd give a list of what I have but that just seems unnecessary.

20) 5 favourite characters that AREN'T anime or manga?
     Just 5? Ughhh... ok well...
     Selina Kyle/Catwoman from Batman
     Cornelia from W.I.T.C.H.
     Loki from the Avengers
     Babydoll from Suckerpunch
     Ember from Danny Phantom

21) 5 favourite Disney characters?
     Again with just 5... why? Fine.
     Kida from Atlantis
     Captain Amelia from Treasure Planet
     Mulan
     Elsa from Frozen
     Gogo Tomago from Big Hero 6
   
22) Favourite god/goddess from Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology?
     Favourite from each?
     Greek - Hades; God of the Underworld
     Roman - Luna/Diana; Goddess of the Moon
     Egyptian - Isis; Goddess of Health, Marriage, and Wisdom
     Norse - Loki; God of Fire and Mischief
     The Greek and Roman one can switch back and forth (Pluto for Hades; Selene/Artemis for Luna/Diana)

23) Quirky thing you do when making cosplay?
     I don't necessarily find some of my routine when making cosplay "quirky" but I do have one that is interesting. Most people know that I'm not really a fan of the pop/soda, Mountain Dew. I like MT Dew's Baja Blast and Pitch Black flavors but that's about it. However, when I'm making cosplay, I tend to drink it a lot- both regular MT Dew and Voltage.
     Other than that, I tend to build a playlist for the character I'm working on and I listen to it on loop. Whether it is music from the actual show or music I just associate with the character or series, I play it.

24) Favourite book/novel series?
     This is hard... I have a few. I'm really into fantasy- especially vampires, werewolves, faeries, etc. So I have 3 series I really enjoy: The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, Chronicles of Vladimir Todd by Heather Brewer, and The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.
     I also started reading the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and I do like them- I just need to get further into them.

25) Favourite characters from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings/Hobbit?
     Harry Potter - Bellatrix LeStrange, Draco Malfoy, and Professor Trelawney
     Lord of the Rings/Hobbit - Legolas, Thranduil, and Kili



So there you have it! My 25 facts... they may or may not be a bit nerdy.
Such a great way to open up the blog!