METROCON Costume Contest 2006
FINALLY getting around to posting the obligatory "why we chose them" post because there are FINALLY Costume Contest photos online. This is a Public entry, feel free to post where you feel fit.
**Note: for Janet and Nikki's awards and the host award, I am only saying what I remember from the awards discussion**
Nikki's Judge's Award: "InuTaisho" from Inu Yasha
~This costume was very well crafted and the details were there as well, including his hand-made armor. One of the entries that really stood out to us.
Janet's Judge's Award: "Shiva" from Final Fantasy X
~I remember Janet was VERY impressed with these. She loved the details and colors, and she was impressed by the construction (she was the one the made sure to check EVERY CONTESTANT'S seams in case Nikki or I didn't get to).
Julie's Judge's Award: "Nanaki" from Final Fantasy VII
~I was floored by the construction of this costume. Everything was thought out-she had walking paws (in this picture) and glove paws. She made sure the claws were on the correct toes for a canine, the number of the toes were correct, etc. Plus the mouth was rigged to move with hers. It was fun judging her because of that little detail (I liked making her talk).
Host Award: "Yuna" from Final Fantasy X
~Lauren said this was one of the costumes that stood out to her. The flowers on the skirt weren't painted like every other Yuna cosplayer, but beaded by hand with seed beads. The detail work was stunning.
Best of Themes:
Kawaii/Cute
~**The one on the right** The craftmanship was quite clean (she used baroque satin for some of the pieces, and most cosplayers know how annoying that is) and the design was adorable. Which is an important aspect to the "cute" award. It hurt us to not give the Scary award to her partner because we loved her costume as well.
Kowai/Scary
~When we first started judging this one, she was wearing a beautiful mask. We went over the costume and was impressed by the craftmanship and originality of the design. Then she took the mask off and showed us the makeup she did. It really gave the costume that little extra something, finishing off the Kawai look.
Best Character Likeness: "Gaara" and "Haku" from Naruto
~The qualifications for this award is to look like the characters. These two frightened me with the resemblance (I am the only "Narutard" of the judges), on top of the cleanliness of the costumes.
Most Creative: "Bahamut" from Final Fantasy
~We really liked the direction she took with this design. It's a completely different approach to what we would think of this dragon. The wings were also rigged to open and close.
Best Attention to Detail: "Dinah" from Bizenghast
~Push aside the fact that the costume was really well constructed, all the details were present that needed to be. Plus it was 100% hand beaded, bead by bead. We felt as if a detail wasn't missed at all.
Best Large Group: The cast of Final Fantasy VI
~All were Amano-based and beautifully designed. No one costume stood out among the rest-the actually looked like a group entry.
Best Small Group: "Atasuki" from Naruto
~Again, all the members looked like one entry. They were all beautifully crafted and clean.
Best Technical: "Ifrit and his Summoner" from Final Fantasy
~The Summoner was very clean and well made. Ifrit was VERY impressive. He was rigged on stilts and everything was smooth and well done.
Best Junior: "Naruto" from Naruto
~I am a big Naruto fan, and when I saw this I was very happy. Everything was there that needed to be. And it wasn't "day-glow" orange. Bonus points there.
Best Individual: "Queen Serenity" from Sailormoon
~This was the quickest agreement among the three of us. The costume was beautifully crafted, the wig was gorgeous with an amazing part, the bodice was hand beaded, etc. We all whispered something to each other when she left: "She makes our fandom happy."
Best in Show: "The Black Watzes" from Final Fantasy IX
~All three costumes were clean with reinforced seams, hand crafted wings, the hats were from scratch... They were very creative representations of the evil Black Mages, but still accurate to the core. Congrats, guys, you were amazing.
I want to send a big "thank you" to all the contestants. I know there were a few little issues with the contest, but they will be worked out next time. Congrats again to all the winners, and I hope to see all of you again at "Amano's World" and METROCON 2007.
**Note: for Janet and Nikki's awards and the host award, I am only saying what I remember from the awards discussion**
Nikki's Judge's Award: "InuTaisho" from Inu Yasha
~This costume was very well crafted and the details were there as well, including his hand-made armor. One of the entries that really stood out to us.
Janet's Judge's Award: "Shiva" from Final Fantasy X
~I remember Janet was VERY impressed with these. She loved the details and colors, and she was impressed by the construction (she was the one the made sure to check EVERY CONTESTANT'S seams in case Nikki or I didn't get to).
Julie's Judge's Award: "Nanaki" from Final Fantasy VII
~I was floored by the construction of this costume. Everything was thought out-she had walking paws (in this picture) and glove paws. She made sure the claws were on the correct toes for a canine, the number of the toes were correct, etc. Plus the mouth was rigged to move with hers. It was fun judging her because of that little detail (I liked making her talk).
Host Award: "Yuna" from Final Fantasy X
~Lauren said this was one of the costumes that stood out to her. The flowers on the skirt weren't painted like every other Yuna cosplayer, but beaded by hand with seed beads. The detail work was stunning.
Best of Themes:
Kawaii/Cute
~**The one on the right** The craftmanship was quite clean (she used baroque satin for some of the pieces, and most cosplayers know how annoying that is) and the design was adorable. Which is an important aspect to the "cute" award. It hurt us to not give the Scary award to her partner because we loved her costume as well.
Kowai/Scary
~When we first started judging this one, she was wearing a beautiful mask. We went over the costume and was impressed by the craftmanship and originality of the design. Then she took the mask off and showed us the makeup she did. It really gave the costume that little extra something, finishing off the Kawai look.
Best Character Likeness: "Gaara" and "Haku" from Naruto
~The qualifications for this award is to look like the characters. These two frightened me with the resemblance (I am the only "Narutard" of the judges), on top of the cleanliness of the costumes.
Most Creative: "Bahamut" from Final Fantasy
~We really liked the direction she took with this design. It's a completely different approach to what we would think of this dragon. The wings were also rigged to open and close.
Best Attention to Detail: "Dinah" from Bizenghast
~Push aside the fact that the costume was really well constructed, all the details were present that needed to be. Plus it was 100% hand beaded, bead by bead. We felt as if a detail wasn't missed at all.
Best Large Group: The cast of Final Fantasy VI
~All were Amano-based and beautifully designed. No one costume stood out among the rest-the actually looked like a group entry.
Best Small Group: "Atasuki" from Naruto
~Again, all the members looked like one entry. They were all beautifully crafted and clean.
Best Technical: "Ifrit and his Summoner" from Final Fantasy
~The Summoner was very clean and well made. Ifrit was VERY impressive. He was rigged on stilts and everything was smooth and well done.
Best Junior: "Naruto" from Naruto
~I am a big Naruto fan, and when I saw this I was very happy. Everything was there that needed to be. And it wasn't "day-glow" orange. Bonus points there.
Best Individual: "Queen Serenity" from Sailormoon
~This was the quickest agreement among the three of us. The costume was beautifully crafted, the wig was gorgeous with an amazing part, the bodice was hand beaded, etc. We all whispered something to each other when she left: "She makes our fandom happy."
Best in Show: "The Black Watzes" from Final Fantasy IX
~All three costumes were clean with reinforced seams, hand crafted wings, the hats were from scratch... They were very creative representations of the evil Black Mages, but still accurate to the core. Congrats, guys, you were amazing.
I want to send a big "thank you" to all the contestants. I know there were a few little issues with the contest, but they will be worked out next time. Congrats again to all the winners, and I hope to see all of you again at "Amano's World" and METROCON 2007.