Name: Andie and Kiri – AMK Cosplay
Location: Seattle, WA
Twitter: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amkcosplay
Photographer(s):
www.facebook.com/masamunephotography
www.facebook.com/edtan.art
www.facebook.com/costographer
www.facebook.com/EliteCosplay
www.facebook.com/harrison.anime
www.facebook.com/indiglue
What was your first Cosplay experience?
Andie: My first cosplay experience was at Akicon in 2012, although I’ve been attending conventions for over 10 years. My cosplay was a hot mess at best, but I was able to meet a lot of great people and I am very grateful that the community was so welcoming.
Kiri: My first “cosplay” was when I was in 8th Grade. My older sister and I tried to make Sephiroth and Vincent Valentine. It was horrible. There may have been duct tape involved for the armor and no hemmed edges anywhere. Thankfully, there is no photographic evidence of this atrocity.
How long have you been Cosplaying?
Andie: This year will be 3 years!
Kiri: The aforementioned cosplay was in 2004 or so. I made a few more random cosplays in the following years but didn’t really start taking it seriously until I moved to Seattle in 2009 and especially when Andie and I started working together in 2012.
Who or what inspired you to take up Cosplaying?
Andie: Although I’ve always tried dressing up for conventions, I never thought about taking the plunge to start cosplaying. Then I helped Kiri with one of her cosplays one year and thought that I’d like to do something myself.
Kiri: I don’t really remember what made me start but I can say that moving to Seattle and seeing the amazing community we have here has really pushed me to improve.
If you had to pick a favorite Cosplay you have worn, or have seen someone else wear, what would it be?
Andie: I have a love-hate relationship with most of my cosplay. I usually love the design when I get started, and get frustrated by the process of making it but each one has taught me something new and I’m always grateful that I ended up making it. My current favorite would be my Dark General from Rage of Bahamut. As for other people, I’m always super excited to see someone cosplaying Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell.
Kiri: No question—Golbat. I made it for Sakura-con 2010. It was pretty poorly made and really more derpy than anything else, but I still love it. I had such a blast running around waving my wings and hip-thrusting to make the tongue “lick” at people. I’m pretty easy to make happy when it comes to others’ cosplays. I have a love for small details and I appreciate almost anything well-made.
If you had unlimited funds and resources, what Cosplay would you create?
Andie: I’d love to do something with lights, sounds, moving parts, armor, resin casting, etc etc!
Kiri: I think I’d make a Great Jaggi from Monster Hunter. Not the armor—I’d literally want to make a giant dinosaur costume and just chase people around at cons.
What advice would you offer to those who are aspiring Cosplayers?
Andie: Cosplay what you want and don’t be scared to screw things up the first time!
Kiri: Just go for it. You may think you don’t have the skills to make costumes/armor/props, but you’ll never learn unless you try. We all start somewhere and you will find that the cosplay community is unbelievably encouraging and helpful when it comes to sharing knowledge with each other.
To learn more about AMK Cosplay, check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/amkcosplay
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