The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Midna (Imp Form)
I have essentially made the bodysuit for this costume twice. The first time I had purchased a bodysuit online, and as I was dying it, there was an *incident*, and I spilled black all over it. After getting frustrated when I was unable to remove the colour, I started over from scratch, this time making my own suit. The new bodysuit fit a lot better, was higher quality fabric, and I was much more careful while painting; and it turned out beautifully!
"Version 2.0" bodysuit was debuted with the basic helm at Fan Expo 2007. I added the fangs, hair, and more paint details (ver 2.5) for Anime North 2008
I wore this costume for what I thought would be the last time (partially due to damage sustained to the hair during transportation) at Anticipation (the World Science Fiction Convention 2009) in Montreal. Worldcon is a whole other level of creativity and workmanship, so I'm just thrilled to have won the awards I did. In the end, I ended up taking the costume out of retirement for two more conventions - PAX East and Anime North, both in 2013. Wearing her at the Cosplay for a Cure booth at AN was a wonderful experience which I was honoured to have been invited to do, and While Midna has now been permanently retired, I hope that I can help out at their photo booth again in the future!
Current status: retired.
"Version 2.0" bodysuit was debuted with the basic helm at Fan Expo 2007. I added the fangs, hair, and more paint details (ver 2.5) for Anime North 2008
I wore this costume for what I thought would be the last time (partially due to damage sustained to the hair during transportation) at Anticipation (the World Science Fiction Convention 2009) in Montreal. Worldcon is a whole other level of creativity and workmanship, so I'm just thrilled to have won the awards I did. In the end, I ended up taking the costume out of retirement for two more conventions - PAX East and Anime North, both in 2013. Wearing her at the Cosplay for a Cure booth at AN was a wonderful experience which I was honoured to have been invited to do, and While Midna has now been permanently retired, I hope that I can help out at their photo booth again in the future!
Current status: retired.
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Being Midna
An interview-style video in which I discuss all the hows and whys behind the costume. Lots of detail about construction and in-progress photos included. Videos of my masquerade entries are available as well: Midna and the Wolf and Wanted: One Hero |
Events:
2007 Fan Expo
2008 Anime North, Fan Expo
2009 Anticipation (aka Worldcon 67)
2013 PAX East, Anime North
Awards:
Best in Show Workmanship, Best Recreation (Journeyman) - Anime North 2008
Best Workmanship (Novice), Best Presentation (Novice) - Anticipation
2007 Fan Expo
2008 Anime North, Fan Expo
2009 Anticipation (aka Worldcon 67)
2013 PAX East, Anime North
Awards:
Best in Show Workmanship, Best Recreation (Journeyman) - Anime North 2008
Best Workmanship (Novice), Best Presentation (Novice) - Anticipation
Midna (Imp & Twili Forms) - Postal design
Concept art by Featherweight
These costumes were the result of those infamous Needle Panic Terrible Ideas ™. In anticipation of not completing our Hyrule Warriors/Twilight Princess costumes in time for Anime North 2015, Kurumasha and I devised a back-up plan: "casual" postal versions of our characters based on the Postman-Link skin from Hyrule Warriors DLC, who Yavarice was going to cosplay. To fill out our little group a little, and since I had just enough time and materials, I decided to loan my old Midna costume to Hikarimoro and make her a uniform as well.
One of the unusual things about the group (at least in my own cosplay career) is that since we had the plan in mind early enough, we were able to coordinate fabrics and other materials (like the purses we converted into mail bags) so that we all actually match and look like we belong together despite each costume being different. We also got to actually work together (in person and over video chat) on all parts of the outfits. On top of the Midnas, I was helping Yavarice out with his clothing and hat patterns and made Kurumasha's mini hat (as a test-tun for our full-size ones); and Hikarimoro took the lead on painting the flags. As much fun as it was to wear the costumes, it was also great to work on them as a team ^_^
We customized the design of each uniform to be more suitable to the character's usual outfit. Twili Midna's shirt only got minimal alterations from the default uniform for a more flattering fit, but I decided to go with a "tennis skirt" with high slits like her usual skirt, instead of shorts for the bottoms. Since her hair is usually mostly covered by a cloak, I chose to go with a full hat and french braid most of the hair. I used a fabric wrap in the back reminiscent of how Princess Zelda often wears her hair (and to keep my wig neat and out of the way!). Instead of her shackle hair-tie, I made little red ties with bunny logos that coordinate with the hat, for both the front and back. Lastly, I heavily customized her backpack to match the rest of the costume - a black base with shimmery teal Twili sigils and an applique white bunny logo for contrast.
Given Imp Midna's "petite" frame and practical personality, I thought it would be cute to make her uniform a romper. So it's a very simple one-piece with coordinating gold belt instead of waistband. I stuck with the usual tan base colour for her mail bag, but painted on an elaborate Twili portal in black and neon green to match the rest of her costume (and a white applique bunny for contrast like my own bag). When I commissioned Featherweight for illustrations of the characters he only got a basic description of each concept, and when he came up with hanging a flag on her helm, the instant reaction was "YES, we're doing that!". I'm sad it didn't show up better in most photos, but it's there and it's adorable ^_^
I have progress photos of the mail bags, hats, outfits, etc right here!
Current status: active
One of the unusual things about the group (at least in my own cosplay career) is that since we had the plan in mind early enough, we were able to coordinate fabrics and other materials (like the purses we converted into mail bags) so that we all actually match and look like we belong together despite each costume being different. We also got to actually work together (in person and over video chat) on all parts of the outfits. On top of the Midnas, I was helping Yavarice out with his clothing and hat patterns and made Kurumasha's mini hat (as a test-tun for our full-size ones); and Hikarimoro took the lead on painting the flags. As much fun as it was to wear the costumes, it was also great to work on them as a team ^_^
We customized the design of each uniform to be more suitable to the character's usual outfit. Twili Midna's shirt only got minimal alterations from the default uniform for a more flattering fit, but I decided to go with a "tennis skirt" with high slits like her usual skirt, instead of shorts for the bottoms. Since her hair is usually mostly covered by a cloak, I chose to go with a full hat and french braid most of the hair. I used a fabric wrap in the back reminiscent of how Princess Zelda often wears her hair (and to keep my wig neat and out of the way!). Instead of her shackle hair-tie, I made little red ties with bunny logos that coordinate with the hat, for both the front and back. Lastly, I heavily customized her backpack to match the rest of the costume - a black base with shimmery teal Twili sigils and an applique white bunny logo for contrast.
Given Imp Midna's "petite" frame and practical personality, I thought it would be cute to make her uniform a romper. So it's a very simple one-piece with coordinating gold belt instead of waistband. I stuck with the usual tan base colour for her mail bag, but painted on an elaborate Twili portal in black and neon green to match the rest of her costume (and a white applique bunny for contrast like my own bag). When I commissioned Featherweight for illustrations of the characters he only got a basic description of each concept, and when he came up with hanging a flag on her helm, the instant reaction was "YES, we're doing that!". I'm sad it didn't show up better in most photos, but it's there and it's adorable ^_^
I have progress photos of the mail bags, hats, outfits, etc right here!
Current status: active
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Going Postal at ConBravo! 2015
Sadly there were only two Postal Warriors able to attend ConBravo, but Kurumasha and I were determined to tell the con what our group is all about at the masquerade! Also check out the whole group taking to the Video Ninja at Anime North in his cosplay interviews: Cosplayer Interviews: Anime North 2015 |
Events:
2015 Anime North, ConBravo!, Otakuthon
2018 YetiCon
Awards:
Hall Costume Award - Anime North
"Best Design Twist" (Workmanship, Master division) - ConBravo!
"Best Crossover Par-tay!" (Stage, Master Division) - ConBravo!
2015 Anime North, ConBravo!, Otakuthon
2018 YetiCon
Awards:
Hall Costume Award - Anime North
"Best Design Twist" (Workmanship, Master division) - ConBravo!
"Best Crossover Par-tay!" (Stage, Master Division) - ConBravo!
Variant: Holiday Edition Postal Midna
Handing out Christmas cards as Postal Twili Midna at DTAC 2015 required some new accessories. While it was awesome seeing people's reactions to the costume as they realized the crossover, it was even better seeing friends' and strangers' reactions to being handed and unexpected Christmas Card. Holiday Spirit level up!
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Look for Midna at 0:57 in The Canadian Nerd's coverage!
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Holiday Midna makes a quick appearance at 3:11 in this video from Neffy A.
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Events:
2015 Toronto Fan Days Holiday Show ("DTAC")
2015 Toronto Fan Days Holiday Show ("DTAC")
Bonus content:
In 2016 and 2017 I spent almost every Thursday night streaming games on The Video Ninja's twitch channel, and I tried to dress "appropriately" every time - so I have a collection of Link and Zelda looks from our play-throughs of Ocarina of Time and Link to the Past - full gallery is up on my Closet Cosplay page.
Each photo in the gallery is labeled with its photographer; please visit their websites!
Blast Magazine
Cosplay for a Cure
Dream Land Photography
Elemental Photography and Design
Henrickson
Iridescent_fall
Katherine Piro
Paul Hillier
Pxlbarrel
Solar Tempest
Terri Boake
Very Frank Pictures
Viewtiful Design
All photos are property of their respective owners and may not be used without permission.
Blast Magazine
Cosplay for a Cure
Dream Land Photography
Elemental Photography and Design
Henrickson
Iridescent_fall
Katherine Piro
Paul Hillier
Pxlbarrel
Solar Tempest
Terri Boake
Very Frank Pictures
Viewtiful Design
All photos are property of their respective owners and may not be used without permission.
