I started out as a con-goer back in 2007. It mattered so much to me how accurate and realistic one person can go to look exactly like the character they are cosplaying. So I’d like to take this opportunity to feature some of my favorite Cosplayers, whom I’ve had such honor in meeting and befriending along the way.. -katz

CosFeature n#33: Ambokiko Tendencia.. a.k.a. Abu

K- It’s almost 2012! I end this year with my december feature and guess who? May I introduce a very talented artist and awesome cosplayer who is hansomu when handsome and purriteh when pretty! He is everyone’s Uke! *claps and tickles* Konnichiwa! Thank you so much for squeezing some time for me.
AT- Awooo… Ambokiko in da haaaaaus~ wiki wiki wow wow (sorry, it’s the Red Bull taking effect)

K- haha no problem! Let us start from the beginning, shall we? What would you like to be called?
AT- I go by Abu. I went through a phase when I was pushing for the cosplay alias “Kyle”. But that didn’t sell. I still use it for my Starbucks orders, though.

Sougo Okita – Gin Tama series

K- Your interest in cosplay, how and when did it start?
AT- For the life of me, I can’t remember when my love for anime started. I was basically a fool for anything animated, from Western animation like X-Men and Captain Planet, to when local channels started showing anime like Zenki or BT’X. You can only imagine the happiness I felt when we got Destiny cable then, which was one of the few cable services that had AXN.

Around high school, I came across this awesome magazine called Culture Crash. It featured manga made by Filipinos and articles related to anime, manga, Japanese music, etc. The magazine opened my eyes to the anime convention and cosplay scene when they featured JM Chua dressing up as Saito Hajime.

I started going to cons way back during my sophomore year in college. I joined deviantART around that time as well and enjoyed cons with the company of fellow artists from the awesome group called dAMeat (That’s where I first met Lunaru! DIRTY ICE CREAM!!!!!). But it wasn’t til my late college years when a group of friends and I decided to go to a con wearing Japanese school uniform-inspired clothes. I was into “Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan” then so I went for a similar all-black gakuran look.

(TL;DR = I went as a Japanese school boy during a con in my 3rd year of college. hehe.)

Len Kagamine – Vocaloid (Dragon Sandplay version)

K- ZOMG Captain Planet~ let you powers combine! hehehe! Tell me, did you make your first costume back then? Or you had it tailored?
AT- It was a basic gakuran, so I had almost everything I needed: pants, suit jacket, polo. It was a zipper jacket so I went to a tailoring supplies store to buy gold buttons and red tape for my bandana. I also bought these awesome white shoes that looked like indoor Japanese school shoes.

K- Do you prefer solo or group cosplays?
AT- Definitely group cosplays. There’s never a dull moment when you’re in the company of fellow nutjo–err, friends, whether it’s in a convention or a photoshoot.

Takuto: Galactic Pretty Boy – Star Driver

Galactic pretty boy with the Glittering Crux Brigade – Star Driver

K- YAY for group cosplays! KIRABOSH! How much has cosplay taught you? Pros and Cons?
AT – Cosplay taught me how to do make-up.

No, really, it’s a big boost in creativity. Besides the make-up thing, I learned a lot from doing cosplay props and sewing stuff. I also gained a lot of awesome friends that have the same interests I do. Along the way, it taught me to be more expressive and outgoing.

However, it frickin’ burned a hole in my wallet every time a new cosplay plan pushes through. Also, sometimes, out of sheer excitement for an upcoming event/shoot, I stayed up late the day before. For some events, I didn’t even sleep anymore. Well, that’s what Cobra and Reb Rull were for, I guess…

Amaimon – Ao no Exocist

K- ooohhhh awesome action pose! *x* Have you cosplayed abroad as well? If yes, how can you compare it locally? If not, what could you have wished for?
AT- No. I was all set for going to AFA ’11. But it was on the same week as my brother’s wedding. I promised myself I’ll go next year.

K- Cosplay aside, what do you do outside the hobby/community?
AT- I’m a graphic artist. I mostly do anime. I’ve had my deviantART account for around 5 years already. It mostly has girls in it. So… yeah… I’m also a huge fighting game junkie. My personal favorites are Rival Schools and the older versions of KOF.

Squall Leonhart (Dissidia version) – Final fantasy VIII

K- *wipes drool* I’m sorry, I just love this Squall cos of yours! Based on your experience, how’s about a message to aspiring cosplayers out there?
AT- Always put your best foot forward. Don’t mind what everyone else is saying. Others might think that you did not portray your character well; don’t mind them. What’s important is that you yourself accept that you did an awesome job, and you had fun.

K- Now, please tell me something about yourself that no one knows. Like, what makes you YOU?
AT- This may sound weird. But I use the word “awesome” a lot. *srsly, try it with Ctrl+F, see how many times that word appears* I also have a HUGE love for pandas. Here’s around less than half of my cupboard (actual collective term for pandas, bet’cha didn’t know that) of stuffed panda awesomeness.

ZOMG hahaha that’s just so cute! Will take mental note of this in the future. And that’s 9 awesome (yes i counted) and plus one more from me makes 10 awesomeness!! Thank you Abu for letting me feature you. You can now rest easy..

Errr.. I didn’t mean that literally but anyways.. *pats* hehehehe! WHERE TO FIND HIM: DeviantART, Facebook fanpage

Till next feature~! *mhew*