Interview With: LEGACY D.

Welcome to NightAngelRanting! Please introduce yourself before we begin!

            ~ My name is Magena D, I'm a Toronto based cosplayer who makes and models my own work.

You call yourself ‘Legacy D.’ online Tumblr and Facebook.  Why is this?

~ Well, the word 'legacy' has always been one of my favourite words. I think the concept of one's works and choices they make in life, leaving something behind for others in some form, is always something important. And so when I do my work (for cosplay or otherwise) I put my best foot forward with this concept in mind, so that looking back on it myself or in the eyes of others, I've left something that I can be proud of. As for the D, well it's just my last name initial.

Interesting! When did you start making your own costumes and props? How long have you been doing it?

~ I started making my own costumes and props when I was about eleven years old, so it's been thirteen years in total.

 

What attracted you to making costumes and their props?

~ I'm not really sure, to be honest. :P I used to watch YTV a lot back in the day, and they [would] show clips of Anime North and other conventions all the time. I remember seeing these three girls dressed up as The Rainy, The Power, and The Windy cards from ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ and thinking it was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life; so I decided to try it out myself and never looked back, haha!

In your thirteen years of experience, do you know how many costumes, approximately, you have made?

~ Ummmm I think maybe 24 in total? The better part of them will never be seen though, I have no pictures of my early ones and some of them are just terrible!

Haha, oh my! Can you tell me about your favourite cosplay to make, and favourite to wear?

~ Oh lord, the first cosplay I ever attempted to make was Heero Yuy from ‘Gundam Wing’. It was so terrible in retrospect; I had no clue what I was doing whatsoever! (XD) My favourite cosplay to wear would either be Nathan Drake (‘Uncharted’) or Altair Ibn-La'Ahad (‘Assassin’s Creed’), I can't choose between them.

Why were these your favourite?

~ Well... Nate is my favourite because he's definitely the most comfortable of all my cosplays, and it gives me license to be a total derp.:P I just love Nate's character so much, it's so wonderful being able to represent him in cosplay. ^_^ Altair is my other favourite for many reasons... I could write you a novel about all the reasons why I love him and why it was important for me to make that costume on a personal level, as well as just loving the character and the series he comes from.

Where does the price range average for one of your costumes when you make them? Would you ever take commissions?

~ Hmmm it definitely varies a lot. Some costumes are relatively cheap to make (like Badou from ‘DOGS: Bullets and Carnage’, for example), while others - namely Altair and Rapunzel - have really put my wallet through the wringer. I have considered doing commission work, but I don't think I would start seriously accepting them for a while yet unless it's leather or prop work to be honest.

Leather and Prop work are more of a specialty to me, sewing is more of a necessary evil.

Not to say I don't enjoy it, but leather and props are definitely my strengths in comparison, given I do all my sewing by hand.

Would you mind if I asked what your most expensive costume was?

~ Not at all. :) It's actually a toss up between Altair and Rapunzel (which I've yet to finish). They both ended up costing me about the same amount, although I think Altair might be a bit more because of all the extra tools and materials I needed to purchase in addition to the necessary amounts of leather, silk, linen, etc. to make the costume itself.

Leather can be very pricey… What would be your most memorable cosplay moment?

~ Ooooh dear, I have quite a few, lol! I have two really wonderful memories in particular though. The first was quite a few years back now, it was the first real snowfall of winter and we were having that really slow, quiet, peaceful sort of snowfall (I don't really know how to describe it any other way). Anyways, it was about 11 at night or so, and at the time, Zero Kiryuu from ‘Vampire Knight’ was my newest cosplay and I wanted some photos in the snow. I remember running outside in my costume and just standing there, watching the snowflakes fall slowly in silence. I'm a real sap that way I guess, but I love those rare moments of peace and quiet. :)

My other one was more of an extended experience and the realization of a six-year long dream. I got the opportunity to take my Altair cosplay with me to Israel, and was able to take some on-location photos in Jerusalem. That was an experience I will remember and cherish forever, for more reasons than one :P

Almost every cosplayer experiences some problem with their costumes, especially facing weather and travel like your Zero and Altair costumes have! Have you had any issues, and could you explain what they were?

~ I've definitely had my share of "wardrobe malfunctions" over the years, some have been worse than others, but always fixable in the end.

            I'll use my most recent example. I was forced to rush the construction on my Altair if I was going to finish it in time to take on my Israel trip. I didn't cut corners or anything, but because of the short time limit I was given I didn't get to try out my full costume and see if everything would hold up. While it was fine through the course of my trip, when I came back and put it on for the weekend of FanExpo, the triangular piece at the front of the Baldric came detached from the rest of it about 15 minutes before I had to leave. I was in such a panic, believe me! I got it fixed up in time though, so it all worked out.

Have you noticed some sort of trend with your costumes (i.e, short hair, long hair,  crossplay, etc.)?

~ Trends? Hmmmm well, first and foremost I would say that my biggest trend is crossplay. Of my 24 costumes, only three of them have been girls thus far haha. I suppose I tend to cosplay main characters as well, but not always the case. :P

At costume events, have you ever gotten odd looks from those not participating? How do you react to them?

~ Too many to count over the years I'm afraid. :PAt first it used to make me feel self conscious, but after a while you just stop noticing - or caring, for that matter - what other people may be staring at. I'm not really concerned about what people might be thinking about me.

Speaking of events, which do you attend and which do you wish you could attend? Where are these located?

~ My two regular conventions are Anime North and FanExpo here in Toronto. I also attend DTAC and MTAC* if I have time to spare. :)The two conventions I would love to attend someday are San Diego Comic Con and Katsucon... I've always wanted to go to those! PAX East would also be amazing.

 

(*NightAngel’s note; DTAC and MTAC technically no longer exist. They were turned into the December and March ComiCons, however most all Toronto cosplayers continue to call them by their easier-to-remember names of DTAC and MTAC.)

Do you have any plans for future cosplays? Have a dream costume, perhaps?

~ I do have quite a few plans actually. As for my to do list, it's Sherry Birkin and Jake Muller (‘Resident Evil 6’), Daenerys Targaryen (‘Game of Thrones’), Female Dragonborn (‘Skyrim’), Korra (‘The Legend of Korra’), and Link (‘Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’).

         Quite a few in progress cosplays as well... I'm currently working on Aquilus, Connor Kenway, Aveline de Grandpre (Assassin’s Creed), Rapunzel, and Ada Wong (‘Resident Evil’)- I like to keep myself unreasonably busy, as you can see.

Any advice for somebody who wants to start making their own costumes and props?

~ Yes, don't be afraid of making mistakes or of not being as accurate as you'd like. Mistakes are how we learn, and if we're afraid to fail or mess up then you'll never be free to grow and develop your skills! So even if you're afraid of a project you want to do or feel overwhelmed by it, just jump in with both feet and give it all you've got!

That brings us to the end of our interview! Do you have anything else you want to say to the readers?

~ I just would like to thank them for taking the time to actually read through my impromptu, novel-like answers! I know I talk a lot. Thank you to your readers for the interest and thanks to you for asking me to do this interview!

Thank you so much for your time!!

~ No problem! :D

WANT MORE OF LEGACY D. ? Follow her on Facebook!! 

Photo Credits; Mao Haruta
Adley Lobo Photography
Legacy D.

Upcoming Treat!

Hello, to my wonderful readers!!

In the next few days I will be interviewing a Canadian cosplayer from my area! She has some seriously awesome costumes, props and sculptures so this should be a very, very cool read! Hopefully everybody who follows or even happens upon the interview will love it and find it interesting!!

Want a little bit of a teaser?

When did you start making your own costumes and props? How long have you been doing it?

 I started making my own costumes and props when I was about eleven years old, so it's been thirteen years in total.

 Can you tell me about your favourite cosplay to make, and favourite to wear?

Oh lord, the first cosplay I ever attempted to make was Heero Yuy from ‘Gundam Wing’. It was so terrible in retrospect; I had no clue what I was doing whatsoever! 

And there we go! I hope this piqued your interest enough to stay in tune over the next couple of days! The interview should be up by Sunday, November 11th!

Cheers!
~Night

Super Junior!

Greetings to all!

For a little over two years now I've been dabbling in listening to music from different countries. And while I love all of the ones I've tried, I've become really, really addicted to Korean Pop.


Super Junior was formed in 2005 and signed to SM Entertainment. The group consistes of Leeteuk, Yesung, Kangin, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun. A Subgroup called Super Juior-M includes members Zhou Mi and Henry. One other member of Super Junior, Heechul, is currently inactive, as he has been enlisted into the military.





What I write about today is a group called Super Junior. Their song 'Sexy, Free and Single' really illustrates why I love them so. Damn. Much.


The song is one of the catchiest I've heard in a long time from a South Korean group. Even if you don't understand a lick of Korean, you can still appreciate the talent these guys have with their voices. With a catchy chorus and an awesome beat, the music accompanying their voices is just... Really, I cannot describe.

"Sexy, Free and Single" was debuted on July 1st, 2012, and has since on iTunes managed to rank high ratings in not only South Korea, but Australia, France, and Peru! When the song and video were shown on the South Korean Gaon Chart List, Super Junior sold 335,744 copies in only one month. Also, so eleven consecutive weeks, "Sexy, Free and Single" has been number one on Taiwan's KKBOX Charts, becoming the top South Korean group in Taiwan. The Japanese version os this song? It has sold way over 118,902 units since its release on August 22. It is considered to be 'Gold'.


Super Junior are nominated for "Best Asian Act" in the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Making it as their first nomination in any Music Award outside Asia, I'm sure Super Junior and their fans are more than excited. (I know I am!)

If you're interested in other songs by Super Junior, I recommend, 'Mr. Simple', 'BONAMANA', 'Super Girl' and the song Super Junior debuted with back in 2005, 'TWINS (Knock Out)' .


That's it for today! Have a wonderful time experiencing Super Junior. And remember, 'Sexy, Free and Single' is *amazing* (at least, to me..)


Hugs!
The Night Angel.

I am SO sorry!!

Seriously, my friends, I'm so sorry I haven't updated. I try, I REALLY do. Please don't be mad?

My second semester and summer were crazy busy. From family issues to school issues to everything else, I haven't even had time to send a letter to a teacher I love... ; - ; A- anyway.... I hope to be updating regularly now that I am in a new year (taking a fifth for co-op) with easier courses. Most of the posts now will be mostly focused on "Assassin's Creed" and Korean or Japanese pop. Hopefully I can still make it interesting for everybody following me still!! Hugs! Night Angel.

Sad Day

In grade eight I used to, each day at lunch, run out and meet a kind old man with a golden retriever dog who would always walk by just at the time we were let out after eating. I never knew the man's name, but his dog was Sam. Today when visiting my old school, I saw a golden retriever walking with an older woman and he was desperatly trying to say hello to everybody, and when he came over and mauled me I asked her, "is this Sam?" It was the same dog, and I learned the man pased away just after I had graduated eight. She said to me, "oh you must be the young girl with the curly hair he always used to talk about." And I nearly started crying. So nice to see Sam after four long years, and great to meet the woman. But it made me so sad. :(

Upcoming Tutorial?

Hello all! With the construction of the Death Rebel costume, and prop scythe, I have been taking pictures and detailing my progress on it. Because of this, and the fact that I really did need to make up about half of this stuff on my own to make the prop scythe, I may be posting a tutorial for you! With this tutorial, I will show you what materials to get, how to put it all together, and even painting techniques right down to a sealant! Hopefully those who find the tutorial interesting will also be able to apply it to different props, such as different style scythes, swords, prop switchblades, even- if you feel it necessary- sturdy foam wings could be made from it. This tutorial should hopefully be up soon, as soon as I have completed the entire prop scythe!! Hugs! Night.

Update Time! (Anime North!)

Hello everyone!! I feel so terribly sorry for not posting in a long time, and I am trying to keep this as very active as I can but I'm graduating soon!! Like, month and a half soon... It is pretty scary of a thought. So for now, I am sorry to say my absence will have to be longer until I am able to finish culminating activities and exams. NOW. Upcoming in about two weeks is Toronto's Anime North convention, something I go to every year! This convention is mainly for anime, but most people go from video games or cartoons, too. What I love about these conventions have numbers reaching three digits so I will spare you! :D What is my costume? Well, since you asked... Death Rebel, from Shugo Chara!

BAM. :D Unfortunatly I have to go now. But I will se you all soon!! :'D Love, Night.

My Poor Blog!!

I feel like Ive abandoned this poor thing! D':

As an update now, though, I am officially a Graduate of CyberARTS....
Wooow.
I honestly never thought I would make it this far.
But I did. :'D

Dear Buddy Valastro.

Dear Buddy Valastro,

Hello! I write this letter here on my blog because the TLC website does not give me a visible 'Contact Us' link. On your current and seemingly most popular show, 'The Next Great Baker', I have a few many bones to pick but one is major.

When the cakes have so many hours spent on them, eight hours, ten hours, even a few days, I do not see the reason to destroying them with chainsaws, sledgehammers, steamrollers... Understandably, many of these cakes are not the best looking. However most of the cakes can be touched up and given to children or families or even charities who I am sure would be ever-grateful to receive them.
I personally feel sickened to watch all these cakes be destroyed. These are no doubt thousands and thousands of dollars worth of fondant, icing, cake powder even fireworks and hardware supplies.

If there is any real logical explanation to destroying what I see mostly to be such beautiful cakes on 'The Next Great Baker', then I would please love to hear what it is. Being not one who can afford such an expensive cake, as mentioned before, it does sicken me to see such skill and so much good material go to waste. The only real and true reason to wasting the cake is no gloves when a baker wears a bandage, no hairnets or sweatbands... A very, in my opinion, disgusting situation.
Please take this into consideration on your next season, if one is given to you, Im sure I and others would appreciate not watching cake wasted and seeing at least hairnets being worn.

Signed,
Haley.

Costumes!!

Have I ever shown you the finished product costumes of Ulquiorra Schifer and my 'Assassin's Creed' Maestro? Well, finally I have them both on mannequins and are proud to present them to you! (Just credit me as 'TheNightAngel' if you ever choose to share them?)
Currently these mannequins are at school, and I am keeping an insanely close eye on them. If these babies get destroyed in any way there's going to be a seventeen year-old having a very major temper tantrum... -.- Anyway, here I present, Ulquiorra and Maestro!


Ulquiorra;








Maestro;