Meet the Cutting Edge Cosplay hosts! Thunderbunny SFX, Rebecca Rose, BearsRawr, and Dani From Planisphere Productions. We share how we all met each other and got into Cosplay.
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Bunny ✧ https://www.instagram.com/thunderbunnysfx
Bears ✧ https://www.instagram.com/bearsrawr/
Dani ✧ https://www.instagram.com/planisphereproductions/
Rebecca ✧ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.rebecca.rose
✧ https://www.instagram.com/the.rebecca.rose
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Meet the Cutting Edge Cosplay hosts! Thunderbunny SFX, Rebecca Rose, BearsRawr, and Dani From Planisphere Productions. We share how we all met each other and got into Cosplay.
👾 Follow Cutting Edge Cosplay:
✧ https://www.twitch.tv/cuttingedgecosplay
✧ https://www.instagram.com/cuttingedgecosplay
👾Join Our Discord Server:
✧ https://discord.gg/znU8CcbzBm
👾 Follow the Cutting Edge Cosplay Hosts:
Bunny ✧ https://www.instagram.com/thunderbunnysfx
Bears ✧ https://www.instagram.com/bearsrawr/
Dani ✧ https://www.instagram.com/planisphereproductions/
Rebecca ✧ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.rebecca.rose
✧ https://www.instagram.com/the.rebecca.rose
👾Join Our Patreon for Behind the Scenes Footage and More:
✧ https://www.patreon.com/CuttingEdgeCosplay
Welcome to the Cutting Edge Cosplay podcast where your fellow geek girls hang out and talk all things cosplay. I am one of your hosts, Dani. And I'll start us off with our host introductions and how we all met each other. So I really like anime. And I like to play board games and video games and reading fantasy. And I do some... I dabble in some cosplay here and there. But I would definitely say I'm still in the beginner phase. Our next host, the one next to me here. So this is Thunderbunny SFX. And she has been getting into special effects and mixing that in with her cosplay. But we go way back. I actually can't remember when we met because we were probably in strollers when we met. So both of our dads were in bands together. And they also went to a science fiction and fantasy convention called Norwescon. And they would take us along and we would just hang out and attempt at some cosplays ish.
ThunderbunnySFX:I mean, so I personally was more into I guess, costuming, but at the same time, I'm kind of a quieter person. Um, and Dani was very, like my extrovert friend. And so she would just kind of like dress me up and like we'd run around. And apparently I would be super silent like the whole weekend, which was kind of weird.
Dani:And I talked enough for both of us. So that was okay.
ThunderbunnySFX:Until the end of the weekend, when I would just not stop talking about how awesome that weekend was, which probably was kind of scary to Dani.
Dani:It was. I was like, who is this person? What?
BearsRawr:I didn't know you could talk.
ThunderbunnySFX:Exactly. But yeah, so we definitely grew up together with our nerdy families that would do all this fantasy and sci fi stuff. Um, Dani was definitely more into like books and anime and all kinds of stuff. I grew up with more of a horror and slash Disney background, which is kind of an odd combination. Um, but my dad would always have these like schlocky old horror movie nights, where we just watch like, B level movies or much worse. And but my dad was very into special effects. And he used to make masks and stuff and all kinds of things. And that was a huge impact on me. Dani ended out moving out of state for a while after we had been super close for decades,
Dani:I'm sorry.
ThunderbunnySFX:Of course, being that quieter person, I think she felt like she needed to take care of me and hand me off to another extrovert to keep me...
Dani:Gotta take care of your own. You know.
ThunderbunnySFX:Out I guess.
Dani:I had met Bears at a pub St. Patrick's Day. And we started talking and we had lots in common. And cosplay was definitely one of those things that we talked about.
BearsRawr:It was kind of nuts because it was almost everything we did was we had the same hobbies. We had the same interests we had, like, probably other than the anime thing. We were just like checking boxes left and right. And we're like, how have we not met how have we not run into each other on accident before. Like, St. Patrick's day of all days is when we met? That's unbelievable.
Dani:So yeah, when I had moved out of state ... I had introduced them before, but I was definitely pushing Bunny to go hang out with Bears, and I was like, you're really gonna like her. You guys have a lot in common too. And luckily, they hit it off.
ThunderbunnySFX:So Bears wouldn't stop inviting me to things which was great because,
BearsRawr:Be my friend!
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, I was always like I had weird schedule with work and everything but she never gave up on me. And um, she would invite me to things that she knew that I would be interested in. So like a Disney trivia night where like, Let's dress up. Why not? So I had an old Alice in Wonderland costume that I wore and that made it super fun and we kind of started to connect then but I think where we really like realized we were each other's people was at a Disney cocktail party that she threw. And somehow things turned into a nerf war and I was dressed as Tinkerbell and I ended out under a table as cover. I'm just shooting everyone I could super competitive. And I think that was kind of the moment where we just like,
BearsRawr:It was an all out war. So I threw a cocktail party because I like having people over and I like having fun. And I like dressing up. And so I invited everybody who I knew who might like Disney, and I had found this list of Disney themed cocktails. And so we kind of divvied up of everybody who was coming would bring different ingredients and so we had a bunch of different cocktails to try. Everybody was dressed up we had cosplayers, we had regular people we had photographers...
Dani:Regular people? Those normies!
ThunderbunnySFX:I mean, I was probably considered one of those because I wasn't like in cosplay yet. I was more like...
BearsRawr:At the time, but your Tinkerbell was spot on.
ThunderbunnySFX:That was an old Halloween costume.
BearsRawr:Turns out she looks exactly like Tinkerbell in real life. So it was fine. So we had actually been collecting Nerf guns for our wedding. Not us.(Points to Bunny) Someone else. I married someone else. I just didn't meet you in time.
ThunderbunnySFX:I get it. It's not me. It's you.
BearsRawr:But I had a huge stockpile of Nerf guns for that reason, and I had lots and lots of nerf bullets for that same reason. And so we kind of just brought them out. And my entire house turned into a battlefield and it was so much fun.
ThunderbunnySFX:It was after the perfect amount of alcohol and everything too where everyone like... I brought a drink called The Lost Boy which was this gorgeous bright green drink that match Tinkerbell and glitter. There was glitter and everything. It was great.
BearsRawr:That was the That party was the first time that I had ever had glitter. Edible glitter, I guess ever. And now I put in everything.
ThunderbunnySFX:Because why not it's just fabulous.
BearsRawr:I'm sorry, but if you're ever having a bad day, one really easy way to just brighten it up. It's just like throw some glitter in your iced tea. Just swirl it around a little bit. It's a little touch of magic for your day.
Dani:You're like Salt Bae, but with the dust, like the sparkles.
BearsRawr:Oh my god. So I was inviting Bunny to pretty much everything. And eventually it stuck. I think the first time we ever cosplayed together was Norwescon because you guys have gone forever.
ThunderbunnySFX:And that was the year where I was
BearsRawr:Yang?
ThunderbunnySFX:No, uh, well...
Dani:Harley
ThunderbunnySFX:I was Yang one of the days but I was Harley the other day and you were Wonder Woman and we have some really cute pics.
BearsRawr:We'll pop them up right there. (See YouTube for the pics) Yeah. Oh, my gosh. So I was so intimidated though. Okay. So the first time we ever met, we went to Bahama Breeze. And I remember because she walked in and I was like, I need to learn how to do makeup. And then afterwards, I was like, Dani, do you think she would teach me? She was like, yeah, totally. I'm sure she'd be happy to teach you how to do makeup. And then I didn't ask for a long long time, but I did ask. But I didn't start doing makeup until I did cosplay. So everything about it was a little baffling to me. So she walks in and just like wind blowing looking gorgeous. I was like... oh no.
ThunderbunnySFX:Absolutley not. That is not how i feel.
BearsRawr:I don't think I can be friends with these people.
Dani:and we're like three drinks in probably at that point. Like oh no thats not her thats somebody else.
Rebecca Rose:That's perfect.
BearsRawr:Is it?
Rebecca Rose:It is exactly how it was supposed to be apparently.
BearsRawr:So then in Norwescon like she's like doing her Harley and like whitening up and everything and like we're just kind of talking about like, I had Wonder Woman but I had like a red corset that I had bought somewhere. I had just like a bunch of things that I had bought places. Um, I was like, Oh, where did you get your Harley? And she's like, Oh, I made it. (Shocked Face) What!?!
ThunderbunnySFX:So that Harley was so just thrown together too. I went to all of the like cheapest places possible to try and find things that matched and like red and black but yeah, whereas yours looked more professional to me. Whereas like mine, I was just like, Wow, this looks like someone who just kind of like was hoping for the best.
BearsRawr:Oh, no, it looks so good.
Dani:Which was when we all say are all like our whole philosophy with any of the cosplays that we do. Yeah. Hoping for the best man. It only needs to last for an hour. It's good.
BearsRawr:Does it look good if you're standing way over there?
Rebecca Rose:5 feet away.
ThunderbunnySFX:Oh shoot, this didn't work out quite right. Let's do this to try and fix it. Ehhh.
Dani:Put some lace on it. It's good.
BearsRawr:Battle damage.
Dani:It's after she got blown up.
ThunderbunnySFX:Where as Wonder Woman over here just looks gorgeous and precise all the time. Pristine. Yeah.
BearsRawr:Well, from all of those different like events that we were all going to like, I got really into cosplay and started going into more like shoots and events. And we had a group of people that was putting together group shots. And so I actually met Rebecca at a punk DC shoot. And she, of course, stunning as always is Black Canary?
Rebecca Rose:Yeah debatable, though, because those were the early days. Those were the eeaarrrlly days.
BearsRawr:I did Punk Huntress because Huntress is my favorite DC character, and you can fight me on it and it's fine.
Rebecca Rose:I would rather not fight you on it, it was so good. It was so good.
ThunderbunnySFX:And you totally look like her too.
BearsRawr:It was so cold.
Rebecca Rose:It was 20 something that day. I think it was below freezing. For sure. I know I could not feel my toes or hands. Yeah.
BearsRawr:So it's all like we got fishnets, fingerless gloves.
Rebecca Rose:Not warm. And there were tights underneath. There were no amount of tights that were enough. Never enough. So cold. And so we connected because Birds Of Prey. I was like, they they match together. And so it was like, at first I was like she's such a good Huntress. Hi, Huntress. Um, can we get some pictures together maybe. And you're you were like up on this really cool platform like doing cool shit. And I was just like,
BearsRawr:I was looking down on the peons.
Rebecca Rose:Said Peon. And so I was just like, and so we did some shots together and Bears was just, so sweet. So nice. She's like,of course, you need a hand up and it was just like, it was so wonderful. And then we kept seeing each other at different like cosplay events and like, out of cosplay events, and, and then, gosh, which con was it when I was getting...
BearsRawr:Rencon
Rebecca Rose:Yassified. Yeah, it was a very first year of Rencon. I was doing like an SFX demo as the model for Cast of Thousands Studios. And so I looked my best, of course. I looked fantastic. My best pictures. And so um, we had already known each other at that point, but it was that day Yes. It was that that day where we decided that we were going to engage on this endeavor of a dance group.
BearsRawr:We became the best of friends instantly.
Rebecca Rose:We did. We were just like, well, now we're in it. Yeah, we're dedicated. And so we had the KDA Pop Stars video had just dropped, which was a very iconic moment from League of Legends. So League of Legends essentially brought together four characters and made them like a kpop group kind of thing. Um, so there was a video, there was choreography there was it was everything. And the video was so good. And we were, we were like, both into cosplay. And it was born from that moment.
BearsRawr:Yeah, so we had the first three people were pretty set. Yep. But we were just like racking our brains for an Ahri.
Rebecca Rose:Because we couldn't just do three out of four. No, for KDA that was not going to make sense.
BearsRawr:It's impossible. Yeah. And so I didn't know that you really cosplayed at that point. But you look exactly like Ahri.
ThunderbunnySFX:I had long hair at the time so it fit.
BearsRawr:So I was looking at it. And I was like, we were we had done like a little dance practice. So it was like, the first three people were like, pretending we knew how to dance. And then hanging out in the apartment like, like, oh, who should should we ask this person? Should we ask this person?
Rebecca Rose:Like a weird kickball situation of like, would you pick them? For your team? Swipe Right? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Not that person.
BearsRawr:I was like, Okay, you guys don't know this girl.
Rebecca Rose:But trust me on this.
BearsRawr:Should I ask her and everyone was like, Oh!!! YESSS!
Rebecca Rose:It was an easy yes.
BearsRawr:And so then I very nervously texted you. I was like
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, so I got it I got this message from Bears where it was just like so, I know you used to dance when you were like in high school and stuff like, and you look exactly like this person would you be interested? I was just like hell yes, I would. Um, I know all about the game like that's a super cute character like Yeah, sure. Like, I know it would be easy I wouldn't need a wig, or anything, Yeah, I can do this. Um, to be honest, though, like, I was kind of intimidated though. Because like all of you guys like had these super awesome costumes and I like made myself stuff from stuff I found from Goodwill and I just like altered like...
Rebecca Rose:Oh girl no, my first outfit you had more of a cosplay together before I did because the first time that we actually got together like in costume to dance was at the after party for was it Sakuracon or Emerald City one of the two.
ThunderbunnySFX:I think it was Sakuracon.
Rebecca Rose:It might have been. Yeah, pretty sure. Yes. Because we did it again for Emerald City when we actually had it. And so for Sakuracon, you looked adorable. I had no costume. I had the wig. And I had like the little crown thing and the claws. It hadn't come in yet. So I just had like a black crop top. It was fine. But it's just like a black crop top and a black miniskirt like body con miniskirt. And that was it.
BearsRawr:You just make it work.
ThunderbunnySFX:I hadn't made my pauldrons yet. So it was just like so the top was actually made out of like, I think it was a swim cover up or something and it was an extra large too. And I cut off like seven eighths of the shirt. Just to like make this cute like little crop top thing. And like I just kind of threw things together. It's just like, wow, everyone has like all these really nice costumes. I was just like, well, good enough like and my ears. I made the ears for Ahri. And my dog. I have a husky and he he was jealous. And he decided to steal it from me and kind of chew up one of the ears. So...
Rebecca Rose:I don't think I knew this. That's amazing. And awful at the same time, but like it's amazing. It's funny now. It's funny now.
ThunderbunnySFX:I think it was actually the ear that has like the little fake earring that I made out of a paperclip clip and duct tape.
Rebecca Rose:I love that, I love that.
ThunderbunnySFX:But that was the side that he like all drooled up and like kind of crumpled and I had to like kind of reshape it. It has like a pipe cleaner on the inside that I had to like, try and like straighten back up for our like little dance party thing for Sakuracon. So that was also kind of embarrassing, too. But I'm glad you didn't notice.
Rebecca Rose:Not at all. Yeah. And then one of our members moved away. And so now we had another spot we needed to fill. And Bears comes up and she's like, so I know you haven't met her yet. But there's this beautiful beautiful girl like model status beautiful quote, unquote.
Dani:ppffffftttttttttt
Rebecca Rose:I'm serious. That's exactly how she presented it.
Dani:What! *laughing*
ThunderbunnySFX:That just moved back.
Rebecca Rose:Yup, that just moved back
BearsRawr:Dani, have you seen yourself?
Rebecca Rose:She's super cool. And you guys would get along really well. Because we're all nerds and it would be great. And I think she should be our Kai'sa. And I was like, yeah, I'm down. Let's go. And
Dani:I had no idea what League of Legends really was. I had no idea who Kai'sa was. And I was like, okay, you know it will be fun. It'll be a fun thing you know, for our friends to hang out. And you know, I think I had the costume before I even knew who she was and I just like put it on. I was like, What do I do? Who is this person?
Rebecca Rose:Now what?
ThunderbunnySFX:You are from the Void...
BearsRawr:I also don't know that you knew how into it we all are.
Dani:I did not. That was a surprise.
Rebecca Rose:It is not casual.
Dani:I don't even know, I did not see the music video. I didn't hear the music. I haven't I was like newbie, extreme newbie, had no idea what I was getting myself into. And then after kind of for the first photo shoot I made the costume because was like a fan photo costumes that we all did. And so when I started getting into it like watching I got like, watching all the music videos and I haven't played the game yet but I I don't know actually if I will because it's hard.
Rebecca Rose:Honestly, It is O.K.
BearsRawr:I wrecked my computer playing that game.
Rebecca Rose:My mouse sensitivity will never be the same. Ever.
BearsRawr:I just- no! I literally destroyed my computer.
Rebecca Rose:Did you throw it?
BearsRawr:I got real frustrated.
Dani:What!! Do you have gamer rage?
BearsRawr:Not usually.
ThunderbunnySFX:I mean okay, League of Legends is a special kind of game that does pull the worst out of a lot of people and it's really hard. I mean, the first person I tried to play was Nidalee. Yeah, I didn't make it very far.
BearsRawr:I was maining Sivir mostly. I don't learn very fast. I'm not a fast learner. And everyone who plays has played since the game came out pretty much. And I did start pretty late. And I can't keep track of all the things that you have to keep track of in that game. But I still tried. And so I was playing like, hours and hours every day, I had a friend who would like Skype with me while we were playing, and he would kind of like, give me hints of what to buy and things like that as we were playing because I didn't have a dual setup or anything like that. Yeah. And so we would be playing together. And like, I was trying to use my little like, cordy things. And there wasn't... Okay. I'm sure that they were working as intended. But it wasn't right when I hit the button wasn't right when it was attacking. And we were not quite losing, but not close to winning either.
ThunderbunnySFX:To be fair, this is like a professional sport in some countries
Rebecca Rose:It's an esport. Yeah, 100% It's complicated.
BearsRawr:But I had my friend was yelling in my ear. I was in the middle of a combat that I felt confident in, but I was somehow losing. And I was like, JUST GOOOOOO and I was playing on a laptop. And I hit Oh, so many times so hard. That like I was like, rage, rage rage seeing red and then I saw blue.
Rebecca Rose:Really?
ThunderbunnySFX:Blue screen of death.
Rebecca Rose:Destructo Bear.
BearsRawr:So I got a phone call. I was like, What the fuck just happened? I was like, I don't think I can play anymore
Dani:You quit cold turkey because you literally could not play anymore.
Rebecca Rose:Oh my gosh.
BearsRawr:So I definitely raged quit that game and never picked it back up.
Rebecca Rose:But bringing it back to KDA. So we invited Dani in. We shot we had a blast. We kept going and this was one of your first cosplay ish endeavors?
Dani:Um, it's the first cosplay that was, I made so I made the first one for Kai'Sa. But then they very nicely gifted me the costume for the next shoot that we did. That was for Popstars.
BearsRawr:We need you.
Rebecca Rose:You got voluntold to do it.
Dani:And so that was the first cosplay that was bought. Because usually, we're gonna talk about our cosplay stuff in a bit, but I would just throw things together. Minimal hand sewing and maybe some spray paint on an accessory or something. And that was like the extent of any sort of cosplay that I did. So this was like an a legit character a legit costume like to the tee what it actually looked like not just my interpretation of it. So yeah, I guess. Yeah, that's like my first legit character. And I like that it's a gaming character. Because I am kind of getting out of anime. I'm just busy and it's hard to watch anime series that are seasons long, and every single season of the year there's like 600 more shows coming out. And I'm kind of just like stuck in the 90s with the anime stuff.
Rebecca Rose:So are you team sub or team dub?
Dani:Sub I guess. Because I took Japanese
Rebecca Rose:Oh, really? Yes, oh yeah we talked about that. Yes.
Dani:So I like listening to it and I like because I can recognize some stuff and I don't mind I like reading too. I feel like I understand things better reading than listening anyways, so
ThunderbunnySFX:probably looked down on me I'm more Dub.
Dani:That's okay.
ThunderbunnySFX:I get too distracted by the words when I'm like seeing the action but I've gotten to a really like a lot of the American voice actors too so like you know, you get like an attachment to certain people.
Dani:Yeah, cuz there's like a group of 10 of them and you memorize them.
Rebecca Rose:I feel like when it's anime if it's dubbed it's a different story than if it's like, live action, because that's the non tracking throws me off with anime. Yeah, it works.
BearsRawr:I never got into anime I don't, like I've seen a couple but it just I didn't grow up watching very many cartoons I guess in general like I still haven't seen Batman animated series or anything like that
Dani:It was Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z.
BearsRawr:I hear great things,I just have never.
Dani:Yeah, like after school watching that every day, it was on TV. So that's kind of like Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, and Sailor Moon were like what everybody in my friend group watched and then...
ThunderbunnySFX:Except me
Rebecca Rose:You never watched Pokemon?
ThunderbunnySFX:No, I mean I collected some of the cards but I never really watched it it wasn't until more like last year or two that I finally started watching Pokemon. Um it's been like the last maybe five years since I've started watching like Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and I'm still like, in the like Cell Saga of Dragonball Z, but um and I never got into Sailor Moon which is funny because like Dani would always like shove all this anime stuff down my throat. And I didn't like it but like I've slowly like progressed...
Dani:You're just getting more open minded. So I don't think it's... I think anime is hard to just get into like, randomly like, I was like, we've been going to conventions our whole lives. Like my dad randomly gave me a Pikachu sticker before Pokemon was even a thing in the US. I got like a Sailor Saturn poster before she even was like on the the show like, like probably a year or two before she even showed up as a character in the United States. So I had like very early access to anime and stuff. So I mean, I was just kind of raised like with it. So I think that's probably why I was like, my go to form of entertainment was just more anime.
BearsRawr:Gaming is where it's at now.
ThunderbunnySFX:Borderlands I have so many ideas for cosplays.
BearsRawr:Gotta.
Dani:That would be super cool. Someday. So yeah, so I joined their KDA adventures, and I really like it. I think Kai'Sa is a good fit for me. I think actually, all of our characters are really good fits for our personalities and stuff. So yeah, it's pretty fun. So that's a little group that we have. And I've tried to learn the dance a little bit. I only practice once.
BearsRawr:If you follow us on Patreon, that's where we'll have the video of us all dancing once we all know the dance. Yes. But you got to give encouragement
Dani:For your eyes only. Yeah.
BearsRawr:Um, Dani, what was your first cosplay?
Dani:My first cosplay was kind of nerdy. It was... surprise surprise. Anime related. So like I said, with my my cosplaying stuff, I would just throw like outfits together. And that kind of had generally like a theme. And that would be like my costume my cosplay for the thing. But my aunt had helped me. So this costume that was from a manga called Clover by the group of girls called Clamp, they're sadly no longer a thing anymore. And the main character was I think her name is Su will post picture on screen. And it was so cool. And but yeah, I was like, I read tons of manga and I just thought this character was super cute. And it was like this black gloves and like this, like, kind of like sleeveless robe thing that was white with gold trim. And yeah, I don't know, I just thought that was really cool. So that was probably my first like cosplay. But I was really shy also like, then, and my dad was like trying to get me to get photos and stuff. Because at Norwescon it was it's a big thing. Once you if you have a costume, you go on stage and you kind of present it and stuff and
ThunderbunnySFX:have a full masquerade and everything like Saturday is the big costume day. Like it's huge and exciting for people who don't normally dress up to like watch other people's costumes.
Dani:Tey would even post it and like have it on TV, like if you're in your room, like you couldn't make it into the like, masquerade ballroom to watch the thing live. You could just like watch it on TV.
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, they had con TV essentially, it was like three channels where they would run like all these like science fiction and fantasy themed movies. And then there would also be another one that would show like The Masquerade and all the masquerades from previous years and other things like that. And it was really cool.
Dani:So I was shy. So I actually don't have a photo of being that I think I like I put it on, we did all this hard work of creating it. And I just, I just couldn't do it. It was I don't remember how old I was. But I was pretty young. And then I didn't really do any like serious, like actual people cosplays until probably I was like 18 or something. And it was Sai from magic users Club, which is like another like weird 90s anime. And the coolest part about this costume though is that she so she's a witch in high school because everyone's on high school in anime She has a duck staff. That's I can't remember if it's her magic wand or if that's actually like her broomstick. It's been a few years since I've watched it. I will post Oh, actually picture on my phone, but I will post a picture.
ThunderbunnySFX:oh, so it's like a staff with a duck on the end
Dani:Yep. And I had so much fun painting that duck. And just putting it, it was really difficult to attach it to a staff and the staff was actually really heavy running around with this like giant duck. Yeah, it was fun. That was another costume that I put together the night before and I didn't sleep at all. I just put it together the night before Sackuracon.
ThunderbunnySFX:I mean, that's how most cosplays work right?
BearsRawr:Is it even cosplay if you aren't doing something the night before?
Dani:And I drew the magic symbol with a sharpie on a white t shirt. And then I cut it out and then just hand sewed it onto a piece of silky fabric and that was like my costume with a witch hat.
Rebecca Rose:perfect!
Dani:So yeah, beginner status over here. And that was probably like, yeah, I don't I don't have many cosplays but I would say that when one of my first that I actually have photos I have and it was like a legit character. Right. And what about you guys?
ThunderbunnySFX:Um, so I've always been more like into costuming and not really like cosplay. I guess. It wasn't until I joined the KDA group where they're like, Oh, yeah. What's your cosplay? Like? Oh, um, what?
Dani:What, what does that mean? Yeah.
ThunderbunnySFX:I'm like, This is my cos costume. Um, so I mean, I am kind of a shy-er person in general. So I think that's part of the, like, motivation there, where it's like, yeah, I've got, like, I made this. This is cool. But like, the whole getting into a character and everything like that is always been deviation for me, I guess. Um,
Dani:Well, also, because your family hosts Halloween parties. Yeah, every year and they're super into it. Like they, they have competitions for multiple things, they decorate their they deck out their house, they in the inside and outside, you can talk about it...
ThunderbunnySFX:It's huge. So I grew up in a family where, um, like, the Halloween party was like the big thing every year. Um, so um, part of it was when my brothers were young. Like, there was all kinds of drama about, like, how safe different things are around Halloween, you know, like the razor blades in the candy. Oh, yeah. And so just trying to keep my brothers in a good direction for growing up. My family created this huge, like masquerade every year. So I would create a costume, like once a year, essentially for this party. And, um, but whatever photos we got was whatever my mom could like, take a picture with whatever camera she had she always cut people's heads off, you know, of course, as every mom does you know. And um, but so most of my photos are like from that but like it wouldn't really extend out and then going to like conventions with my dad and Dani and her dad and everything. Like we would dress up but like it was just a costume. Like maybe we would continue something out from like what we did the year before or something.
Dani:She got an early start in her special effects makeup though because she there was many Halloween parties where she did like, there was like one year where she had like a prosthetic nose because she was like a black and white.
ThunderbunnySFX:I was a horror villain. So I was like a Snidely Whiplash kind of character. No one recognized me that. Like, I even made the sign of like, what the little like words would be on the screen for black and white silent video or like movie film. And so there was like, well haha, and then the other side the other side of things said like Curses foiled again, or something like that, or you must pay the rent or something. And, um, but it was really fun. Yeah, I've had a lot of characters where I've tried to be something kind of wild and but it's always just been like a costume because it was for a Halloween party. And then I don't have many photos because it was just like, for that event. I don't think it was really until like, the whole KDA thing where it's like, Oh, I I guess I'm supposed to like act like this. I mean, I kind of act like them at these parties, but it's just for like this event.
BearsRawr:You can do Halloween costumes, not at Halloween.
ThunderbunnySFX:That's been kind of like my transition over the last like, what, five, seven or so years, was just kind of trying to like, oh, well, I guess this does transition over this makes sense. Like, I mean, I was a makeup artist for a while but like for more like normal people looks and Halloween was always super fun because you could do whatever you wanted with like, this set of makeup. So um, so it was kind of a challenge where it's just like, I'm only allowed these supplies and but I want to do this. So um, and that was always really fun. And then like my dad, he was always, like, very involved in like, horror and science fiction and fantasy, with art and like, even 3d art and stuff like that he like I grew up with a house filled with masks of all of these monsters like I wouldn't go into the laundry room for a long time, because there were some really scary masks. But I mean, I'm cool with them now, but they're
Dani:It's how you were raised. I was raised on Pikachu and she was raised with horror masks.
ThunderbunnySFX:hiding in the a laundry room like, let's just stay away from that.
Rebecca Rose:To win Hide and Seek hide in the laundry room, and you'll never find us.
BearsRawr:Pull an ET and just stand against the wall.
ThunderbunnySFX:My dad had like the attic just filled with all of his like old Fangoria magazines and his old masks and all these really cool things which I of course didn't appreciate when I was younger because it was terrifying. But, but now I just love it all. And so yeah, so that's kind of how I've transitioned into cosplay, I guess like I guess probably my first real cosplay was probably Yang. Yang Xiao Long from RWBY, which um, kind of an anime. I think it's more US based.
Rebecca Rose:Like American anime.
Dani:Cool show.
ThunderbunnySFX:But, but I mean, I've been playing video games for ages. And normally, I tend to go for like a brawler kind of character. And she's like, perfect for that. Like, she goes Super Saiyan she gets like she punches everyone out. But she's also got like the shotgun shells. Like I made these gauntlets out of like foam and like, big nerf gun bullets. And I think that was actually the year that I met Bears. Well I started to get closer with Bears like I had already kind of met her with dancing and other things like that. But um, but yeah, so I wear that one day, and then I wore Harley the other day. And that was, that was the day where they actually like came up to both of us and we're like, you should apply for the Masquerade. Like you guys have such great costumes. I'm like,
Dani:Apply.
ThunderbunnySFX:This isn't the costume I'm gonna wear tomorrow. So...
Dani:It's like, oh, which one would you like me to apply for?
ThunderbunnySFX:Like, I already had a plan.
BearsRawr:I say that like I don't even know what those words mean. Yeah.
ThunderbunnySFX:But, um, yeah, so probably, I guess, Yang and that one was a mostly bought costume to wear of course. I mean, I have to adjust everything because not everything fits the same as it does a fake character, like the belt, I think was made for someone that was just like super, super tiny, which doesn't make sense because the rest of the costume fit just fine. So I replaced it with like, a studded belt that it fit the character really, she's brawler of course you need a studded belt. And like, I think I changed a few other things. But for the most part, it was well and I made the gauntlets myself. But for the most part, it was a pretty like, bought and easy costume but like I could actually be in character because I knew her really well and I like could relate for not necessarily like my personal life, but like my gaming kind of life.
BearsRawr:Rebecca, what's yours?
Rebecca Rose:I had a bit of a transition into cosplay too. It did not start there. But also to be fair, like cosplay wasn't a thing until like, a few years ago. Like all intensive purposes, you know what I mean? Like it was not mainstream.
BearsRawr:Now it's a multibillion dollar industry.
Rebecca Rose:And now you can make money doing it.
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, to be honest. It was like, I remember growing up it was kind of embarrassing when I was just like, I'm, I'm getting out of school so I can go to a science fiction and fantasy convention.
Dani:And you wouldn't tell anybody unless you were really like you. They were like maybe had some like, oh, they might have watched one show or they might have seen Lord of the Rings.
ThunderbunnySFX:It felt super judgy so it was just like I wouldn't tell people like, family obligation.
Rebecca Rose:Only the people close to you, would ever know about it. Or else you just don't talk about it.
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah. So I totally understand that like, but it's suddenly it's so popular.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah, My start with it. Before all of that well, before the before. I had the worst stage fright.
BearsRawr:No way.
Dani:I don't believe that
ThunderbunnySFX:Our modeling lady she does everything.
BearsRawr:She acts! In real movies!
Rebecca Rose:I do, I do. Kindergarten was a different story though. We had that whole like, oh, do a poem. That's like four lines long like Shel Silverstein. Easy peasy. I learned it no problem. Like I knew what I was going to say. But I would not say it, I would not get up in front of the class. They had like to prove that I had completed the assignment. They had to video record me during recess, when everyone was out of the room. Like I would not, I would not do it, I was very stage fright. And so and it got a lot better. But I was never like comfortable with it. And then my school had like the eighth grade musical, which it wasn't just eighth graders, they had all the lead roles, but you know, sixth and sevens and stuff would be the chorus, whatever. And so I decided my mom's side of the family is very into musicals. And so she kind of like, pushed and I'm very glad she did to say like, oh, just be like in the chorus and like fifth grade. And so I auditioned, my legs were shaking and everything, but I did it. And so I did the fifth grade, I was like in the chorus, sixth grade chorus, seventh grade course, it great comes along, and you have to audition because everyone in the class is going to get a roll. And I remember like, you could sing anything you wanted to. And it didn't have to be like, any, any dancing or anything with it. What I was one of the only ones to choose a song from the musical we were doing rather than just like, any song you want. So I was strategic. But I was terrified. And so like, my aunt was playing the piano for it and everything. But I was still so scared. I remember literally my knees knocking together, which I was just like, in my mind, I was like, this happens in cartoons, but it's actually happening in real life. What is this? What is my body doing? I'm being betrayed. And so but then I got one of the leads. And I didn't know about that. Like, I was happy about it. But then I was also like, Oh, shit. I can't back out of this now. And so
Dani:I regret my decision.
Rebecca Rose:Exactly. Should I have not done this actually? And so it was it was a really good experience. I found out that when I was on stage with all the lights on, you can't see anyone else. And so it didn't feel like everyone else was watching. Yeah, so it was so much better. And so, long story short, I got into acting, I took acting classes in high school, which were still terrifying. But I did it. But I also found my home in the backstage crew. So I did stage crew before I would do any of like the acting stuff, like I took the acting classes, but never did any shows. So I was all behind the scenes, stage crew stage stage crew, and then I auditioned for the play when I was a senior in high school. And then I went on to do actually study acting in college. Um, but somewhere between there and while I was in high school, I was also in Japanese class. So and in there, of course, anime is big and people are talking about going to Sakuracon Yeah, um, and I had no idea what that was. But everyone was gonna go
Dani:Only the largest anime convention in the Pacific Northwest.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah it was a big deal. And I had no idea. No idea at all. And so we, um, a group of people wanted to do characters from Bleach. It was it was good. I was kind of like voluntold to do Orihime from Bleach. It was bought. It was my first ever like, Cosplay kind of thing. Like, didn't fit great. It was like run of the mill. It still smelled like plastic kind of a thing. And but I went to Sakuracon that year. I went the next year made some adjustments but still nothing like high tier and I just didn't have fun. Like, it wasn't bad. Like I really liked the masquerades that they would do and I liked some of the parties and like the raves even though you know, as ravy as you can get when you're a minor.
Dani:Was it because you went with like kind of a stranger group you didn't have like your own people that you went with?
Rebecca Rose:No, Thats the thing, so I went with people that I knew, but we weren't super close. And so I still didn't feel like I had a home base. And so I ended up kind of wandering around on my own, which you should not do if you're a minor at a con. Don't do that. And so it just it didn't click quite yet. And so I backed away from cons just because it just wasn't doing it for me. Um, and then in college, I went back to Sakuracon, as Misty. Cuz I was like I have most of this in my closet. It's fine. And it was fun, but you know, whatever. And then later on, I was reading the X23 comics just like for myself for fun. Um, and I was like I have to be like, I need her and I was not in a good spot and she was like everything that embodied strength and like perseverance. And I was like, I need to be in your skin right now. And so I pieced it together. Maybe like Alisa could hook me up with like prosthetics to become. And so I pieced together stuff from like, I had a tank top that I like cut in half and got leggings off of Amazon and like pieced stuff together and had a friend make her claws out of like, real aluminum. Metal, which you cannot do at conventions anymore.
Dani:That's a weapon.
Rebecca Rose:but they did not stop me at the time.
Dani:You can't get them peace bonded....
Rebecca Rose:They did peace bond like the palm piece, but then I would just like crumple it up and put it in my palm. I had real metal claws! They were not sharp. But they were heavy.
ThunderbunnySFX:Isn't the point of peace bonding to like, lock it. So it's not usable.
Rebecca Rose:Yes.
ThunderbunnySFX:And theres not really a way to do that for claws.
Rebecca Rose:No. So it was complicated. It was before things got real finagle and fancied. But so I did that. And it was it. That's when it clicked. For me. I was like, This is what cosplay is about. And that's when I first made my Instagram page. And I only did X 23 for like a couple of years. And then Canary happened, I think next and that's when I met you.
BearsRawr:I was there!
Rebecca Rose:And so that's kind of that was the snowball of everything. So I had a weird like, semi start and then a revisit, but not quite. And then the actual start of like cosplay, rather than just dressing up to attend the convention. It was like, oh, no, I'm a cosplayer.
BearsRawr:and now she's all in
ThunderbunnySFX:So when did Tomb Raider happen? Because I think that was the first time I actually kind of met you it was at Pax and I was dressed as Mileena, which was the most like showy costume I've ever had. So that was interesting. But it was also really cool because I actually like drew the teeth on my face. But I was also super embarrassed about it. So I was like, covering. Like I had the mask that she wears, which I made myself out of like scrap fabric or whatever it was like oh, this is good enough.
Dani:We're professionals here.
ThunderbunnySFX:And but like it would be one of those where I'd be walking around every once in a while I would just like a flash my face and people would be like
Dani:You were flashing people your face! What?
ThunderbunnySFX:But I think a lot of it is I needed
Dani:Rawr!
BearsRawr:Like I'm the shy one..... ( All of us impersonating her flashing her face to people)
ThunderbunnySFX:I think I needed that like mask to like, not make me feel so insecure about like, the tiny little like one piece that I was wearing that was like extra showy. Like, it was way showier than everything else that I've ever worn. But it looks so good. And but I don't really have many photos of it. Cuz it was just like it was my first time going to PAX, I was just kind of trying to feel it out and everything and but that was the first time I saw you as Tomb Raider. I was like oooo!
Rebecca Rose:And that was fun. Everything is like she's, you know, down in the dirt kind of gal and like I would literally go roll in the dirt and like I had went like for my face and stuff. I didn't want dirt on my face. And so like I had cocoa powder. And I would just go(puts on face) So I smelled like chocolate it was great. But like, for me, cosplay was the perfect combination of acting of modeling because I'd done a little bit of modeling and of geekiness like games and stuff and so it was just like this makes perfect sense where has this been my whole life. So it made a lot of sense to me, but you saw me in my like second for reals cosplay.
BearsRawr:Meanwhile I was just thinking that she's been doing this her whole life like
Rebecca Rose:Psshhh no no no no. what, how did you get into it?
BearsRawr:Everyone has long back stories
Dani:So do you. You've been doing it for quite a while.
ThunderbunnySFX:I mean, your family has like big party background too.
Rebecca Rose:You throw the best parties.
BearsRawr:thanks.
Rebecca Rose:It's true.
ThunderbunnySFX:That whole all out mentality. And it's like because like my family's mostly just like the Halloween parties where it's like your family it was like every kind of party.
BearsRawr:Oh did the sun come up? Perfect invite everybody over.
ThunderbunnySFX:The party starts at six. Why are they here at six? We're like we're still setting up. Like thats how parties go right?
BearsRawr:That's been an adjustment for me is like when people say oh come at six. A lot of times they mean that. And im not used to that.
ThunderbunnySFX:exactly, same
Dani:six is a suggestion.
BearsRawr:Six is when I'm going to start setting up my house.
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, like I'm still halfway through my makeup
BearsRawr:Don't come at six. But apparently, that's not true, you have to go at six if they say six.
Rebecca Rose:I err in the opposite direction. I'm like chronically early to things. I'm actively working on it like it's problematic. I'll be the weird one sitting in my car being like it's too early still.
Dani:It's too awkwardly early to go...
Rebecca Rose:Yeah, just like it's not socially acceptable to be here yet.
ThunderbunnySFX:Where me and Bears are like fashionably late.
Dani:I guess you could be fashionably early one and the chronic fashionably late ones.
Rebecca Rose:And together with our powers! Yep.
Dani:I can be a little late. But I can also hang out with Rebecca a little longer.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah. I'm so down to hang out. I'll blast tunes. We will chill.
ThunderbunnySFX:Where me and Bears are like still doing our makeup in the car on the way over. It will be fine, it will be fine.
BearsRawr:I'm just like, waiting for you to text like, Oh, I'm gonna be 45 minutes late. I'm like I don't have to say anything.
Dani:It's not like 15 minutes late. It's like 45 to two hours late. Okay, we do live a ways away.
Rebecca Rose:That's true that's true
Dani:it's all good girl. Tell us your backstory. Come on Bears.
BearsRawr:So um, I didn't actually get into anything. I don't even know how I got invited on this show to be honest. So I didn't get into like video games or comic books or nerdy TV really. I watched Pokemon as a kid who didn't. Um,
ThunderbunnySFX:Apparently me. Sorry. But Ive seen some recently.
Rebecca Rose:golf clap golf clap.
Dani:30 years later.
BearsRawr:Probably at the end of college, though, I didn't get into anything until the end of college. So I had never played a video game really. Like, maybe if I went over to somebody's house, and they happened to have something maybe I would like, play around with SoulCalibur or something. But not really, we were more kind of like, go outside kind of family. And so my parents through a lot of social events, which is great. So I am socialized. Believe it or not. And so my dad, like growing up would always throw these throw is the wrong word, he would set up these really elaborate Halloween events, and every year would have a different theme. And it would be kind of a conglomeration of our house was where it was going to be. But it would be pulling talents from all of the neighbors and my dad's friends and everybody. And so he would have people, like say it was a clown theme, or a carnival theme. Halloween, he would have people dressing up as clowns. And with chainsaws, and they would have carnival games that people could play. And just like the house would be done up in such a way that it was an experience and people would come from like, towns away to come to our house to like, be scared and like, participate
Dani:That's wild.
Rebecca Rose:That's amazing.
BearsRawr:Yeah. So I like
Dani:How did he do that? Without like a production team to help him?
BearsRawr:Well it kind of was so they will be planning this for months. It wasn't like a week before Halloween, like, oh,
Dani:Was it your family? Or did he have like a group?
BearsRawr:It was him and his friends mostly, but it wasn't. I mean, I was there.
ThunderbunnySFX:It sounds like a really good network of people essentially. Yeah,
BearsRawr:it was awesome. And so I learned a lot through that of, okay, these things take time to put together you have to be planning ahead. If you want it to look like this, here are the things that you need to take care of first. And also a big thing that was important, and is important to my household in general is if you're gonna do it, do it right. So
Rebecca Rose:respect.
BearsRawr:Sure. You want it to look like this. But what if it looks like this and also lit up a little from the back? Wouldn't that make it a little bit more realistic and fun? Great. How do we do that? And also the deadlines then, so.
Dani:So good luck,
BearsRawr:I can't say that I'm like 100% like perfect at doing that. But it is kind of like the approach that I take to things so in that sense, it's tangentially cosplay related, like that's how like my approach kind of got built. And so it was Halloweens, but it was also like if my school put on a dance or something like my eighth grade dance my dad helped put together like this whole pirate theme and so it wasn't just like things stuck to the wall there was like this cool like skeleton with a treasure chest and like the whole like little, I don't know closet that it was in. It made you feel like you were actually sitting in Pirates of the Caribbean like it was cool and there was like, like a... Let me just brag about my dad.
Rebecca Rose:Dad if you're watching
Dani:We got some really cool dads. Okay.
Rebecca Rose:True
ThunderbunnySFX:We are like the same person, but like from different states. Yeah, it's wild that it took us like, what, 25 years or so to like, meet each other.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah, your guys's stories like they have different bases, but it's the same trajectory.
BearsRawr:So I have all this like, knowledge in my brain of like, here's how you would do it if you wanted to. Um, but I just didn't really have that like catalyst yet of, okay, what do I do with this? So huh? I read a lot of books as a kid. I was definitely not like a sports person. I got really
Rebecca Rose:That surprises me.
Dani:You are really competitive
Rebecca Rose:Yeah, I feel like you would just like tear it up on the soccer field....doing those slide tackles
Dani:She does not have any anger management issues. We just like teasing her.
BearsRawr:I don't.
Rebecca Rose:She's so sweet.
BearsRawr:They're working me up. Like I'm some kind of rage machine.
ThunderbunnySFX:No, she's just like, very all out or nothing.
BearsRawr:Just a regular machine.
Rebecca Rose:but you like you choose strong characters. Now. I noticed though, too. And so I think that's where my assumption came from of like sports. I was like, strong characters make perfect sense.
BearsRawr:Yeah, well I'm real good at sports. I have played all the sports. I was on the basketball team and volleyball and soccer and T ball and I don't know if I ever did softball, probably running.
Dani:Track.
BearsRawr:But if my brother and sister are watching right now? They are not they're crying on the floor from laughing so hard.
Rebecca Rose:You are putting yourself in like a hair robe right now to try to cover up what's happening right now.
BearsRawr:Here's the thing I've tried.
Rebecca Rose:I want the people on like who are listening who can't see this. Bears is just like she's pulled her hair forward. And it's kind of like wrapping herself in her hair to try to hide from all of this. Trying to hide from her brothers and sisters Yeah, if you want to see it, check the YouTube channel. It's a great, yeah.
BearsRawr:Anyways, I don't do sports. But um, I don't even remember where I was going with that. Oh, yeah, I do. Okay, so instead of doing sports in high school, I did stage crew as well. And I was really involved, really involved in theater. And so me and my friends basically lived in our high school theater, and like getting really into the lighting and microphones and bossing people around, which I never do now. And, like, that whole thing is also super fun. And again, like, the more technical side of it is much more appealing to me than the acting side. We did get all of their stage crew friends did get forced to act in one of the plays. I think it was Harvey, that we got forced to act in and I was like, a receptionist at a hotel. Yikes. It was not a good look for me.
Rebecca Rose:Why not?
BearsRawr:Because I couldn't remember the lines. I had one line. And I couldn't remember it.
ThunderbunnySFX:It's probably because it just wasn't the right role for you. Like you needed someone stronger. To like really feel your role.
BearsRawr:That's it. That's probably it
Dani:You couldn't identify with the receptionist.
Rebecca Rose:What was their motivation?
BearsRawr:What's my motivation?
Dani:I would never stay in this hotel.
BearsRawr:Your signing into this trash hole. Okay, tell the cockroaches I say hi. No, I just am not very comfortable on stage. It's not for me. I'm like it was just funny. Like I'm not I'm pretty confident in general. I'm not nervous in most situations. But for whatever reason, like this is kind of why I'm not going to I don't see myself ever competing and cosplay I don't want to be on the stage. I have no interest in it. Um, but it's fun to make crafts.
Rebecca Rose:You could you are talented enough.
BearsRawr:Well, maybe but I have to be on stage and I don't wanna.
Rebecca Rose:We will videotape you during recess! It'll be fine. And then we will submit your video and you'll win.
ThunderbunnySFX:Perfect. Agreed. I can help with your makeup. It would be great.
BearsRawr:Yeah, no, I don't know. So my first convention was when I moved up to Washington. Most of my life. I lived in California. I went to college in California. I moved up to Washington. After I graduated, took up dancing. Met my husband and we went to a convention together when we first started dating, and that was the first convention I had ever been to I didn't even realize that conventions were even a thing. So like, for you guys to say that you've went to conventions since infancy. Okay. I'm really happy for you. I didn't even know they were a real thing. No, I think I went to like, Oh, no Dickens fair or something. But never anything like,
Dani:I went to the zoo.
Rebecca Rose:Right, right the talent show.
ThunderbunnySFX:Yeah, as me and Dani are like not everyone does that. This is normal life for us.
BearsRawr:So like, so far removed that I didn't even realize that going to conventions would be an awkward thing, because I didn't even realize they were a thing. So like, sure. Okay. So I went to a convention and my first convention, okay, so I am like the embodiment of FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out. Oh, so if it looks fun, I want to be there. I want to go I want to do the thing. And everybody at this convention, who was dressed up like fun comic book characters looked like they were having so much more fun than the people who were there with like their T shirts and their fanny packs. I was like, I need to dress up!
Dani:why you hatin on the fanny packs?
Rebecca Rose:Utility belts.
BearsRawr:Im just saying you will have more fun with a sword than a fanny pack.
Rebecca Rose:Also true. You cannot argue against that.
ThunderbunnySFX:But theres no pockets in a sword. Not with that attitude.
BearsRawr:I bet I could help you build a pocket into your sword.
ThunderbunnySFX:I think I need that.
Dani:It's called a sheath.
Rebecca Rose:Sword pocket.
BearsRawr:So basically, that was it. I went to a convention, everyone else looked like they were having fun. I wanted to have fun. I got into cosplay. Here we are.
Rebecca Rose:Fair enough.
BearsRawr:So that was I think in 2015. And it was after I had met Dani, before I had met Bunny. And so my first convention that I cosplayed at, I cosplayed- it's a long story I'll tell it later, but I ended up cosplaying as Black Canary. And I had so much fun. I was right. It is so much more fun to go to a convention dressed up. And then my second ever convention was with you guys. And I did wonder woman. But yeah, so and that's that's how it's been ever since. Kind of like, just decided, this is my this is my life now. There was there was no ramp up.
Rebecca Rose:It's not a dimmer switch on or off only on or off.
BearsRawr:It's funny because most hobbies like if I'm not immediately good at it, I just give up and do something else. And this one for whatever reason. There's so much to learn. And I like you'll never stop learning new things that it was like, Okay, I wasn't good at that. But I could do this instead, and still be successful. So I think that like having so many, like if you're learning an instrument, and you're not good at that instrument, you just have to keep working. And that's not something that
ThunderbunnySFX:or you could switch to a different instrument.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah. Okay, or never play an instrument again.
BearsRawr:I've also learned lots of instruments.
Rebecca Rose:You're the band kid.
BearsRawr:I absolutely am not. That's why I do cosplay. I have switched instruments. I just if I'm not good at it Instantly. Instantly. Yeah, that's keyword.
ThunderbunnySFX:Word of the day, people.
Dani:So let's talk about where we are now with our cosplay situation because it's quite different than well, mine's not but your guys are quite different from when you started.
BearsRawr:I don't know Dani, I think we need to have a side by side of your first cosplay versus your last cosplay that we just did.
Dani:It would be a question mark because there was no photo because I couldn't even take the photo. For now I'm like, hmm confidence, pose, pose, pose, pose.
ThunderbunnySFX:Where i'm like what do I do with my hands? Rebecca tell me.
Rebecca Rose:It's always the hands.
BearsRawr:I just sit here like what would Rebecca do?
Rebecca Rose:Oh, geez. And Rebecca is thinking what do I do with my hands?
Dani:So why don't you bears tell us where you are now.
BearsRawr:I am working on Merida from Brave but I'm actually right now I'm right now I'm in the middle of taking all of the Disney princesses and figuring out what time period they were written for. And figuring out where they were written for geologically and getting armor inspired by that, when and where, and putting that princess in that armor. So I did Snow White in like an English German ish armor set. And it's soo pretty!
Rebecca Rose:Your attention to detail like even with the historic, like, geography of everything like that's so cool. so cool.
BearsRawr:So right now I'm working on Merida. And so I'm doing kind of like a Viking version of Merida, I have the core costume down, but I need to work on the shield and bow and arrow. And I've been working with an Instagram friend on how to make that bow happen. So that's been really fun. Don't expect anything in the near future, though. It is a it's a slow process. That's what I'm working on mostly right now. And also various cyberpunky things and also various dance team related things. Just lots of I always have lots of little pots boiling, we'll see what we'll see what I ended up stirring first.
Rebecca Rose:I love that. I usually have a couple of pots boiling and part of me misses the days when it was one pot at a time. That was very calm. Those are the calm days. Um, no cosplay is very different to me now. Because it, it is a side income, it is not an income. For me yet, at least and I don't think it ever will be and I don't expect it to. And part of me doesn't really want it to ever become a primary income or even have that be a goal because I want it to be my hobby, not my job. But it's great that I can make some money on a hobby. Um, so now I do it a lot. I have more cosplays than I have storage bins for it's becoming problematic. Um, over 20 At least. A lot. Recently, I'm trying to think of what the most recent completed one was because again, there's so many pots for I was like which one actually came first the chicken or the egg. Um, the most like complete recent one was probably Yennefer from The Witcher series. I also did Padme from Star Wars, her Coliseum outfit. I'm and upcoming I typically keep that private. But there is another Witcher cosplay in the works of a certain redhead, which like should give it away if you watch any of the Witcher at all. I'll be like a couple of people from The Witcher series, but also working on dance choreography and the outfits that will go along with that. So a couple things going on couple things going on. What about you, Bunny.
ThunderbunnySFX:Um, so for me, I've got a lot of like half ideas. So like, I have all of these ideas of like makeup that I want to do, but like no plans for, like any costume or anything that matches it, um, which I probably should think about too. Um, but I guess still kind of working with dance stuff and kind of what's to come with some of those ideas. I've got a few costume ideas that I should actually be able to throw together like, pretty quick and easy just from like, Goodwill or Value Village visits, I just need to actually do it. Um, but for the most part, like I have a bunch of makeup ideas that I want to play around with. Um, so hopefully those will
Rebecca Rose:Can you spoil one of them?
ThunderbunnySFX:Um, so for example, one of my favorite movies is Trick or Treat. And I love Sam. And I actually do kind of have like the rest of the out like the outfit for it was like a bought outfit just to complete the look, essentially but I kind of wanted to do his unmasked face. So
Rebecca Rose:That's awesome.
ThunderbunnySFX:That should be really fun. Um, so I'll try that at some point. Um, I just need to get the motivation to get that done.
Dani:Are you going to try to get it done by this Halloween? You think? Is that going to be your next Halloween debut?
ThunderbunnySFX:Honestly that's more likely to happen before Crypticon. So within the next couple months. I don't know what I'm gonna be for Halloween this year. So we'll see. But I have a lot of ideas and plans coming up and with the makeup side of things, so hopefully I can expand my experience and ability.
Dani:Oh, that's gonna be so cool. I don't really have any cosplays planned right now. But I'm working on the production side of this podcast. So I'm still working on figuring out Twitch.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah, so we can reach the world
Dani:We can stream various things going on. So it's been a lot of learning but like you said with the technical stuff, but like the stage crew like I never was in stage crew, but I think that's something I would have really enjoyed. Because this stuff is it's like it's so technical and you're just constantly learning and I just like all the gear to like the lights. Yeah, so cool.
Rebecca Rose:Yeah the feeling of having power tools in your hands just so much power. So much power. It's dangerous it's dangerous. I have a cut like I have a scar on my finger from a saw and I am so proud of it. Yes, there we go. I was not proud of it at the time. But now it's
BearsRawr:no copycat scars please
Rebecca Rose:please don't do that. Be it be practice safe woodworking, ladies and gents.
Dani:Yeah, you guys play with Nerf guns. We pretend that our drills our guns, so. Yeah, that's all that I have going on right now. What's on our next episode?
ThunderbunnySFX:So in our next episode, we'll give our advice for beginners getting into cosplay from choosing a character to the essential tools and budget friendly options.
BearsRawr:And check out our Instagram to see our latest cosplay photos. Join our patreon for fun exclusive content like newsletters, digital downloads behind the scenes videos, photos and prints mailed to you you might get to see our KDA dance team.
ThunderbunnySFX:oooooooooo
BearsRawr:Thanks for watching. Goodbye.
Rebecca Rose:Bye everyone.(waves) Cut! Scene! Wrap! End! *brrr*