Cosplay Interview - Kez Francis (a.k.a. Bunni)

Cosplay interviews! A weekly feature on Animetion where we talk to UK cosplayers on what motivates them, plus a cool gallery showcasing their cosplays. Here we talk to cosplayer:

Name: Kez Francis
(a.k.a. Bunni)

Q: When did you start cosplaying and how long for?

I started cosplaying at the MCM London Expo in October 2005, so have been doing it for three year (though in those three years I really haven't been to enough events for my liking lol).

Q: What attracts you cosplay?

I am a very passionate artist and love to express myself in a multitude of artforms including drawing/painting, music, dance and acting. Cosplay gives me the opportunity to utilise these artforms and produce real life works of art. It is also a wonderful way of making friends and through doing it I have made some of my closest friends!

Q: What has been your favourite cosplay?

Hmmmm this is a massively tough one.... I would have to say Lara Croft (from Tomb Raider - ed.). She is the character I most closely relate to and I always have such a great time cosplaying as her. I have even been mistaken for the official model on numerous occasions which is a HUGE complement ^_^

I also have a soft spot for my Little Mermaid costume... massively impractical but Ariel was one of my childhood heroes and so beautiful.

Q: Most memorable moment whilst cosplaying?

There have been sooo many....a few that come to mind:

1) Cosplaying with my other half Joe as The Blue Eyes White Dragon and Seto Kaiba (His first and only cosplay (both characters from Yu-Gi-Oh! - ed)) and winning third place in our first ever cosplay masquerade.

2)Walking in the cosplay masquerade as Yuna, with my good friend Kaka Extreme as Rikku, and sitting down before we reached the end lol >.< (both characters from Final Fantasy X - ed.)

3) Meeting Jake (White Leviathan) in the cosplay masquerade queue at MCM London Expo May 2007. Since meeting we have done a number of costumes together the ultimate being Wedding Yuna & Seymour.

4) Doing promotional work as Lara Croft (photographs and appearances).

Q: Have you had any cosplays go wrong/encountered problems whilst making cosplays?

The worst thing I have had happen when constructing a costume was severing the tendon in my left index finger. I was cutting the electrical tape off of my wedding Yuna wings and I felt the swiss army knife hit into my knuckle...

Then I remember thinking "That's not good" as soon as I flexed my finger I felt it spurt. Not realising totally what I had done I spent the next ten minutes pressing a massive wadge of tissue on it and holding it above my head >.< Then I finally admitted defeat and went to find Joe, luckily he lives three minutes away from A&E lol. I had it glued back together and some stitching over the top, however I had severed through half my tendon which has now healed at an angle.

One year on it's still painful to bend T_T But it was worth it for the wonderful costume! *_*

Q: Have you ever regretted cosplaying?

Never!

Q. Do your cosplay have a particular theme to them?

A lot of my costumes seem to be based on video games and most of them tend to be powerful female characters. Lara, Trish (from Devil May Cry - ed.) and Felicia (from Darkstalkers - ed.) are prime examples of this.

Q: Have you ever done group cosplay? If so how did you find that experience?

I have done a couple of group cosplays. Groups have some great advantages:

1) Spending time with your wonderful friends is top of the list.

2) Being part of a group helps keep you motivated as you know your friends are relaying on you.

3) You can get some really amazing group photos which are great reminders of the day.

4) It's nice to participating in the cosplay masquerade with friends. Not only to have someone to help calm you down (or hype you up in the case of Kaka and I >.<), you also have some great people to share the epic wait in the queue lol!

Q: What cosplays are you planning?

I am working on KOEI costumes at the moment. Nu Wa (from Warriors Orochi 2 - ed.) is making her first appearance at the MCM London Expo May 2009.

I have also been asked to do a Silk Spectre costume (from Watchmen - ed.) ... how could I say no ^_-

Q: Do you have a dream cosplay?

Ariel (Mermaid version) was my dream costume for ages and I fulfilled that dream at MCM London Expo, October 2007. As for the future... I would have to say Daji (from Warriors Orochi - ed.) though I have a lot to live up to with Kaka's wonderful version!

Q: Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

Choose your wigs carefully! Nothing can ruin a costume like a bad wig!

Also be careful when choosing your character, I am a great believer in doing cosplays that are technically challenging so that you learn something new. For your first one you should choose something within your current skill set. A simple costume constructed well will always look better than a costume that is over complicated and badly made.

Q: Do you have an account with the website Cosplay island/other social networking sites?

Cosplay Island: Bunni

Cosplay.com: Bunni

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