Italy 🇮🇹

Nekoneko (solo): Hi, I’m Elisa aka NekoNeko_artcosplay!

I’m qualified in the textile, clothing, footwear and leather sector, I also use my professional knowledge to create my costumes.

I represented Italy in ECG2014 and ECG2022, I can’t wait to participate in the ICL finals and visit Madrid

Shadowings (duo): Hi all! I’m Elena from Italy I’m known as Shadowings and my super power is misfortune! I’m a super introverted person and sometimes socially awkward but I always try my best! I work as a Police Officer in a small town and I’ve recently win my biggest contest of life, I’ve defied a stage 3 cancer and decided that the life is too short and that I really want to live at the fullest so this will be my first international cosplay experience in a lot of time (I was Team Italy for WCS 2009, ECG 2011 and Cosplay Star 2012) and I’m really excited about this new chapter of my life! 

Ormadigatto (duo): Hello! I’m Ormadigatto, my real name is Carlo. I’m 45 years old and i do cosplay since 2012. I’ve rapresented my country in Yamato Cosplay Cup 2018, and i had another experience abroad at Japan Touch International 2019. I am a creative and curious person, a lover of research and experimentation and i love anime and manga. The world of cosplay allows me to combine all my great passions. It is a pleasure to represent Italy in this edition of the ICL.

How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?

Nekoneko (solo): I’ve been part of the cosplay world for a very long time (about 24 years).

I discovered this hobby thanks to an article in Kappa Magazine (a magazine and manga collection) which talked about cosplay with a photo of a well-known cosplayer in the guise of Sailor Moon, from that moment on I never stopped cosplaying and the year Afterwards I also started attending fairs.

Cosplay helped me to open up, overcome my shyness and lead me to meet wonderful people who share this hobby with me, as well as making me understand what I wanted to do as a job.

Shadowings (duo): As you can see I’m in the cosplay community from a very long time, I start in the early 2000 when I was in high school after discover the cosplay by reading about Lucca Comics and other events that host the very first cosplay contests and gatherings.

Ormadigatto (duo): I fell in love with cosplay the first time I saw it in 2012 and from there I immediately wanted to test myself by creating my first costumes which gradually became more and more complex.

What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?

Nekoneko (solo): Cosplay is part of my life, more than half for now and I wouldn’t be able to do without it. It is the stimulus for my imagination, creating and learning in this hobby and work is my lifeblood

Certainly my favorite part is the creation, specifically the choice of fabric, studying it or creating it myself to get as close as possible to the original one excites me a lot, when I look closely at the texture of a fabric I feel like a cat spotting the his prey. It is so satisfying to see and realize in reality what was just an image

Shadowings (duo): Since I’m an incredible introvert I really find in cosplay my escape, cosplay isn’t a simple hobby to me, is an entire world where one day I can be a fragile princess and the other one a indestructible demon. Cosplay means your imagination can go wild in a place where you can find people like you, I’ve even found my other half thanks to cosplay so I can’t ask for more! I absolutely adore creating my own costume and learn every time something new!

Ormadigatto (duo): Freedom, creativity and socialization.
Plan a project and your own creation, learn new things, visit new places and make new friends are my favourite parts in cosplay.

What changes do you see in the cosplay community in your country compared to when you started?

Nekoneko (solo): In our community there have always been high and low moments, as in the past even now.

We can be super united for an ideal and make a team that no one can beat, at the same time others don’t experience this hobby well and it all seems like something out of a Kdrama.

With the importance of social media nowadays, much more value is given to simple likes and followers, putting skill and fun into the background.

Shadowings (duo): In Cosplay Community almost everything change, something for the better something for the worse. 20 years ago I personally know almost everyone in cosplay community, follow the work of every one and recognize almost all the cosplayer but at the same time we were seen as a nuisance and were ostracized in some place… Now cosplay is highly know and respected but at the same time I cannot feel that sense of unity from before.

Ormadigatto (duo): The advent of social media has changed the world of cosplay a lot, a change that has become much more pronounced after Covid. Once upon a time there were more cosplayers who enjoyed themselves both off and on stage.

Why did you choose that project for the ICL national selection? Is this your first time joining an international cosplay competition?

Nekoneko (solo):  I chose Queen of Hearts from Alice Madness Returns for the ICL selections. In addition to loving and aesthetically liking the character, I am fond of the Alice video game I played as a teenager.

As always, I create characters with which I can experiment with a myriad of techniques because I find it stimulating, fun where you never get bored and I constantly challenge myself.

I have already participated in two international competitions, ECG2014 and ECG 2022

Shadowings (duo): As a huge fan of the serie Final Fantasy and a Mentor in FFXIV I cannot say no to one of my beloved characters, Suzaku have a tragic story but is strong and fierce so I always love her! Other than that her garbs are very unique and changeling to work with so it was perfect for an important project, this costume has sealed my come back on big contest and selection but in my old days I use to be part of some Team Italy! It’s challenging to be back after a severe illness and a lot of things change but I’m here nevertheless!

Ormadigatto (duo):  It’s not my first international contest, in the selections we chose to bring characters from Final Fantasy 14 because it’s a game that we both like and we needed a goal to start cosplaying and competing agai.

What do you expect from your visit to Spain? Is this your first time visiting the country?

Nekoneko (solo): This year I visited Barcelona for the first time, I never expected to pass the ICL selections and have the opportunity to visit another city in Spain. Unfortunately, the linguistic barrier completely prevents me from being more sociable but I hope to make new friends anyway, even speaking with gestures, which is typically Italian.

Shadowings (duo): This is my absolutely first time in Spain! I’m so curious about everything, the people, the culture and the food! I also want to meet the cosplay community there and learning from them and their way to live cosplay!
I just hope everything go smoothly, from my past experience I already know that the contest I very important but more e more important are people! Other contestants, the organizers, the guest, the public… I really hope that the contest will be a part of a much bigger experience where find new amazing people and maybe friends!

Ormadigatto (duo): It’s my first time in Spain. I expect to find a lot of vitality in this beautiful country. I hope to find a warm, lively and colorful country and obviously to eat well.

Have you decided your project for the finals in Madrid? May you give us a clue? 

Nekoneko (solo): I was 95% sure of my choice already the day after the selection and I will be a beautiful Queen!

Shadowings (duo): 

We are working really hard on new cosplays, but doing it while working and go on and off from the hospital maybe wasn’t this big of an idea! I can give out a little cue: we spent a LOT of time to find vintage dresses from Japan because we want to use as more realistic fabrics as possibile and have a less eco impact!

Ormadigatto (duo): Unfortunately we chose the project and would really like to change it to something simpler please help me XD

Describe the cosplay community in your country using five words.

Nekoneko (solo): Competitive, fiery, artisanal, polemical, united

Shadowings (duo):  Creativity and drama live high!

Ormadigatto (duo):  Competitive.

Link to your Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter (add other social media if relevant):

Nekoneko (solo):

https://www.facebook.com/Nekox2artcosplay/

https://www.instagram.com/nekoneko_artcosplay/

Shadowings (duo): 

https://www.instagram.com/shadowings_cosplay

https://www.facebook.com/Shadowings

Ormadigatto (duo): 

https://www.instagram.com/ormadigatto

https://www.facebook.com/ormadigattocosplay

–

Nekoneko, Shadowings & Ormadigatto were selected at Torino Comics.