DUO
Neoliko, 31 years old, graphic designer and illustrator.Ā Neko Magica, 30 years old, rope access work.
How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?
Neoliko: I discovered cosplay when I was 16 at a small convention. I thought it would be fun to go on stage with my older brother and we participated and won. It was really fun! Today I still cosplay and I have been cosplaying with my partner for 6 years.
Neko Magica: I discovered cosplay in 2013 at my first convention. I was amazed by cosplayers and how they interacted with people. I do like to craft things so it was perfect to combine my two hobbies.
Why did you choose The Road to El Dorado as your project for the ICL preselection? Is this your ļ¬rst time joining an international cosplay competition?
Neoliko: We choose The Road to El Dorado for our preselection because of the energy of the main characters. They are really entertaining and we though they can be really funny to interpret. Moreover they come for an old cartoon that we both watched as childs.
Neko Magica: Also the music is great and I love the colors of this cartoon. It is a really good friendship story.
What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?
Neoliko: To me, cosplay is a way to unite people under the same passion and valors. To commune between fans and make people happy. What I prefer is being on stage and making people have a good time!
Neko Magica: To me cosplay is a challenge, a way to create emotions and make fictional characters or universes come alive. What I prefer is finally wearing all the pieces together and share this hobby with my partner.
Were you selected before the pandemic? If so, how did it aļ¬ect your motivation and project for the ļ¬nale?
Neoliko: Yes, we were selected before the pandemic and truly it really affected us. We were really busy with our professional lives because we changed a lot of things, we moved houses, I became ill, we had to cancel our trip to Japanā¦
Neko Magica: Yes, it really does. I felt an art block and I was unable to do anything related to cosplay for an entire yearā¦
Neoliko: All these difficulties only reinforced our choice of project for the competition, that is to send a message of hope and bravery.
What do you expect from your visit to Spain? Is this your ļ¬rst time visiting the country?
Neoliko: Yes itās the first time in Spain for me! All I hope is that I will bring back some good memories to share.
Neko Magica: Itās my first time too! And I just expect to have fun with everyone!
Have you decided your project for the ļ¬nals in Madrid? Can you give us a clue?
Neoliko: Of course!
Neko Magica: I hope you like songs!Ā š
Describe the cosplay community in your country using ļ¬ve words.
Neoliko: Passionate, friendly, caringā¦
Neko Magica: ā¦Funny! And also open-minded.
You can follow Neoliko and Neko Magica on:
www.instagram.com/neolikosplay/ www.facebook.com/neolikosplayĀ www.tiktok.com/@neolikoandnekoĀ www.instagram.com/neko_magica/ www.facebook.com/NekoMagicaCosplay
SOLO
IāmĀ Kyuti, a 29 years old cosplayer from France. I love making armors and powerfull characters and I choose my cosplay according to my crushes for this or that character and for his story / mood / attitude.Ā In 2019 Iāve been runner up and vice-champion in the French Cosplay Cup and it motivated me to pushes myself to my dreams !
How did you discover cosplay and what made you start in this hobby? How long ago?
I really discovered cosplay in 2011 in my student city, in a tiny festival but I was already in this universe for a few years whitout knowing it, crafting some props and wearing costume parts just for fun, decorate my room and to play with my friends.
When Iāve seen cosplayers in this convention, I realized that I wanted to do the same and be as comfortable and happy as them with myself.
Why did you choose the Dreadqueen Rathian armor as your project for the ICL preselection? Is this your first time joining an international cosplay competition?
Iāve choose this armor because I love her helmet (I often crush on cool helmets to do) and all these colors. This character has a small chainmail and, since my father did one by itself, I always wanted to try to do the same one day and ask him to teach me. It was a great project with a lot of new skills to learn!
Itās my first time joining an international cosplay competition. Iāve tried some selections but Itās my first one as finalist!
What does cosplay mean for you? And what is your favorite part of the hobby?
Cosplay is a lot of things to me, itās a way to be yourself, to share with others and to learn skills and things with them, to improve in so many different ways (mental, skills, behaviorā¦) and to meet a lot of positive and really interesting people from all countries and walks of life
My favorite part of the hobbyā¦ I have twoĀ ! When you have to try and experiment a lot of techniques to make your cosplay and when you wear it in convention / on stage !
Were you selected before the pandemic? If so, how did it affect your motivation and project for the finale?Ā
I was selected before the pandemic, I was very excited about a costume but not seeing the end of this health crisis demotivated me. In the same time due to the crisis, Iāve lost my job and my apartment so I was at my lowest point. I really needed to find new energy so I changed my project, in favor of a costume that spoke to me much more and a character to which I wanted to pay homage. Iāll get back to that other costume later, when Iām motivated by that character again.
What do you expect from your visit to Spain? Is this your first time visiting the country?
ICL is a great opportunity to meet other cosplayers and people, visit a little, discover an incredible city, a really cool convention and step on a huge stage! I canāt wait!
Iām also a little bit stressed but Iāll push myself as far as I can to make my dreams come true!
Itās not my first time visiting the country since Iāve made a school travel in Barcelona when I was young but itās not the same feeling and Iāve never had the opportunity to come back to this country in my life before ICL.
Have you decided your project for the finals in Madrid? Can you give us a clue?
Yes! Heās a boss character from a game known to be really difficult. I love his story so much although itās really sad and I wanted to brin git to life through cosplay. I had a huge crush on his armor and his style and I went out of my comfort zone to realize it. I like happy and colorful things, itās not really the case this time.
Describe the cosplay community in your country using five words.
Motivation, Meet, Passion, Discovery, Learn .
You can follow Kyuti on:
https://www.facebook.com/kyuticosplay
https://www.instagram.com/kyuti.cosplay/
https://www.twitch.tv/kyuticosplay
Team France was selected at Toulouse Game Show (November 2019)
