Egor Markov about the anime "Bleach", stage fright and ice crystals
In Moscow, started exhibition of interactive entertainment "Igromir". Within its framework this year, for the first time, "Russian Comic Con" is held - a congress of fans of pop culture from comics to gadgets and, not least, cosplayers - masters of reincarnation in their favorite characters. Many do it professionally, and someone just comes in the original image for the sake of entertainment and meeting with like-minded people. Cosplay has long been a mass phenomenon all over the world, and in Russia its popularity is only growing every year. We talked with six characters, for whom cosplay has become an important part of life, about their characters, about how they regularly dress in costume, why they do it and how it changed them.
Yegor Markov
22 years old, cosplaying Khorinmaru from the anime "Bleach"
Cosplay - like a drug, it is impossible to break away from him
I started to practice cosplay in 2012: I was at work, I realized that the weekend was coming, I had no plans. I saw that there would be an anime festival, and decided to go. I was so struck by what was happening that I began to visit them regularly - first as a photographer, and then in cosplay - I caught fire and after two weeks literally decided to make my first image. It was Dzabudza Momoti from the anime "Naruto" and the costume was very simple: literally black jeans, a T-shirt and a bandaged face. Anime in general, I do not really like, but I draw images from there. Nevertheless, I really have a favorite - this is "Detroit Metal City", well, and "Bleach", of course, where does today's character come from. His name is Herinmar, it is an ice dragon, he is the embodiment of the sword of zanpakuto. "Bleach" beats the classic Japanese motive about animated swords. Here swords have inner peace and inner strength - and in one of the series this power was embodied in human form.
My character is very close to me in character - he is very secretive, reticent. Outwardly, sometimes fills the facade of a certain pathos, but at the same time it is very true. During his time on the series, he was looking for his master, remaining loyal to him, so it was easy for me to play him. At first, of course, it was hard, very worried and afraid to go out in a suit, but now the restraint passed and I am even proud of my passion. Most of my friends came from cosplay, so they always support me, we always arrange projects, performances - always together. Parents close their eyes to this, make a joke, they say, for 22 years, and you are doing some kind of nonsense - but they gradually accepted it. At first, they even rejoiced that I finally left the computer games, started at least doing something.
I am extremely grateful to cosplay, because earlier I was a very notorious person, withdrawn and squeezed
In fact, I am extremely grateful to cosplay, because earlier I was a very notorious person, withdrawn and clamped. I had few friends, but thanks to cosplay I was able to open up, overcome the stage fear, the fear of communication. Previously, for me to communicate with a man with whom I met two hours ago, just like now, it was impossible to even imagine such a thing. I would have just slipped off the couch and would not say a word. With friends, we make performances at festivals in competitive nominations: group defiles, scenes, there are dance performances. Again, thanks to cosplay, I tried myself for the first time in the dance, probably was a little bit like a log that couldn’t move, but I still enjoyed it terribly.
I work as a specialist in a company engaged in information security consulting, I communicate with clients. I study as a sociologist with this. Cosplay and my work - things are in some way polar, never intersect. Cosplay has become an outlet for me, a favorite hobby. Now, there is less time left for cosplay, since I have the last course, but as soon as I return my fees, I will immediately compensate and return to it with my head. There is such a joke among cosplayers - not believing someone who says that he was going to leave. Cosplay becomes such a little drug, it is impossible to break away from it. I myself thought at some point that it was time and an honor to know, I’ll make an image - and it will definitely be the last! But no, I constantly come back: these emotions, feedback, communication - I don’t want to give up all this at all.
Recently, I notice that cosplay becomes like a second job, especially when the festival is coming soon, and you have nothing ready. It is necessary to sit at night, polish, dye, sew. Many people believe that cosplay is child's play and that only animeshniki children do it. In fact, cosplay is a serious hobby, you just need to distinguish real cosplay from "I put on a wig - I'm a cosplayer!". This, of course, is good, but with real cosplay has little in common. It takes time to suit differently. If it is your own, and it will be a costume entirely from crafting, armor, for example, you can do it in a month. Although there was a case when it was necessary for a couple of weeks - basically, it worked out. Specifically, this image of the month was first sewn into the studio, then in two or three weeks I made this armor - ice crystals.
The most beloved and most difficult experience of cosplay I have joined, so to speak. This winter, in January, I organized a major performance, again on the anime "Bleach" at the Animatrix festival - we were entrusted to open this festival. I felt the complexity of the organizational work, because everything fell completely on my shoulders: from finding people and organizing everything and everything to setting and writing the script. We have gathered almost the whole team of the main villains from the anime "Bleach". This performance was the largest in the world, not counting the official musical for this fandomu. It was terribly hard, just before entering the stage, everyone was shaking and I thought only that I would never take it on myself again. But the next morning, when you watch videos and photos, you understand how great it was, how well it turned out, and why all this is necessary. Such an activity would not want to change for anything.
Photographer: Alexander Karnyukhin