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Simply stunning
Square Enix character designs never looked better before Rainer Tachibana took up cosplay. This versatile cosplayer hails from Singapore, and has the uncanny ability to take the form of some of eastern gaming's most recognizable faces. Able to recreate gorgeous females and lithe males alike, she blends her good looks with great costumes to create some truly convincing cosplay. You'll do a double take at some of these shots, thinking that they're CG renders ripped straight from Final Fantasy games.
GamesRadar: Why did you start cosplaying? What was your first costume?
Rainer Tachibana: I grew up playing video games, and I started watching anime when I was in school. I came across some cosplayers for the first time at a local IT show. Initially I was a bit put off because I was afraid of looking foolish, but after more research, I decided to give it a try.
GR: What does cosplaying mean to you?
RT: When I first started out it was all about the fun, and I attempted so many different characters and costumes in a year. Now its still about the fun, but I tend to want to spend more time and effort on each cosplay, making sure I finish each project properly, and I take my time in planning concepts for shoots. In a way, cosplay (and costuming) for me has become a form of artistic expression, if that makes sense. Of course, all things considered, its still just a hobby, and while it is a part of my life, it is not my [entire] life.
GR: How much of a time-investment is this? What do you like to do outside of cosplaying?
RT: Theres definitely this negative correlation between the amount of time and the amount of money you spend on cosplay. I used to engage the services of a tailor very often, so I spent very much less time on the crafting process. Now that Im doing the sewing and crafting myself, I spend anywhere from as little as a few hours, to as much as a few weeks on a single costume, depending on the complexity of the project. I do save a lot of money though, which is great since Im studying at the moment and dont have a steady income.
GR: What's the strangest thing (material, prop, etc) you've used to complete a costume?
RT: Ive used sink strainers and an ashtray to construct a sword, and random clear plastic wrapping crumpled up and stuffed into an acrylic tube with a concert lightstick bulb at the bottom to make another component of aforementioned sword.
GR: How much do you worry, if at all, about getting the look exactly right, down to the last detail?
RT: Truthfully, its not something that I try not to worry about too much. When you do cosplay its important to be as accurate as possible, but its often impossible for one or ones costume to look a hundred percent similar to a virtual character. I sometimes play around with the dimensions and proportions to suit my body type, and on occasion cheat by excluding any items or parts of the costume that will be hidden, perhaps by a skirt or train or by a long wig. But in general, my policy is that whatevers visible on the character must be included in my costume.
GR: How you do choose which characters to cosplay?
RT: I would be lying if I said aesthetics dont play a part, because they do. The character design has to attract me visually first. If its a playable character from a game, the process is shortened, because gameplay gives you that instant perspective that you dont otherwise get. I also have to like the character and be able to identify somewhat with her/him--otherwise portrayal would be an absolute nightmare and Id end up with an unconvincing cosplay. I also wouldnt be able to commit to spending that much time and money on a cosplay of a character that I didnt like.
GR: Whats your favorite costume among the ones youve worn and/or made?
RT: I like to think that I love all my costumes. If I had to pick one that I can see myself wearing over and over and over again and not get sick of, itd be the original FFXIII Lightning costume. I didnt actually make the costume base. That was done by my wonderful tailor, so the workmanship is top-notch, and extremely comfortable to wear. The entire costume is also fully functional; no awkward invisible zip closures, which I absolutely hate. Its easy to get in and out of, easy to pack, easy to wash and dry, and so on. Ive already worn it quite a number of times, I fear that people may have gotten sick of seeing me in it (LOL). I do want to wear it a few more times though. Its my go-to cosplay for no-fuss days.
GR: What tips do you have for entry-level cosplayers?
RT: Even though cosplay is just a hobby, the feedback you get from online communities will seem very real, and very personal. You have to learn to filter out the constructive comments from the plain nasty ones, and improve yourself from there. Everyone has their own reasons for engaging in this hobby, but I find that its best to cosplay for your own enjoyment, and not for approval from others, and not for the attention. These could be pleasant bonuses, but not the source of your motivation. Remember that for every five people who like your work, therell probably be another five who dont, and while you should acknowledge that everyone has a right to their opinions, you shouldnt let that affect you.
GR: What's the ultimate cosplay costume youve always wanted to make?
RT: FFVIIs Sephiroth is my absolute favorite character of all time, and I would usually cosplay a character I liked that much, but I know Ill never ever do it simply because I cant. (LOL) So until I find another ultimate cosplay to make, Ill just improve my crafting skills and get myself into shape and wait for that epic challenge to come along.
Ethereal beauty
It's heartening to hear Rainer's earnest motivations for doing what she does--quite honestly, we think we're in love. To see more of her magnificent work, be sure to visit her Deviantart page and personal blog, where you can find plenty of additional cosplay pictures. In the meantime, we wanted to share the rest of our favorite Rainer Tachibana cosplays; we're still in awe that all these spot-on looks were done by the same one person.
