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Q&As for Virtual Crunchyroll Expo With Mario Bueno & Vampy Bit Me

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With Virtual Crunchyroll Expo around the corner, we were able to get some questions in for Vampy Bit Me and Mario Bueno. They are both guests that will be judging the Crunchyroll Himes Cosplay Cup! Lets hear what they have to say about Virtual Crunchyroll Expo and cosplay itself.

For more information and for a FREE TICKET to Virtual Crunchyroll Expo, go to the website for more info and to register for a free pass here.

Vampy Bit Me Q&A
As the host for the Himes Cosplay Cup, what kind of creativity do you want to see from the cosplayers?
I love seeing cosplayers’ use of fabrics! Believe it or not, I am a huge crazy person when it comes to what materials people use. It doesn’t have to be expensive but the techniques they use and how they apply those techniques really stand out to me. Being creative is key!
Will you be showcasing a new cosplay for this year’s Virtual Crunchyroll Expo?
I will definitely be wearing a comfy cosplay to host in. Very much a retro cosplay since I love retro anime! I grew up an 80s & 90s anime girl and I love to express it!
What advice would you give to a cosplayer entering into the Himes Cosplay Cup?
The biggest advice I can give a Cosplayer entering into the Hime Cosplay Cup is to OWN IT! Tell yourself what you already know, that you are awesome and you are gonna show what you know to the World! It’s your chance to shine! 😀
Mario Bueno Q&A
What kind of celebrations will you and your team have for your multi-media company’s 17th anniversary during Virtual Crunchyroll Expo?
Thanks for asking! This question in particular means so much to me given the parallel journey Digital Era Entertainment has had with my own professional and personal journey.

Amusingly, just being a part of VCRX in any capacity is the ultimate celebration in itself, hahah! It’s giving us as a very expansive platform to both further get the word out to the many people out there who’d be unfamiliar with DEE while concurrently reminding people who might’ve thought we dropped off the planet (due to lean content offerings between 2011-2016 when I was simultaneously at peak “solo work” and focused mostly on our ill-fated first-class Broadway concept project) that we’re still around and thriving.

That the fairly-recently launched anime discussion podcast we have, DEE Kai (会), is representing the brand in this capacity is, in a way, very fitting; while it is the newest wrinkle to DEE’s recent renaissance and ever-evolving nature, the brand owes SO much to anime (and anime convention) culture as a whole and the friendships/partnerships forged, and the panel presentation will commemorate that in full.

…Basically, we’re celebrating by doing some of our weekly work, but on a platform bigger than any we’ve been able to present on for over a decade because we’re all incredibly excited/grateful to be able to do that at all!

What do you think cosplayers will need to do to showcase their cosplays virtually?
Hahah, thankfully this is pretty easy one if you ask me: luckily for all of us, widespread availability of smartphone tech and contemporary social media platforms (i.e. Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok* in particular) have made it VERY simple for people to quickly and easily share both static and motion representations of their cosplays during this time where traditional photo/video shoots are very difficult (and, speaking frankly as a matter of safety for the immunocompromised in particular, discouraged).

Granted, even before popular social media in general rose up in the late 2000’s, there were resources myself and MANY others in the community relied on (or made connections to each other through) such as Cosplay.com, CosplayLabs, A Fan’s View, and the site that helped me in my own career (which I spent close to 12 years proudly serving the industry through) ACParadise.com. Now however, we also have access to additional video platforms and consumer-friendly tools to maximize what would otherwise strictly require a traditional “photographer/subject” relationship without a more complex setup. Easy access to online shopping platforms also helps a bit for acquiring said equipment quickly and affordably as needed, hahah.

(To be EXTRA clear, there is still a benefit to having a dedicated photographer/subject setup, particularly for people who may be incredibly gifted craftspeople but not the best at capturing those works by themselves, so I still highly encourage people to go out and work with all the talented photographers out there once it’s properly safe to do so; I’m strictly speaking in terms of our present circumstances.)

Basically, what I expect we’re likely to see until further notice is just a more creative application of using, well…applications, hahah! And as someone whose production brand is literally build on digital media, let me tell you…it’s relieving to know how many resources people will still have to share/display things safely and virtually until we’re through this situation!

*I should note this is also not factoring in the current situation with that platform’s ability to operate in the US, but I’m just speaking in terms of its tangible impact thus far, hahah.

Find them both here:
  • The guests will appear as judges at Crunchyroll Hime’s Cosplay Cup.
    • It’s going to be a showcase of fandom creations judged by performance, construction, and innovation like no other.
  • Date/Time: Saturday, September 5 from 7:00-9:00 PM PT
  • Stage: Crunchyroll Stage

Vic

Editor / Writer / Producer For Drop the Spotlight