PENANG: Known as Yukeh Desu in the cosplay circles, this enthusiastic fan from Kuala Lumpur often takes on the roles of various female characters.
“I’m drawn to characters like Frieren from the anime ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ and others like Himeko and Kafka from Honkai Star Rail game,” said Yukeh.
Describing cosplay as an immersive experience, Yukeh explained that it extends beyond dressing up or playing make-believe. “It’s not just about putting on costumes and make-up. It’s about stepping into the character’s shoes and living their story.
“You’ll often find cosplayers like me at anime events or cons, where we try to be just as impressive or captivating as our fellow enthusiasts. When we get together, we exchange the latest news about the scene and connect with similar-minded people who share our love for cosplay.”
“Cosplay is for everyone, young and old. Many cosplayers are older and more experienced than I am, and they are more skilful too.”
To achieve the desired look, Yukeh tries to be as detailed as possible in emulating her character. “I dedicate more time to perfecting my makeup than the actual dressing up. It usually takes me around one to two hours after prepping my face with skincare. Once I am done, I usually take photographs for personal keepsakes and post them online on my Instagram and Facebook accounts.
“Cosplay costumes can also be quite costly, but I still invest in them. The pandemic prevented me from my cosplay activities, but once it ended, I went on a ‘cosplay revenge’ spree – spending more than usual on costumes of my favourite characters that I’ve postponed due to the pandemic restrictions.
“I sometimes tailor-make my costumes or buy them online from Shopee or Taobao. As for the props, some are handcrafted, while others are commissioned from skilled prop makers,” said Yukeh, who turns 28 this year.
“Cosplay is not limited to Japanese or Chinese characters, there are cosplayers who portray characters from DC or Marvel comics too.
“I was introduced to anime at the age of five, and Sailor Moon was my very first anime. She was very popular back then. As I grew older, I also began my collection of manga comics,” recalled Yukeh fondly as she reminisced about her younger days and her initial encounter with anime and manga.
