A regular at Blizzcon, PAX and Anime Expo, Christina Sims is no stranger to the cosplay world. But despite her creative and detailed cosplaying, what is it about the characters she emulates that she loves so much? It’s not an easy task bring Diablo or WoW characters to life in costume, but Christina has made a (literal) art of it, how does she do it?
You’ve probably seen Christina, a.k.a. Zerina Cosplay, donning some amazing costumes at various conventions, but what is it about those characters that she loves so much? How does she bring them to life?
We asked her exactly that and more:
JHS: What is your main passion as a cosplayer?
As a cosplayer, I mainly enjoy the creative aspect of the hobby. Being able to sit down and learn something new or work with a new material is always exciting. With each costume I do, I try to incorporate a new technique or try a different assembly method just so I’m making sure I continue to enhance my artistic ability and create something even better down the line. Watching something come to life that you’ve built with your own hands is incredibly satisfying. Unlike crafting a piece of furniture or toiling over a painting, the creative aspect of cosplay allows you to wear it, transport it and share it easily with others. It is just another form of artistic expression, even if you are taking an existing design and interpreting it into life.
- Do you have a favorite character to cosplay?
My favorite character I have cosplayed so far has to be the Diablo 3 Monk I created for Blizzcon 2010. I am an avid fan of marital arts films and a practitioner of Taekwondo, so actually cosplaying a monk seemed like it would be right up my alley. The initial design of the female monk really caught my eye.
The colors of the robes were similar to the colors of the robes Buddhist monks wear, the design looked comfortable but imposing, and I really felt that the art captured the feel of what a proud female warrior would look like. That costume has survived multiple wears, cross country trips, airport baggage handlers, rolling around in sand dunes … you name it. Not only has it been my favorite costume, it has also lived through so much use and abuse. I loved portraying that character so much that I went through a rather dramatic change of hairstyle as kind of an homage to the concept art the costume was based off of.
- Who’d be your dream character?

My dream costume would have to be Azshara’s twisted naga form from World of Warcraft. In the lore, she is described as having the lower body of an octopus as opposed to having the lower body of a snake or serpent. Her hair is said to be a writhing mass of snakes, like a medusa. Yet even in her monstrous form, she clings to her vain, self-absorbed ways by garbing herself in gaudy baubles and clothing. Blingy octopus lady? Yes, please! Maybe someday.
- What is your favorite convention/venue to attend? Where can people usually “find you.”
I visit Blizzcon every year and have cosplayed there since 2008. PAX Prime and PAX East are both fantastic shows, and I am usually there with my employer, Cryptozoic Entertainment. Gen Con is also a fun convention. The D&D and Pathfinder games go all night, as far as the eye can see. It’s really a nerd heaven, and I love it.
This year I am portraying the character Vanessa VanCleef at Cryptozoic’s Darkmoon Faire events that happen all across the United States, so I can be found at all of those as well. My next costume I am currently working on is Leona from the game League of Legends in her Iron Solari skin. I will be wearing Leona for the first time this year at Anime Expo 2012 alongside a large League of Legends cosplay group.
- Are there any characters in gaming/anime you feel are consistently overlooked?
It’s surprising to see what comes out of the woodwork when you least expect it. The popular video games (Final Fantasy franchise, for example) always gets a lot of cosplay interest, epecially as the designs become more and more intricate, but I hold a special place in my heart for the old school and the obscure.
While not an anime or video game, I saw the character “Evil Betty” from the movie “Kung Pow” being cosplayed at Anime LA this year and it was absolutely amazing. Kung Pow is one of my favorite movies of all time, I think I’ve watched it like 30 times, but so many people either hate it or have never heard of it. This guy really nailed it, but I was too embarrassed to ask for a picture. I’m also a huge fan of Parappa the Rapper and UmJammer Lammy. I try to collect as many pictures of cosplayers from those games as possible.
If you would like any costume advice or have any questions, please follow my Facebook page. I cosplay for fun and I am no professional, but I am happy to share my experiences with the various materials I have worked with over the years.
Paul Nyhart – who has written 881 posts on The Jace Hall Show.
Paul Nyhart has been the Head Editor and Writer of JaceHallShow.com since Season 3. He began his career as a sports announcer, segueing into the world of voice-over and film production. Send all tips to Paul@HDfilms.com

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