CosBlog # 73: Warrior of Light by Epi-Corner

Epi-Corner’s Epic Warrior of Light costume shows how a little can go a long way. Primarily constructed out of craft foam in a two-month marathon of little sleep, the final photos look like the game came to life. Check them out for yourself below!

Who: The Character
The character is Warrior of Light from Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. This is the default outfit.

Why: The Decision
Funny story about deciding to cosplay this character. At first, I wanted to cosplay The Emperor, but I wasn’t able to find suitable materials in time so I opted to do Warrior of Light for a Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy team project. I like Warrior of Light, I think he is very dashing.

What: The Process
This costume took about a two month marathon with lack of sleep, so I was sleepy during the photoshoot.

The base material for his armor is craft foam. To make it rigid I put wire in it. The most difficult thing was to make the shapes, specially the body’s shape. I don’t have that kind of body, so I had to make the shape of armor as close as possible to the original.
I worked on the helmet and collar second, and unfortunately I miscalculated them. After the base of helmet and collar was finished, I tried to fitting it with body armor. The result was that I can’t turn to the left and right because the helmet is too long and the collar is too narrow. I had to start all over again.

It was also important for me to properly proportion the overall costume. I didn’t want to look thinner or fatter than the original design.

I completed the costume with the help of my partner Oruntia (Nina Gyaboo). The two large horns on the helmet, waist bag, and the trinkets were done by her. She also helped to complete my shoes.

I also had help from Oruntia and Wawan on the finishing. All the finishing was done manually, not using airbrush. Not because I don’t like it, it’s just because I don’t have it. Hahaha… silly reason, but airbrush and its components are expensive.
I used transparent timber paint for the base. I used three to five layers, depending on the outcome, whether it was sufficient to close the pores of craft foam or not.

For the paint I use automotive lacquer, three to five layers too. It’s more expensive than other paint, but the result is different. It’s remarkable.

Where and When: The Debut
The debut was September 2011 for the Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy team photoshoot. It was my friend helped us look for the location. We wanted a large field, no trees. We just want it to be like in the opening of the game.

The photoshoot was taken at the afternoon until sunset. The color was very beautiful. I forgot something at the time of photoshoot – the waist bag that made by Oruntia was left at home, so I didn’t wear it!

Links: The Cosplayer
DeviantArt: www.epi-corner.deviantart.com
Cure: en.curecos.com/profile/?ch=127545
Cosplay.com: www.cosplay.com/member/118259/
AC Paradise: www.acparadise.com/acp/display.php?a=71823

Lots of thanks to:
God, permit me finishing this costume. I was almost desperate because something happened to at the time working on this costume.

Cosplayers:
Oruntia (Nina Gyaboo) as Terra Branford: www.oruntia.deviantart.com
Nani as Onion Knight: www.masquerade16.deviantart.com
Ricky as Kefka: www.reikagami.deviantart.com
Ki ky as Sephiroth
Singgih Hendrojati as Cosmos
Jacquelin Fernandez as Yuna

The Gallery
Photography by Antonius Van Den Brink: www.hellsign.deviantart.com, Johan Ratuwongo, Sofian Coessoy, and Iskandar Tong

Miss the past few CosBlogs? Check out the CosBlog Hub for a full archive of past costumes.