Character: Mami Tomoe
Series: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Version: Puella Magi
Debut: Anime Fest 2011
Awards: Best in Class (Open) Hall Cosplay San Japan 2012
When I started watching Madoka I was not prepared. I marathoned the whole series in 2 days. It really is a fantastic series that turns the magical girl genre on its head. At first Mami was not my favorite, I really felt for Homura and I liked Kyoko’s back story. What I did like the most about Mami was her design, a cute skirt, thigh high socks with cowgirl boots and a little pillbox hat with a plume? Yes Please! After devoting so much time to bringing her to life through cosplay she has become my favorite. She’s such a sweet character.
I based many of my color selections on the concept art over the anime because the darker tones look better on my skin. The corset is 4 layers and fastens with a zipper in the front. It is boned with industrial cable ties (which are stronger than regular plastic boning, but less strong then steel). Since I didn’t need the corset to reduce, just have structure the plastic was perfect. The skirt is a circle pattern I drafted myself, as well as the arm warmers and hat. The blouse is an altered commercial pattern.
The rifle is made of craft foam and PVC. I built the rifle shape, leaving one side exposed and filled it with expanding foam. The foam was then cut down and the box was topped. The design work is a separate piece of foam. The whole rifle was coated in wood glue and mod podge and then painted.
For the wig I started with an Arda “Leia” style. The twin tails were wrapped around a cone (covered in parchment so the hair wouldn’t stick) and held together with copious amounts of hair glue…like 2 tubes worth. After they had dried I used clear thread to hold them into the proper shape. Then I fixed any areas that needed it with freeze spray. After the tails were done I cut the bangs in using a razor.
Photos: Isidro Urena , A.L.P. Photography, Fallingfeathers, Mike Boike, Stacey