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Character Designer Mel Kishida Creates Art for World Cosplay Summit 2018
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
This year's giant World Cosplay Summit (WCS) event is heading to Nagoya from July 28 to August 5 and popular character designer and part-time "cosplayer" Mel Kishida is drawing brand new artwork for the event.
Kishida's character, who is still unnamed, is the fifth to be created for the cosplay event. Mascot characters already include Yuni, Ras, Glora, and Barry. Kishida's new character is supposed to have a "southern country" appearance to represent South Africa, one of two countries joining WCS for the first time.
Kishida will also join in the festivities at the Sunshine Sakae shopping mall's Grand Canyon Square where he will award prizes.
WCS is a cosplay festival that first kicked off in 2003. Cosplayers from around the world represent their country in the event to decide the world's best cosplay. This year's championship will be held on August 5, with South Africa, Costa Rica and Bulgaria joining for the first time. Representatives from 38 countries and regions will compete this year for the largest WCS event ever.
Last year's winner was China's Tian Tian and Xue Yan Xue as Blood: The Last Vampire's Saya and the chiropteran. It was China's first Grand Prix win ever.
In second place was Mexico's Al Squall and Doritaa as Trigun's Vash the Stampede and Knives Millions. Mexico took first place in 2015. Japan's Mahio and Mariko took third place last year as the Medicine seller from Mononoke.
This year's North American representatives include Canada's Mathi and CelticSakura and Mexico's Banana Ed and Banana Luis. The finals for the U.S. representatives will take place at Anime Expo in July.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web via Otakomu
