Folken Fanel
Folken is the main head villain in the anime Escaflowne [well, he's main after Dornkirk,
but Dornkirk just says what to do, Folken actually carries out the deeds]. Anyway, he's
really awesome, and probably one of the deepest and most loved villains you'll find in all
of anime. He's very cool and calculating, but compassionate too, and believes he's doing
things for the best. He lost his right arm to a dragon when he was 15 in an attempt to become
king, and instead of dying the evil Zaibach Empire took him in and gave him a cybernetic arm
and a new life. Blahblah. I did this costume with the promise that two of my best friends
would be doing the two delicious catgirls that worship Folken at Fanimecon '01. Unfortunately
only on had their costume done on time -- but there's always AX. XD
Fanimecon 2001:
Anime Expo 2001:
Ani-Magic 2001:
Folken was really a lot of fun to make and wear. I have to say, I think it's my
most impressive costume. People see me walk by with the cape down all serious and go:
"Oooh, Folken!", then I turn and throw back the cape and reveal my arm and they all gasp
and go: "WHOA! AWESOME!" or something. Then I'd get a very big, dorky non-Folken-like grin.
Anyway. I made the cape myself, with a butterick 3084 pattern from JoAnns and the collar
I improvised myself . . . It took 10 yards of fabric for EACH layer. @_@ Needless to say,
it took me longer to pin and cut out the fabric than to sew anything. But, that's what you
get for a 6 foot long cape. @_@ I should sell these things on eBay! XD Uuh, lets see,
the arm, which is what impressed most people, was created by me and Blair Heald, who
most people would know from his Giant Robo and Mirage Knights cosplay. That's why it looks
so darned cool. He's really a whizz with that sort of mechanical things. He helped me
piece it all out and I did most of the construction work and all of the painting and such
later. And, like most of his costumes, it was mostly made from various cheap toys and trash.
He's a god. ^_^; We also stalked out the earrings and beads for the ends of the cape collar
together. All hail his bead store. XD As for the boysuit and skit I must give credit to
the creat Chole Bradga, who I commissioned to make them for me. With just a little bit of
extra money we got the costume made from lined Vinyl and gold fabric. It's really awesome,
and fits great [which is a plus since she lives in Flordia and we've never met ^_^;].
Uuuh, other thing . . . the boots are a pair of 4" platforms I got from Hottopic [thanks to
Macks suggestion], and I bought especially for this costume. The pants were just black
jeans. The Wig!!! Oh! Chole threw the wig in with the costume. It'was a cheapy little
wig in a China Doll style cut [which is, uuuh, a chin-length inside flip?] Anywaaaay, it
took much and much hair spraying, pins, wrapped clothes and hotglue to make it remotely
look like it does. Which still isn't quite Folken like, but it's at least recognizable
and as long as you don't touch/smell it it looks good. ^^ The eye/tear tattoos were drawn
by my lover Jey with a purple marker. Wheee!
Hopefully for AX we'll have both Nariya and Eriya and Dilandau ready. If anyone wants to
do Zonyi, Jajuka, Dragon Slayers or other bad guys with us, please feel free to let me know!
I'm sure we'll find a Van/Merle/Hitomi at AX, so . . . I'm not recruting. ^_^ Hope you
enjoy the costume!
More pictures to be added later. If you have any pictures of me in this costume,
please send them to me! Thanks!!!!!
Back to the Main Page
