Cosplayer Feature: The Twitchy Kitten

The Twitchy Kitten is a U.S. cosplayer with a love for all things tokusatsu.

What got you interested in cosplay?

I don’t know if I have an answer for this one! 

I remember making clothes for my dolls and little props for them when I was really little.  Halloween was also always my favorite holiday and I loved dressing up for random family events.  I think it took going to Gen Con in high school and seeing people in amazing costumes that gave me the idea to start making my own. 

The first cosplay I ever made was in 2003, it was Sailor Saturn and I wore it to Anime Central.  Ever since then, I’ve just enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how to construct my costumes (Am I lucky enough to find a pattern I can modify?  Do I need to drape it and create it from scratch?  The agony of hand painting/stenciling patterns on fabric.) and the best process for creating the props that I’m going to need.  I’ve recently discovered that magnets can be a godsend with a variety of applications.

When and how did you discover tokusatsu?

Aside from the original Godzilla and other kaiju movies?  Probably Sailor Moon, the anime first and then the live action show.  I stumbled across Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon on the internet in high school after I was already pretty hooked on the anime and manga. 

I got into Super Sentai a few years ago when my best friend made me watch Kyoryuger.  I had no idea that samba dancing dinosaurs would be so fun! Kamen Rider Gaim was the next series I started and ever since then, I’ve been trying to keep up with both old and new series whenever I have time. 

Confession time: I had actually never watched Power Rangers until 3 years ago, I started with SPD since I had just finished Dekaranger and quickly followed it up with RPM because some friends were putting together a cosplay group and I wanted to join them.

If you could cosplay any character, who would it be?

I’d love to cosplay a full suit Kamen Rider Bravo from Kamen Rider Gaim.  His suit is so flashy and spiky and shiny and I just love it.  I have a little shelf dedicated to what little merchandise was released for him. 

What is your favorite tokusatsu series and why?

I think for me, it would have to be Kyoryuger.  It was my first, and like The Doctor and Starfleet captains, you never forget your first.  Daigo made a good leader, he never came off as arrogant or cocky, which can be a problem with a lot of Reds.  I really liked that he admitted to his mistakes and let his team know when he wasn’t sure of a plan.  There was something so heartwarming about that team that I haven’t really found duplicated yet, although Kamen Rider Gaim and Dekaranger are closely tied for second place. 

What’s the funniest experience you’ve had while cosplaying?

I’ve been really lucky to have a lot of unique experiences while cosplaying.  Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data) wolf whistled me once.  John Barrowman asked to hold my banana for our photo op.  Most recently, while wearing Kaiju Gils Eleking, I kept bopping people with my tail/spear by accident.  I had no sense of it in space because it really is the biggest prop I’ve made so far and it’s almost as tall as I am.

What advice would you give to yourself when you first started?

Keep making costumes even though your current friends are teasing you about it.  You’ll make new friends who will not only encourage you, they’ll cosplay with you and you will get to travel the world with them.

Where can we find your work?

You can find me on Facebook and Instagram!