Allow Me to Introduce You to Angel Riku!
Hello guys! What would Lifted Geek be without cosplay? With that I wanted to introduce you to one of the most amazing people I have met since I started streaming! I met Angel Riku when she was live streaming some Monster Hunter Rise, I dug her vibe and built a friendship with her. After hanging out in her chat, getting to know her, and doing a collaboration stream with her… I invited her to join my little crew of Twitch streamers, Team Sapphire Stardust. So for our newest Sapphire and the lady I have dubbed my Twitch little sister, let’s take some time to get to know Angel Riku.
photo credits: Mr Riku (jruigabi)
Justin Prince: So what year did you get into cosplay? Was there a specific reason you started cosplaying in the first place?
Angel Riku: I first started cosplaying in 2010 with a group of good friends who wanted to try cosplaying together but took cosplaying seriously in 2016 when I first joined a Love Live! Dance group! By seriously, this meant committing to wigs, make-up and performing! The main reason I started cosplaying was to share my love for anime and games with good friends and to meet people of similar interests. As a millennial I found it was really hard to find friends who enjoyed anime and games like I did. I feel like our generation is a little coy when it comes to expressing geeky hobbies. But it is thanks to the friends I’ve made who gave me the courage to cosplay in the first place! I thank them for giving me that push!
J: Do you generally like to cosplay as characters with similar personalities to yours? Or do you prefer to take on a wide range of them?
A: When I was first cosplaying, I would try and cosplay only characters I could relate to but as the years went by, I’ve learned that cosplaying characters who are totally opposite who I am is a lot of fun! Especially villain characters! When cosplaying at a convention, when someone recognizes your character and you are able to deliver their persona, it brings me so much joy to see that person enjoy the performance. Plus when cosplaying characters during photoshoots, you learn different ways to pose and express with your face! I encourage new cosplayers and friends to always try characters out of their comfort zone because you never know what you’re capable of!
J: Do you remember what your first cosplay was? How does it compare to the latest cosplay you wore?
A: My first ever cosplay with a wig was Rin from Idolmaster Cinderella Girls. I was very afraid at the time to experiment with makeup and try bright colored wigs. One of the more recent cosplays I’ve done is Hinoa from Monster Hunter Rise and although her hair is very similar to my own, I would have to say that after cosplaying for so many years I am so happy with my makeup and wig styling skills. As well as my ability to channel my posing and facial expression during photoshoots to match the character! It comes with a lot of patience and time and practice. I’ve had a lot of cosplay looks I look back on and laugh at to be perfectly honest. But its part of the process!
photo credits: Mr Riku (jruigabi)
J: As far as conventions are concerned, what are some of your favorite events? Which con are you planning to go to next?
A: Of course my local anime convention Animethon has always been my favorite. I have so many cherished memories throughout the years when it comes to performing on a big stage at the event. This includes winning the idol festival with my former group Aiqours and being able to perform at the grand stage with my former group Deja Brew during the closing ceremonies of the convention! Funny enough, Animethon where I had my first photoshoot as well! There is always such a welcoming and friendly environment each year I go. I’ve met so many talented and kind people through Animethon. Edmonton Expo is also a personal favorite. I will never forget the time I dressed as Spider Gwen and a few young girls asked for pictures and asked about my costume! Knowing that I can be a role model through cosplaying is so inspiring!
J: Is there a character you would love to cosplay as but haven't yet?
A: A character I am hoping to soon cosplay is Wicked Lady (Dark ChibiUsa) from Sailor Moon! Sailor Moon has made a big impact with my love for anime and the magical girl genre. I’m all about female empowerment and Sailor Moon encompasses female empowerment so well especially during its time. I’ve had the chance to cosplay Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter but I want to spice things up by cosplaying a villain from the series this time!
J: Is there a specific reason you haven't?
A: I’m waiting for the perfect opportunity to shoot this specific cosplay. Meaning, I would love to find the right theme and setting for shooting this cosplay. There is so much to consider with shooting a cosplay such as whether a studio’s set will match the character. I feel magical girl characters are a little bit tricky because I always imagine bright colors, airy fabrics and glitter! Sadly, many local studios have closed down after the pandemic making the search a lot harder.
J: I know your partner cosplays with you regularly, tell me a little about him and how you guys met. Was he cosplaying before he met you?
A: John is a wonderful supporter when it comes to my cosplay endeavors. Actually he cosplayed before I did! He even would spray paint his hair orange and made a huge buster sword to cosplay Ichigo from “Bleach” one Halloween when we were kids! John is a childhood friend who I’ve known since elementary. He would bug and tease me lots when we were younger and it wasn’t until I was in my first year of Nursing school that he asked me out to see the Harry Potter exhibit that was happening in our city. When I told him I wanted to join a Love Live dance group, he never batted an eye and told me to go for it! In fact, he was there cheering us on during many of our performances and would help us out with dance practices from time to time since he has experience with dancing with a traditional dance group.
Angel & Mister Riku… the Rikus
photo credits: Billybookcase
J: How does it feel to have a partner that cosplays with you?
A: Its amazing! I couldn’t ask for anything more. From the moment we share ideas to each other to executing our costumes and props, I enjoy each second of the process with him. John specializes in DIY’ing props with EVA foam and spray paint. He’s come such a long way in terms of making props and watching his growth inspires me to be better with makeup, wig styling, and performing where I’d say I focus on mainly with my cosplays. It also gives me pleasure to do his makeup for him when he cosplays and to see his smile widen when I finish styling a wig for him. Its a lovely give and take relationship where we strive to see our partner shine on convention day!
“It brings me joy to encourage people to try cosplaying if they ever consider trying it!”
J: Back to you, what are your future cosplay plans?
A: As I get older, I’m noticing Im itching to cosplay more characters that give me a nostalgia factor than anything! I have plans to cosplay Ichigo & Minto from Tokyo Mew Mew and Orihime from Bleach! I also plan to cosplay Lucy from Cyberpunk and Wednesday from Netflix’s newest adaptation of Adam’s Family.
photo credits: Mr Riku (jruigabi)
J: On to streaming, how have you been able to integrate your love of cosplay into streaming?
A: Cosplaying characters from games I play on stream and people recognizing the character is the greatest feeling! Especially if someone on stream is also a big fan of the character! To be able to relate to characters, note their loveable charms and to look up to characters and being able to share that with other people creates connections through stream. Its so energizing to bounce ideas off of other people in stream when it comes to DIY cosplays such as talking about 3D printing, air brushing and sewing! Through streaming, I’ve met so many creative and talented people!
J: Tell us a bit about your community, what has streaming meant to you since you started? Are you aspiring to aim for Partner?
A: I started streaming in August of 2022 and since then, I have met so many welcoming, generous, funny, hardworking and kind people. I am also a full time nurse and often times, forget the main reason why I signed up for the job to begin with because of all the demands and the burn out. But through streaming, I am reminded how beautiful it is to make connections with other human beings and be able to share with other people the joys of gaming, anime and cosplay. I was honestly so scared to start streaming to begin with. Scared that people would judge me for my loud, hyper and quirky personality or for my “odd ball” hobbies. But through streaming, there are people just like me who like to keep it fun and energetic. People who are genuinely interested in anime and cosplaying! There are people just like me joining the stream! In all honesty, I am having so much fun streaming already that I am happy with where the stream is currently! If I can meet more like-minded people, thats great! Partner hasn’t really been on my mind. It is a big endeavor but honestly just having fun with the streaming experience as best as I can!
J: Finally, for anyone who is either new to or yet to start cosplay, do you have any advice for them?
A: It brings me joy to encourage people to try cosplaying if they ever consider trying it! I tell this all the time to people that join in to my stream and ask about cosplaying. Anyone can do it and you don’t have to spend a fortune to do it either! DIY cosplays are always a lot of fun and its rewarding to see the full look come together! I recently put together a Cult of the Lamb cosplay look together for one of my streams, using items I already had in my closet, didn’t spend a dollar on it and it came together so nicely! And if it’s the nerves of cosplaying by yourself, I tell people to try cosplaying with friends and family! The relationships I’ve made through cosplaying are those I cherish dearly today. I still keep in touch with friends from cosplay groups I’ve been in from years ago! Its so much fun to plan with friends and show off your costumes convention day! And to look back on those memories years after, is all worth the while.
photo credits: Mr Riku (jruigabi)
Thank you guys for taking the time to get to know Angel Riku better! I hope you will check out her out on Instagram and definitely check her out when she goes live on Twitch! I collaborate with her frequently and I know you guys will be as captivated by her personality as myself and the rest of the Sapphires are!
