I would like get feedback from the most important people out there: You! The Ace Attourney Fans!

I wanted to challenge myself as a costume desighner by creating a mascot costume. [something I have never done before]
And thus, the idea of Mascot Phoenix was born!

Before I start making the outfit, I was just wondering if the idea of making Phoenix into a mascot is a good idea or not. And what is your advice/reactions/ideas/etc about the costume?

I am aiming for the outfit to be like most mascots; large head, eyes, mouth, hands and feet.
To give you an idea of what it will look like: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/lo ... hoenix.png

I can't decide what fabric to use. Should I use something soft like towel material? I need to make sure I don't overheat. I forgot to mention that I will be seeing through the open mouth. I need some type of material that is semi transparent. Any ideas?

Also, I am formulating a sound system so that I will be able to play the PW soundtracks and even yell objection like Phoenix at the con. I'm guessing I should base it around an mp3 player because it's small, right?

Anyways.... Thanks to everyone for taking time to read this.
As always, your opinions & ideas are really appreciated!

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Last edited by djsequence on Wed Aug 29, 2007 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Nice. Go try some more!

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that would be awesome indeed
everyone loves mascots
when you start making the actual costume, take photos, that way it would be easier for people to give advice

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I really want to see you do this. Please don't let this project die.

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Hey there, DJ. :D I guess I found you here at last!

If you haven't decided already, most mascot suits that I've seen use two types of material: 1) Heavy, fuzzy, thick material such as faux fur, for fuzzy costumes, and also because the heavy fabric will hide the signs of stuffing... 2) stretchy fabric so as to accommodate the stuffing process and so that you can adjust the shape of the suit more easily.

I'd suggest going for 1), a thick material that will hide the signs of stuffing. This will take some better calculations, since it will not have room for give. At the same time, though, it should stay firm more easily, something you'll want for a human-like mascot.

Some challenges I can think of right now: 1) Getting the hair to stick out and stay propped up may require you to use some sort of support inside the head. The head itself should have a foam or wire center so as to be stable so you can fit your head in

2) Making everything Chibi proportions will be difficult (thicker legs, arms, etc)... and your pointing hand may get sore through the day, holding up the costume when pointing

3) As with any other mascot suit, it'll be hot; have cooling fans inside, possibly, or have someone at hand to assist you.

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For the mouth, I suggest using black chiffon fabric, similar to what fursuiters use on their head's eyes. I wear glasses, and yet I still find it easy to see out of. Considering you'll be looking out of a mouth, that gives you even more space for your eyes. You can usually find it for sale by the yard at Wal-Mart or fabric stores. Just make sure you don't stretch it out that much, as t gets a bit more see through (As in, people can easily see in when they're not supposed to.)

On the hair, an easy way to get the large points he has without them collapsing would be to use foam as a base. Such as, carving out a variety of cone shapes in foam, and covering them in the fabric. You could also try to individually sew together the hair, and stuff it before gluing it onto the main head.

As SilverWind mentioned, it does tend to get hot inside mascots, so installing a fan does help especially if you'll be in the suit for a long period of time. I myself don't know how to install a fan, but here are a few tutorials. They're meant for close fitting fur heads yet I still would expect them to work for a more chibi based mascot.

http://www.matrices.net/fans.asp
http://www.fursuit.org/wiki/doku.php?id=fursuit:cooling

With the rest of the mascot, just look around google for tutorials on how to make the hands come out with a chibi style, but not too large. I would try to help more on them, yet I mainly only know of techniques for fursuits. So I wouldn't know if they would necessarily work on a more human suit.

Anyways, I love the idea of a Phoenix Mascot suit. Good luck getting it done. :D

It seems I have alot of work ahead of me... Oh my...

@ SilverWind
I agree. Seeing a Mascot Phoenix of stretch fabric might be odd.... @_@
I think I might aim for the costume to have varying textures. One for the suit, another for the hair, and skin, etc...
I have been looking at a material called Arctic Fleece that is pretty neat, along with another called Plush. [not regular fleece]. Should I use long furr type fabric for the hair? I saw a fabric called Serpa which is short and kinda reminds me of Sheep texture which could be interesting as hair too. Originally I was looking for a towel-like texture for the suit. But I don't know.... *le sigh*
Overall, I want the costume's texture to be soft, like a plush toy. That way people will give me hugs <3

I figured out a way to keep the hair up. [I think...]
The head's center would have to be wire for this way to work. Seeing as foam can tear or deterriorate, which is really scary. I am going to attempt Dual layers of chicken wire [or Quad for structural integrity]. Phoenix's hair would be wire too, but it will be a combo of chicken wire and wire window screening. It will be easy to make ice cream cone type pieces out of it and attaching them [via bend and twist ends or soddering iron] This extra space would leave room for the fans. Then I cover the constructed wire with the fabric [Sherpa or Furr?], leaving slits at the bottom of the spikes' width for air to vent. ;D

Ah yes... Your second point is very observative. Thank you for pointing it out :)
Hmmm.... Must do more calculations...

Definatley fans! I'll die of dehydration without em. I've planned to have 2-6 fans in it. [2 at front either at eyes, or ears. And the others embedded in the hair spikes closest to my head.]

@ w00t
I am truely blessed to be helped by you w00t. Thanks so much for the links and pointers!
Hmm.... That foam hair idea could also work... *ponders*

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I'd suggest not having long fur type fabric for the hair; Phoenix's hair is pretty gelled/greased/however he gets it into his signature spikey look, so it shouldn't be any more fuzzy or furry than the rest of him. Plus, a generally fuzzy look would be kinda weird.

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