Cosplay Superstar Interview: Phoenix Kasai

Robot Punch! has returned for another cosplay superstar interview!

It’s with great pride that I introduce cosplay up-and-comer, Phoenix Kasai. PK is fairly new to the cosplay scene, but has already built up popularity with her widely-shared photos as Street Fighter’s new challenger, Crimson Viper.


Phoenix Kasai has a history in theater, so creating costumes and assuming the roles of characters comes naturally. While fresh in the world of anime, she’s an experienced gamer and genuine geek. Here’s what she had to share with us…

What’s the origin to your cosplay nom de plum, “Phoenix Kasai”?

Well Phoenix has always been my game handle name but it’s ALWAYS taken, so I decided to improvise and pull out ye old’ Japanese dictionary and come up with words for “flame”, “inferno”, “blaze”, etc.

While going through the lists I found “kasai” and really liked the sound of it, so it stuck ever since. Most of the time I’ll just go by Phoenix instead of the full name

How did you enter the otaku fandom? Were there any particular games or anime that got you hooked?

Actually, I’m pretty new to all of this. It started about 5 years ago when I was introduced to anime by my (now) husband. At first I was outside the whole gaming and otaku worlds but he simply told me he could get me hooked if I told him what I liked in movies. I told him female leads, lots of action, sci-fi and I like very very intelligent story lines.

He introduced me to Ghost in the Shell and since then I’ve thrown myself head first into this world.. and I absolutely love it!! Also, we both ended up working with Adult Swim so that certainly helped add another layer to my fandom.

Adult Swim? That’s awesome! Can you tell me what you two do for them?

Well, we don’t actually work for them anymore Unfortunatly they ended the program after about 3 years.

During college we used to work for their Adult Swim College Representative program which basically was a marketing campaign to increase viewership across 50 university campuses. So in total there were 100 students chosen (2 from each university) for the program. We were given explanation on what kinds of events they would want, receive a giant box of swag, and given authority to come up with a event around the show/item they were promoting.

We would have a couple events per semester and they even flew us to Atlanta to meet the creators. Oh it was such a blast!!

It sure sounds like an exciting gig! Did you watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex while it was on Adult Swim? What drew you to that show and what others have you discovered for yourself since?

Yeah, I watched it while it was on AS, but by that time I had already seen most of the series. Probably the action, cyberization, and the fact that I would have to watch each episode at least 2 times to catch most of the dialogue/plot is what caught my attention.

Usually with series I can see what is going to happen by the end of the episode, but with GitS it was always so hard to guess how it was going to turn. While the entire GitS series is my favorite, I also love Evangelion, Hellsing, Cowboy Bebop, Mushi shi, xxxHolic, Gurren Laagan, and Black Lagoon. But I’m sure there are MANY others I’ve left out.

The rule in our home is if there is a female character that could kick your ass, I will probably love her and want to cosplay as her.

Shows with chicks that kick ass, big guns, and giant robots… It’s what Robot Punch! is all about! GitS is a great show full of cyberpunk action.

I’ve always been into cybernetics and more of the cyber side of sci-fi in general. Where it originally came from I’m not exactly sure, but I remember when I was little thinking my dad looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger from the Terminator movies and grew up loving those movies. Maybe that’s were it partially came from? I probably saw the movies and thought, “Hey, Dad looks like a giant machine! Giant machines are cool! I wanna be one too!”

But for the record, while I would love to be placed into a cyber body one day… I’m just pretty sure the technology won’t catch up by that time… *LOL* While GitS is always the first series that comes to mind regarding cybernetics (simply because its my fav), I also love series like Battlestar Galatica. Because would it be great to be Caprica? Or Athena? Actually my favorite is still Starbuck.

But speaking of GitS, I’m pretty nervous about the live action being picked up. I mean at least Akira got picked up by Leonardo Dicaprio’s company, and from what I understand he is an anime fan so hopefully it will stay true to the story. But GitS got picked up by Speilberg, so I’m still nervous. I feel like its going to be a mix of Blade Runner and iRobot… Hence my apprehension.

Now, since you’ve sported costumes for yourself of characters like C. Viper, Mirror Edge’s Faith, and Lady from Devil May Cry 4, is it also safe to assume you’re a gamer girl?

Oh you bet I am! And it just seems lately there have been a good amount of games come out that have at least one character I would love to cosplay. And game chicks always seem to have fantastic costumes to boot! I mean they should.. your going to run around with that character they have to make them hot, right?

No argument here! How long have you been a gamer and what games are your personal favs?

Well, I started with games before anime; I know that much. But when exactly I’m not 100% sure. (I’d say…7+ years?) I love fighting games like Soul Calibur, Street Fighter, Blaz Blu, and Guilty Gear. But I’m probably better at others like Legend of Zelda and Prince of Persia.

Through you adventures in otaku fandom, how did you find yourself on the path to cosplay?

I was actually in theatre for a good part of my life growing up, so I’m naturally drawn to “performing” in front of people. I’m sure that has something to do with it. When I went to my first convention about 4 years ago I noticed everyone in costume and was a little interested.

But then I noticed a couple girls in the EVA plugsuits and how good they looked, and then girls in Darkstalkers cosplay and I was hooked! All I knew at the time was that it seemed like a very unique outlet for creativity and with how accepting the cosplay community is I immediately felt welcomed.

What do you find more satisfying: The creative process that goes into the costumes or wearing them and assuming the roles?

Up to the moment of first putting on the costume I would say its all about the creative process, but once I have the costume on its ALL about assuming the role. When I put the costume on and look in the mirror if I don’t get a slight shiver down my spine or butterflies then I don’t know if I’ll be able to go out and assume the characters role 100%.

But having those few moments to look at yourself in the hotel mirror before going to the convention and literally leaving yourself in that room is by far the best part to me.

Sounds spiritual! Almost like you’re the host that gives the character’s soul physical form.

Oh I don’t mean for it to come out like that… But, yes! That’s a very good description of it!

I learned the hard way in theatre that if I don’t leave myself in a room (or wherever) when assuming a role then part of myself will come with me and I’ll be that nervous, slightly shy girl and I won’t do the character justice. It definitely is a outlet for me to be something else once in a while.

Are there any cosplayers that you admire or give you inspiration? Have you been able to meet any and who would you like to meet?

Oh there are so many cosplayers I admire! I would say Omi Gibson, Yaya Han, and Hezachan in particular. I also love Kukki-san and Cora, but I know I’m forgetting so many others out there!

I have gotten to meet Yaya Han a couple of times. I met her the first time dressed as Lady from Devil May Cry 4 and then the second as C. Viper. I think I had this look of shock and giddy school girl on my face at the same time.

She’d invited me to join her in Atlanta to do a Street Fighter photoshoot with her at Dragon*Con, but unfortunately I won’t be able to make it! I’m still so sad about that! It was such an honor!

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