Swiss Civil Servant Creates Magical Worlds Through Cosplay to Escape Reality

Central News Agency, Zurich, May 31. The Basel Anime Convention in Switzerland is one of the largest anime conventions in the world, attracting professional players from across the globe, with attendance numbers hitting new highs every year. Phil, a participant in the Swiss Cosplay Contest who caught the attention of the organizers this year, shared his joy in creating magical worlds and recharging his spirit in an interview with the Central News Agency. The Basel Anime Convention was held in the middle of this month, with 850 booths attracting over 103,000 participants, a new record. Beyond the competition, cosplayers gather to observe and support each other, fulfilling a sense of self-achievement. Phil is a civil servant in the Canton of Zurich. He laughs that his image in the office is a 'typical nerd.' However, once he puts on his costume and attends the convention, it's like stepping into another magical world. For him, it's a space where people are friendly, not easily critical, and encouraged to express themselves. This year, he challenged himself with the character Ornstein the Dragonslayer from the video game 'Dark Souls.' He admitted it was his first time actively signing up for a competition. He originally signed up for the newcomer category, but the organizers, after seeing his materials and photos, upgraded him to the professional 'Swiss Cosplay Contest.' Phil was surprised, as he had no formal competition experience. The competition had thousands of spectators, and participants had to perform on stage in 45 seconds to the game's music. The costume cost about 400 Swiss Francs (approx. 16,000 NTD), relatively cheap compared to his other collections. However, the real cost was time and effort. He spent about six months and 360 hours making the costume, designing the modules from scratch. He locked himself in his studio, playing soft music, and focused on handcrafting. He admitted that the state of being completely absorbed was the most healing and satisfying part. Since the competition, he has learned unexpected practical skills, such as sewing. Phil suggests that if anyone is interested in cosplay, they should just try it. He says the ranking doesn't matter; participation is what counts. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150531