Underneath the yellow-rose-covered hat topped with two large white feathers, Jessika Cooney is a shy 18-year-old who plays the flute and watches anime with her identical twin sister, Sara.
Jessika, a UF psychology freshman, was dressed as Doll from the manga “Black Butler.” Wearing a short highlighter-orange wig, Sara was Princess Tutu, from the anime of that name.
The twins partcipated in SwampCon, a two-day, on-campus gathering of anime, video game and tabletop game fans who take on new personas as a way to detach from reality with thousands of their peers.
“You’re able to be yourself without fear,” said Derek Delago, the SwampCon main event coordinator. “It’s an escape.”
On Saturday and Sunday, more than 3,000 people from around Florida gathered for SwampCon’s sixth year and the first convention held in the newly renovated Reitz Union. The event, hosted by Gator Anime, engulfed the entire building and included a rave, drag show, costume contest and live-action role-playing battles, he said.
Delago, 22, wore a spiked silver wig and black jumpsuit, representing Guzma, the villain from the “Pokemon Sun” and “Pokemon Moon” video games. Even though Delago graduated from UF in Fall, he said he helped coordinate the convention as he applied to graduate schools.
“I love this stuff, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said.
To put on the convention, which cost more than $7,000, about 80 staff members and volunteers worked more than five months in advance, Delago said.
In addition to fundraising, money was supplied through allocations from UF’s Student Activities and Involvement and Student Government. The event was free to the public, he said.
While some bought costumes, other participants created their outfits from scratch.
Lacey, who asked that her last name not be used, stayed up until 4 a.m. Sunday putting the final touches on her Saber Alter costume, a servant character from the anime “Fate/stay night.” While wearing a black, armored dress, she carried a sword with a glowing-red design.
As a graphic designer, Lacey, said she uses cosplay for a creative outlet and a break from her day-to-day life.
“We’re all fairly normal people,” she said.
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Lacey, who asked that her last name not be used, poses for a portrait on Sunday. Lacey dressed as Saber Alter, a character from the anime “Fate/stay night.”
