Genki Life Magazine 35 - Spring 2019
Interview with Troy Doerner of Cosplay Deviants Underrated Anime: BTOOOM! Eromanga-sensei Getting Out of Your Headspace with Mob Psycho 100 Video Game Judge Eyes Sales Suspended
Interview with Troy Doerner of Cosplay Deviants
Underrated Anime: BTOOOM!
Eromanga-sensei
Getting Out of Your Headspace with Mob Psycho 100
Video Game Judge Eyes Sales Suspended
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Photo by Ed Gomez<br />
I was very impressed with the models at the Cosplay Deviants panel at Animé Los Angeles for their stories about<br />
their career expenices. Left to right: Andromeda, Mira Shiver, Amy Fantasy, Shae Underscore, Foxy Cosplay, Dr<br />
Closet Cosplay and Usatame.<br />
Ed: Because of the nature of the<br />
business, where there any huge<br />
hurdles (legal, ethical, family, for<br />
example) that you and the company<br />
had to overcome?<br />
Troy: Early on the idea of sexy cosplay<br />
was still very taboo. We faced a lot of<br />
resistance in the community, some<br />
people going as far as to protest our<br />
appearance at conventions, and even<br />
“dox” myself and one of the other<br />
owners. Luckily my family is very<br />
supportive and proud of what I do<br />
and my success.<br />
Ed: In the recent years, Cosplay Deviants<br />
has diversified by providing<br />
other merchandise (books, calendars,<br />
etc.). How do you see Cosplay<br />
Deviants changing in the future?<br />
Troy: The community is constantly<br />
changing and we have always tired<br />
to meet or beat that curve. We have a<br />
few new projects that have been successful<br />
such as the Cosplay Deviants<br />
quarterly magazine, and the release<br />
of our acrylic figure sets. We have a<br />
few new projects coming out soon,<br />
but we can’t give too much away ;)<br />
<strong>Genki</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> • <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Ed: How do you you go about acquiring<br />
models. Do they contact you or<br />
vice versa?<br />
Troy: All models must go through the<br />
application process and be approved<br />
by a panel of staff. No one person,<br />
including myself has the power to<br />
give someone a modeling position.<br />
We do this to avoid the practice of<br />
recruiting. It’s been our stance from<br />
the beginning that when someone is<br />
ready to be a nude model they need<br />
to make that step for themselves, no<br />
one should be pressured or feel obligated<br />
to be apart of this industry.<br />
Ed: It appears that your models have a<br />
lot of freedom with what they submit.<br />
From what I’ve seen from samples<br />
at that were available for viewing at<br />
your convention booths, the photos<br />
are in good taste as compared to other<br />
providers. I hear people comparing<br />
your content as Playboy-like. Was<br />
this a stipulation for models who sign<br />
up or was this on their own accord?<br />
Troy: This has always been our desired<br />
look. Most important for us is a<br />
cosplayer’s ability to continue to<br />
bring their character to life even<br />
once their costume is off.<br />
Ed: There are also a few companies<br />
providing adult cosplay photos. How<br />
do you differentiate Cosplay Deviants<br />
from other companies that provide<br />
adult cosplay content?<br />
Troy: One thing we have always taken<br />
pride in is that ALL of our models<br />
are genuine cosplayers, the type you<br />
would meet at a local meet up or convention.<br />
A true “Nerd Next Door.”<br />
Each application is reviewed meticulously<br />
to make sure that only true<br />
fans make it onto our gallery.<br />
Ed: Your industry could be compared<br />
to the publishing (going digital)<br />
or video game (direct downloads)<br />
industries in where it had to change<br />
to survive. I was a partner and technical<br />
consultant for an internet<br />
company that provided adult content<br />
before the dot.com bubble of<br />
the early 2000s. There were many<br />
changes that occurred since then<br />
which brings us to today. What<br />
direction do you see the adult<br />
45