Known together as NightLight, this dynamic duo is made up of Memori (Mem) and Vivic (Vic). As a team, they specialize in creating and performing cosplay skits for competitions, where their blend of creativity, passion, and storytelling has earned them two-time “Best in Skits” winners.
Memori states that they "...have always been into cosplay. I just never got a chance to explore it." After attending Anime Frontier for the first time though, they were introduced to the world of cosplay. Memori met Vivic at A-CON in 2023, and through their love for conventions and performing, Vivic and Memori bonded and formed their cosplay duo that is now known as NightLight!
As Memori describes, skits for cosplay are divided into two sections. Some skits are more geared toward dancing and a physical performance, while more are focused on the acting skills brought to the table. Regardless of the differences though, they state that skits thrive off of "...the storytelling aspect for our characters" and "...telling the story of something that might have happened in the anime or something that might happen in the future with them." Memori goes on to tell an example of a skit her and Vivic did that involved them being the two main characters from SK8 the Infinity dancing to the song The Boys Are Back from High School Musical 3. Most importantly though, the two of them decide on what skits to do from what characters they can perform as together.
"So, first is audio cutting." Memori states. When making a skit, the two explain that many competitions only allow for a skit to go on for two minutes, while most songs are three to five minutes long. Because of this, the music has to be cut down to fit the time span. Once the music for the skit is cut properly, the two move on to coreographing and blocking out the skit. After this is finished, then the rehearsal process starts. "...I think we start four to six months in advance from when the competition is supposed to be just so we know everything is going to be locked in. It's going to be muscle memory." Vivic says.
Even with all of the rehearsal time that needs to be placed in when doing a cosplay performance, Vivic and Memori still place an importance on the cosplay aspects behind their skits. "We try to incorporate at least one prop for the both of us...because we feel like it elevates the performance a little bit" Vivic states. They also state that due to the nature of some of the performance, these props must be made well due to them being used in stunts performed on stage, which require more practice to be able to do. Memori states in addition that compared to craftsmanship pieces, skit cosplays require "...a lot more knowing what events your character has gone through that changes the way they move or just how they move in everyday life. ... I would love to be able to talk about that with the judges and explain like, this is why we did this. These are why these props look this way." Memori explains.
Vivic states that cosplay skits fit within cosplay because of the fact that it encompasses everything about cosplay into one performance. "...It's the play part of cosplay. It's getting on stage and playing pretend of a character that doesn't exist and kind of getting to show their story a little more" Vivic explains. Memori says "Anytime you go to a con, you see people acting as their characters, and I love seeing that because it's so cool because just to think these people love this media so much that they want to make these costumes and then they want to go and act as these characters..." In a way, both explain that cosplay is just someone performing skits on a smaller level.
Both Vivic and Memori express that starting rehearsals early is important when wanting to do a skit. "You never know when something is going to go wrong...[so] if you are making your cosplay, have it done about two months before." Memori says. Memori also says to have the skit idea established in this same timeline as well. They also both say to not "...forget the play portion." Vivic says "...at the end of the day, you are putting on an outfit from a...media of a fake character, and you are getting on stage in front of a bunch of other people who are also playing pretend as characters. It's like the most un-serious, serious thing that you can be doing." When someone has more fun with their skit, and releases the pressure on themselves, Vivic and Memori both state that this allows for one to have a better performance.