Kyle "Turtle Smithy" Mathis Information

Cosplayer
Turtle Smithy
Jefferson City, MO

Biography:
"Synchro-Hearts" is the name for Ex-Shadow and Malindachan as a Cosplay couple. They are members of a larger group, "We *Heart* Card Games," but this is their personal alias for reference in cosplay and anime convention going.

Kyle and Malinda Mathis are married and have been cosplaying since 2004, and it became their favorite hobby in 2007 after they started attending conventions together. They have continued to take on new challenges with each project, continuing to delve into the arts of costume construction, wig styling, prop making, and mascot work. Ex-Shadow has a large wardrobe of YU-GI-OH! cosplay work, but his favorites are his Jack Skellington, Vash the Stampede, and his original designs for the King and Queen of Hearts. He is starting to work more on mascot costumes.

Kyle has been cosplaying since 2004, and has attended dozens of conventions and events throughout the United States since he first started. To him, cosplay is an art; it is a way of breathing life into his favorite characters. His specialty is mascots and props, but he's no stranger to sewing either. He always strives to improve his costuming skills, and he loves to pass on anything he learns along the way.

Over the years Kyle and Malinda have won multiple awards for their cosplay craftsmanship and performances and have been published in Cosmode, Otacool2, CosplayGen, and Cosplay in America. Recently Kyle placed 2nd in the North American Otaku House Cosplay Idol contest, and Malinda was featured in Shonen Jump for a combination of her Yugioh cosplays and artwork.

To Kyle and Malinda, cosplay is not only an art, but a community. They treasure the friendships that they have made through cosplaying, and continue to welcome fellow cosplayers as friends. They believe that cosplay is the right to anyone who wants to give it a try, regardless of their gender, race, or body type. They continue to support the cosplay community and promote it to all who would take interest.