Kukombo: A Creative Journey Through Cosplay and TikTok

Kukombo is a Chinese-American creative based in New York City with a diverse artistic background in fashion design, filmmaking, music production, and photography. He is known for his TikTok videos that take his audience on a unique adventure through his cinematic approach to cosplay.

Being part of the API community holds great significance to Kukombo as it represents his family, home, and a sense of warmth. Growing up in a multicultural environment, he cherishes memories of celebrating Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival with loved ones. Witnessing the challenges faced by the API community during the pandemic has been disheartening for him. He aims to use his position and platform to amplify API voices, promote understanding, and work towards positive change.

The TikTok community has been a great source of inspiration for Kukombo. He finds it to be a vibrant, open-minded, and enthusiastic community. Since becoming a creator on TikTok, he has experienced overwhelming support and empowerment from the community, which has allowed him to push boundaries, discover his authentic self, and inspire confidence. He appreciates that TikTok provides a platform for small creators to be discovered by a wide audience, enabling them to take steps towards their dreams.

Kukombo's favorite TikTok video is his first cinematic cosplay as Edna Mode. This video marked a turning point in his creative journey as it introduced him to working with CGI and went viral, leading to the growth of his account. It also set the tone for the style of his subsequent videos. This experience taught him the importance of embracing the unknown and stepping outside of his comfort zone.

On and off TikTok, Kukombo's passions revolve around music, dance, film, and fashion design. He started with music and dance, producing original songs and covers during his school years. This eventually led him to explore film, where he combined visuals with audio. His interest in unique styling and garment creation led him to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design.

Kukombo's dream opportunity is to launch his own fashion brand. Fashion design has always been a favorite creative outlet for him, and he enjoys designing and styling costumes for his TikTok videos. Additionally, he aspires to produce and direct his own music video, as well as act in feature films and TV shows.

For aspiring designers or VFX creators, Kukombo advises not to fear failure and to be prepared for challenges. He emphasizes the importance of patience and problem-solving. Researching solutions or finding alternative approaches when faced with obstacles is crucial. He also highlights the significance of creating for the joy of it, rather than feeling obligated, as the creative process can be demanding and burnout can occur quickly.