{"id":17992,"date":"2021-03-28T14:14:44","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T12:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cosplayers.gr\/?p=17992"},"modified":"2025-10-24T17:06:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T15:06:53","slug":"star-wars-hellenic-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cosplayers.gr\/en\/main\/star-wars-hellenic-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Star Wars Hellenic Academy, the spectacular Greek Star Wars academy, talks with us!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Star Wars Hellenic Academy, the big Greek Star Wars union! They talk about Cosplay, the team and their philanthropic work!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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THE STAR WARS ACADEMY <\/span><\/strong>!<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
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The one and only Greek Star Wars academy in Greece, counting over 5 years <\/strong><\/span>of existence! The big non profit Star Wars union of Star Wars fans based in Athens, Star Wars Hellenic Academy<\/strong><\/span>!<\/p>\n

Starting its activities on December 2, 2015<\/span><\/strong>, it sets the spread of history, essence and love for Star Wars<\/span><\/strong> in Greece as its goal! Star Wars themed Cosplay<\/span><\/strong> couldn’t be absent, with Star Wars Hellenic Academy being the largest Cosplayer team in Greece<\/span><\/strong>, irrelevant of theme!<\/p>\n

Its philanthropic activities<\/span><\/strong> are also part of its actions, with it being the first case of Cosplayers’ participation in a philanthropic activity<\/span><\/strong> in Greece, on October 25, 2016<\/span><\/strong>, in collaboration with Make-a-Wish Greece<\/strong><\/a> and the Mangatellers<\/strong><\/a>, as part of the making a child’s wish come true! Its philanthropic work continues to this day with their participation in various types of voluntary activities<\/span><\/strong>! To reach this goal led the team to take on the form of a registered union<\/span><\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Their various appearances on the news on TV<\/span><\/strong> is nothing new, nor the creation of various Star Wars themed fanmade live action videos<\/span><\/strong>, either as promos for various events it attends or independent ones! Respectively, their appearance at various Star Wars movie premieres<\/span><\/strong> is something to be expected of course.<\/p>\n

We meet them at their own huge themed booth<\/span><\/strong> at various major Cosplay events in Athens, where they present their team and spread their love for Star Wars! The team’s appearances on stage during various Cosplay Parades and Cosplay Contests<\/span><\/strong> at those events, as well as the large Star Wars march<\/span><\/strong> in their corridors, fascinate the crowds! After all, what’s better than seeing all your beloved Star Wars characters<\/span><\/strong> in front of you! However, their presence isn’t limited to large events, but also extends to smaller ones related to the world of Star Wars.<\/p>\n

On December 1, 2018<\/span><\/strong>, during AthensCon 2018<\/strong><\/a> in Athens, it establishes the Greek branch of the internationally recognized Star Wars Cosplayers group 501st Legion<\/strong><\/a>, under the name 501st Legion Hellenic Outpost<\/strong><\/a>! Plans also include the establishment of the respective Greek branch of sister Star Wars Cosplayers group, Rebel Legion<\/strong><\/a>, this year!<\/p>\n

Let’s talk to Marwan Sanoussi<\/span><\/strong>, representative of the Star Wars Hellenic Academy<\/span><\/strong>, about everything!<\/p>\n

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Find Star Wars Hellenic Academy on the following media!\r\nPage<\/a> - Facebook<\/a> - Instagram<\/a>\r\n<\/strong><\/pre>\n
IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY<\/span><\/strong> !<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
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1) <\/strong>Tell us a few words about your team! What do we need to know about you? How many members does it include at this point of time?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
First thing I should mention is that we aren’t an ordinary team, but a union with articles of association and a board of directors, where elections are being held every 2 years for the election its members. Our team currently consists of 35 active members of all ages.<\/p>\n
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Christos Oikonomou as Sith Lord Darth Valaz – Photo by Paraskevi Kourmpeti<\/a><\/p>\n
2) <\/strong>When and how did you get started with Cosplay and what got you into it? What led to the formation of your team? What was your first appearance and first Cosplays?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Cosplay is a bug that has been chasing me for years now. It all started at Athenscon 2015<\/strong><\/a>, where I met two other people dressed in Cosplays from the same subject by chance. It didn’t take long after that to set up the team.<\/p>\n
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Fulfillment of children’s wishes in collaboration with Make-a-Wish Greece<\/a> – Photos by Make-a-Wish Greece<\/a><\/p>\n
3) <\/strong>Your team’s theme is Star Wars. What kind of characters and from which sources of superheroes specifically do you choose your Cosplays from? <\/strong>Is the choice of this theme based on personal interests, and if so, when did you get in contact with it before the team’s creation? <\/strong><\/h5>\n
Each member of our team has his own unique character that he embodies. In my case it’s two characters, a Jedi and an officer of the Empire. Before the union I usually wore the Jedi uniform.<\/p>\n
Star Wars has been a part of my life since 1984 when I watched the first movie at the age of nine. After that I became addicted and watched the rest gradually, because back then movies only existed in videotapes and even the internet didn’t exist. Magical moments.<\/p>\n
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Nikos Papakonstantinou as Qui-Gon Jinn – Photo by Paraskevi Kourmpeti<\/a><\/p>\n
4) <\/strong>Which characters do you think were the most popular? Which characters are you thinking about doing in the future? What were the most difficult Cosplays you have done until today? What makes them the most difficult?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Our most impressive characters are Darth Vader, the Jedi and the Stormtroopers. We are thinking of introducing several more characters to the team in the future, but we are keeping those thoughts as a surprise for now. The most difficult Cosplays of all of them to date are uniforms including armor, since they are very cumbersome and hot.<\/p>\n
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Star Wars Hellenic Academy & 501st Hellenic Outpost Booth – Photos by Star Wars Hellenic Academy<\/a><\/p>\n
5) <\/strong>How much effort, time and money does it usually take to create a Cosplay? What is the most common plan and methods you use to create a Cosplay? <\/strong>What do you think about store bought Cosplays? Are they part of your ensemble as well?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The costumes we create are characterized by quality to the point that they could be part of the costume ensemble of a Star Wars movie, meaning they have an increased cost. A Jedi suit costs about 650 Euros without the lightsaber, while a Stromtrooper suit starts at around 600 euros without counting the time it takes to assemble and create them to our measurements.<\/p>\n
I personally don’t have a problem with ready-made Cosplays, as long as they are proper ones and good looking. It’s difficult to find them ready-made in our case, since everything must be made to the measurements of the person who wears the corresponding uniform.<\/p>\n
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Kevi Magel as Sith Lord Darth Desea Se – Photo by Paraskevi Kourmpeti<\/a><\/p>\n
6) <\/strong>Do you consider your involvement with Cosplay a hobby or something more serious? How does that define the way you present your work? Your team has the form of a registered union. What led you to take on this particular form?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
We don’t deal exclusively with Cosplay as a team, but also with many philanthropic activities, which is our main concern. This was the reason that led us to acquire a legal status, resulting in the formation of a union.<\/p>\n