Kyle "Turtle Smithy" Mathis
Cosplayer
Turtle Smithy
Jefferson City, MO, USA
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.
Anime Convention Guest Appearances
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2024
- Cosplay America 2024 - June 21-23, 2024 in Cary, NC, USA
- Nishi Fest 2024 - April 20-21, 2024 in Fort Worth, TX, USA
- Anime Milwaukee 2024 - March 8-10, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI, USA 2022
- Kentokyocon 2022 - July 8-10, 2022 in Lexington, KY, USA
- Cosplacon 2022 - June 16-19, 2022 in Jefferson City, MO, USA
- Sabaku Con 2022 - May 27-29, 2022 in Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Anime St. Louis 2022 - April 22-24, 2022 in St. Charles, MO, USA 2021
- Con Nichiwa 2021 - November 19-21, 2021 in Tucson, AZ, USA 2019
- Cosplacon 2019 - June 13-16, 2019 in Jefferson City, MO, USA 2018
- Cosplacon 2018 - June 14-17, 2018 in Jefferson City, MO, USA
- Anime St. Louis 2018 - May 4-6, 2018 in St. Charles, MO, USA 2017
- Ikkicon 2017 - December 29-31, 2017 in Austin, TX, USA
- A-Kon 2017 - June 8-11, 2017 in Fort Worth, TX, USA
- Anime St. Louis 2017 - May 12-14, 2017 in St. Charles, MO, USA
- FrostCon 2017 - January 21-22, 2017 in Burlington, ON 2016
- A-Kon 2016 - June 3-5, 2016 in Dallas, TX, USA
- Anime St. Louis 2016 - May 13-15, 2016 in St. Charles, MO, USA
- EvilleCon 2016 - March 18-20, 2016 in Evansville, IN, USA 2015
- MechaCon 2015 - July 17-19, 2015 in New Orleans, LA, USA
- Cosplacon 2015 - June 18-21, 2015 in Jefferson City, MO, USA 2014
- Cosplacon 2014 - June 12-15, 2014 in Jefferson City, MO, USA
- EvilleCon 2014 - March 28-30, 2014 in Evansville, IN, USA 2013
- Ikkicon 2013 - December 27-29, 2013 in Austin, TX, USA
- Cosplacon 2013 - June 27-30, 2013 in Jefferson City, MO, USA
- EvilleCon 2013 - March 22-24, 2013 in Evansville, IN, USA 2012
- Ikkicon 2012 - December 28-30, 2012 in Austin, TX, USA
- EvilleCon 2012 - March 30 - April 1, 2012 in Evansville, IN, USA
27 confirmed guest appearances