Mascot Costumes?

Hey, this is my first post here, so I hope I do it right, and I hope it's in the right place. XD It's... not exactly fursuits, but similar!

Anyway, I've been in love with Japanese-style mascot costumes lately. Does anyone else like them?
I've been brainstorming ideas on the sorts of characters I'd want to try this way too! I figured the forums here would be a good place to get input on what's viable and stuff like that.

I've been hunting vigorously for tutorials, the best I've found though are just WIP images from www.kigurumi.biz, and videos of them being put on this one. What kind of foam do you think that is for the head? Is it carved out completely first? Regular fursuit heads are definitely made of a much softer foam than this... It's rare to see things like the inner workings of the head (I know helmets are sometimes used inside). The bodies appear to usually be fabric-covered foam bases. Does anyone have experience with costumes like this?

Even though I've seen a lot of tutorials on padding, I still don't understand much about adding thickness to arms and legs. How does it attach to your body and not fall down? Do you have to like.. make a shell of foam?? How does it not be lumpy? I see digitigrade tutorials a lot but I just don't understand adding uniform thickness to limbs OTL;;

These are some of the ideas I've had personally...



Melonpanna from Anpanman


Sawk, this one might be way too complex for a beginner like me though, Since you'd have to somehow get the body foam into the right shape... or perhaps pad out the torso instead??


Emolga! I really wanna make something like this. I'd really have to brainstorm about the tail though.


My favorite design idea. Again, the tail and the pants will need some forethought.



If anyone else wants to share their thoughts, ideas, or their own stuff, please do! Crossposted on the Fur Affinity forums. I'm not sure what tags to use...