Fox Friday: Devin Serrano Baracaldo Creates Unique Costume from Scratch

Fox Friday is a series that highlights the accomplishments of students districtwide. We regularly feature the incredible things our students are up to — whether they are excelling academically, athletically or are quietly impressive.

Mount Kisco Elementary School third grader Devin Serrano Baracaldo delighted his school community when he showed up in an impressive Halloween costume that he made out of cardboard boxes. Each piece was cut to fit his body and strategically taped to bring his vision to life.

“It was a true wow moment for everyone who saw it,” said bilingual tiered teacher Joanna Breeding. “His creativity, imagination, and craftsmanship really stood out.”

We spoke to Devin to learn more about his inspiration and his process.

What costume did you create?
I created a character from a movie called Real Steel. The robot’s name is Noisy Boy. What’s special about this robot is that it’s purple and has glowing tattoos with Japanese writing. The creator who made the robot in the movie is Tak Mashido, a genius who designed it in 2011.

What inspired you to create your costume from scratch?
I couldn’t find the costume in any store, so I decided to make it myself. I didn’t want to be anything else for Halloween, so I knew I had to create it.

How did you make it?
I started with a photo of the robot and thought about what materials I could use. I decided cardboard would work best, and it did. I began cutting the pieces, and it took a long time to finish. Even when it got difficult, I never gave up. I got tired at times and thought about stopping, but I noticed my idea was actually working. The materials I used were cardboard, paint, and tape.

What were the steps in your process?
First, I studied the picture of the robot to plan out each part. Then, I cut the cardboard into different shapes and painted them. After that, I taped everything together and adjusted it so it would fit my body. I kept testing and fixing it until it looked just right.

What was the hardest part?
The hardest part for me was making the helmet and hat. They took a lot of time to get right.

Were there any times when you had to start over?
Yes, I made a lot of mistakes before I got it right. But I didn’t want to give up. Each time something didn’t work, I tried a different way until it did.

Did you enjoy making it?
I really enjoyed it most of the time, but I did get frustrated sometimes. It was hard work, and when I tried it on, some parts didn’t fit and that upset me. My dad helped me fix some of the big problems, and he kept telling me to keep going.

Is it something you'd like to do again?
I’m not sure. It took me over 20 days to make. But I might try again and create another robot called Atom.

Is there anything else you think people should know about your project?
Yes. Work hard and eat your veggies so you have enough energy to create a special costume.