Cosplay
With convention season upon us (and a blog post about cons upcoming) it seems like the perfect time for an article about cosplay!
The concept of cosplay may be familiar to many while its terms and rituals generally are not. It originated it Japan, where the majority of cosplay still takes place, but has since spread (just as anime has) across the globe. The term cosplay, made up of the English words “costume” and “play”, also originated in Japan. The term “crossplay” is a related pun referring to someone playing a character of the opposite gender.
Cosplay is, very simply, dressing up as a character from an anime, video game, or another recognizable media. The costume can be very simple or breathtakingly elaborate, with hundreds of hours of work put into its construction. In Japan, cosplay costumes are often made by professional seamstresses and even sold in stores, but in North America there is great emphasis on making one’s own costume, and there are often workmanship awards presented to costumers at conventions.
Though cosplayers are spotted in movie premieres, at video game releases, and at conventions of all types, anime conventions are of course the most likely sighting place for a anime cosplayer. At a con, a cosplayer has the option of entering costuming contests, masquerades, skit contests, photo shoots, or simply attracting new companions who share an interest in their character or series. Sometimes cosplay groups (an assortment of players from one series) appear, who plan appearances together at cons with their costumes. Joining a cosplay group can be a great way to make new friends, though many of them live great distances from one another and are able to only meet at cons and over the Internet.
Cosplay is a fun, interesting hobby both for those new to it and the seasoned artisans. Challenging cosplays and fun deviances from the norm (such as the “Jewish Wolfwood” of Otakon 2004, Trigun’s priest carrying a giant Star of David instead of a cross) are always wonderful to see. Every con has familiar players and characters mingling with the new and beautiful and bizarre.
It’s never too late to start! Visit some of the sites below to see more photographs and learn about cosplay craftsmanship.
Links:
http://www.cosplay.com
http://www.cosplaylab.com
http://www.cosplay.co.uk
Cosplayer Photos donated by:
Ota-Rockman Cosplay Group
HanyaanFaery
321stars
edw4rd_elric
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