That’s right, I would classify cosplaying as part of the great, big world of fashion. Why? Well, for starters, it’s still clothes, and second: it’s widely known and popular around the world! Cosplaying has only gained more recognition and fame, as events like: AnimeCon, San Diego Comic Con, and various “nerd” events strongly encourage the act of dressing up like your favorite character from anime, comics, and books. Let’s dive into the great big world of cosplay!
To begin, cosplay is essentially taking the time to piece together (whether its homemade or buying pieces for) a costume; meant to resemble your favorite character from anime, comics, books, and etc. Part of what makes this culture particularly unique is that people partake in “contests” within AnimeCon to showcase their costumes and win prizes. Often times, these costumes took months, or even years to construct! Many of which, pride themselves in adding in the smallest details–to limiting themselves to a budget of $5 and a piece of cardboard. Whether you’re a first time “amateur cosplayer” or a professional, everyone is welcome to experiment and showcase what they’ve put together.
Some of the most popular cosplay characters would include: Sailor Moon, “IT” the Clown, D-Va from the video game, Overwatch; Sasuke from Naruto, and Ryuk from the Death Note. Although there is a strong presence of anime within cosplay culture, professional cosplayers encourage people to extend beyond that! Characters such as Lola Bunny from Space Jam, and Harley Quinn have also been covered in past events. The beauty behind it all? It doesn’t matter if the character has been cosplayed in the past, as the culture brings people of common interests together.
Another beautiful thing about cosplay bringing people together, is allowing people to take pictures with their fictional characters “brought to life”. Often times, professional cosplayers will assume the personality of the character they dress up as, and anime conventions can turn into a meet and greet for them. Here, the fans have an opportunity to interact with their favorite characters and immortalize their experience in a picture. This is both fun for the professional cosplayers, and a unique experience for those attending these types of conventions. Additionally, cosplayers are always thrilled to receive positive feedback on their costumes, as they can sometimes take years to create.
All in all, whether you’re a die-hard anime fan or not, cosplaying might be an exciting hobby to pick up! I only have two friends that partake in cosplaying for fun–and it is beyond time-consuming but extremely fun to partake in. Perhaps one day I’ll try it for myself and possibly encourage others, who aren’t the biggest anime fans. I hope to see this culture grow, as it really encourages individuality and creativity.
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