Cosplay, ablend word of "costume play", is an activity andperformance art in which participants calledcosplayers wearcostumes andfashion accessories to represent a specificcharacter.[1] Cosplayers often interact to create asubculture, and a broader use of the term "cosplay" applies to any costumedrole-playing in venues apart from the stage. Any entity that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Favorite sources includeanime,cartoons,comic books,manga,television series,rock musicperformances,video games and in some cases, original characters. The term has been adopted as slang, often in politics, to mean someone pretending to play a role or take on a personality disingenuously.
Cosplay grew out of the practice of fan costuming atscience fiction conventions, beginning withMorojo's "futuristicostumes" created for the1st World Science Fiction Convention held inNew York City in 1939.[2] The Japanese term "cosplay" (コスプレ,kosupure) was coined in 1984. A rapid growth in the number of people cosplaying as ahobby since the 1990s has made the phenomenon a significant aspect ofpopular culture inJapan, as well as in other parts of East Asia and in the Western world. Cosplay events are common features offan conventions, and today there are many dedicated conventions and competitions, as well associal networks, websites, and other forms of media centered on cosplay activities. Cosplay is very popular among all genders, and it is not unusual to seecrossplay, also referred to as gender-bending.
The term "cosplay" is a Japaneseblend word of the English termscostume and play.[1] The term was coined byNobuyuki Takahashi [ja] of Studio Hard[3] in an article for the Japanese magazineMy Anime [ja] in June 1983.[3] Takahashi decided to coin a new word rather than use the existing translation of the English term "masquerade" because that it implied nobility and was a old-fashioned.[4][5] The coinage reflects a commonJapanese method of abbreviation in which the first twomoras of a pair of words are used to form an independent compound: 'costume' becomeskosu (コス) and 'play' becomespure (プレ).
Masquerade balls were a feature of theCarnival season in the 15th century, and involved increasingly elaborate allegoricalRoyal Entries, pageants, and triumphal processions celebrating marriages and other dynastic events of late medieval court life. They were extended into costumed public festivities inItaly during the 16th centuryRenaissance, generally elaborate dances held for members of the upper classes, which were particularly popular inVenice.
In April 1877,Jules Verne sent out almost 700 invitations for an elaborate costume ball, where several of the guests showed up dressed as characters from Verne's novels.[6]
Costume parties (American English) or fancy dress parties (British English) were popular from the 19th century onwards. Costuming guides of the period, such as Samuel Miller'sMale Character Costumes (1884)[7] or Ardern Holt'sFancy Dresses Described (1887),[8] feature mostly generic costumes, whether that be period costumes, national costumes, objects or abstract concepts such as "Autumn" or "Night". Most specific costumes described therein are for historical figures although some are sourced from fiction, likeThe Three Musketeers orShakespeare characters.
By March 1891, a literal call by one Herbert Tibbits for what would today be described as "cosplayers" was advertised for an event held from 5–10 March that year at theRoyal Albert Hall in London, for the so-namedVril-Ya Bazaar and Fete based ona science fiction novel and its characters, published two decades earlier.[9]
AMr.Skygack – an early modern costuming or cosplay outfit, Washington state, 1912[10][11][12]
A.D. Condo's science fictioncomic strip characterMr. Skygack, from Mars (a Martian ethnographer who comically misunderstands many Earthly affairs) is arguably the first fictional character that people emulated by wearing costumes, as in 1908 Mr. and Mrs. William Fell ofCincinnati, Ohio, are reported to have attended a masquerade at a skating rink wearing Mr. Skygack and Miss Dillpickles costumes. Later, in 1910, an unnamed woman won first prize at masquerade ball inTacoma, Washington, wearing another Skygack costume.[13][14]
Ackerman later stated that he thought everyone was supposed to wear a costume at a science fiction convention, although only he and Douglas did.[17]
Fan costuming caught on, however, and the2nd Worldcon (1940) had both an unofficial masquerade held in Douglas' room and an official masquerade as part of the programme.[18][19][20]David Kyle won the masquerade wearing aMing the Merciless costume created byLeslie Perri, whileRobert A. W. Lowndes received second place with a Bar Senestro costume (from the novelThe Blind Spot byAustin Hall andHomer Eon Flint).[19] Other costumed attendees included guest of honorE. E. Smith asNorthwest Smith (fromC. L. Moore's series of short stories) and both Ackerman and Douglas wearing their futuristicostumes again.[17][19][21] Masquerades and costume balls continued to be part ofWorld Science Fiction Convention tradition thereafter.[20] Early Worldcon masquerade balls featured a band, dancing, food and drinks. Contestants either walked across a stage or a cleared area of the dance floor.[20]
Ackerman wore a "Hunchbackerman of Notre Dame" costume to the3rd Worldcon (1941), which included a mask designed and created byRay Harryhausen, but soon stopped wearing costumes to conventions.[17] Douglas wore an Akka costume (fromA. Merritt's novelThe Moon Pool), the mask again made by Harryhausen, to the 3rd Worldcon and a Snake Mother costume (another Merritt costume, fromThe Snake Mother) to the4th Worldcon (1946).[22] Terminology was yet unsettled; the 1944 edition ofJack Speer'sFancyclopedia used the termcostume party.[23]
Rules governing costumes became established in response to specific costumes and costuming trends. The first nude contestant at a Worldcon masquerade was in 1952; but the height of this trend was in the 1970s and early 1980s, with a few every year.[20] This eventually led to "No Costume is No Costume" rule, which banned full nudity, although partial nudity was still allowed as long as it was a legitimate representation of the character.[14]Mike Resnick describes the best of the nude costumes as Kris Lundi wearing aharpy costume to the32nd Worldcon (1974) (she received an honorable mention in the competition).[20][24][25] Another costume that instigated a rule change was an attendee at the20th Worldcon (1962) whose blaster prop fired a jet of real flame; which led to fire being banned.[20] At the30th WorldCon (1972), artistScott Shaw wore a costume composed largely of peanut butter to represent his ownunderground comix character called "The Turd". The peanut butter rubbed off, doing damage to soft furnishings and other peoples' costumes, and then began to go rancid under the heat of the lighting. Food, odious, and messy substances were banned as costume elements after that event.[20][26][27][28]
Costuming spread with thescience fiction conventions and the interaction offandom. The earliest known instance of costuming at a convention in the United Kingdom was at theLondon Science Fiction Convention (1953) but this was only as part of a play. However, members of the Liverpool Science Fantasy Society attended the 1st Cytricon (1955), inKettering, wearing costumes and continued to do so in subsequent years.[29] The15th Worldcon (1957) brought the first official convention masquerade to the UK.[29] The 1960Eastercon in London may have been the first British-based convention to hold an official fancy dress party as part of its programme.[30]The joint winners were Ethel Lindsay and Ina Shorrock as two of the titular witches from the novelThe Witches of Karres byJames H. Schmitz.[31]
Star Trek conventions began in 1969 and major conventions began in 1972 and they have featured cosplay throughout.[32]
In Japan, costuming at conventions was a fan activity from at least the 1970s, especially after the launch of theComiket convention in December 1975.[14] Costuming at this time was known askasō (仮装).[14] The first documented case of costuming at a fan event in Japan was atAshinocon (1978), inHakone, at which future science fiction criticMari Kotani wore a costume based on the cover art forEdgar Rice Burroughs' novelA Fighting Man of Mars.[Notes 1][33][34] In an interview Kotani states that there were about twenty costumed attendees at the convention's costume party—made up of members of herTriton of the Sea fan club and Kansai Entertainers (関西芸人,Kansai Geinin), antecedent of theGainax anime studio—with most attendees in ordinary clothing.[33] One of the Kansai group, an unnamed friend ofYasuhiro Takeda, wore an impromptuTusken Raider costume (from the filmStar Wars) made from one of the host-hotel's rolls of toilet paper.[35] Costume contests became a permanent part of theNihon SF Taikai conventions from Tokon VII in 1980.
The first Masquerade Ball held atSan Diego Comic-Con was in 1974 during the convention's 6th event. Voice actressJune Foray was themaster of ceremonies.[37] Futurescream queenBrinke Stevens won first place wearing aVampirella costume.[38][39] Ackerman (who was the creator of Vampirella) was in attendance and posed with Stevens for photographs. They became friends and, according to Stevens "Forry and his wife, Wendayne, soon became like my god parents."[40] Photographer Dan Golden saw a photograph of Stevens in the Vampirella costume while visiting Ackerman's house, leading to him hiring her for a non-speaking role in her first student film,Zyzak is King (1980), and later photographing her for the cover of the first issue ofFemme Fatales (1992).[40] Stevens attributes these events to launching her acting career.[40]
As early as a year after the 1975 release ofThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, audience members began dressing as characters from the movie and role-playing (although the initial incentive for dressing-up was free admission) in often highly accurate costumes.[41][42]
Costume-Con, a conference dedicated to costuming, was first held in January 1983.[43][44] The International Costumers Guild, Inc., originally known as the Greater Columbia Fantasy Costumer's Guild, was launched after the 3rd Costume-Con (1985) as a parent organization and to support costuming.[43]
Costuming had been a fan activity in Japan from the 1970s, and it became much more popular in the wake of Takahashi's report. The new term did not catch on immediately, however. It was a year or two after the article was published before it was in common use among fans at conventions.[14] It was in the 1990s, after exposure on television and in magazines, that the term and practice of cosplaying became common knowledge in Japan.[14]
The first cosplay cafés appeared in theAkihabara area of Tokyo in the late 1990s.[18][45] A temporarymaid café was set up at the Tokyo Character Collection event in August 1998 to promote the video gameWelcome to Pia Carrot 2 (1997).[45] An occasional Pia Carrot Restaurant was held at the shop Gamers in Akihabara in the years up to 2000.[45] Being linked to specific intellectual properties limited the lifespan of these cafés, which was solved by using generic maids, leading to the first permanent establishment, Cure Maid Café, which opened in March 2001.[45]
The firstWorld Cosplay Summit was held on 12 October 2003 at the Rose Court Hotel in Nagoya, Japan, with five cosplayers invited from Germany, France and Italy. There was no contest until 2005, when the World Cosplay Championship began. The first winners were the Italian team ofGiorgia Vecchini [it],Francesca Dani and Emilia Fata Livia.
Worldcon masquerade attendance peaked in the 1980s and started to fall thereafter. This trend was reversed when the concept of cosplay was re-imported from Japan.
Cosplay costumes vary greatly and can range from simple themed clothing to highly detailed costumes. It is generally considered different fromHalloween andMardi Gras costume wear, as the intention is to replicate a specific character, rather than to reflect the culture and symbolism of a holiday event. As such, when in costume, some cosplayers often seek to adopt the affect, mannerisms, andbody language of the characters they portray (with "out of character" breaks). The characters chosen to be cosplayed may be sourced from any movie, TV series, book, comic book, video game, music band, anime, or manga. Some cosplayers even choose to cosplay anoriginal character of their own design or a fusion of different genres (e.g., asteampunk version of a character), and it is a part of the ethos of cosplay that anybody can be anything, as withgenderbending,crossplay, ordrag, a cosplayer playing a character of another ethnicity, or ahijabi portrayingCaptain America.[46][47]
Cosplayers obtain their apparel through many different methods. Manufacturers produce and sell packaged outfits for use in cosplay, with varying levels of quality. These costumes are often sold online, but also can be purchased from dealers at conventions. Japanese manufacturers of cosplay costumes reported a profit of 35 billion yen in 2008.[48] A number of individuals also work on commission, creating custom costumes,props, or wigs designed and fitted to the individual. Other cosplayers, who prefer to create their own costumes, still provide a market for individual elements, and variousraw materials, such as unstyledwigs, hair dye, cloth and sewing notions,liquid latex,body paint,costume jewelry, and prop weapons.
Cosplay represents an act ofembodiment. Cosplay has been closely linked to thepresentation of self,[49] yet cosplayers' ability to perform is limited by their physical features. The accuracy of a cosplay is judged based on the ability to accurately represent a character through the body, and individual cosplayers frequently are faced by their own "bodily limits"[50] such as level of attractiveness, body size, and disability[51] that often restrict and confine how accurate the cosplay is perceived to be. Authenticity is measured by a cosplayer's individual ability to translate on-screen manifestation to the cosplay itself. Some have argued that cosplay can never be a true representation of the character; instead, it can only be read through the body, and that true embodiment of a character is judged based on nearness to the original character form.[52] Cosplaying can also help some of those with self-esteem problems.[53][54]
Many cosplayers create their own outfits, referencing images of the characters in the process. In the creation of the outfits, much time is given to detail and qualities, thus the skill of a cosplayer may be measured by how difficult the details of the outfit are and how well they have been replicated. Because of the difficulty of replicating some details and materials, cosplayers often educate themselves in crafting specialties such astextiles,sculpture,face paint,fiberglass,fashion design,woodworking, and other uses of materials in the effort to render the look and texture of a costume accurately.[55] Cosplayers often wear wigs in conjunction with their outfit to further improve the resemblance to the character. This is especially necessary for anime and manga or video-game characters who often have unnaturally colored and uniquely styled hair. Simpler outfits may be compensated for their lack of complexity by paying attention to material choice and overall high quality.
To look more like the characters they are portraying, cosplayers might also engage in various forms ofbody modification. Cosplayers may opt to change their skin color utilizing make-up to more simulate the race of the character they are adopting.[56]Contact lenses that match the color of their character's eyes are a common form of this, especially in the case of characters with particularly unique eyes as part of their trademark look. Contact lenses that make the pupil look enlarged to visually echo the large eyes of anime and manga characters are also used.[57] Another form of body modification in which cosplayers engage is to copy any tattoos or special markings their character might have.Temporary tattoos,permanent marker, body paint, and in rare cases, permanent tattoos, are all methods used by cosplayers to achieve the desired look. Permanent and temporaryhair dye, spray-inhair coloring, and specialized extreme styling products are all used by some cosplayers whose natural hair can achieve the desired hairstyle. It is also commonplace for them to shave off their eyebrows to gain a more accurate look.
Some anime and video game characters have weapons or other accessories that are hard to replicate, and conventions have strict rules regarding those weapons, but most cosplayers engage in some combination of methods to obtain all the items necessary for their costumes; for example, they may commission a prop weapon, sew their own clothing, buy character jewelry from a cosplay accessory manufacturer, or buy a pair of off-the-rack shoes, and modify them to match the desired look.
The four voice actresses of the Japanese manga/mediafranchiseMilky Holmes reenacting the famous cover of theBeatles albumAbbey Road (1969) during their London visit in 2010In 2011, four cosplayers imitate the above scene (ameme) during the Manga conventionParis Manga 2012 at a zebra crossing inParis.
Cosplay may be presented in a number of ways and places. A subset of cosplay culture is centered onsex appeal, with cosplayers specifically choosing characters known for their attractiveness or revealing costumes. However, wearing a revealing costume can be a sensitive issue while appearing in public.[58][59][60] People appearing naked at Americanscience fiction fandom conventions during the 1970s were so common, a "no costume is no costume" rule was introduced.[61] Some conventions throughout the United States, such asPhoenix Comicon[62] (now known asPhoenix Fan Fusion) andPenny Arcade Expo,[63] have also issued rules upon which they reserve the right to ask attendees to leave or change their costumes if deemed to be inappropriate to a family-friendly environment or something of a similar nature.
A crowd including many cosplayers atComiket 84 in 2013
The most popular form of presenting a cosplay publicly is by wearing it to afan convention. Multiple conventions dedicated to anime and manga, comics, TV shows, video games, science fiction, and fantasy may be found all around the world. Cosplay-centered conventions includeCosplay Mania in the Philippines andEOY Cosplay Festival in Singapore.
In different comic fairs, "Thematic Areas" are set up where cosplayers can take photos in an environment that follows that of the game or animation product from which they are taken. Sometimes the cosplayers are part of the area, playing the role of staff with the task of entertaining the other visitors. Some examples are the thematic areas dedicated to Star Wars or to Fallout. The areas are set up by not for profit associations of fans, but in some major fairs it is possible to visit areas set up directly by the developers of the video games or the producers of the anime.
Professional photographers working withMileena cosplayer for achroma key studio photoshoot at Space City Con 2014 in the United States
The appearance of cosplayers at public events makes them a popular draw for photographers.[64] As this became apparent in the late 1980s, a new variant of cosplay developed in which cosplayers attended events mainly for the purpose ofmodeling their characters for still photography rather than engaging in continuous role play. Rules of etiquette were developed to minimize awkward situations involving boundaries. Cosplayers pose for photographers and photographers do not press them for personal contact information or private sessions, follow them out of the area, or take photos without permission. The rules allow the collaborative relationship between photographers and cosplayers to continue with the least inconvenience to each other.[34]
Some cosplayers choose to have a professional photographer take high quality images of them in their costumes posing as the character. Cosplayers and photographers frequently exhibit their work online and sometimes sell their images.[64]
As the popularity of cosplay has grown, many conventions have come to feature a contest surrounding cosplay that may be the main feature of the convention. Contestants present their cosplay, and often to be judged for an award, the cosplay must be self-made. The contestants may choose to perform a skit, which may consist of a short performed script or dance with optional accompanying audio, video, or images shown on a screen overhead. Other contestants may simply choose to pose as their characters. Often, contestants are briefly interviewed on stage by amaster of ceremonies. The audience is given a chance to take photos of the cosplayers. Cosplayers may compete solo or in a group. Awards are presented, and these awards may vary greatly. Generally, a best cosplayer award, a best group award, and runner-up prizes are given. Awards may also go to the best skit and a number of cosplay skill subcategories, such as master tailor, master weapon-maker, master armorer, and so forth.
The most well-known cosplay contest event is theWorld Cosplay Summit, selecting cosplayers from 40 countries to compete in the final round inNagoya, Japan. Some other international events include European Cosplay Gathering (finals taking place at Japan Expo in Paris),[65] EuroCosplay (finals taking place at London MCM Comic Con),[66] and the Nordic Cosplay Championship (finals taking place at NärCon inLinköping, Sweden).[67]
This table contains a list of the most common cosplay competition judging criteria, as seen from World Cosplay Summit,[68]Cyprus Comic Con,[69] and ReplayFX.[70]
Criteria
Description
Example
Accuracy
Resemblance to the original character in terms of appearance.
Hair color/styling
Make-up
Costume
Props
Stage props
Craftsmanship
Quality and details of the costume and props.
How well the costume is made
Maneuverability/functionality of the costume
Quality of materials
Level of detail
Amount of effort
Percentage of costume that is handmade
Technique
Presentation
Likeliness in terms of character portrayal and performance.
Acting
Posture
Movement
Talking with iconic phrases and tones of the character
Portraying a character of the opposite sex is calledcrossplay. The practicality of crossplay and cross-dress stems in part from the abundance in manga of male characters with delicate and somewhat androgynous features. Such characters, known asbishōnen (lit. "pretty boy"),[71] are Asian equivalent of the elfin boy archetype represented in Western tradition by figures such asPeter Pan andAriel.[72]
Male to female cosplayers may experience issues when trying to portray a female character because it is hard to maintain the sexualized femininity of a character. Male cosplayers may also be subjected to discrimination,[73] including homophobic comments and being touched without permission. This affects men possibly even more often than it affects women, despite inappropriate contact already being a problem for women who cosplay,[74] as is "slut-shaming".[75]
Animegao kigurumi players, a niche group in the realm of cosplay, are often male cosplayers who usezentai and stylized masks to represent femaleanime characters. These cosplayers completely hide their real features so the original appearance of their characters may be reproduced as literally as possible, and to display all the abstractions and stylizations such as oversized eyes and tiny mouths often seen in Japanese cartoon art.[76] This does not mean that only males performanimegao or that masks are only female.
"Cosplay Is Not Consent" sign at the 2014 New York Comic Con
"Cosplay Is Not Consent", a movement started in 2013 by Rochelle Keyhan, Erin Filson, and Anna Kegler, brought attention to the issue ofsexual harassment in theconvention attending cosplay community.[77][78] Harassment of cosplayers include photography without permission, verbal abuse, touching, and groping. Harassment is not limited to women in provocative outfits as male cosplayers talked about being bullied for not fitting certain costume and characters.
Starting in 2014,New York Comic Con placed large signs at the entrance stating that "Cosplay is Not Consent". Attendees were reminded to ask permission for photos and respect the person's right to say no.[79] The movement against sexual harassment against cosplayers has continued to gain momentum and awareness since being publicized. Traditional mainstream news media likeThe Mercury News andLos Angeles Times have reported on the topic, bringing awareness of sexual harassment to those outside of the cosplay community.[80][81]
As cosplay has entered more mainstream media, ethnicity becomes a controversial point. Cosplayers of different skin color than the character are often ridiculed for not being 'accurate' or 'faithful'.[82] Many cosplayers feel as if anyone can cosplay any character, but it becomes complicated when cosplayers are not respectful of the character's ethnicity.[83] These views against non-white cosplayers within the community have been attributed to the lack of representation in the industry and in media.[84] Issues such asblackface,brownface, andyellowface are still controversial since a large part of the cosplay community see these as separate problems, or simply an acceptable part of cosplay.[citation needed]
Cosplay has influenced the advertising industry, in which cosplayers are often used for event work previously assigned to agency models.[64] Some cosplayers have thus transformed their hobby into profitable, professional careers.[85][86][87] Japan's entertainment industry has been home to the professional cosplayers since the rise of Comiket andTokyo Game Show.[64] The phenomenon is most apparent in Japan but exists to some degree in other countries as well. Professional cosplayers who profit from their art may experience problems related tocopyright infringement.[88]
A cosplay model, also known as a cosplay idol, cosplays costumes for anime and manga or video game companies. Good cosplayers are viewed as fictional characters in the flesh, in much the same way that film actors come to be identified in the public mind with specific roles. Cosplayers have modeled for print magazines likeCosmode and a successful cosplay model can become thebrand ambassador for companies likeCospa. Some cosplay models can achieve significant recognition. While there are many significant cosplay models,Yaya Han was described as having emerged "as a well-recognized figure both within and outside cosplay circuits".[86]Jessica Nigri, used her recognition in cosplay to gain other opportunities such as voice acting and her own documentary onRooster Teeth.Liz Katz used her fanbase to take her cosplay from a hobby to a successful business venture, sparking debate through the cosplay community whether cosplayers should be allowed to fund and profit from their work.[89][90]
In the 2000s, cosplayers started to push the boundaries of cosplay into eroticism paving the way to "erocosplay".[91][92] The advent of social media coupled with crowdfuding platforms likePatreon andOnlyFans have allowed cosplay models to turn cosplay into profitable full-time careers.[93]
During variousprotests, cosplaying as asatirization of important people and political events. InMyanmar variousprotests after the 2021 coup d'état various protests occurred with cosplayers. Youth groups protested on the roads by wearing cosplay costumes, skirts, wedding dresses, and other unusual clothing for daily life while holding signboards and vinyl banners that break with the country's more traditional protest messages for the purpose of grabbing attention from both domestic and international press media.[94][95] Other timesfictional characters are used to convey a message such as women dressing like characters fromThe Handmaid's Tale to protest bodily restrictions in the United States.[96]
Cosplayers in Japan used to refer to themselves asreiyā (レイヤー), pronounced "layer". Currently in Japan, cosplayers are more commonly calledkosupure (コスプレ), pronounced "ko-su-pray", asreiyā is more often used to describe layers (i.e. hair, clothes, etc.).[97] Words like cute (kawaii (可愛い)) and cool (kakko ī (かっこ いい)) were often used to describe these changes,[further explanation needed] expressions that were tied with notions of femininity and masculinity.[98] Those who photograph players are calledcameko, short forcamera kozō orcamera boy. Originally, the cameko gave prints of their photos to players as gifts. Increased interest in cosplay events, both on the part of photographers and cosplayers willing to model for them, has led to formalization of procedures at events such as Comiket. Photography takes place within a designated area removed from the exhibit hall. In Japan, costumes are generally not welcome outside of conventions or other designated areas.[99][100]
Since 1998, Tokyo'sAkihabara district contains a number ofcosplay restaurants, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans, where the waitresses at such cafés dress as video game or anime characters;maid cafés are particularly popular. In Japan, Tokyo'sHarajuku district is the favorite informal gathering place to engage in cosplay in public. Events in Akihabara also draw many cosplayers.
Ishoku-hada (異色肌) is a form of Japanese cosplay where the players usebody paint to make their skin color match that of the character they are playing. This allows them to representanime or video game characters with non-human skin colors.[101]
A 2014 survey for the Comic Market convention in Japan noted that approximately 75% of cosplayers attending the event are female.[102]
Cosplay is common in many East Asian countries. For example, it is a major part of theComic World conventions taking place regularly in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.[103] Historically, the practice of dressing up as characters from works of fiction can be traced as far as the 17th century lateMing dynasty China.[104]
Western cosplay's origins are based primarily in science fiction and fantasyfandoms. It is also more common for Western cosplayers to recreate characters from live-action series than it is for Japanese cosplayers. Western costumers also include subcultures of hobbyists who participate inRenaissance faires,live action role-playing games, andhistorical reenactments. Competition at science fiction conventions typically include the masquerade (where costumes are presented on stage and judged formally) and hall costumes[105]
The increasing popularity of Japanese animation outside of Asia during the late 2000s led to an increase in American and other Western cosplayers who portray manga and anime characters. Anime conventions have become more numerous in the West in the previous decade, now competing with science fiction, comic book and historical conferences in attendance. At these gatherings, cosplayers, like their Japanese counterparts, meet to show off their work, be photographed, and compete in costume contests.[106] Convention attendees also just as often dress up as Western comic book or animated characters, or as characters from movies and video games.
Differences in taste still exist across cultures: some costumes that are worn without hesitation by Japanese cosplayers tend to be avoided by Western cosplayers, such as outfits thatevoke Nazi uniforms. Some Western cosplayers have also encountered questions of legitimacy when playing characters of canonically different racial backgrounds,[107][108] and people can be insensitive to cosplayers playing as characters who are canonically of other skin color.[109][110] Western cosplayers of anime characters may also be subjected to particular mockery.[111]
In contrast to Japan, the wearing of costumes in public is more accepted in the UK, Ireland, US, Canada and other western countries. These countries have a longer tradition ofHalloween costumes, fan costuming and other such activities. As a result, for example, costumed convention attendees can often be seen at local restaurants and eateries, beyond the boundaries of the convention or event.[99][100]
Japan is home to two especially popular cosplay magazines,Cosmode (コスモード) andASCII Media Works'Dengeki Layers (電撃Layers).[112]Cosmode has the largest share in the market and an English-language digital edition.[113] Another magazine, aimed at a broader, worldwide audience isCosplayGen.[114] In the United States,Cosplay Culture began publication in February 2015.[115] Other magazines includeCosplayZine featuring cosplayers from all over the world since October 2015,[116] andCosplay Realm Magazine which was started in April 2017.[117] There are many books on the subject of cosplay as well.[118]
Cosplay Encyclopedia, a 1996 film about Japanese cosplay released by Japan Media Supply. It was released in subtitled VHS by Anime Works in 1999,[119] eventually being released onto DVD in 2002.[120]
Otaku Unite!, a 2004 film about otaku subculture, features extensive footage of cosplayers.
Animania: The Documentary[122] is a 2007 film that explores the cosplay cultural phenomenon in North America, following four cosplayers from various ethnicities as they prepare to compete atAnime North, Canada's largest anime convention.
Conventional Dress is a short documentary about cosplay atDragon Con made by Celia Pearce and her students in 2008.[123]
Cosplayers: The Movie, released in 2009 by Martell Brothers Studios for free viewing onYouTube[124] andCrunchyroll,[125] explores the anime subculture in North America with footage from anime conventions and interviews with fans, voice actors and artists.
"I'm a Fanboy", a 2009 episode of theMTV seriesTrue Life, focusing on fandom and cosplay.[126]
Fanboy Confessional, a 2011Space Channel series that featured an episode on cosplay and cosplayers from the perspective of an insider.
America's Greatest Otaku, a 2011 TV series where contenders included cosplayers.[127]
Cosplayers UK: The Movie, a 2011 film following a small selection of cosplayers at the London MCM Expo.[128]
My Other Me: A Film About Cosplayers, chronicling a year in the life of three different cosplayers: a veteran cosplayer who launched a career from cosplay, a young 14-year-old first-timer, and a transgender man who found himself through cosplay. It was released in 2013 and was a featured segment onThe Electric Playground.[129]
Heroes of Cosplay, areality show on cosplay that premiered in 2013 on theSyfy network. It follows nine cosplayers as they create their costumes, travel to conventions and compete in contests.[130]
"24 Hours With A Comic Con Character", a segment fromCNNMoney following around a known cosplayer while she prepared for and attendedNew York Comic Con.[131]
WTF is Cosplay?, a reality show that premiered in 2015 on theChannel 4 network. It follows six cosplayers throughout their day-to-day lives and what cosplay means to them.[132]
Call to Cosplay, a competitionreality show that premiered in 2014 onMyx TV. It is a cosplay design competition show where contestants were tasked to create a costumes based on theme and time constraints.
Cosplay Culture, a 90 minutes documentary that follows cosplayers during preparation and conventions in Canada, Japan and Romania. Includes a visit of Akihabara (Japan), a geek Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans and a historic overview explaining the origin of cosplay.
^Mari Kotani's costume has sometimes been misreported as a Triton costume (from the mangaTriton of the Sea) due to its visual similarity and because Kotani was known as a member of the TRITON fan club.
^"6 Nerd Culture Stereotypes That Are Way Older Than You Think".Cracked. 8 April 2014.Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved12 March 2017.At a masked ball in Monroe, Washington, in 1912, August Olson's impressive homemade Skygack costume, complete with notebook, won him first prize and a place on the front page of the local paper.
^Hansen, Rob (ed.)."The 1960 Eastercon".THEN: The Archive.Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved28 April 2017. Based onMercer, Archie (May 1960). "I Was the Treasurer for the London Con to End All Cons".Cactus (5).andSanderson, Harold Peter (June 1960). "Inchmery Fan Diary".Aporrheta (17).
^abOhwada, Toshiyuki; Kotani, Mari."Interview: Mari Kotani, Pioneer of Japanese Cosplay – Origins".An Introduction to Japanese Subcultures. Archived fromthe original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved2 May 2017.This is an important part, so I'd like to spell it out clearly. In short, you, Ms. Mari, a member of the sci-fi anime fan club TRITON, attended a sci-fi convention at a sleepover-style facility, where you dressed up as a sci-fi character that appeared on the cover of Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Fighting Man of Mars.
^abThorn, Rachel (2004). "Girls And Women Getting Out Of Hand: The Pleasure And Politics Of Japan's Amateur Comics Community". In Kelly, William W. (ed.).Fanning the Flames: Fans and Consumer Culture in Contemporary Japan.SUNY Press. p. 175.ISBN9780791460320.
^Bozung, Justin; Stevens, Brinke (28 April 2012)."The Brinke Stevens Interview".The Gentleman's Blog to Midnight Cinema.Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved20 April 2017.
^abcCollum, Jason Paul (2004).Assault of the Killer B's. McFarland. p. 24.ISBN9780786480418.
^Samuels, Stuart (1983).Midnight Movies. Collier Books. p. 11.ISBN002081450X.
^Ashcraft, Brian (29 September 2011)."How Japanese Cosplay Is Moving Closer to Porn".Kotaku.Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved20 January 2023.During the late 1990s and around the turn of the century, with cosplay cafes popping up in Akihabara and with "image clubs" (places of prostitution where the girls dress up in outfits to create an "image") increasingly popular, erotic cosplayers began to take their initial steps. By around 2003 or 2004, cosplayers were wearing increasingly sexy outfits. The increase of skin seems to directly relate to both the explosion of the internet and the increase in quality of digital photography.
^"51 Sexiest Cosplay Onlyfans Models You Need To See".The Village Voice. 29 June 2022.Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved20 January 2023.Apparently there's a term for what these sexy full nude and explicit cosplayers are doing, and it's called 'erocosplay', a fusion between the words Erotic and Cosplay we're assuming.
^Breen, Jim."Japanese Dictionary". (search for "cosplay" in English or "reiyā" in romangi). Archived fromthe original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved1 January 2012.
^Skov, Lisa; Moeran, Brian (1995).Women, Media and Consumption in Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. pp. 220–54.
^abKincaid, Chris (16 October 2016)."The History of Cosplay".Japan Powered.Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved12 April 2017.
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