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Cosplay (コスプレ, kosupure?), a portmanteau of the English words “costume” and “play”, is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands. However, in some circles, “cosplay” has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.
In Japan, “cosplay” as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others’ costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.
Cosplay can be seen at public events such as video game shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at nightclubs or amusement parks. It is not unusual for Japanese teenagers to gather with like-minded friends in places like Tokyo’s Harajuku district to engage in cosplay. Since 1998, Tokyo’s Akihabara district has contained a large number of cosplay cafés, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans. The waitresses at such cafés dress as game or anime characters; maid costumes are particularly popular.
Possibly the single largest and most famous event attended by cosplayers is the semiannual dojinshi market, Comiket. This event, held in summer and winter, attracts hundreds of thousands of manga otaku and many thousands of cosplayers who congregate on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.
A recent trend at Japanese cosplay events is an increase in the popularity of non-Japanese fantasy and science fiction movie characters, perhaps due to the international success of such films as The Matrix, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Characters from the Harry Potter films have a particularly high number of female fans in Japan, with female cosplayers playing either male or female characters, Draco Malfoy being an extremely popular choice.
The act of cosplaying as characters of the opposite sex is called “crossplay” (cross-dressing cosplay). A small niche group in this field are dollers, a subset of kigurumi cosplayers; usually male, they wear bodysuits and masks to fully transform into female characters.
Another recent trend in cosplay is a blurring of the distinction between costumes based on characters from games and anime, and “original” costumes based upon a general theme or existing fashions. In particular, the Tokyo teen-fashion trend of Gothic Lolita has attracted some cosplayers who might not have the inclination (or possibly courage) to wear such distinctive clothes around town, but who would like to dress in such a manner on some occasions.
[Description courtesy Wikipedia.]
Members that think Cosplay is the best!
Comments
weirdos
Its cute/good/cool/hot on some people. Its not on others. Either way its lots of fun.
Look at you, nasef.
You hide yourself in a internet image, and call us weirdo?
whats wrong with being weird? that’s a compliment if you ask me^^ cosplay = one of the most fun things in the world.
It’s not weird at all, it’s fun. Actually i think it’s hillarious, and a lot of the people outfits are really well done.
Nasef must be one of those internet bully/hater people.
cosplay is the best thing mankind could invent!!
We’re not weird Nasef. We’re odd. Get it right.
Anywho, is anyone going to Animania in Sydney this September? Comment me if you are – trying and failing to gather a Vampire Knight group. It doesn’t exactly have a huge fanbase here which sucks. :(
im gonna DRESS AS HINATA MUHAHHAHA LOL
Ewww fat ugly American cosplayers X3 I wanna go to the anime expo this year as Hizumi from D’espairs Ray…but it’s too early! My hair hasn’t grown out enough yet.
You could wear a wig Ninja! ^^ I saw this big fat guy with a beard dressed as Sailor Moon at the last con I went to, what fun. :P
OK, fat guy with beard dressed as Sailor Moon might qualify as weird.
The only Anime character I’ve ever cosplayed as was Xelloss Metalium. Usually I cosplay as characters from games, like Link or Sephiroth. I’ve even been a Red Mage a few times.
I’ve only ever cosplayed as either relatively unknown anime characters or whichever manga character I’m interested in at the time – never videogame characters. Though I’ve always wanted to cosplay Riku from Kingdom Hearts, as horribly overdone and commonly cosplayed he is I just think he’d be a really cool character to attempt.
KH1 or KH2? Good Riku or Bad Riku?
i'm going to be a ghetto female sora at the next sakura-con!! a duct-tape keyblade and spikey hair and everyhting!!
i love cosplaying on other people but i dont have an intention to actually wear those, well at least not for now…maybe in 3-5 years from now.i have to build up my courage first…lol!
I oughta put up a picture of me as Link.
Someday I will cosplay as Reira (Layla) Serizawa from Nana, ...it's a promise to myself!
I love to cosplay as Nana-chan XD and it's perfect but I think I need something to fit me X3
I also cosplay Sasuke (see my account for more details about who I cosplay as)NOT THIS SASUKE-kun!!!!I'm a different cosplayer and if your a Naruto cosplayer I wuv to be your friend!!!! If you don't I don't like you!!!jk jk
I wonder if Sasuke would ever say this......
Well I am x3
I cosplayed as Sakura in shippuuden. In fact it was my first cosplay and I wanted it to be in honor of my usual nickname.
5th photo up there.
WOW SO KOOL!!!! I'm too shy to post pictures.....but not too afraid to make a video of me hugging people in my cosplay costume....Sasuke-kun hugging girls....i don't think so......
I would hug you right now Saku-chan!!!jk jk >_< next I will be Hunny-senpai!!! >3 I g2 find a Tamaki and a Haruhi
gah!!! I would totally be running around with my bunny!!!chasing cute cosplayer people(this may include jumping or glomping on people)!!!!g2 find my Bunny first and a blond wig...<3 wuv all cosplayers!!!
wow…bravo…pls post pix if you transform yourself to honey senpai….sooo cute.
OKEEE!!!!!!!!!! I will be Hunny-sepai for my next cosplay!!!! X3 yay!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna try to make a good wig!!! my hair is dyed black hehe!!!!!XD
or I could just a kid-like Haruhi!!!!no I still have to wear a wig YAY Hunny-senpai!!!!
http://www.dhp-online.com/_newdesign/cosplaycomp.html
Have fun!
Helen xxx
I think it's awesome how they appear; but japanese ppl do it WAY better. =)
I like japanese cosplayers better than anything else; hehe. <33
but others do it fairly well too; =DD
Japanese are good cosplayers but other people are great cosplayers too!!!no matter who they are skinny or fat.....ugly or beautiful...blah blah blah well I made my point ^=^
cause anime comes in all different shapes and sizes!!!like stuffed animals!!!>3
i hope someday i will watch it in front of my eyes!
i have'nt tried it but it lookes like fun!^ ^
wish I could! Need to get better outfits tho. o_o
Cosplay is deh best! n.n
I can't wait for the con here in May! ^^
Cosplay is the best!!! I loves it! YAY Animanaia again this year ^.^
cosplay is a fun way to dress up. ^^
I love cosplay and I always wnna to..
I love cosplay and I always wnna to..