Kosupure is the anglicized term used by Japanese people for Cosplay. In English Cosplay is the blend of two words: Costume + play = Cosplay!
This term may have been coined by Studio Hard’s Nobuyuki Takahashi, who after attending the World Science Fiction Convention or Worldcon 1984 in LA named the performance art cosplay.
Cosplay is an integral part of anime conventions and comic cons. Cosplay refers to performance art where people dress up as a concept or a character.
They wear costumes, makeup, and wigs to look exactly like their favorite character from the video game, Anime or TV series, or movie.
Not only that, cosplayers are the experts of that character, they act or role-play as the character replicating everything from his mannerism to the gestures.
For many people, it’s a chance to express their enthusiasm for a character or television show, to imagine themselves in their shoes for a while, and most significantly, to have joy.
Depending on the amount of skill and experience of the cosplayer, cosplay sometimes means creating your own costume, using prosthetics and makeup, and coming up with a performance routine that captures the essence of the character you’ve chosen.
Cosplayers from all around the world connect and perform at conventions and occasions like movie premieres and hospital visits.
What exactly is cosplay, and how does it work?
The act of dressing up like a character or concept is known as cosplay.
Cosplayers are those who do this on regular ground. Cosplayers may go beyond simply replicating their character’s clothing; they may also ‘role-play’ as characters, mimicking their mannerisms and motions.
One of the goals of cosplay is to act out a character. You can achieve this ‘accurately’ by meticulously replicating a character’s appearance. You may also add your own artistic flair! Cosplayers assemble their appearances by combining costumes, wigs, accessories, and props.
What is the reason for cosplay?
Cosplaying is a hobby that many people have. It’s not only about dressing up as your favorite character, but also about the joy you get from the process of creating it.
What’s the reason behind cosplay?
Well, first of all, it’s a lot of fun. It can be a hobby or even a full-time job depending on the person, but either way, it’s an outlet that many people enjoy.
For some people, it can be difficult to meet like-minded individuals who share similar interests. Cosplay provides an opportunity for those people to get together and celebrate their passion for whatever fandom they are partaking in.
The portrayal of a character is one of the objectives of cosplay. You can accomplish this accurately by meticulously replicating a character’s appearance. You can add your own creative twist to it as well! Cosplayers use a combination of costumes, wigs, accessories, and props to create their unique looks.
Cosplay is also an opportunity for you to express yourself through artistry. You may be inspired by your favorite anime or manga series to become a cosplayer yourself!
There are many different types of cosplayers out there who can be found at any convention or anime convention around the world.
Some cosplayers will only wear one costume while others may wear multiple costumes at once! Some people only want to dress up as their favorite characters from video games or manga comics!
It seems to me to be a way for wearable art to show a love of the character. Some cosplayers design their own characters as well as those who reinvent well-known ones.
Some cosplayers create their own costumes and accessories but choose not to wear them. Some people don’t make them; they just wear them.
There are cosplayers who “stand and pose and full-on actors, and there is a wide range of all of the aforementioned. But characters and wearables are the centers of attention.
Unlike many others, I do not disregard Halloween as a cosplay location. I see it as a doorway to the larger cosplay community.
At Halloween, cosplayers who aren’t out of the closet can indulge their passion without facing mockery or uncertainty.
What is the golden rule of cosplay?
The golden rule of Cosplay is as follows: Cosplay is NOT consenting! That means even if someone is wearing something revealing or they are cosplaying a character with a proclivity for certain behaviors, do not touch them without asking, and do not verbally or sexually harass them.
At comic cons, harassment is an issue that is getting worse. Instances of reported harassment at comic cons have been documented by The Mary Sue, a website that focuses on women in geek or nerd culture and science, and it has fought for increased security for cosplayers.
Some cosplayers claim to be the targets of bullying due to their sexual orientation or skin color.
It doesn’t matter if you think that the person is over-dressed or dressed too provocatively. This rule applies to everyone at all times. If you’re uncomfortable with someone else’s costume or behavior, then don’t interact with them.
Cosplay is a huge part of our culture and it’s wonderful. It brings people together, fosters creativity, and it can be a fantastic way to meet new people. However, Cosplay is NOT consent! Cosplayers are humans, just like everyone else.
You should treat them with respect and kindness. If you see a cosplayer in distress or being harassed, ask them if they need help. If they say yes, then offer your assistance.
While there is some good news—the Cosplayers Against Bullying Movement is growing, and conventions like Emerald City Comicon have zero-tolerance harassment policies.
Some of the bullying and harassment that occurs in the cosplay world is just really ugly, which is a major bummer given that many people cosplay for enjoyment.
This rule is not just about bullying and harassment – it’s also about respecting other cosplayers and respecting their space by respecting their right to enjoy themselves without being harassed!
What do cosplayers actually do?
Cosplay isn’t only something people do for fun; for some, it can lead to a highly successful career. Professional cosplayers will put in weeks or months creating their costumes from scratch.
Sales of goods provide a significant portion of income. “High-tier” cosplayers may earn between $75,000 and $125,000 annually.
If we break this down, a cosplayer would earn $52,000 a year if they attended 26 conventions a year and sold 100 prints (a low figure) for $20 each weekend.
If you want to become a professional cosplayer, you can get paid for events, start your own clothing and accessory brand, or train others on how to create their own props. But it’s not simple.
You must continually work hard to get your cosplay in front of the appropriate employers because, as you may anticipate, a lot of individuals want to do this for a job. This video explains what a cosplayer does in a very easy way:
| Famous Cosplayers | Net worth |
| Ginny McQueen | $1 million – $8 million |
| Oh Go, Eun | $1.5 Million. |
| Yaya Han | $1-5 Million |
| Myrtle Sarrosa | $1.5 Million. |
| Linda Le | $1 Million – $5 Million |
Tips For Cosplaying
Whether you build, commission, or buy your cosplay, it takes a lot of time and effort. You must devote significant effort to researching and putting together your cosplay.
Yet, you must also observe a few manners and etiquette but let me share some pointers with you.
- Make your props as light as possible. After a time, even the lightest prop will feel heavy.
- Bring a cosplay repair kit if you plan on staying at the event. Have a few items on hand to help you with your costume.
- You can buy a costume, but they are typically rather pricey. If you don’t know how to sew, ask a buddy to help you or buy garments and adapt them to meet your personality.
- If your cosplay breaks during the event, look for a cosplay repair station or a cosplay lounge.
- If you can’t find the fabric, consider using it from an existing garment.
- Remember to take breaks when crafting your cosplay. You may have done your cosplay, but you’ll be too weary to enjoy the event.
- Keep up to current on the character you’re cosplaying as so you know whether to update your dress, makeup, and so on.
Conclusion
- The main purpose of cosplay is fun and creating.
- Cosplaying is a hobby that many people have. It’s not only about dressing up as your favorite character, but also about the joy you get from the process of creating it.
- Cosplayer invests their time and energy into creating these out of the TV costumes to make them look exactly like their favorite character.
- Cosplay may seem like only a fun thing but it can be more than that, people even earn a fortune selling their designs and helping others make them.
Other Articles
- Is Anime More Popular Than Cartoons? (Find Out)
- What Are Fans Of Anime Called? (Find Out)
- Is Crunchyroll A Good Website To Watch Anime? (Explore)
Click here to view the visual Story version of this article.