Cosplaying culture, albeit controversial in many ways, has seen recent hikes in its popularity, especially in the western part of the world, and even in other Asian countries. This recent hike has brought in more and more individuals wanting to be a part of this culture.
Although its unprecedented popularity leads to more people wanting to jump on the hype train, it has also left many people confused, especially about the lingual terms and words used within the cosplay fandom
Many people even now, don’t know what cosplay is, or who they can cosplay as, If you’re one of those people, fret not.
In short, cosplaying as someone means that you are “role-playing” and acting as a fictional or real persona or character, this is done by assuming their outfit, mannerisms, and even way of speaking. The intricacy, complexity, and success of a cosplay depend on the acting skills and craftsmanship of the cosplayer.
I’ll be covering the ins and outs of cosplay culture from the grassroots level to get you well familiarized with it.
What is cosplay?
Cosplay, a portmanteau of “costume play,” is an activity and performance art in which participants, known as cosplayers, dress up in costumes and fashion accessories to portray a certain character.
Cosplayers frequently interact to form a subculture, and a larger definition of “cosplay” refers to any costumed role-playing outside of the stage. Subjects can be any entity that lends itself to dramatic interpretation.
Anime, cartoons, comic novels, manga, television programs, and video games are all popular sources. The phrase is made up of the two previously mentioned synonyms, costume, and role play.
Do individuals stay in character the entire time they cosplay?
People do not stay in character the entire time they cosplay.
Some cosplayers don’t do much character acting, while others try to stay as in character as possible; thus, it varies.
That being said, I’m not a fan of those who refuse to break character for whatever reason. Breaking character is sometimes entirely appropriate- if you’re talking to someone who doesn’t know your character or someone outside the geek/fan community who doesn’t exactly “understand” cosplay, it’s better to ditch the acting.
Also, you can meet someone at a con and wish to get to know them better, rather than their persona or character.
Who can you Cosplay as?
With the basic definition of cosplay out of the way, let’s look over who and what one can exactly cosplay as.
Cosplay, is an activity or hobby with little to no restrictions, so ideally, you can practically cosplay as anyone or even as anything, granted you are able to replicate and mimic its appearance, and sometimes even then it doesn’t really matter, cause no one’s gonna judge you.
Cosplay is as much about having fun as it is about being sincere to a persona and a persona’s artistic nature. You can be 90-year-olds and cosplay as Gon from Hunter X Hunter, and no one gonna stop you, you can be a 6’5 200-pound muscular man and still cosplay as a petite Japanese high school girl. This is because, at the end of the day, we are all here to have fun and make memories.
But if you want to take cosplay seriously, then I’d recommend picking up a persona or character whos physically similar to you, This way you can remain true to the character and its creator.
Besides this, if you’re starting cosplay as a beginner, it’s best to pick up characters with the simplest and most minimalistic designs, there’s no need for you to cosplay a character design as complex as Ryuk from Death Note. Instead, you can use paper claws to cosplay as Wolverine.
How to get started with Cosplay?
Cosplay is a great way to get involved in the world of fan conventions and meet new people.
It’s also a great way to express your love for a particular show or character, which is why it’s so popular!
Pick a character
Determine who you want to cosplay as. As we’ve talked about previously, Cosplay can be inspired by anything but not limited to, books, movies, Anime, Manga, video games, comics, and so on.
Contemplate a piece of media that you genuinely adore and then pick your favorite character (easier said than done), since you’re bound to be fangirling over more than one character. Decide whether you want to make your own costume or buy one.
Buy or Make a costume
Regardless of what others think, there is no shame in purchasing a costume (and I’d recommend it for first-time cosplayers as well).
Most people enjoy the work of creating their costumes, while others simply enjoy wearing them and acting. It is entirely up to you. You can buy ready-made ones online or from a physical shop.
Get Help
You can ask other cosplayers who’ve already done the persona you’re creating about the steps they took to create that costume. Take the initiative, you’ll find that most cosplayers are welcoming and eager to help.
The internet is also a fantastic resource for finding cosplay resources. Cosplayers are constantly posting tutorials on how they made their costumes, and it’s possible that you’ll find precisely what you’re searching for.
Start scheduling and preparing
You should first try to find conventions near you that fit your criteria, that if you want to attend one since it’s like the meeting grounds for cosplayers. There are some people who prefer making costumes and then taking pictures from the comfort of their homes.
Take to google and try googling your location along with keywords that suit your needs like Comicon or Anime convention. You can even try searching for it by entering your information into the Animecons website’s extensive convention schedule.
Don’t forget to have fun!
Make sure you’re having a good time.
Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do based on your physical appearance. This community is a place where people can come together to share their passions, including this art form.
Take pride in your cosplay!
Have a blast!
Make new friends and precious memories!
That’s the main goal of cosplaying.
Other Articles
- The Concept Behind Cosplay: Where Did It Start?
- Can Anime Be Harmful To You? (Worth A Read)
- Does Watching Anime Affect Your Personality?
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