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Cosplay

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Cosplayers at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon

Cosplay (コスプレ, kosupure), short for "costume play", is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea that is usually identified with a unique name. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered on role play. A broader use of the term cosplay applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage, regardless of the cultural context.

Favorite sources include manga, anime, comic books, video games, and films. Any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Inanimate objects are given anthropomorphic forms and it is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa. There is also a subset of cosplay culture centered on sex appeal, with cosplayers specifically choosing characters that are known for their attractiveness and/or revealing costumes.

The Internet has enabled many cosplayers to create social networks and websites centered on cosplay activities, while forums allow cosplayers to share stories, photographs, news, and general information. The rapid growth in the number of people cosplaying as a hobby since 1990 has made the phenomenon a significant aspect of popular culture. This is particularly the case in Asia, where cosplay influences Japanese street fashion.

Etymology

The term cosplay is a portmanteau of the English words costume and play.[1] The term was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi of the Japanese studio Studio Hard while attending the 1983 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Los Angeles.[2] He was impressed by the hall and the costumed fans and reported on both in Japanese science fiction magazines. The coinage reflects a common Japanese method of abbreviation in which the first two moras of a pair of words are used to form an independent compound. Costume becomes kosu (コス), and play becomes pure (プレ).

Practice of cosplay

Padmé Amidala cosplay at Japan Expo 2012 in France

Cosplay costumes vary greatly and can range from simple themed clothing to highly detailed costumes. Cosplay is generally considered different from Halloween and Mardi Gras costume wear, as the intention is to accurately replicate a specific character, rather than to reflect the culture and symbolism of a holiday event. As such, when in costume, cosplayers will often seek to adopt the affect, mannerisms and body 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 or music band, but the practice of cosplay is often associated with replicating anime and manga characters.

Costumes

A cosplay of Raiden at Anime Expo 2013 in the United States

Most 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 as textiles, 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.[3] Cosplayers often wear wigs in conjunction with their outfit in order to further improve the resemblance to the character. This is especially necessary for anime and manga or video game characters who often have unnaturally coloured and uniquely styled hair. Simpler outfits may be compensated for their lack of complexity by paying attention to material choice and overall high quality.

Cosplayers obtain their apparel through many different methods. Manufacturers produce and sell packaged outfits for use in cosplay, in a variety of qualities. These costumes are often sold online, but also can be purchased from dealers at conventions. There are also a number of individuals who work on commission, creating custom costumes, props or wigs designed and fitted to the individual; some social networking sites for cosplay have classified ad sections where such services are advertised. Other cosplayers, who prefer to create their own costumes, still provide a market for individual elements, accessories, and various raw materials, such as unstyled wigs or extensions, hair dye, cloth and sewing notions, liquid latex, body paint, shoes, costume jewellery and prop weapons. 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 costume; for example, they may commission a prop weapon, sew their own clothing, buy character jewelry from a cosplay accessory manufacturer, buy a pair of off-the-rack shoes, and modify them to match the desired look.

In order to look more like the character they are portraying, many cosplayers also engage in various forms of body modification. 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.[4] Another form of body modification that cosplayers engage in is to copy any tattoos or special markings that 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 temporary hair dye, spray-in hair coloring, and specialized extreme styling products are all utilized by some cosplayers whose natural hair can achieve the desired hairstyle.

Purpose

The Psychology of Cosplay panel at the 2012 New York Comic Con. From left to right: Psychologist Dr. Andrea Letamendi, journalist/cosplayer Jill Pantozzi, costume designer/cosplayer Holly Conrad, who appeared in the film Comic-Con Episode IV-A Fan's Hope, and Bill Doran, who runs the cosplay business Punished Props.

The cosplayer's purpose may generally be sorted into one of three categories, or a combination of the three:

  • The first purpose might be to express adoration for a character, or in feeling similar to a character in personality, seeking to become that character. This type of cosplayer may be associated with being a fan and is sometimes labeled as an otaku. Such cosplayers are most likely to adopt the character's personality and are known to criticise other cosplayers for not having a full knowledge of their character, or not also adopting character mannerisms. Other characteristics may include an enthusiastic manner and less attention to detail and quality.
  • The second category is those people who enjoy the attention that cosplaying a certain character brings. Within the cultures of anime and manga specifically, as well as science fiction and fantasy, there is a certain level of notoriety that is attached to cosplayers. Such cosplayers are often characterised by their choice of popular characters.
  • The third is those who enjoy the creative process, and the sense of personal achievement upon completion. Such people are more likely to have a greater budget dedicated to the project, more complicated and better quality outfits with access to more materials. They are noted by participation in cosplay competitions and are also more likely to engage with professional photographers and cosplay photographers to take high quality images of the cosplayer in their garment posing as the character.

Presentation

Cosplay may be presented in a number of ways and places. Wearing a revealing costume can be a sensitive issue while appearing in public.[5][6]

Photography

Professional photographers working with a cosplayer of Mileena for chroma key studio photoshoot at Space City Con 2014

Some cosplayers choose to have a dedicated photographer take high quality images of them in their costumes posing as the character. This is most likely to take place in a setting relevant to the character's origin, such as churches, parks, forests, water features and abandoned/run-down sites. Such cosplayers are likely to exhibit their work online, on blogs (such as tumblr), social networking services (such as Facebook), or artist websites (such as deviantART). They may also choose to sell such images or print the images as postcards and give them as gifts. What is more, some cosplayers choose to take photos themselves and become cosplay photographers too.

Conventions

A Street Fighter cosplay at Comiket 82, Japan in 2012

The most popular form of presenting a cosplay is by wearing it to a fan convention. Multiple conventions dedicated to anime and manga, comics, TV shows, video games, science fiction and fantasy may be found all around the world. The single largest event featuring cosplay is the semi-annual doujinshi market, Comic Market (Comiket), held in Japan during summer and winter. It attracts hundreds of thousands of manga and anime fans, where thousands of cosplayers congregate on the roof of the exhibition center. The two highest attended events in the United States featuring cosplayers are San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con. Both had over 130,000 attendees in 2013. The biggest event in the UK is the London MCM Expo. The biggest event in all of Europe takes place in France at Japan Expo in Paris, with an attendance of over 200,000 in 2012. The biggest anime convention in North America is Anime Expo, currently held in Los Angeles. The biggest anime convention is Canada is Anime North, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The largest event in the southern hemisphere is AVCon in Adelaide, Australia.

Competitions

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 and/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 an MC. 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 there will be a best cosplayer award, and best group award, with runner-up prizes as well. Awards may also go to the best skit, and a number of cosplay skill subcategories, such as master tailor, master weapon-maker, master armourer, etc.

The most well-known cosplay competition is the World Cosplay Summit, selecting cosplayers from 20 countries to compete in the final round in Nagoya, Japan. Some other international events include European Cosplay Gathering (finals taking place at Japan Expo in Paris, France),[7] EuroCosplay (finals taking place at London MCM Expo),[8] and Nordic Cosplay Championship (finals taking place at NärCon in Linköping, Sweden).[9]

Miscellaneous events

Groups of cosplayers may choose to hold small gatherings (popularly known as meet-ups) at any number of venues, including cafés, parks, nightclubs and amusement parks. They may join to have an excuse to cosplay, to compare work, share tips or any other personal reason. Sometimes cosplayers will go out individually in their costumes in character for fun. Along the way, they may encounter other people that are interested in doing cosplay. In doing so, they meet more people in their community and form groups where they can meet new people in the world of cosplay and discuss their work and experiences.

Gender roles

A female group dressed up as male character Loki at DragonCon 2012, USA

Portraying a character of the opposite sex is crossplay. The practicality of crossplay and crossdress stems in part from the abundance in manga of male characters with delicate and somewhat androgynous features. Such characters, known as bishōnen (lit. "pretty boy"), are an Asian version of the elfin boy archetype represented in Western tradition by figures such as Peter Pan and Ariel.[10]

The animegao, or "dollers", represent a niche group in the realm of cosplay. Their approach makes them a subgroup of, what is called in Japan, kigurumi; that is, mascot-style role players. Animegao are often male cosplayers representing female characters. Female animegao are also found to represent male characters, especially male characters that lend themselves to the treatment, such as robots, space aliens and animals. Animegao wear bodysuits and masks that completely hide their real features so that the original appearance of their characters may be reproduced as literally as possible. Their costumes display all the abstractions and stylizations of the cartoon art, such as the oversized eyes and tiny mouths so often encountered in manga.

The appearance of cosplayers at manga events makes such events a popular draw for photographers. As this became apparent in the late 1980s, a new variant of cosplay developed in which cosplayers attended events mainly for the purpose of modeling 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 in designated areas removed from the exhibit hall. Photographers do not press them for personal contact information or private sessions, follow them out of the area or take photos of exhibits in the hall itself without permission. The rules allow the symbiotic relationship between photographers and cosplayers to continue with the least inconvenience to each other.[11] The late 2000s has also seen a rise of cosplay music videos.[citation needed]

Cosplay in Japan

The Jingūbashi (Jingū bridge) which passes over the Yamanote Line south of Harajuku Station, Tokyo, at the Meiji Shrine gate is a famous gathering place for cosplayers. Pictured, people dressed as visual kei style musicians in 2006

Cosplayers in Japan used to refer to themselves as reiyā (レイヤー); pronounced "layer". Currently in Japan, cosplayers are more commonly called kosupure (コスプレ); pronounced "ko-su-pray," as "reiyā" is more often used to describe layers (i.e. hair, clothes, etc.).[12] Those who photograph "players" are called cameko, short for "camera kozō" or "camera 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 formalisation of procedures at events such as Comiket. Photography takes place within a designated area removed from the exhibit hall.

Cosplay at fan events likely originated in Japan in 1978.[11] Since 1998, Tokyo's Akihabara district contains a number of cosplay 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's Harajuku district is the favourite informal gathering place to engage in cosplay in public. Events in Akihabara also draw many cosplayers.

Cosplay in Western culture

Photo of an early cosplayer, published on the front page of the Tacoma Times in 1912

The popularity of cosplay in Japan encourages the misconception that cosplay is specifically a Japanese or Asian hobby. The term cosplay is Japanese in origin, but costume play was originally a hobby from the United States where it has historically been known as "costuming" as opposed to "cosplaying". A.D. Condo's science fiction comic character "Mr. Skygack, from Mars" was the subject of cosplay in 1908 in the United States.[13] Science fiction fan Forrest J Ackerman attended the 1939 1st World Science Fiction Convention dressed in a "futuristicostume", including a green cape and breeches, based on the pulp magazine artwork of Frank R. Paul.[14] Ackerman later stated that he thought everyone was supposed to wear a costume at a science fiction convention, although only he and his girlfriend, Myrtle R. Douglas, wore one and he rarely wore one to any future convention.[15]

The hobby was then later picked up by the Japanese and reinvented by Americans. For many years, costuming has had a widespread following and continues to experience growing popularity in North America and Europe, and has more recently spread throughout South America and Australia. Western cosplay's origins are based primarily in science fiction and historical fantasy fandoms. 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 in Renaissance faires or the Society for Creative Anachronism, LARPs, and historical reenactments.

Competition at science fiction conventions typically include the masquerade (where costumes are presented on stage and judged formally) and hall costumes (where roving judges may give out awards for outstanding workmanship or presentation).[16] The increasing popularity of Japanese animation outside of Asia during the late 1990s led to an increase in American and other Western cosplayers who portray Japanese 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, take photos, and compete in costume contests. Convention attendees are frequently seen dressed up as Japanese animated characters, but 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 that evoke Nazi uniforms.

Cosplay models

Alison Carroll dressed up as Lara Croft at the Paris Game Festival 2008
See also: Promotional model

Cosplay has influenced the Japanese advertising industry, in which cosplayers are often used for event work previously assigned to agency models. Japan's burgeoning anime industry has been home to the professional cosplayers since the rise of Comiket and the Tokyo Game Show. The phenomenon is most apparent in Japan but exists to some degree in other countries as well.

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 like Cosmode and a successful cosplay model can become the brand ambassador for companies like Cospa.

Media

Magazines

Japan is home to two especially popular cosplay magazines, Cosmode (コスモード) and Dengeki Layers (電撃Layers). Cosmode has the largest share in the market and an English-language digital edition.[17] Another magazine, aimed at a broader, world-wide audience is CosplayGen.[18]

Documentaries and reality shows

  • Cosplay Encyclopedia, a 1996 film about Japanese cosplay released by the Japan Media Supply company. In 1999 it was released in subtitled VHS by Anime Works, eventually being released onto DVD later on.
  • Otaku Unite!, a 2004 film about otaku subculture, features extensive footage of cosplayers.
  • Akihabara Geeks, a 2005 Japanese short film.[19]
  • Animania: The Documentary[20] is a 2007 film that explores the cosplay cultural phenomenon in North America, following four cosplayers from various ethnicities as they prepare to compete at Anime North, Canada's largest anime convention.
  • Cosplayers: The Movie, released in 2009 by Martell Brothers Studios[21] for free viewing on YouTube and Crunchyroll, 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 the MTV series True Life, focusing on fandom and cosplay.[22]
  • Fanboy Confessional, a 2011 Space Channel series that featured an episode on cosplay and cosplayers from the perspective of an insider.
  • Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, a 2011 film about four attendees of the San Diego Comic-Con, including a cosplayer.
  • America's Greatest Otaku, a 2011 TV series where contenders included cosplayers.[23][24]
  • Cosplayers UK: The Movie, a 2011 film following a small selection of cosplayers at the London MCM Expo.[25]
  • 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 on The Electric Playground.[26]
  • Heroes of Cosplay, a reality show on cosplay that premiered in 2013 on the Syfy network. It follows nine cosplayers as they create their costumes, travel to conventions and compete in contests.[27]

Other

  • Cosplay Complex, a 2002 anime miniseries.
  • Super Cosplay War Ultra, a 2004 freeware fighting game.
  • "The Justice League Recombination", a 2010 episode of the comedy series The Big Bang Theory.[28]
  • Tween Academy: Class of 2012, a 2011 Filipino comedy film where one of the main characters is a cosplayer.[29]
  • Cosplaygirl, a 2012 short film revolving around two Star Wars cosplayers falling in love and entering a competition.[30]

Notable cosplayers

Main article: List of notable cosplayers

See also

References

  1. ^ Stuever, Hank (2000-02-14). "What Would Godzilla Say?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  2. ^ "Nobuyuki (Nov) Takahashi « YeinJee's Asian Blog: The Origin of the word cosplay". Yeinjee.com. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  3. ^ White, Sarah. "Cosplay Costumes at LoveToKnow Costumes". Costumes.lovetoknow.com. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  4. ^ Sharnea Morris (2009-03-26). "Japanese Circle Lens - A Secret Trick for Anime Cosplayers". mookychick.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  5. ^ "Skimpy Outfit Gets Lollipop Chainsaw Cosplayer Asked to Change Or Leave PAX Show Floor". Kotaku.com. 4/08/12. Retrieved 2013-11-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Azliah, Nurul. "Woman calls police over cosplayer's 'underboob' at anime festival". My.entertainment.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  7. ^ "The Best european cosplayers meet at Japan Expo for the Finals". European Cosplay Gathering. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  8. ^ "EuroCosplay Championships | London Comic Con". Mcmcomiccon.com. 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  9. ^ "NCC - The Nordic Cosplay Championship". Ncc.narcon.se. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  10. ^ Benesh-Liu, P. (2007, October). ANIME COSPLAY IN AMERICA. Ornament, 31(1), 44-49. Retrieved October 12, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database.
  11. ^ a b Thorn, Matthew (2004) Girls And Women Getting Out Of Hand: The Pleasure And Politics Of Japan's Amateur Comics Community in Fanning the Flames: Fans and Consumer Culture in Contemporary Japan William W. Kelly, ed., State University of New York Press
  12. ^ Breen, Jim. "Japanese Dictionary". Japanese Dictionary. (search for "cosplay" in English or "reiyā" in romangi). Retrieved Jan 1, 2012.
  13. ^ Miller, Ron (19 September 2013). "Was Mr. Skygack the First Alien Character in Comics?". io9. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  14. ^ Kyle, David (December 2002). "Caravan to the Stars". Mimosa (29).
  15. ^ Painter, Deborah (2010). Forry: The Life of Forrest J Ackerman. McFarland. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9780786448845.
  16. ^ "ConAdian Masquerade rules". September 1994.
  17. ^ "A Costume & Style Magazine for the Eccentric - About COSMODE". COSMODE Online. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  18. ^ "Cosplay Gen". Cosplay Gen. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  19. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2137700/
  20. ^ Published 03/29/2008 (2008-03-29). "Canadian showing of "Animania" documentary about anime phenomenon". Firefox.org. Retrieved 2012-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Cosplayers: The Movie (Video 2009)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  22. ^ "Anime Expo® and MTV Cast for True Life". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  23. ^ "About America's Greatest Otaku - America's Greatest Otaku". Americasgreatestotaku.com. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  24. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837019/
  25. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2139761/
  26. ^ "News: My Other Me: A Film About Cosplayers". Elecplay.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  27. ^ "Heroes of Cosplay". Syfy. Retrieved 2013-09-27.
  28. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632226/
  29. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2018159/
  30. ^ "CosplayGirl (2012) - IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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