If you’re not sure what cosplay is, it is the use of two words together. It is costume and roleplay. Although popularised by the guys in the Big Bang Theory, cosplay costumes have been growing in popularity for the last 20 years. Young people in particular enjoy honouring their cultural heroes and icons through cosplay costumes. Many enjoy making their own cosplay outfits and there are many websites and forums dedicated to the crafting of these. People choose to wear cosplay for a range of reasons, including during multiplayer online games, making twitch videos, or attending comic conventions. Most large towns will host one or more cosplay conventions or people may throw a cosplay theme party for a fancy dress idea.
Not every pop culture fan however has the necessary skills or time to invest in easy cosplay outfits. Luckily nowadays, there are so many wonderful anime characters that you can dress like on websites like ours. Cosplay ideas come from comics, graphic novels, gaming, anime, movies or TV series. Different genres appeal to different age groups and sub-cultures. People often identify with the main character, but some people prefer to find obscure characters or to develop a particular persona by giving it an individual twist. Even when you buy a ready-made cute cosplay outfit online, you can always personalise it or add different types of cosplay accessories.
The main rule when you are choosing an anime cosplay costume is to really know about the character who you are imitating. This is so you don’t embarrass yourself at a meeting, where someone may ask about your choice of outfit. There are interesting cosplay websites or YouTube where you can learn more about the character behind the cosplay costume that you choose.
The thing that is interesting about cosplay in Australia is that many people who may feel they don’t have friends in the real world that share their interests in a particular game or movie, the cosplay community that hosts events, allows people to meet online or in-person with others who share the same passion. You can unleash your creativity with the way you have your own story and ideas about the character. You can find a great anime costume for a cosplay event, but then you make it personalised by adding a particular weapon or jewel. You can then explain to people how you have developed the character in that way.
In the past, people labelled as geeks or nerds were the ones who enjoyed cosplay. This is because, for the most part, people who are intelligent tend to be those who find creativity in science fiction or gaming. Finding a community of people who enjoy the same outlets is why cosplay has become very popular and more in the mainstream. Comic conventions are a place where people who have become friends in cosplay communities online, get an opportunity to meet with each other and develop great friendships in real-time.
