Dressing up isn’t just for Halloween—it has evolved into an art form. Cosplay is a costume and performance-focused art with hundreds of thousands of talented community members, all of whom share the common interest of dressing head-to-toe as a fictional character. These characters are sourced from a variety of media forms, such as movies, television shows, video games, and especially Japanese anime series. 

Where Did it Originate?

The creation of cosplay originated in Japan and is often attributed to Nobuyuki Takahashi of Studio Hard. Takahashi created the term after attending the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles (LA), California. Takahashi was extremely impressed by the masquerade and created the term “kosupure” (コスプレ), which translates to “cosplay” in English.  The term did not take hold immediately; however, it became more and more popular as it received exposure through television and magazines in the 1990s. 

The very first World Cosplay Summit was held in 2003 at the Rose Court Hotel in Japan with five cosplayers who were invited from Germany, France, and Italy. From there on out, cosplaying rapidly rose in popularity and became a significant phenomenon throughout the world. 

What’s so Special About Cosplays?

Creating a costume isn’t as easy as it seems. Cosplayers are known for their versatility and strong attention to detail. To create an accurate depiction of their favorite characters, skills such as sewing, foam and thermoplastic work, prop building, wig styling, and special effects makeup are required to ensure that everything looks according to the specific characters’ designs. Depending on how complex the character is, it may take cosplayers up to weeks to finish. However, many beginner cosplayers tend to purchase the costumes, since it may be overwhelming at first. To add to the costume, cosplayers tend to study the behavior of the characters they are portraying to mimic their speech patterns and behaviors. 

Not only does cosplaying create beautiful works of art, it also has built an inclusive and judgment-free environment where individuals can express themselves and have fun. There are conventions and expos worldwide where people gather to appreciate each others’ works and nerd out over their favorite characters. Some of the biggest conventions in the United States are San Diego Comic Con, New York Comic Con, Anime Expo in LA, Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, and many others.

The cosplay community has brought people from all backgrounds and cultures together. Whether for personal enjoyment or artistic expression, the motivation for cosplay is diverse and varied. It is through this act of dressing up as their favorite characters that cosplayers gain a sense of belonging and confidence. Cosplay has proven to be a wonderful outlet for creativity and self-expression, and its popularity only continues to grow.