Cosplay Facts for Kids

Cosplay (コスプレ, kosupure) is a short way of saying of "Costume Play". It is an act of dressing up to look like an anime, manga, video game, Japanese rock, or Jpop character. A person who does this is called a Cosplayer.

Cosplay can be divided into two parts, basic cosplay and masquerade cosplay. Both types of cosplay involve trying to physically look like the character, including speaking like the character, memorizing quotes and so on. Masquerading, or "The Masquerade," usually refers to a cosplay competition where cosplayers demonstrate their skills in creating costumes, putting on skits, and in technical matters.

Even though cosplaying is originally from Japan, there are a number of cosplay communities in Malaysia, China, the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines, because of the popularity of Japanese animation, movies, and popular culture in those countries.

Cosplay communities often hold events such as parties and conventions. Some of the best cosplayers can be famous amongst otaku.

Images for kids

Cosplayers at Yukicon 2014, a fan convention in Finland
Three cosplayers at the Comic Con in Long Beach 2014, representing a Star Trek character, the superheroine Wonder Woman (DC comics universe) and supervillain Loki (Marvel comics universe)
A Mr. Skygack – an early modern costuming or cosplay outfit, Washington state, 1912
Forrest J Ackerman and Morojo at the 1st World Science Fiction Convention in "futuricostumes" designed and sewed by Morojo
Costuming at the 1982 San Diego Comic-Con.
Madoka Kaname and Kyubey from Puella Magi Madoka Magica during Tracon 2013 event at the Tampere Hall in Tampere, Finland
A model cosplaying Ciri, a main character of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Monogatari series cosplayers at Nippombashi Street Festa 2014
The four voice actresses of the Japanese manga/media franchise Milky Holmes reenacting the famous cover of the Beatles album Abbey Road (1969) during their London visit in 2010
In 2011, four cosplayers imitate the above scene (a meme) during the Manga convention Paris Manga 2012 at a zebra crossing in Paris
A crowd including many cosplayers at Comiket 84 in 2013
A cosplayer at the 2011 Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong contest dressed as a character from Gantz
Aria H. Kanzaki from Aria the Scarlet Ammo by a crossplayer from New Zealand
"Cosplay Is Not Consent" sign at the 2014 New York Comic Con.
The Jingūbashi (Jingu 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, a group of people dressed as visual kei style musicians in 2006
Willy Wonka (from Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and the Mad Hatter (from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) at the 2013 London Comic Con

Cosplay facts for kids

Images for kids

See also