Yes and no. You see, at any anime convention or comic con show, you can be sure to see the best and most popular cosplayers in their self-created or commissioned cosplay costumes representing their favorite fictional characters. It’s huge, it’s international and it’s a celebrated phenomenon!
Cosplay is definitely a huge part of anime conventions. In addition to all the hall costumes, there are numerous cosplay events and costume contests. It's always fun to dress up as your favorite character and have your picture taken. Here's some advice about cosplaying at an anime convention.
However, most anime convention costume contests require that your character be of Japanese origin, so be sure to check the rules before entering. How do I make a costume? See the article So you want to be a Cosplayer? to learn all about that.
Throw some small stuff like your socks into it. Pack your costumes in the order you’ll wear them. i.e. Friday cosplay on top, Saturday cosplay in the middle of the suitcase, Sunday cosplay on the bottom. That way, when you arrive at the hotel, you can immediately take out your Friday cosplay and get ready to head out the con.
Just do everyone a favor and wear some deodorant so there’s no stank up in the con. While cosplayers are happy that folks admire their cosplays and are flattered that you want to take pictures, there is an unsaid rule; ask for permission before filming them.
At Anime Expo (“AX”), we celebrate the creativity of cosplayers and encourage everyone to cosplay whomever they wish–regardless of size, gender, age, religion, shape, color, or even species.
As cosplay has become more mainstream and accessible, people have been able to enter the world of costume creation at younger ages. On average, cosplayers wear their first costume to a convention at age 21. However, there is no age limit for cosplay.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. If you are not cosplaying, you should make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes, as you will likely be on your feet most of the day. The convention may be hot once you are inside the venue, so you may want to dress in layers to stay comfortable.
Ages 14-17: Anyone 14 and older must purchase a 4-day or 1-day general attendee badge. Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to pick up their badge. We recommend attendees ages 14-17 have a parent or guardian close by for the duration of the event.
“Can kids cosplay?” A resounding YES. Children can cosplay and even do a good bit of the work that is involved in creating costumes and characters.
COSPLAY IS AN ALL-AGES EVENT. There will have one competition for children 13 and under and then a contest for anyone else entered. The Cosplay choice should be considered a PG-13 rated event at the most.
Absolutely, in fact the majority of attendees don't do cosplay for the event. And if this is your first time, it may be for the best if you opt for comfort over creativity. If you have a relevant t-shirt, Comic-Con is a great place to wear it.
The cost to attend the convention For most large anime conventions, expect the ticket price to be between $80-$100. Smaller events will typically charge somewhere around $40-$60.
Generally, if your child is above the age of 13, well behaved, and traveling with a group of trusted friends, it's probably fine for them to attend the convention without you. Is my child safe? Anime cons are generally very safe environments.
If you've never been to an anime con, they are typically multi day events over the course of a weekend. Anywhere from two to four days, fans gather together to indulge in all things anime. Cosplayers also gather to show off their costumes, meet other cosplayers, and participate in shoots together.
How to Pack for Cosplay ConventionCosplay shoes/boots.Makeup.Cosplay wigs (spare wig)Super glue.Safety pins.Hair pins.
Find Anime NYC - 3 Day Pass tickets New York starting as low as $317.00. Most tickets will be general admission. We sometimes have premium or VIP tickets available. They can cost as much as $761.00 a ticket.
I’ve been to a lot of cosplay conventions, so Senpai definitely has a lot of experience! Photo by OOC Photography.
The price of a convention can vary, depending on how big it is and if you need to travel outside of your hometown.
Cosplay is for all ages! Image by Press 👍👍 Love you 💖 from Pixabay.
There are special rules when kids are at conventions. Image by Neill McLaughlin from Pixabay.
Cons like Anime North are very expensive to run, so they need all the money to financially pay for the expenses.
Anime Central in Chicago is one of the larger Anime conventions in the United States.
Don’t come to a cosplay convention empty-handed! Bring some extra cash for the dealer’s room and for food after. 🙂 Image by Andrew Khoroshavin from Pixabay.
How to organize your cosplays. Put all your stuff for one particular cosplay into one large bag. You don’t want to put your cosplay pants in the main compartment of the suitcase and then your gloves in a different bag . No way!
Cosplay props and armor can be very fragile, so the best thing to do is wrap them with towels, bubble wrap or with clothing. That way, it’ll be able to withstand the bumpy roads during the trip to the convention. Ideally, you want to carry these items with you on the bus or in front of you in the car.
Footwear. Cosplay shoes and boots. Casual shoes (for sightseeing or walking around the convention as a normie) Sandals (if you want to grab an ice or chill in the hotel lobby, it’s much easier to just slip on sandals than to put on your socks and tie your shoes.
The resale of tickets (“scalping”) is against the law and will not be permitted. Reselling online will result in badge and ticket (s) being cancelled without refund. Scalping/ reselling onsite, in or around the Los Angeles Convention Center or LA Live area, is prohibited and strictly enforced.
Before you apply for the disabled credential and a disabled credential for your helper, you must first make sure that you (the attendee) and helper have registered and paid for a badge on the Anime Expo website. You and the helper can also purchase a badge at Registration if you are on site.