do most people cosplay for anime cons

by Brannon Rutherford 4 min read
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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.Feb 19, 2012

Is Cosplay a part of anime conventions?

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.

Can I enter a costume contest 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.

Is it bad to buy a cosplay costume online?

Not everyone has the time to sew a costume, or their skills may not be good enough yet to make what they want. It is not a bad thing at all to buy your costume online. Again, don't worry if people make a big deal about it. Cosplaying is about having fun.

Can you take pictures at a cosplay convention?

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.

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Do people cosplay at anime cons?

Coming to an anime convention for the first time can be an exciting experience! All kinds of people attend conventions, even people who aren't super into anime. Many people love their characters so much that they cosplay and come in costume.

Should I go to anime con?

Anime conventions are a great way to meet other anime fans, learn about your favorite anime, and have a lot of fun. You don't have to spend much on costumes or tickets, and you're sure to have a great time. Even if you've never attended one before, you should consider going to an anime convention.

What do you do at an anime con?

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.

Is there such thing as an anime con?

An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses.

Can a 14 year old go to an anime convention?

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.

How do I prepare for my first con?

How to Survive Your First Con: Advice for Newbies from a Veteran Comic Con AttendeeCome Prepared. newyorkcomiccon. ... Get Ready to Wait. ... Pick a Meeting Place Ahead of Time. ... Keep It Clean. ... Cosplay With Care (and Respect) ... Make a Plan on What to Do/See. ... Bring Cash (and Make a Budget) ... Don't Panic.More items...•

Should I cosplay at my first con?

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.

How much does anime con cost?

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.

Are anime conventions kid friendly?

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.

What is the #1 anime in the world?

Anime Top 10Top 10 Best Rated (bayesian estimate) (Top 50)#titlerating1Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV)9.082Steins;Gate (TV)9.043Clannad After Story (TV)9.028 more rows

How old do you have to be to go to anime con?

13 years oldAttendees age 13 years old and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, age 18 or older, for the duration of their time at the event. Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult if required to pick up their badge in Will Call at the Registration Booth.

What is the biggest anime con?

Anime Expo is the largest anime con around, with over 100,000 fans in attendance. Grab your friends, craft your cosplay, and get ready to experience anime like never before.

My experience with cosplay conventions and why you should listen to Senpai

I’ve been to a lot of cosplay conventions, so Senpai definitely has a lot of experience! Photo by OOC Photography.

4. How much is a cosplay convention?

The price of a convention can vary, depending on how big it is and if you need to travel outside of your hometown.

5. How old do you have to be to go to a cosplay convention?

Cosplay is for all ages! Image by Press 👍👍 Love you 💖 from Pixabay.

6. Can kids go to cosplay conventions?

There are special rules when kids are at conventions. Image by Neill McLaughlin from Pixabay.

7. Do cosplay conventions cost money?

Cons like Anime North are very expensive to run, so they need all the money to financially pay for the expenses.

8. What are the biggest cosplay conventions?

Anime Central in Chicago is one of the larger Anime conventions in the United States.

9. How much money should I bring to an anime con?

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.

What is cosplay chess?

Cosplay Chess is a form of human cosplay, where the characters are formed into two teams, which are controlled by two players, usually two more characters.

Can you take a picture of a cosplayer?

Simply ask if you can take their picture. Almost always they will say yes - cosplayers love to have their picture taken because it shows that people like their costume. However, please be respectful if they say no. They may be in a rush to meet someone, go to a panel or judging, or something else.

Is it bad to buy a costume online?

It is not a bad thing at all to buy your costume online. Again, don't worry if people make a big deal about it. Cosplaying is about having fun. However, do not say you made the costume when you actually bought it, and whatever you do, don't enter it in any craftsmanship judging. That is cheating.

Is cosplay a part of anime conventions?

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.

1. Learn what to expect

The first thing to do when attending a convention is to learn what to expect. Some conventions are different than others depending on the size of the convention!

2. Plan what to spend money on

Sometimes conventions can be cheap, and sometimes they can be expensive. Conventions that have a free ConSuite or ConSweet (TM) offer free snacks and sodas through the weekend so that you can recharge and save money. If you have to buy beverages from the hotel then expect prices to be higher than elsewhere.

3. Make your costumes well in advance

Costumes are optional! However it can be really fun to dress up as your favorite anime villain and terrorize the convention. Note that most conventions have policies against destructive behavior - actual villain behavior is not allowed.

4. Eat healthy and hydrate

It's super easy to get so caught up in convention events that you forget to eat and drink plenty of water. So remember to drink water and snack throughout the day so that you don't collapse. This is especially important if you go to the convention dance or if you have a heavy costume.

5. Be safe

If you're younger, bring a responsible adult with you to the convention. Make sure that someone is reachable in case of emergency by programming the emergency contact in your phone or having it written on a card in your wallet. Also make sure that you can be reached in case a family member is looking for you.

6. Expect the unexpected

Sometimes guests cancel at the last minute (flight cancellations are happening more and more frequently last minute). Or sometimes panels won't happen that you expected. Try not to plan your entire convention experience around just one event, in case something happens to that event.

7. Bring friends with you

Conventions are definitely social events! Dressing up in costume and hanging out with friends who like the same series is a huge part of the experience. If you love anime, video games, comic books, Disney movies, or anything else, enjoying it with others is more fun.

1. Panels and workshops

Almost every convention will have an assortment of different panels and workshops you can attend. These will focus on anything from voice acting, cosplay tips, industry announcements, fandom panels, and anything else you can think of. There are even workshops aimed to entertain the children that go to conventions.

2. Cosplay and photography

The cosplay and photography are my favorite parts of any convention. There are so many people who have done an amazing job at recreating the characters from anime, comics, movies, and games. If you find your favorite character roaming around the convention, you can ask for a photograph.

3. Get autographs

Many of the larger anime conventions will bring in famous voice actors and actors as guests. There might be panels and industry events with the actors to give fans a chance to get insider information and ask some questions.

4. The Masquerade (costume and skit competition)

A popular event at most conventions is usually known as the masquerade (the name will vary at different conventions). This is basically a costume and skit competition. If you make your own costume you can enter to have it judged based on your mastery of your sewing and construction skills.

5. Watch anime and premiere screenings

There will also be video programming at conventions. This is where I go when I want to relax after walking around for so long. You find everything from anime music videos to old cartoons and popular anime. Sometimes there will be showings of entire seasons of the show, and sometimes you’ll get a taste of four or five episodes to see if you like it.

7. Cultural events

Some anime conventions will also have cultural events. Since the appeal of anime also introduces a lot of fans to Japanese culture, you’ll find panels aimed to educate people about different aspects of history, mythology, and cultural aspects of Japan outside of anime.

8. The game room

Anime, comic, and gaming conventions will have large rooms set aside with all sorts of games available to play. You can play all kinds of console games. There are old N64 consoles, and I’ve even seen SEGA games at conventions.

What is cosplaying on Halloween?

It is literally the act of dressing as a character and becoming that character. People technically do it on Halloween, but many make viable careers out of doing it year-round. Cosplayers usually start out casual just buying costumes or learning how to sew with parents and YouTube tutorials.

What to do when you're a cosplayer?

Doing a photo shoot is one of the coolest things a cosplayer can do. It is arguably the ultimate way to showcase your work and modeling abilities. Many cosplayers’ photoshoot photos have gone viral and gotten them great opportunities, so you can understand why folks choose to do them. Often, they have a professional photographer taking the photos and they have a set plan in mind. If you see a cosplay photoshoot going on, ask permission to join in and take your own pictures so you don’t accidentally get in the way.

What do cosplayers make their own props for?

Many cosplayers make their own props to go with their cosplay. The prop may be a staff, toy, weapon, or other accessories that make the character pop. These props are usually handmade, delicate, or both. Knowing this, do not just grab a cosplayer’s prop without respect or permission.

What to do when a cosplayer is on break?

Taking regular breaks to drink water, eat, and rest is essential to your wellbeing. Most folks follow the unspoken rule that when a cosplayer is on break, you do not bother them for photos or signatures. Nobody wants to be bothered while they are eating with friends and ‘off-duty’.

What is the best source of inspiration for cosplay?

When choosing someone to cosplay in public, one of the biggest sources for character inspiration is children’s characters. When you are in cosplay, especially as a kids’ character, you must be mindful of how you act. Do not say or do anything that your character won’t do while you are in costume.

Is cosplay fun?

Cosplay is meant to be a fun and exhilarating experience but there are still some rules that fans and cosplayers are constantly breaking. As a kid, I freaking loved Halloween. Dressing up as your latest favorite characters, going out around your neighborhood, getting candy with your friends; an actual kids’ paradise.

Can you hug a cosplayer?

Many cosplayers have experienced unwanted photos, comments, and physical contact at conventions and events. If you want to hug or touch a cosplayer, always ask permission; if you don’t and you grab them, that is a crime. Respect their agency and ask for permission and you both will have a way better time.

1. Forgetting part of your costume at home

Forgetting a piece of your cosplay is a more common mistake than you might think. Most costumes have an assortment of different parts that you need to assemble when you wear it. From the wig, to the shoes, gloves, undershirt, special effects makeup, and more, you might accidentally forget a piece of the costume at home.

2. Wearing a messy wig

Your hair frames your face and can seriously enhance the look of your cosplay. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. If you don’t take care of your wig, it could easily end up with stray hairs that detract from the quality of the rest of your costume.

3. Not following costume rules

All conventions will have their own rules about costumes that you can check on the event website. These rules will cover basics, including how much the costume has to cover you, the types of special effects makeup allowed, whether full-face masks are permitted and what to do about dresses and clothing that drag on the floor.

4. Finishing your cosplay the night before the convention

We’ve all been there. You’re in the hotel room the night before the convention frantically finishing your costume so you can wear it tomorrow. You’ll end up staying up late into the morning or even pulling an all-nighter just to get the costume to be wearable. It’s a stressful way to start your convention weekend.

5. Offending others by acting in character

While a lot of focus in cosplay goes to the costume itself, there is also an aspect of roleplay. You can have fun acting as your character when you put on the costume. For the most part, this is all well and good. It just adds to the fun of cosplay.

6. Bringing an inappropriate prop

Just like conventions have rules for costumes, they also have rules for the types of props you can bring with you. Pretty much all conventions will limit any kind of live steel, ruling out any real swords or blades of any kind. However, beyond this, the rules can vary dramatically.

7. Wearing uncomfortable shoes

Your costume might look absolutely fantastic with those 5-inch heels, but by the time you walk the three blocks from your hotel to the convention center, you will regret your choice of footwear. This goes for other types of shoes as well. You do a lot of walking at conventions.

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