do you have to dress up for anime conventions

by Dr. Micheal Koelpin 5 min read
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Not at all. You can definitely enjoy a convention without dressing up.Feb 19, 2012

Full Answer

Should you go to anime conventions in costume?

If you're a true fan, you'll not only attend comic conventions and anime conventions, but also attend them in costume. Dressing up in costume, known as cosplaying, is one of the coolest and most enjoyable things you can do at an anime or comic conveniton! If you have the time and resources, I recommend you really put some work into your costume.

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.

Do you have to dress up to go to a convention?

Dressing up in costume, or "cosplaying," at a convention is actually quite a common practice, but is not required. Many attendees will buy or even make their own costumes based on characters from their favorite show, comic, or video game.

What do you need to budget for an anime convention?

At the minimum, you will need to budget for the anime convention badge, buying food, purchasing anime merchandise, and preparing your cosplay, if you are doing one. If you decide to travel for an anime convention, you will need to budget for transportation to and from the con as well as accommodations.

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What do you wear to an anime convention?

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.

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.

Do people dress up as anime characters at Comic 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.

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.

Is there an age limit for cosplay?

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.

Can a 10 year old cosplay?

“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. Kids tend to be creative and take more risks and chances that result in amazing creations.

Can you go to an anime convention without cosplay?

Costumes are optional! However it can be really fun to dress up as your favorite anime villain and terrorize the convention.

Do you have to cosplay at anime Expo?

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.

Can you cosplay anime at comic cons?

While anime cons are not necessarily cosplay conventions, they might as well be since cosplay is a huge part of the convention culture with dedicated contests and panels to cosplay. Increasingly, comic convention goers are also getting into cosplay. Go to any comic con and you can be sure to encounter cosplay as well.

Can a 11 year old go to a cosplay convention?

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. The judgement of what is acceptable is left to the sole discretion of the Cosplay Director and Retropalooza staff.

What can I expect at an anime convention?

At a typical anime convention, expect to find rooms and rooms of anime fans and anime paraphernalia. Expect a lot of cosplayers to be there as well dressed up as all sorts of characters. More often than not, they're open for a photograph so don't be afraid to ask for one!

What should I bring to an anime convention?

How to Pack for Cosplay ConventionCosplay shoes/boots.Makeup.Cosplay wigs (spare wig)Super glue.Safety pins.Hair pins.

How old do you have to be to go to Comic Con by yourself?

Please note, NYCC recommends that all individuals under the age of 18 attend with a parent or legal guardian. All individuals under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times at NYCC.

Do you have to cosplay at anime Expo?

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.

What happens at 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.

What should I bring to anime Expo?

We work very hard to bring a wide variety of events, panels, and activities to Anime Expo....Take care of yourself.Wear comfy shoes! ... Bring sunscreen (and maybe a hat, too). ... Set aside money for food and bring a refillable water bottle. ... Try to get some rest.More items...

2022 USA Anime Convention Schedule | AnimeCons.com

2022 Worldwide Anime Convention Schedule | AnimeCons.com

Being respectful toward people who are cosplaying

Whether or not you choose to cosplay at your first convention, you should still be courteous toward people who are in costume. Always ask the cosplayer for permission before taking their photo. You should also avoid touching any props or costume pieces, even if they look so real!

Rules for props

Rules for props tend to vary the most across conventions, so definitely be sure to check the rules. Pretty much every convention will ban anything that contains live steel for swords, knives, and so on, so you always want to make your prop out of some kind of fake material.

Rules for body coverage

Since most conventions are meant to be family-friendly events, you should use your best judgment when choosing a costume. Be at least as modest in the way you dress as you would on a public beach. Most conventions will have specific rules in the amount of coverage they expect cosplayers to maintain, so be sure to check your convention guide.

Rules for makeup

It’s less common to find rules about the type of makeup allowed at conventions. However, some will include limits on any effects makeup that look like open wounds. This is to make sure people in costume are not confused with anyone who is actually injured.

Watch the size of your props

Large props can be a hazard at a crowded convention. Things like large wings, giant hammers, trailing ball gowns, etc. can all pose a problem when you’re trying to walk around a hallway.

No trespassing in areas that are not part of the convention

Avoid setting up a photoshoot in an area that is not public property or away from a convention. This includes the staircases of nearby buildings as well as private gardens that are in the area of the convention.

Respect other cosplayers and guest

While acting in character can be a fun part of cosplaying, you still need to respect other guests who are attending the convention with you. Don’t harass other attendees or act rude and obnoxious to stay in character. This also applies to other people who are cosplaying from the same show/game as you!

Overview

In general, outfits that are legal to wear in public will be legal to wear at our conventions.

Details

Outfits that cover all the “naughty bits” are usually acceptable at our events – depending on the specific circumstances. Outfits designed for no other reason other than to be as revealing as possible may be disallowed to maintain a family-friendly environment.

Exceptions

These are our policies but our host venues and certain event centers may have more restrictive policies. These policies also may be modified from time to time (even mid-event) as necessary to accommodate the public good, for goodwill, and other reasons as we find necessary.

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.

What if I haven't attended a comic convention?

I kid you not. These events are some of the most enjoyable, cathartic, interesting, inspiring, and exhausting activties in which one can engage.

Can you take a photo of cosplayers?

If you're shy, don't be afraid to ask cos players to take a photo of them- it is common practice to photograph cosplayers and nobody showing up to a convention in costume is going to get pissed if you try to take their photo so long as they're not busy with something else.

Is Halloween good for cosplay?

Sure, Halloween is good for costumes, but convention cosplay brings costume-wearing to an entirely new level. When taking photos at conventions, take full advantage of the front of the convention center and areas near entrances when shooting.

Can you dress up in anime?

If you're a true fan, you'll not only attend comic conventions and anime conventions, but also attend them in costume. Dressing up in costume, known as cosplaying, is one of the coolest and most enjoyable things you can do at an anime or comic conveniton! If you have the time and resources, I recommend you really put some work into your costume.

Do anime conventions have excuses?

Anime conventions and comic cons would not have much of an excuse for existing if they did not bring in interesting speakers and personalities, and these panels and appearances make up a huge proportion of these events' draw.

What is the highlight of anime conventions?

Another highlight of anime conventions is seeing hundreds of artists come together to display their creativity and earn extra bucks from doing what they love. This is personally the area I spend most money on, as my poster wall can never get enough prints. Make sure to take their business card or save their website or Tumblr URL so you can check out their other work!

Where was the anime expo 2016?

How did you spend your pre-holiday weekend this year? Being the nerd that I am, I spent my time at Anime Expo 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center . This annual summer event attracts thousands of anime and manga fans from across the nation, and it's four days of special panels, merchandise shopping, artist features, concerts, cosplay, gaming, karaoke and much more. But Anime Expo can be overwhelming to first-time convention attendees, as it's the largest anime convention in the U.S., so here are some helpful guidelines to help you have the best time! First of all..

Is convention crowded?

Conventions are crowded and hectic places. It's already easy to lose your friends in the vast sea of attendees and even easier to lose your bags, purse and other items.

How much does it cost to attend an anime convention?

Smaller anime conventions usually cost around $30 for a pre-registered badge. Larger conventions can cost $50-$60 for a badge.

How to dress for a cosplay convention?

1. 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.

What to do if your cosplay gets damaged?

This way, if your cosplay gets damaged, you can fix it easily and quickly. Loose cash to spend on food and souvenirs. You may want to set a budget so you do not spend too much money on clothing, posters, DVDs, books, and other merchandise at the con. A camera and extra batteries or a plug in charger.

What to put in a convention survival kit?

You should include several key items in your convention survival kit, including: A sewing kit, duct tape, and markers to make emergency repairs on your cosplay.

Do you have to preregister for anime con?

You should always try to pre-register for anime cons, as it will cost you less to attend and you will get to wait in a shorter line to pick up your badge. If you decide to pre-register, you should make sure you are able to attend as most anime con badges are non-refundable and non-transferable.

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