Networking In The Cosplay Community

"The most popular form of presenting a cosplay is by wearing it to a fan convention. Multiple conventions dedicated to anime and manga, comics, TV shows, video games, science fiction and fantasy may be found all around the world."

(taken from Wikipedia)


Conventions are a great way to meet people, fellow cosplayers, special media, anime and comic guests, photographers, or just make friends and bum around in a fun and geeky environment!

There are panels all over the place at conventions, which are basically presentations or conferences for the entertainment of the guests.


There are tons of events within the convention event itself to meet people, don't be afraid to be social!

There is something so liberating about being in a place where people literally wear their interests on their sleeve, you don't have to hope someone likes the same things as you, they'll show it proudly!

Cosplay Photography

A big part of the cosplay world is online.

How can you showcase your work to the online world, and cosplay communities?

You take a picture!

You can either have people take your picture at a convention (which will be in the next blog entry), or you can schedule a photoshoot.

Cosplayers are very dedicated to these photoshoots because finding the perfect location for a photoshoot can make or break a photo.

This is Lisa Lou Who, cosplaying a concept she had of a Queen Ariel, from The Little Mermaid.



For cosplay photography, the power lies with the photographer.



Both the shot of Queen Ariel and Monika Lee as a "gender bent" (turned female) version of Blackbeard from Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, were taken by photographer Martin Wong.

Here are some more examples of cosplay photography.


Above photo by Benny Lee

                       


Above photos by Shiro Ang

Cosplay Materials

Today I would like to talk to you about some materials that are relatively unknown until you decide you want to become a craftsman.

Cosplayers are craftsmen, and therefore become very acquainted with employees from stores like Home Depot and Michael's, Joann's and Hobby Lobby.

(DISCLAIMER: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THE MATERIALS TO MAKE YOUR OWN COSTUME. THERE ARE MANY PLACES TO BUY THEM ONLINE, IF YOU SO CHOOSE.)

Let's begin with fabric.

Fabric is the basis of the outfit.

It is a good idea to compare swatches before buying fabric when buying fabric online, and local fabric stores along with Joann's and Walmart are also good places to get fabric for your costume.

They also sell patterns for sewing, and once you get experienced enough, you can make your own.


There are a variety of materials you can create things with for cosplay.

For gems, you can either buy some from a store or, if you want a very specific color or look, mold them yourself!

Resin is a fantastic (yet pricey) way to create realistic looking gems.

You mix Part A -Resin and Part B-hardener, and then you stir for 2 minutes.

You can use food coloring, ink, nail polish, or acrylic paint to mix the color you want, before pouring it into a mold.

There's plenty of tutorials online.

HyperionEdge has shown the end result of their gem casting.



Cosplayer extraordinaire, J Stryker, showcases his use of many techniques including resin gem casting.




Next is the wonderful world of worbla. <3

Worbla is a thermoplastic. In layman's terms, it's plastic that you can cut and shape how you like once it's been properly heated up.


Here is cosplayer Elffi's accessories for Sinbad, from the show Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic.

He has crafted his accessories using worbla which was then primed for painting, and intricately painted.





Worbla is popular because it is sturdy and durable, but the trick to all armor/accessories lies in the paint job!

EVA foam is another popular material used to make cosplays. Here, PixelNinja is seen wearing Samus Aran from the Metroid video game series.



These are expensive materials, although they have become very popular in the cosplay community for their versatility and gorgeous, professional looking results.

Craft foam and store bought gems are, however, not bad alternatives for people on a budget.

The beauty of cosplay is that you can make your dream outfit real using many different materials, there is no right or wrong way, there is only the outcome.

How Do I Cosplay?

The most common question for people interested in cosplay yet with no experience is always: "How can I cosplay?"

The challenging aspect about cosplay is that you have to take a piece of 2D art and turn it into something 3D.

This aspect can be daunting at first, but honestly, the only way to go about it is to start!

There are millions of tutorials online for all sorts of cosplay tricks and tips.

 Fire Lily Cosplay, of the website 'deviantART', has created a tutorial on how to create "armor" out of craft foam.



Here are a couple of more interesting tutorials:

Gun tutorial by Tail-Fin


Wings Tutorial by Kudrel Cosplay



Jewel Making Tutorial by Cafe-Lalonde



Here is Miava-chan of deviantART, cosplaying as Princess Bubblegum from the Cartoon Network show, Adventure Time.

She has made her character's crown with construction paper.


Here is another cosplay of the same character, instead cosplayed by Fluffyltd.

Her whose crown is made of a sturdier material, such as cut & molded craft foam, spray painted gold and topped with a dyed resin gem.



The best way to get started is to find what you have lying around your house and dive into it!

Happy Cosplaying, people!

What Is Cosplay?

Cosplay is a mixture of the words "costume" & "play".

It is an up and coming underrated hobby that is slowly making its way into the mainstream.

Cosplay is, for outsiders, a hobby for freaks and weirdos to congregate. The reason I called it underrated is because this is a growing subculture, it is more than a hobby for freaks, it is a performance art.

People wear costumes and accessories to bring their favorite characters to life, and are called 'cosplayers'.

Some people have gained enough recognition online to develop a fan base for their cosplay talents, and are considered famous in the cosplay world. Below are a couple of examples of "famous" cosplayers.

Kamui Cosplay is famous for her outrageously intricate armor-heavy cosplays. Here, she is seen in both an original concept she designed named Protoss Wizard, and Wonder Woman from the DC Comics game, "Injustice: Gods Among Us."

Yaya Han , commonly referred to as the "Queen of Cosplay” is pictured in her Moulin Rouge inspired Snow White costume, and Catwoman from the Batman game "Arkham Asylum."

The world of cosplay is incredibly diverse and unique, I look forward to writing more entries about it in the future!