Cosplay, Enter a Fantasy World

Cosplay, also known as Costume-Play has become a world wide fetish for many. Cosplay consists of a person dressing up in costume, typically as a specific favored character of choice. Some will spend days to create a custom outfit, authentic to the character they are trying to portray. Others will purchase their costume from one of the many on-line shops that specialize in creating a custom costume.

Cosplay has become more than just dressing up as you would on Halloween. It is a year round event and typically takes place at anime or comic book conventions. At these events you will see many individuals dressed up as Japanese Anime characters, Comic Book Characters, as well as self-created characters. They have contests such as costume contests and cosplay contests. The difference between these two is a costume contest is just that, you model your costume in-front of a panel of judges to be rated. A cosplay contest involves the person acting out a skit involving the character they are impersonating. Some may put on a short play, where as others will sing a song or dance.

It is quite common for many people to use cosplay as an out from your every day life. It is a day for them to feel as though they are someone else. Some cosplayers have gone as far as to completely take on the whole personality of the character they are posing as. To some, it gives them an inner power, can make them feel more attractive, or just allow them to release inner emotions they normally would not.

I will admit, you might run into a few who are to say the least a little out there. But for the most part the cosplay community is one of the most accepting and friendly you will come across. I assume this has to do with it originating from Japan, which from personal experience is one of the most respectful cultures I have ever come across.