The Art Of Cosplay
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When most people think about Comic Con, the first thought tends to be a man dressed in a Spider-Man outfit, a woman dressed as Harley Quinn or something so bizarre that you cannot figure out what exactly you are looking at but at the same time esteemed anime lovers might be able to tell you in detail the character that the cosplayer embodied… down to the season the character dawned their cloak.
Cosplay is a performance art in which the participants dress in costumes and make-up, representing characters from anime, video games, television and film. In addition to creating authentic costumes, the cosplayers also act in character and are usually subject matter experts on the characters they are replicating.
When you see someone in cosplay, it is always important to remember the golden rule:
Always be respectful towards the cosplayer. You might have heard “Cosplay is not consent” before, this is a popular phrase in the community, meaning that attending an event or wearing a certain outfit does not mean people can act however they want toward cosplayers.
Cosplayers achieve their looks through a mixture of costumes, wigs, accessories, and props. They might even put their own creative spin on a fandom favourite. It definitely is a form of escapism where a cosplayer can go into a world of mysterious mystery to embody someone or something close to their heart. Many cosplayers have developed a deep passion for their cosplaying and express their love for it through social media, public appearances, TikTok and other channels.
The beauty of cosplaying is that anyone can join in and be part of the culture. Cosplaying does not discriminate based on gender, sexual orientation, race, body type, or anything. You can be a green Shrek or literally a tree like Groot. The possibilities are endless.
For me personally, cosplaying works with a few quotes
- You are never too old to cosplay. Get that out of your mind.
- You can cosplay whoever you want. It does not have to be someone popular, but it can be someone you absolutely love. Keep in mind though, that offensive cosplaying is always frowned upon. So be mindful.
- Cosplaying is supposed to be fun. So make it fun! Don’t ever forget this. For most of us, this is just a hobby. So unless you’re a professional cosplayer who has to do it for a living, there’s no need to put so much pressure on yourself when it comes to cosplaying.
- Cosplay has to be accurate. Even though you can put your own spin on it, it’s always best to focus on the importance of the original character that you are trying to represent at the end of the day.
“Halloween is one day; cosplay is all-year round.”
~Roger Senpai
Let’s take a look at three unique and absolutely brilliant cosplayers.
Be sure to check them out at Comic Con Africa 2022!
Leon Chiro
Leon Chiro is a professional wrestling champion, cosplayer, model, and influencer from Italy. He has done official collaborations as a professional cosplayer and influencer for such renowned video game companies as Ubisoft (Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs), Bandai Namco (All Might My Hero One’sJustice), Square Enix (Gladiolus in Final Fantasy XV), and Capcom (who gave him an honorary mention for his portrayal of Dante). Additionally, he has been featured as a special guest at more than 130 events in 60 countries.
Follow him on Instagram: Leon Chiro or visit his website at www.leonchiro.com
Photo credit: From cosplay.fandom.com/wiki/Leon_Chiro
Elizabeth Rage
Hailing from Los Angeles, Elizabeth Rage is a professional cosplayer and costume designer. She officially represented the character of Nemesis for the pre-launch campaign for Tower of Fantasy at Anime Expo 2022. Elizabeth has previously won several significant awards such as the Grand Prize at the D23 ‘Mousequerade’ in 2015. She appeared on many viral videos on YouTube where she debuted in 2012 collecting 200 million+ views on her performances.
Elizabeth also worked as a costume designer for the channel Man At Arms and videogame companies such as Cygames (for Shadowverse), Ubisoft (For Honor) and Bandai Namco (Soulcalibur).
Follow her on Instagram or on her TikTok page
Photo credit: From her Instagram and TikTok accounts
Taryn
The Italian artist and actor Taryn is a professional cosplayer, performer, promotional model, and international cosplayer. He travels the world as a cosplayer, spreading the passion, positivity, and art of cosplay to every country, urging everyone to never give up and to believe in themselves. He works with several important brands in the geek and anime industry, including miHoYo, Crunchyroll, and Bandai Namco. Genshin Impact, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher, Castlevania, and many others have featured him as a performer.
Follow him on Instagram or support his various other channels by clicking here!
Photo credit: From his twitter page.
Are you into cosplaying? Or are you a cosplayer? TAG me in your next social media post! I would love to see and share your photos and videos with my followers!
Stay Curious! Stay Blessed!
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