Cosplay - Anime Takes On A New Life With Cosplay Costumes

By Ben Pate

Derived from the English words "costume" and "play" Popular Cosplay is a rapidly expanding hobby following in the wake of the anime sensation that has taken off in the past two decades. Built on the goal of crafting elaborate and astonishingly accurate costume depictions of fan's favorite anime characters, the hobby is an incredible and complex source of fun for anime fans all over the world.

In areas such as the Akihabara district in Japan, Cosplay Character has become an extremely popular and commonly exhibited pastime. In public settings such as parties, nightclubs and video games show, cosplay is a common sight. Some areas have even begun to see the emergence of cosplay cafes and venues that cater exclusively to cosplay.

Many anime events hold contests where the accuracy and attention to detail on a cosplay costume are judged based on their true depiction of the character they were designed after. This is perhaps one of the most important aspects of cosplay. The attention to detail and accuracy of a cosplay costume is the defining element of it. In this way, a players hair and skin are considered part of the costume itself and should resemble that of the character they are depicting.

Cosplay Costumes requires a myriad of craft skills to perfect. From metal to leather to simple linens the materials needed are varied. Getting the most precise and accurate costumes requires a wide range of creative talents and skills to truly depict the unique and often elaborate costumes worn in anime.

Cosplay costume trends are always changing. On a yearly and monthly basis, depending on what anime, movies and video games are currently popular, the characters of cosplay change. In the past years even some non-anime characters have become popular cosplay choices. Harry Potter and Star Wars are common choices for non-anime character costumes.

Evolving from within the hobby of cosplay itself are some subset groups of enthusiasts who have taken cosplay in new directions. Crossplay for example is a type of cosplay where the players themselves dress up as characters of the opposite sex. However since anime tends to feature characters wearing a variety of unique and not necessarily gender-specific clothing, this is not seen as all that odd.

Cosplay in recent years has drawn a great deal of media attention. Every modern anime convention features a wealth of photographers who eagerly follow and photograph cosplay costumes to put online or catalog for cosplay magazines and publications. These photographers are usually referred to as "cameko" or "camera boy". - 30295

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