Cosplay: From fandom to fashion

An attendee dressed as Ryuk from Death Note poses during New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
| Photo Credit: CHARLES SYKES/AP

The word cosplay is short for ‘costume play’ which is a fun hobby when people dress up as characters from their favourite movies, TV shows, video games, comics, anime and books. 

A quick history

Although it might seem that the trend of cosplaying your favourite character is a recent trend, its roots can be traced back to 1980 in Japan. Anime, manga and science fiction fans began attending conventions dressed up as their favourite characters. In the year 1984, a Japanese journalist namely Nobuyuki Takahashi coined the term ‘cosplay’ after attending the World Science Fiction Convention in Los Angeles. He observed several fans dressed as characters from Star Trek, Doctor Who and other science fiction movies & books and he used the words ‘costume’ and ‘play’ to describe the scenario and thus the term Cosplay was born.

Attendees dressed as Jack and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
| Photo Credit:
CHARLES SYKES/AP

Over the years, cosplay has spread from Japan worldwide as anime, video games and superhero movies became a global phenomenon. The concept of cosplay is not just confined to conventions instead it has become a mainstream medium for self-expression. Several major cities across the world host cosplay events namely Comic Con where a large number of people turn up to celebrate the fandom and showcase their creativity dressing up as certain characters.

The growth of cosplay culture

Ever since the boom of social media, cosplay has seen a significant rise in its growth and popularity. Earlier, people used to wait for the cosplay competition at conventions across the world. But today, the tables have turned as the cosplayers don’t have to wait to showcase their creativity and express their love for being part of particular fandoms. From Instagram to YouTube and Pinterest, the world of social media is full of cosplay content from people all over the world sharing tutorials, tips & tricks, performances and so much more.

Attendees dressed as Tusken Raiders from Star Wars.
| Photo Credit:
CHARLES SYKES/AP

Several social media creators have turned their cosplay passion into full-time careers and helped spread the visibility of this art form. Whenever you have a character to cosplay, there is a 100% chance that there’s a huge community on the internet sharing tips & tricks to create the costume, how to have a fantastic performance and just support and encouragement in general. Cosplay has become a global community because of social media where fans worldwide are part of the fandom, share their passion and support each other’s creativity.

The cosplay community

One of the most fascinating parts of cosplay is the sense of community it brings forth. People across the world share their passion, encourage other people and support each other’s creativity in the cosplay community. With the help of conventions, meet-ups, cosplay groups, online communities, and social media platforms, it has been easier than ever to find people who share interests similar to yours and help in having a worldwide network. The cosplay community is known for its inclusivity as it wholeheartedly welcomes people from all backgrounds, professions, ages and genders. These communities have become a haven for people to truly be themselves and celebrate their love for fandoms in any form they want. Being a part of the cosplay community not only helps one celebrate a fandom but also fosters a sense of empowerment and self-discovery.

A Cosplayer dressed as Hulk Hogan at the 6th annual Alto Delhi Comic Con.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/The Hindu

More than just a costume

When it comes to cosplay, several people across the world enjoy making their costumes from scratch. The catch here is — you can buy a pre-stitched outfit and customise it according to the character you want to cosplay. Some like to play around with the costume adding their twists or re-imagining the characters with a quirky flair. While others like to be immensely true to the characters and make their costume with every minute detail. If you think cosplay is just about dressing up as your favourite character then you are completely wrong! It is about acting like them too. People enjoy acting like the characters they dress up as to get a feel of a live-action movie set especially in Comic Con events. There are several competitions held at conventions where participants are rewarded basis of their costumes, originality and performance.

An attendee dressed as the Corpse Bride poses during New York Comic Con.
| Photo Credit:
CHARLES SYKES/ AP

Cosplay is more than dressing up, it has become a pop-culture movement. With the ever-evolving media, cosplay continues to be a medium celebrating creativity and passion as new characters and stories keep emerging. It is a way to build a community that shares the love and interest for your favourite characters, movies, books, shows, comics, etc. The cosplay community continues to remain an exciting medium for fans to engage, support and showcase creativity. So, what are you waiting for? Invite your friends over, ask them to dress up as their favourite characters and have a cosplay party!