What Is Cosplay and Why Do People Do It?

[Mark Siebert]

What if I told you dress-up isn’t just for Halloween? Eight years ago, I discovered the world of cosplay, a costume and performance focused art with hundreds of thousands of talented community members who share the same common interest of dressing head-to-toe as a fictional character. The concept might sound a bit nerdy—it is! But that’s what makes it fun and special, speaking as a cosplayer myself.

Maybe you’ve heard of Comic Con or stumbled across someone building a cosplay on social media. This extremely creative hobby (and profession) is growing in popularity faster than ever in 2022 with cosplay-based content receiving frequent attention on Instagram and TikTok. So, what’s the big deal?

 

[Rick Grossmann]

A clever combination of the words “costume” and “play,” cosplay is the act of dressing up as a character or concept from (usually) fictional works. Cosplayers don the outfits of their favorite characters as they wander around conventions, fan events, theme parks, movie premieres, and more. Over the past few decades, cosplay has become immensely popular. Because it’s a hobby that spans so many genres, interests, crafts, and abilities, just about anybody can enjoy it. The strict costume rules for adults at Walt Disney World have inspired DisneyBounding, or dressing in a character-themed outfit rather than an actual costume. Similarly, many cosplayers get creative with closet cosplay, where costumes are created using regular clothing—often things they already have in their closets.

[Joseph Joshua]

For those who are especially crafty, costumes can be sewn from scratch, built out of cardboard or foam, and even 3D printed. When it comes to cosplay, the only limit is your imagination. If you’re ready to try your hand at cosplay, or are looking for inspiration for your next costume build, join us on the first Wednesday of each month at the Headquarters Library for Cosplay Club, presented by MakerSpace. We also have some great books in our collection to help you get started.

[Mark Siebert]

The word “cosplay” comes from the words “costume” and “play.” Cosplayers are known for their versatility and strong attention to detail, combining the skills of sewing, foam and thermoplastic work, prop building, wig styling, special effects makeup, and more into their work to ensure everything looks according to a specific character’s design. These characters are sourced from a variety of things, such as movies, video games, Japanese anime series, or even original designs—anything you want as long as it makes you happy!

The “play” part comes in when actions or dialogues are included to mimic the character even further past the visual aspect. Most cosplayers will flock to either fan conventions or cosplay social media spaces where they can interact with others who enjoy the same fandoms as they do and take part in impressions, skits, and more. The community aspect of cosplay is very strong, allowing for a safe, judgment-free space to simply have fun and be yourself.

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