I was never a fan of cosplay growing up. I thought it was silly and over the top, and the idea of dressing up like someone else seemed too far-fetched for me to take seriously. That all changed when I went to my first convention with a group of friends in college.
At first, I felt out of place among all these people proudly sporting costumes based on their favorite characters from movies, comics, books, and video games.
But as I started talking to some of them – finding out why they liked certain things or what inspired them to dress up that way – something shifted inside me. It wasn’t just about looking cool; most had devoted countless hours into perfecting each detail in order to bring their favorite character alive!
Hearing stories about how people became part of this community made me look at cosplay differently.
Sure, there may be some who use it as an excuse for attention but even then, it’s still no different than any other form art where you can express yourself through creativity and performance. Plus being able to bond with others who share your same interests is always a bonus!
In the end, whether or not one likes cosplay is entirely subjective; so long as you’re respectful towards others while having fun doing what you love – then go right ahead!
Why do people cosplay?
I’m one of those people who loves to cosplay. I can’t help it; there’s just something special about becoming a different person, even if only for a day or two.
It’s like stepping into another world and living out my wildest fantasies.
Cosplaying has become an important part of my life since I was a teenager. I remember the first time I tried it—it was at a comic book convention in Chicago.
When I put on that costume, all eyes were on me, and suddenly everything felt different. The atmosphere around me changed from loud and chaotic to captivatingly calm as everyone watched me with admiration and awe in their eyes.
That feeling of being admired for my costumes is what made me fall in love with cosplaying—and it’s why I still do it today!
It isn’t just about dressing up though; for many people, cosplaying is more than that—it’s also about connecting with others who share your same interests and passions.
Whether you’re dressed up as your favorite superhero or character from an anime series, you’ll find yourself surrounded by like-minded individuals who are eager to talk to you and learn more about the story behind the costume they see before them.
For some people, cosplaying is also therapeutic in its own way; when we slip into our costumes we can get away from reality for a little while and step into someone else’s shoes (or cape).
We can forget our worries for a while–even if only temporarily–and be free to express ourselves without judgment or criticism from anyone around us.
It allows us to escape our daily lives so we can reenergize ourselves before diving back into reality again later on down the line.
Cosplaying will always have its place in my heart because no matter where life takes me next , there will always be something special waiting whenever I decide to pick up one of these colorful ensembles once again
The Unspoken Issues of Cosplaying: A Closer Look at the Darker Side.
It’s official, I’m done with cosplay. Don’t get me wrong — it was a ton of fun! There’s nothing quite like being called your favorite character’s name at a convention, dressing up as someone from a fictional world, or meeting new friends through the fandom — all incredible experiences.
I’ve enjoyed watching cosplay grow into an accepted and celebrated hobby, embraced by anime and pop culture fans, streamers, content creators, and gamers alike.
But as the community has grown in size and scope over time, certain aspects of the hobby have emerged that I don’t really care for anymore.
Passion vs practicality
I was a high school student with limited resources when I attended my first anime convention in 2011. To my surprise, the venue was filled with Japanese-themed food booths, merchandise stalls, and a small stage for intermission numbers and contests.
But what truly sparked my interest was seeing all the cosplayers dressed up in their colorful costumes, striking poses every now and then. This is when I decided that I wanted to be part of this world as well – enter Cosplay!
My first attempt at Cosplay was nothing like I’d seen before: just an ordinary red jogging pants and plain white t-shirt from my wardrobe that resembled Nakahara Sunako from The Wallflower anime.
Of course, due to financial constraints, I was unable to purchase the expensive, intricate costumes that I saw at the convention. So instead, I had to make do with what I had and be creative with my limited resources.
Despite my humble beginnings, I’ve come a long way since then – learning various techniques, honing my skills in creating original costumes and designs from scratch.
This has been a journey of passion versus practicality – where I’ve strived for excellence in cosplay without sacrificing affordability!
With my second cosplay, I set a higher goal for myself and decided to tackle Akiyama Mio from K-ON!. To make sure I had the funds needed to purchase materials and get costume commissions,
I took part in an academic cosplay competition. During this time, I was exposed to the world of cosplaying in the Philippines. From renting full-set costumes to crafting props and commissioning tailors, it was a whirlwind adventure that definitely drained me financially.
As I approached graduation day and left university with my degree in hand, those were some of my busiest years as a cosplayer — now having both the money and time to dedicate towards my craft.
However, when faced with the reality of joining the workforce, I started to question the financial sustainability of my hobby.
Is it still worth it? How much money have I spent on costumes already throughout the years? How much could I have saved if only I knew how to sew my own costumes?
The better question is, how much more money would I have had if I stopped cosplaying for a while? The financial cost of this hobby was beginning to weigh me down and challenge my beliefs.
My colleague and co-writer Mika shared the same sentiments two years ago, trying to balance her priorities as an independent young adult with the rising costs of cosplaying.
“Cosplay made me believe that dreams were within reach, and today, those dreams are actually in my hands. That’s where most of my energy has gone, so there’s not much left for cosplaying.
Even though I still love this hobby, my priorities have shifted. Life changes, and that’s not a bad thing at all,” Mika said in her post.
This made me realize how expensive cosplaying can be if you are not careful or just don’t have the time to create props and costumes yourself.
I kept reminding myself that cosplay is just a hobby, an expression of my love for certain characters or series, and something that I find enjoyable in my free time. However, it seems like Kristine from ten years ago is long gone, along with her visions of being a lifelong cosplayer.
Influencers are taking over
Influencers have taken over the cosplay scene and it’s not a surprise why. When cosplaying started to become more popular, it was seen as something associated with otaku culture in Japan which unfortunately made it viewed negatively by those who weren’t into anime.
During the early 2010s, I saw many of my friends getting laughed at and bullied when attending conventions outside the halls where more regular mall-goers would hang out.
Nowadays, cosplay is much more accepted but there’s still an issue that plagues us: influencers.
With their larger-than-life presence on social media platforms, they’ve quickly taken over the scene – showing off their elaborate costumes and detailed makeup skills – leaving no room for the average cosplayer to shine. It’s a shame that even in this day and age, we still can’t seem to rid ourselves of elitism within the community.
However, there are steps we can take in order to make sure everyone feels welcome and included regardless of how much they spend on their costumes or makeup looks.
But more than anything else, let’s just enjoy cosplay for what it is – a fun way to express one’s creativity and love for anime!
Why do people cosplay? For some, it’s a way to express their admiration for a certain character, for others, it’s an opportunity to connect with other fans in the same fandom.
But for certain individuals, it’s a stepping stone towards fame and fortune. Nowadays cosplaying can feel like an episode of America’s Next Top Model; if you want to make it big in the cosplay world then you need the best photos.
So what’s one of the quickest ways to get likes and follows? Lewd photos.
Sadly, some will go to extreme lengths just to build their “cosplay portfolio” and become popular models or influencers – leaving a sour taste in many peoples’ mouths when they think of cosplay.
But it doesn’t have to be this way; cosplaying should still be a fun and safe experience for all involved, not just a path to fame and fortune. Let’s get back to the basics – celebrating our favorite characters in creative costumes! That is what makes cosplay great!
Cosplay is no longer for everyone
Cosplay used to be something that was accessible to everyone, regardless of looks or physical attributes. But with the emergence of cosplayer models and even booth babes as part of the scene, it’s no longer so inclusive. It’s become increasingly apparent that if you have perfect body proportions and a pretty face, you’re more likely to be successful in this field.
Unfortunately, this has led to existing issues within the cosplay community. Many cosplayers who don’t fit traditional beauty standards get taunted and body-shamed by non-cosplayers and sometimes even other cosplayers themselves. In an effort to combat this stigma, hashtags such as #28daysofblackcosplay are dedicated for people of color (and those who are plus-sized) to be featured and celebrated.
So is it still true that anyone can cosplay? Despite our best efforts, it seems like the answer may not be quite so straightforward. It’s important for us as a community to continue striving towards inclusion, acceptance, and representation of all people in cosplay. Only then will we truly make sure that everyone can enjoy this amazing hobby of ours.
The future of cosplay could be fraught with legal issues
The future of cosplay could be filled with legal uncertainty. Recently, the Japanese government announced a new copyright law that could affect professional cosplayers who generate income from their craft.
This includes selling prints or performing at events. Come March, the laws will be reviewed and possibly amended in light of input from creators and top cosplayers, like Eniko.
This new set of rules could mean an end to freedom for those engaging in the hobby as they might now have to meet various requirements and pay fees to use certain characters.
It’s difficult to imagine having to go through all this paperwork just to enjoy something we’ve always done freely. As Carla “FoxRots” Vergara has said, cosplaying is a place where you can “let your freak flag fly”.
On the other hand, these laws may provide a solution to the long-debated question of whether cosplaying is a type of copyright infringement.
The lines could now be drawn more clearly between what is permissible and what isn’t. It remains to be seen how this new law will affect the future of cosplay both in Japan and around the world. In any case, we hope that it’s nothing but positive news for all those involved!
FAQ
is buying cosplay bad?
Buying cosplay is perfectly fine and can be a great way to save time and money if you don’t have the skills or resources to create your own costume. However, it’s important to remember that part of the fun of cosplay is creating something unique, so try not to rely too heavily on store-bought costumes if you can help it! There are tons of tutorials online for how to make any sort of costume imaginable—it may take more effort than buying one, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.
is cosplay a bad word?
No, absolutely not! Cosplay is a great way for people to express themselves and have fun. It’s a craft that takes time, skill, and dedication, so it should be treated with the same respect as any other hobby. Don’t let anyone tell you that cosplay is a bad word! It’s an incredible art form that deserves to be celebrated. So go out there and show off your hard work—you’ve earned it!
Is cosplay dangerous?
Cosplay is generally a safe activity if done responsibly. However, there are certain safety measures to be aware of when crafting and wearing your costume. Make sure you use materials that won’t cause irritation or allergies, and that all props or weapons are made of harmless materials. Additionally, it’s important to take the necessary precautions when attending conventions or events—monitor your surroundings, stay with friends, and always be respectful of other attendees!
Is cosplay safe for kids?
Cosplay is a great activity for kids of all ages! Just like any other hobby, there are certain safety rules to follow. Depending on the age group, children should always be supervised by an adult and reminded to use appropriate materials when making their costumes. Additionally, it’s important to set some boundaries—for example, make sure weapons or large props are approved before entering a convention area. As long as sensible precautions are taken, cosplay can be safe and fun for everyone involved.
Why do I find Cosplay cringeworthy?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question—everyone has their own unique reasons for finding cosplay cringeworthy. Some may feel uncomfortable because they don’t feel like they have the skills or resources to be a successful cosplayer, while others simply prefer different activities. Ultimately, everyone is entitled to their opinion and you don’t need to feel ashamed if you don’t enjoy cosplay. T
Is cosplaying weird?
No, not at all! Cosplay is a unique and exciting activity that can be extremely rewarding. It requires creativity, hard work, and dedication—all of which make it an extraordinary pastime. So don’t worry about what other people think—if you’re having fun, then cosplaying isn’t weird at all!
Is cosplay a waste of money?
Cosplay can be expensive, depending on the complexity of the costume and materials used. However, it’s not necessarily a waste of money—it’s an investment in creating something unique and special! Depending on your budget, you can make cosplay as affordable or extravagant as you wish. So don’t let cost deter you from exploring this amazing art form—cosplay is worth every penny!
What is the worst thing about being a cosplay player?
The worst thing about being a cosplayer is the pressure to be perfect. Cosplayers are expected to create highly detailed and accurate costumes, which can be daunting for newcomers. Additionally, there’s often an intense competition when entering conventions or competitions, which can make it hard to stay motivated. However, this should not deter you from trying! With hard work and dedication, anyone can become a successful cosplayer—just remember to have fun along the way!