ANIME CENTRAL COSDOCS
Cosplay, the art of mimicking characters from (but not limited to) Manga and anime, has become a major aspect of anime culture. Some do it to challenge themselves with the creation of exquisitely detailed costumes, some become totally immersed in their character by taking on their personality as well. Some people take part in Cosplay as a social pursuit with like-minded friends, and some may just buy a costume to be part of all the fun.
And that’s the one thing Cosplayers share. If you ask any participant why they do it, chances are they’re doing it to have some fun.
The act of ‘costume playing’ is not a new thing. Before Cosplay as we know it found its way to our shores, Sci-Fi fans were attending conventions dressed as their favourite Star Wars or Star Trek characters. But with typical manga and anime character designs being a lot more fantastical and outlandish, Cosplay has arguably become an art form that surpassed its convention-centric predecessors.
In Japan, Cosplay is steadily becoming more mainstream and it is not too uncommon to find a group of friends in Cosplay gathering in Tokyo's Harajuku or Akihabara districts, popular locations that host Cosplay cafes where waitresses are typically seen serving customers in anime style maid outfits.
With the ever increasing spread of anime and manga all over the world, it was inevitable that the Cosplay phenomenon would grow. Australia, South America, North America and Europe have all seen the trend expand, creating a dedicated subculture that take part in Cosplay in both a competitive and non-competitive capacity.
To celebrate all things Cosplay, Anime Central shot a series of short documentaries in December 2007, featuring interviews with a selection of UK Cosplayers. We’ve now uploaded clips from the CosDocs online, which you can view below. We’ve also got interviews with some of those who took part in the documentaries. We hope you enjoy them!
ANIME CENTRAL TEAM
Joanna
(Roy Mustang)
Who is your favourite character to Cosplay as and why?
Gosh! Too many to choose from at the moment! Though, I think my better known cosplays so far are Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist and Toshiro Hijikata from Gintama. It’ll probably change as time progresses.
Do you Cosplay as characters outside of the anime/videogame genres?
I try not to limit cosplay to just anime/manga and video games. Last October I attended a convention cosplaying Selene from the movie Underworld.
Do you Cosplay exclusively Japanese characters? What are your thoughts on Cosplay as
western Movie/game/cartoon characters?
I like to have a variety of cosplays. I think it’s a great idea to cosplay as both western and eastern characters. I’m very open minded to things like that. I don’t really believe in set rules.
Do you ever attend or host Cosplay parties as opposed to conventions?
A group of us used to arrange small cosplay events but that was back in 2006 to early 2007.
How much importance do you place on acting like your character, as opposed to just looking like them? If you play a villain, are you mean for example?
I think acting like the character is as important as cosplaying the character. Even if the cosplay itself isn’t as great as you’d like it to be, acting the part can make a massive difference.
How long does it normally take to create a costume?
It all depends on the intricacy of the cosplay, as usually, no two cosplays will be alike. Every new cosplay will pose a new challenge. I always find it best to plan months in advanced so any glitches in the costume can be adjusted and all without much last minute panic.
Does it require a large degree of skill to create a costume? What skills are required?
I wouldn’t say I’m very skilled. Some textiles skills are required yes – you don’t have to be a fantastic seamstress or anything – I’d say do what you can. Even if you have to buy the bulk of the cosplay and then modify it or just buy it straight out, people shouldn’t look down on others for that. At the end of the day, it’s all just for fun.
What are your thoughts on costume accuracy, is it particularly important to you?
I would say costume accuracy is important – but it’s only as important as your ability to act out the personality of the character as well. It’s always good to take into consideration that people give it their best try at making the costumes, some of which are quite intricate, so sometimes accuracy and effort don’t always go hand in hand. But I do think everyone deserves credit for their attempts.
Why do you cosplay? For example, Is it more for escapism, or the attention a good costume generates, to meet other fans, love of the character etc?
I think it’s a little bit of everything really. Yes, escapism is part of the reason why. Cosplay is also a very social hobby as well and it seems to be increasing in popularity these days as well because it can get quite addictive – it’s always great to meet other cosplayers and even non-cosplaying anime/manga/movie/comic fans. And, of course, getting recognized for a costume is always a plus!
Do you think Cosplay sheds a negative light on anime fandom?
I think it all depends on how the cosplayers carry themselves. Unfortunately, all it takes is a few silly people to act inappropriately in public to make the majority of cosplayers look bad. Hopefully, the good outweighs the bad in the end.
What would you say to folk who think this?
We’re not all that bad – honest!
How did you find the documentary shoot, did you enjoy it?
Oh it was definitely an enjoyable experience, even though I was very nervous. But the staff were all great! They were really friendly and I think towards the end of the interview, I lost some of that nervousness.
What exactly went on?
I was asked a series of questions by the crew and tried my best to look at the camera at all times whilst answering. A few of the questions were then asked with the camera at different angles. It’s quite hard to stare at the camera all the time like that without feeling a little shy or conscious. But overall, it was much fun indeed! After that, one of the crew took some photos, which was also equally as fun.
Have you ever done anything like that before i.e. cosplay in front of the camera/for a documentary?
I have to say that was my first time :D
Are you working on a new Cosplay? If you are, what is it?
Actually, I’m working on quite a few at the moment. I think I’ve got enough cosplay plans to last me for 2008 and 2009 now! Hehehehe. Right now, I’ve got Hijikata from Gintama, Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Psylocke from X-Men and three Bleach cosplays lined up for the future, amongst a few other projects.
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