It’s huge in Japan and the United States. Now the subcultural phenomenon of Cosplay (Short for “costume roleplay”) has finally arrived in Australia and its popularity is growing with a vengeance. Cosplay participants fuse performance art, pop culture and dress ups in activities centered around role play that involves wearing costumes and accessories that represent specific characters from comics, video games, movies and other such pop cultural media. Over the past few months Madman Entertainment has been involved in bringing together Australia’s first ever Cosplay event which culminates in the Cosplay Grand Final this weekend. Five state finalists will make fan culture and dressing up into one of the most spectacular and captivating artforms you can experience.
Cosplay has its origins in Japan, and even today many characters displayed in Cosplay worldwide are often drawn from popular Japenese fiction sources including manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. Characters can also include portrayals of J-pop and J-rock stars. On the Western front, inspiration often comes from TV shows, sci-fi films, computer games and of course comics. Basically any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject, with even inanimate objects being given an anthropomorphic form. It’s also is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa.
The single largest event featuring cosplay are the annual pop culture Comiket expos that are held in Japan during summer and winter, attracting hundreds of thousands of manga fans. The largest event for Cosplayers outside Asia is the annual San Diego Comic Convention. And this year, Australia joined the growing list of countries that have been captivated by this fascinating performance sport. Over months, during pop culture conventions all over Australia, Cosplay competitions were held to find State finalists to compete in Australia’s first Cosplay Grand final.
Giant robots, fairies, ninjas, anthropomorphic wonders will all be on show at the championship, providing some truly spectacular visuals and entertainment in a fun filled day that also includes an on-the-day cosplay contest, anime screenings, workshops and panels, character and cosplay goods.
Meet the five Australian State Cosplay Finalists that will go head to head in the Cosplay Grand Finals this weekend:
1. Siera – State Finalist (Victoria). Photo 1.
What are you most looking forward to about the finals?
Being able to meet and hang out with the other contestants, also the relief of it all being over!
What is your inspiration for cosplaying?
My motivation and inspiration’s really internal as there’s nothing I want to do more than improve, better, push and challenge myself and my skills to new levels.
Favourite cosplay you’ve done?
A very close tie between Maya (Magna Carta: Tears of Blood) and Freya Crescent (Final Fantasy IX) with Runner Up to Madam Red (Kuroshitsuji).
Any previews of what we can expect from you for November?
Les Miserables meets ballet!
2. Robyn (SeishinKibou) – QLD.
What are you most looking forward to about the finals?
I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone has made for the competition and their performances. I just hope that I can get pictures of everyone’s outfits! (laughs)
What is your inspiration for cosplaying?
My inspiration for cosplay was when I saw these amazing costume on the internet. So I was inspired to create my own when I heard about SupaNova Brisbane. My first costume wasn’t very recognisable but I still had heaps of fun. Nowadays my inspiration for cosplay is the incredible feeling I get once I finish a costume. The appreciative comments and respect I receive from friends, family and peers really motivates me to keep going with this crazy hobby.
Favourite cosplay you’ve done?
I’ve got quite a few favourites but one of my best would be Princess Zelda from Zelda and Twilight Princess. She was my first breakthrough costume and I greatly appreciated the response I received. The only downside is the boots and helmet are not very comfortable to wear.
Any previews of what we can expect from you for November?
I’ll be wearing something a bit more daring then my usual costumes but it fits well with my style of cosplays. I am looking forward to the completion of my costume and being able to show it to everyone.
3. Min aka Twinklee – WA.
What are you most looking forward to about the Cosplay finals?
Catching up with friends and finally meeting the rest of the competitors.
What is your inspiration for cosplaying?
I got into it when I saw photos of my favourite characters cosplayed years back, it was rather intriguing – there is just something about the joy of making your favourite character come to life.
Favourite cosplay you’ve done?
There are toooo many! I think it’s a tough fight between Sebastian (Kuroshitsuji) Lelouche (Geass) and Sanada Yukimura (Sengoku Basara).
Any previews of what we can expect from you for November?
Just wait and see!
4. Christie aka Moonblader – NSW.
What are you most looking forward to about the finals?
Meeting and seeing awesome cosplayers, costumes and skits!
What is your inspiration for cosplaying?
What inspires me is wonderful characters and artworks from interesting anime/manga/games. And to show my adoration, I hopefully could to do them justice with beautiful photography and accurate costumes.
Favourite cosplay you’ve done?
Squall Lionheart (from the PSP game Final Fantasy Dissidia).
5. Jenita – SA.
What are you most looking forward to about the finals?
Seeing the other Cosplay outfits and getting to show everyone my latest costume. Yatta!
What is your inspiration for cosplaying?
I am a big lover of Anime/Manga, and I have always love to make clothes. I went to my first convention in 1999 where I found out what Cosplay was and it was fascination at first site. From then on like every girl who puts on nice pair of shoes, a fancy dress and goes out. I dress up and head to my states Anime, Manga and video game convention, where I strut my outfit on the Cosplay catwalk with all the other convention goers.
Favorite cosplay you’ve done?
My Gundam was my first attempt at an armour costume. It turned out perfect, except I didn’t factor in comfort or visibility in to my creation of the costume. I think the harder something is to make, the more you enjoy the finished result, which is probably why my Gundam costume is my favourite.
Any previews of what we can expect from you for November?
Yep, it’s very large has uneven eyes, and cannot talk. So my skit should be interesting, but you will just have to attend the even to see the final result!
Check out our coverage of the 2009 CosPlay Grand Final right here.
Your Thoughts
Flaneur
said on the 11th Nov, 2009
urbanpitch
said on the 12th Nov, 2009
hazyinseptember
said on the 12th Nov, 2009
sammysf
said on the 13th Nov, 2009
Travis de Jonk
said on the 17th Nov, 2009
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Christian Taylor
said on the 11th Nov, 2009