Cosplay

The Cosplay (contraction of the English Costume Playing ), or コスプレ ( kosupure ) in Japanese, is a practice consisting in playing the part of its character S (hero of Manga S, of Japanese animation, films, or video games), even of its artists of favorite Musique, in particular by imitating their costume and their make-up.

Very current in Japan, this practice is not rare in the United States or in Europe at the time of conventions and others Festival S of mangas or Science-fiction. This practice was born in the United States, created by the fans of Star Wars who disguised themselves as a character for the exit of films, but knew a very great expansion in Japan, country which organizes from now on WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT (on the initiative of Aichi Television Broadcasting).

Various currents

One can recognize three particular practices of this hobby, which depend on the geographical place:

Japan

In the Japan, the cosplayeurs do not take part in any contest, but have reserved spaces in great conventions, and circulate on the living room even only with the proviso of not being made photograph inside, not to be likely to disturb the visitors not cosplayeurs. Spaces which to them are reserved make it possible them to be photographed at will by amateurs and professionals. The exchange of calling cards mentioning Internet sites of each one is of rigor between photographers and cosplayeurs. The public places such as the districts tokyoïtes of Harajuku or Shinjuku are also famous to accommodate some in weekend.

In fact, the cosplay is based much more on the image than on the performance (service or creation of costumes) that in the Western countries, and thus the question of making or of buying its costume is more secondary there. There exists even a true produce market of costumes in Prêt-à-porter or to measures. On the other hand, the cosplay remains a marginal activity often badly perceived by average Japanese. As example, a cosplayeuse Japanese woman marrying will tend to give up the cosplay (and to close its site) in order to return in a more conventional social life.

WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT is the only event cosplay in Japan which includes/understands a contest, international which more is. And for this contest, it is indeed interdict to carry costumes or bought parts of costume, it is necessary that the costume is entirely made by the hand of the cosplayor.

The cosplay Japanese , which emerged in the neighborhoods of the years 1990-1991, is not, contrary to an generally accepted idea, not the pioneer on the matter. This said, the cosplay in Japan remains that able to introduce the most participants at the time of the largest living rooms. It particularly stresses the resemblance (even physical) to the character and of the installations compared to the original model.

North America

It is with the the United States and the Canada that was born the idea to reproduce costumes of fictitious characters, at the time of living rooms turning around the series Star Trek then thereafter around the films Star Wars . Today, the cosplay seems more readily turned towards the creation of relatively original costumes, with the existence of contest being often based on quality, the originality of the costume or even on scenic service (during roughly between one or two minutes (often more into out of competition)).

Europe

In Europe (more particularly in France and Italy), the cosplay takes a more theatrical dimension: the quality of the costumes is a very required point, but from the contests where the cosplayeurs are found opposite a public in front of which they miment of the engagements, recite dialogs or sing (only or in group), a certain play of actor is appreciated.

Although the cosplay are generally presented like competitions, the goal of the participants is rather to express a personal passion that, truly, to gain a victory. The environment of this kind of demonstration is very good-child, and some cosplayeurs never take part in the contests.

The majority of the cosplayeurs put a point of honor to create their costumes themselves (including the accessories such as jewels and weapons) and to use them only once. He is very badly seen besides, within the framework them contest, to present a costume which was already presented at the time of an other contest or whose certain elements were bought rather than manufactured.

Moreover, for a few years, some have seen the cosplay like a means of being made publicity with few expenses. Thus, of the cinemas make return free the spectators who come disguised at the time of the exit of a " large titer" (like Star Wars or the Lord of the Rings ). Other signs organize even contests or animations around the cosplay.

Crossplay

Resulting from the Cross-country race-dressingroom, the crossplay indicates the cosplayers taking as a starting point a character of the opposite sex. The practice is not comparable to the Travestissement since it is only specific and does not imply modification of the natural person concerned.

World Cosplay Summit

World Cosplay Summit (WCS) is a contest which joins together ten binomials selected in various countries throughout the world. France in fact part since the first edition (which goes back to 2003) and always continues. World Cosplay Summit is held the every years at the beginning of August on the initiative of television Aichi Television Broadcasting. This contest rewards the best binomial for cosplayeurs in an international contest. It is limited to the major people (18 years or more).

On Sunday, August 5, 2007 2 French, Damien Ratte and Isabelle Jeudy, selected during Japan Expo (Paris) at the beginning of July, was crowned world champion of Cosplay.

See too

Internal bonds

Animates, Manga and Sentai
Gothic Lolita
Travestissement

External bonds

Cosplay World: More than 35000 photographs of cosplay and conventions, mainly in France, but also in Japan and the USA.
Rumor of the play: Heading cosplay of the blog rumor of the play.
Guy Photo Pro: More than 8000 improved photographs of cosplay pro quality.

Simple: Cosplay

Random links: