Cosplay involves wearing a costume for entertainment.
Cosplay is the trend or habit of using costumes for entertainment . The term is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), although this concept of English origin is also often used in our language.
Cosplay comes from the expression costume play , which can be translated as " disguise game." Currently, cosplay can be considered a subculture : its members seek to represent an idea or embody a character through their clothing and even playing a role.
Cosplay is generally based on fictional characters (from comics, anime , manga , movies , video games , television series or literature ). Whoever dresses up and participates in these types of actions is called a cosplayer .
Origins of cosplay
The origins of cosplay are found in the 1970s in the so-called comic markets of Japan , whose meetings many people began to attend with costumes. Over time, the trend became popular around the world and reached different areas.
Nowadays, cosplay appears in almost all major comic- related events (comic-con, anime expo and other types of conventions). It is also common for fans to dress up to attend superhero film premieres or the launch of fantasy novels. There are even cosplay contests where the best costumes are awarded.
In Japan , on the other hand, there are cosplay restaurants and bars in which waitresses and waiters serve diners in costume. In these establishments, certain rituals are followed so that customers have a different experience in contact with the cosplayers.
In cosplay, fictional or mythological characters are usually portrayed.
Costume preparation
Although at first glance cosplay seems to revolve around fun, the process of creating costumes is long and very laborious, especially for those who decide to do it on their own. It should be noted that, although costumes are sold, most cosplayers make their own costumes since this stage is a fundamental part of the experience.
In any case, since it is not something economical or immediate, it is important to be clear about the character we want to represent well in advance. This decision is not easy, since sometimes it is not enough to choose the one we admire the most, but we must opt for the one with whom we share the greatest number of physical characteristics, or one that we can embody with our body.
This does not mean that we should choose a character very similar to us; Part of the fun, after all, is transforming ourselves into another being. The important thing is to keep your feet on the ground regarding the budget and the complexity that the costume-making process will entail; Simply put, humanoid characters are preferred over a dinosaur or a giant spider, although more daring cosplayers can embark on any project.
Beyond what was said about costs, we cannot fail to mention that low-budget cosplay exists. In that case, you have to appeal to creativity so that the effect is what you want, even if the investment is reduced. Cosplay tutorials can also help in the process.
Cosplay fans seek to reproduce all the details of the chosen character.
The details in the cosplay
Cosplay differs greatly from a traditional costume party, particularly in the degree of attention to detail that fans often pay to their heroes' costumes: far from being a vague representation of the characters' general appearance, it is usually a almost perfect reflection of each garment , each accessory, each wrinkle, with the color palette as wide as the original and a display of materials worthy of being admired.
In order to work at this level on a costume, it is necessary to have reference images , something that is very easy to achieve today. Whether they are screenshots of the show, movie or video game in which our favorite character appears, or drawings made by other fans , the possibilities are many. To find the smallest details, it is recommended to look for drawings published by the creators of the character in media such as magazines or books, where they usually have a greater finish.
Although costume is key, other issues must be considered to optimize performance. For example, makeup and wigs are needed to copy the appearance of the character in question. Many times prosthetics are also used, which are elements that help modify the features or volumes of the face and other parts of the body.
Accessories , such as prop weapons and armor, are also essential. The cosplayer even has to imitate the character's poses and performances for the experience to be complete.
Classification according to type
Cosplay can be classified in different ways. Depending on the age of the person who is cosplaying, a distinction can be made between cosplay for children and cosplay for adults .
The most common categories, however, are related to the chosen theme . Horror cosplay , sci-fi cosplay , fantasy cosplay , action cosplay , and mythology cosplay are among the most popular.
Although cosplay is associated with fictional characters, there are also modalities that are oriented towards real beings or activities. Celebrity cosplay has many followers : there is even political cosplay . Music cosplay , sports cosplay , animal cosplay , and nature cosplay are other possibilities.
It cannot be omitted to mention that it is usual for this activity to be carried out together and not individually. There are cosplay couples where each member plays a role, with the option of engaging in cross-gender cosplay .
Cosplay groups or cosplay communities are also formed, whose members collaborate with each other to make costumes and organize events (such as the popular cosplay parties that usually take place in different countries).