Samyuk Dec

The story of the cosplay costume

Cosplay is the product of the combination of two words. Costume and play. 

Cosplay is a type of performance art where the actors and actresses put on their cosplay costume and act out their part. Cosplay is supposed to have originated in Japan when Nobuyuki Takahashi used the word for the first time in about 1983. The characters for cosplay costume are usually drawn from Japanese comics, video games, manga, and anime and now there is also a cosplay costume for American comic characters. Many cosplay artistes choose characters who are similar to them in style and mannerisms and who they may admire and feel comfortable in relating to.

The cosplay costume is very specific. It is the exact replica of the costume worn by the character. The colours of the cosplay costume are matched and so are the trimmings. It is not only the cosplay costume that is identical, even the mannerisms and body language of the character need to be portrayed. Some believe that the cosplay costume and mannerisms alone are not enough and go to the extreme of learning to talk like the character. Even the differently coloured and styled hair wig is considered as part of the cosplay costume.

Themes like Halloween and Mardi gras are annual events and the costumes involved are not specific to a character but revolves round the theme. However cosplay is a hobby and is treated with more importance. The cosplay artiste has to have a cosplay costume identical – not similar- to that of the character because the character is brought to life through him or her.

Although there are cosplay costumes available in the store the true artiste prefers to make their cosplay costume from scratch. They will spend hours researching the costume and attention to the minutest of detail is paid. Their success depends on how well they have adhered to detail omitting nothing. Due to this being considered a work of art many cosplay artistes follow courses in textiles, fashion, sculpture, fibre glass work and other fields that would help them with their work. The satisfaction that they get on completion of the costume is immeasurable.

With the cosplay costume being central to showcasing a character, the artist will go a step further and try and be as real as possible with their act. As per the character they will become fat or thin, grow their hair, finger nails, and go to the extent of getting contact lenses so as to have different coloured eyes.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

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