Why Cosplay?

Melanie Stevens has been going to Supanova since 2007 and cosplaying since 2009. This year marks her 11th convention. She’s a bit of an anime otaku (one who is obsessed with anime) and loves write and read, although is possibly the slowest reader in Australia. Mel spends large parts of her week with headphones on, watching shows and listening to hours of music, generally escaping reality. Her first novel, Bound, is out now.

If you are seriously asking me why people cosplay, with a straight face, then clearly you have no idea what it is and need to check out my friend Ruth’s previous cosplay blog.

Cosplay is awesome! There are no other words. Whether you know it or not, you probably are a cosplayer. You’ve just never strapped on a wig and tights before.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if you buy your outfit online or skilfully handcraft each detail. If you love it and are 100% committed to looking and feeling awesome then you’re doing it right. However, for those of us born with the power to shoot a hot glue gun like nobody else, creating your own cosplays are what it’s all about.

A masterpiece in the making

[Don’t worry if other people can’t see your vision… yet…] (Me making boots I think ha-ha)

There’s nothing like letting your imagination go wild as you transform yourself from the normal you, into the super you! With this comes the main challenge. There are easy outfits and insanely hard outfits, no matter if you love games, television, movies, comics, anime, manga or any other aspect of pop culture.

Soul Eater

[It feels good when things turn out better than you thought!] (Me: Soul Eater, Tadpole Bomb)

I started off with something easy. But a lot of people, including myself now, enjoy a good cosplay challenge. I love thinking, “Wow. Imagine if someone did that as a cosplay!” and then of course, do it. Sometimes this requires a mixture of online purchasing, borrowing a friend’s sewing skills and painting the same headpiece five times until your inner perfectionist says “It’s…done!”

Mel as Kagome and Shugo Chara

[My first cosplay Kagome from Inuyasha from 2009 Brisbane Supanova and most recent from 2013 Brisbane Supanova, Amulet Fortune Shugo Chara]

So then what? Are you going to sit around your house? Maybe, but most people enjoy creating cosplays to show them off! Whether you plan to hit a convention or organise a full blown photoshoot, there is nothing better than allowing the world to see your genius. Cosplay can also be a door to other opportunities including careers in the arts.

Keik

[Keik Cake Store (yes odd name!) Underwater Miku shoot. Photographer: Pireze (Isaac Leung).

Finally, and most importantly, the reason why people cosplay is simply fun! That is my main motivation for burning my hands with glue and breaking the bank at Spotlight. Because at the end of the day, I cosplay because I love it!