cutepetz

Fyi - This is not my work. Is my friend one and the credit ghoes to her not me =) Im posting this up to give info to everyone. I find is useful and intresting =)

1)Cosplay=?
On the surface, Cosplay=costume play. People who cosplay are called Cosplayers. From current terms, the basic expectations are the use of costumes, accessories, props, and makeup to dress up as an ACG(anime, comic, game) character, or a Visual Kei band from Japan.

2)The beginning of cosplay
Most people agree that Cosplay origination in Japan. Of course, that is correct, but only if referring to cosplay now. But generally speaking, comic Cosplay's beginnings are in the United States, and if need be, Cosplay can be traced back to A.D. something. Because whether you are talking about A.D. 1000 Greek's sacrificial dressups, or B.C.E. 8 where the great poets wrote "the Ely Asia Especially" and "Odyssey" ,they are, technically, in another person/character's role. This became inspiration for the later generations, which then evolved to Cosplay commonly known now. Generally, the difference would be that Cosplay now requires not only artifice, but also inner understanding and expression of the character being cosplayed.

3)Spread of cosplay in the states
From the invention of animation(魔术幻灯, hope I translated properly) in 17th century by Athanasius Kircher, animation was commonly seen everywhere. But it was only after it became popular in Central Europe, and Walt Disney came up with Mickey mouse in the end 19th century was there a definition of English Animation. Thus, it was also sometime in this century, the first Costume Play appeared.

In the height of Mickey Mouse's popularity, Walt Disney the first Disneyland was built, and several of the staff dressed up as Mickey Mouse. Though unknowing, they can be called the 'first generation cosplayers'. However, they costumes were professionally made, while the current Cosplayers usually sew it themselves. However, these costumes provided the desired standard for costumes, and also the importance.

4)True meaning of cosplay right now?
The anime/manga scene started in 1947, when 治虫(unable to translate) reprinted (酒井七马)'s "New Taiwan". The anime/manga scene thus became popular, evolving into the scene shown right now. Coincidently, Walt Disney's Costume Play was introduced in Japan. As is known of Japan, the ACG scene used and modified that idea, and made it popular. Japan's first Costume Play appeared in 1955, and the 'Costume Play' is just little kids dressing up. In that year, 《月光假面》 and 《少年杰特》 was particularly popular in Japan, and such Costume Plays were commonly seen.

Although Costume Play then was just little kids playing dressup, they were still particular about the costumes, as it concerns money. At that point of time, there were no such things as 'Cosplay costume shops'(as is common in Japan now), and getting costumes to play dressup was still the common chore of getting it tailored.

Such a situation thus continued for about 20 years, until about the end of the '70s, when the ACG scene was 'stabilised'. Cosplay started serious development then, and thus one can say that Cosplay's true idea and meaning does come from Japan.

'90s saw the maturity of game industry(eg. Nintendo, Sony, Sega's game consoles) as well as the appearance of major Visual Kei bands, shaping the ACG community seen now. In this century, the ACG community saw through several large-scale manga-anme events and game events, prevously unseen. Companies also started advertising their own goods(i.e. cosplay accessories, costumes,etc), and found people to 'cosplay' as characters from the various ACGs. Note that it is the same technique used by Walt Disney, which has led to Costume Play by little kids in the states. However, in this case Costume Play was marketed to teenagers, and thus evolved into the Cosplay. Thus one can conclude that Cosplay's development is due to commercial advertising by the company. Sad but logical =(

5)Cosplay in Singapore
Would like to request from those who have been here since the beginning =) From what I know, the first event was in 2000-ish.

6)Main points of cosplay
In cosplay, you'll realize that looks are not the important thing, but the costume itself. In general, there are 4 ways to get your costume: Present(riiiight...), professional cosplay shops(go strike 4D before going), handsew, or tailor.

Present:
Obviously, this is the most highly unlikely method I ever heard of, and I'll probably turn into a fossil before receiving any. But for everyone else, christmas and birthdays are a good opportunity. Or make some ub3r rich kids, get them to join Cosplay, and receive their hand-me-downs. Sometimes, even normal cosplayers =) Please don't count on this way to get your costumes please. I think most people will probably have grandchildren before they get any, unless you mean small items like accessories.

Professional cosplay shops:
It's common in Japan because of the official cosplay shops available(eg. cospa), and they are highly accurate. There are also some official cosplay shops found in taiwan. Also available are the normal cosplay shops(eg. here), but it is also common to find 2nd hand cosplay costumes in these 2 areas. It is much cheaper, and anyway, they come in standard sizes.

Such shops are harder to find in other places.

Handsew:
Ask any seasoned cosplayer, and s/he will tell you that the biggest joy in cosplay has to be the sewing and the making of props. Of course, you must know how to sew, and have a sewing machine. The estimate given for handsewing from the process of choosing the cloth to designing and then the sewing til completion is about a month. If one decides to walk this path, you must have the skill, the required tools, and most importantly the determination. From the drafting to the sewing, it's not as easy as saying it. However, the sense of satisfaction when you complete the costume cannot be compared to anything else, and you will wear your costume with more pride as well.

Tailoring:
The path most commonly walked by cosplayers. Pros include free-and-easy, and you can choose your own specifications without stressing yourself out on how to do it. However, true cosplay tailors are few are far between.

This would be a good way to go if your costume is very very complicated, or need special materials, since tailors buy in bulk and is cheaper than if you buy 20metres of pure silk(example only ._.). Handsewing such costumes will be commiting suicide, in my opinion, for your pocket and for your mind. Unless, of course, you have alot of time.


Getting your costume done is not as easy as going to a shop to get your new year clothes, or buying a pair of shoes. Professional shops are very very expensive, handsewing is very timeconsuming, and tailoring can be expensive compared to handsewing. Whichever way you choose, the sense of satisfaction when you don your costume is definitely not the same as anything else.

6)Development of cosplay now
Cosplay is highly defined, yet all encompassing. Whether it's an animal, a character, a blob, or even a speck of dirt, so long as it's from ACG, it can be considered Cosplay. As a sub from the ACG, Cosplay is now becoming something popular among teenagers, and can be seen by the influx of media attention of cosplay in Singapore in the past year. In any event, big or small, so long as there is a slight theme of 'dressing up', 'costume', etc, Cosplay can be witnessed. The main point of cosplay is that, through the process of making, learning, trying, dressing up, experimentation, you make like-minded friends that will go through with you the joys and satisfaction, not only in cosplay but also in real life.

cutepetz

1) Choosing your cos character
Though this may seem simple and maybe even something that is not considered, it is actually more important than your getup. Think of it this way. A professional(not that kind of professional..committed, dedicated, very serious. will use professional in this context after this) cosplayer would, when cosplaying, display the beauty, behavior and general aura of the character. That's why s/he is considered professional.

So how did the cosplayer do all that? One of the main reasons is the choice of character. Especially in events, the supposed perfect body does not mean that every character is a good cosplay choice; a good cosplay lies in the aura, behaviour, small actions, etc displayed in the cosplayer throughout the event. At the highest level, even if a cosplayer's costume is not complete, one should be able to distinguish or detect an aura of that character, thus being able to make an inferrence that s/he is cosplaying so-and-so from this-and-that manga/anime/game.

As such, please choose your character properly. If you are the more serious type, please don't cosplay as little kid who is super kawaii. If you are more gloomy type, please don't cosplay as someone who is full of vitality. To be more blunt, sometimes if you are not cut out for the character, please don't do it as even if your friends don't say anything, posting your cosplay online will attract alot of justifiable attacks.

Of course, the understanding of the word 'cosplay' is different for all, and some feel it's only something fun. But if you want to be serious about it, please be sure about your own limitations.

Once you have chosen your character, please do your research on the character's characters, pet peeve, way of talking, behaviour, expression, etc. Every single piece of information is vital in pulling off a successful cosplay. Take your relationship with others, if so-and-so suddenly decides not to walk this certain way suddenly, it is obvious there is something not right. When pulled off, the cosplay will seem less awkward and more natural.

When in doubt, it is recommended to ask your friends' opinion as usually they are more clear about what character suits you better than yourself.

arsenal_x

aww.. it sounds like we should cosplay as someone whose personaloty suits our own and shouldn't cosplay just as anyone whom we like which, imo, is the basic thing that drives people to cosplay. i mean, if i'm sooo into so-and-so character from so-and-so anime and i soooo want to cosplay the character, even if the character doesn't suit my own personality, i'd still want to do it. after all, who in their right mind would cosplay a character that they don't like? it's like, if i see someone cosplaying Naruto, for example, and then i heard the person saying that in the anime he like sasuke better, i'll find him really weird...coz, why doesn't he cosplay sasuke instead when he's like the favourite character.. you know what i mean? :mellow3:

anyway, if you have a friend who's in fashion design course, i think during the holiday you can ask the person to do cosplay outfit for you :biggrin4:

cutepetz

OMG THAT IS DAMN COOL , YOU SURE CAN XD omg omg omg!!

arsenal_x

o.O well i'm not sure if they would want to...maybe they'll charge you a fee too... but i know that if i'm in singapore during the holiday, i wouldn't mind making cosplay outfits, coz i like cosplay :biggrin4:

RED.ADEN

Add-ons - a bad cosplay can get u flamed .

XOXO
Aden

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cutepetz

Mostly ya. But truly is yourself. And that is how people thing.

Mostly they say that pro will say you are bad and all. however practise make perfect so everyone have to start as a newbie firsT.
Those people who flame are mostly people who have no life -.- only care what they see.

same i love them too!! Always wanted to be one , but always no time no time no time. To make everything.
hahahaha you make yourself or what?

RED.ADEN

well.
u dun noe.
the recent flame was bad.
about a gal cosplaying bou.
and she is fat and ugly (from wat i heard)
and very disgusting.
got flamed badly.
she denied of cosplaying bou when she wears a WHITE WIG and dressed up like bou.
she said she is only dressing up for fun not cosplaying bou.
but, she used to cosplay bou.

XOXO
Aden

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arsenal_x

i think it's so sad that someone got flamed because that person cosplay someone, especially if the person s/he cosplaying is is the favourite character...

if must have perfect figure then can cosplay, then forever i can't cosplay lo.. and it's cosplay are meant for those blessed with good figures... which is sad :shifty3:

btw..who's bou?

cutepetz