Saturday, January 28, 2012  0 Comments

Social Networks Just for Cosplay!

One of the best things about social networking is that it has allowed members of niche groups with many like interests in common to link up with each other even if they are spread throughout the globe. With a little help from social networking, the cosplay community has become an enormous global one. Many cosplayers who would’ve otherwise never met each other have made life-long friendships.

If you are new to cosplay and looking for places to meet other cosplayers, you can start on some of the larger social networking sites like Facebook, but you’ll definitely want to check out some of the genre specific social networks as well. No matter what particular genre interests you when it comes to cosplay, chances are you’ll be able to find other on-line who share the same passion.

There are so many networks out there. All you need to do is a little exploring and searching. Try networks like Cosspace, AALikeThese2, Cosplay Islant, and the Soul Society-Bleach Social Network. The social network Anime Kasei is for otaku or newbies to cosplaying! It’s a great place to start connecting with other cosplayers and you may also want to try Naruto Buzz which features message boards, forums, chats, a cosplay store for everyone and also gives its members the ability to instant message each other Many cosplayers love this community and best of all, membership is free.

If you’re particularly into manga and anime, you may want to check out the MyAnimeList community. This site is like pinterest for anime lovers, allowing you to organize your collections and discover new things.

As the love for cosplay has grown so has its internet presence. In turn cosplays internet presence has helped the cosplay continue to grow and unite!

Labels: Anime and Cosplay, social network

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2012  0 Comments

Cosplay for Beginners – Getting Stared as a Cosplayer

Do you want to start cosplaying but aren’t sure where to start? Cosplay message boards and forums are filled with men and women of all ages who want to get into the art form, but simply don’t know the best way to begin. There’s no better way to learn how to cosplay than from cosplayers themselves, so read on to get some how-to-get-started tips from avid players themselves.

Tip 1 – You Don’t have to Break the Bank!

Chances are you may not have the thousands of dollars some sponsored cosplayers spend on their costumes to invest in your first costume. Check out what you already have in your closet. Remember that old t-shirts can be cut up and made into headbands, and that basic clothing items can be used as the base of many character costumes. Don’t be afraid to check out local thrift stores and, if you’re looking for the perfect accessory for your character, check out the Moon Costumes accessories page which features accessories at affordable prices.

Tip 2 – Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help!

One experienced cosplayer who goes by the name “Shania Nowhere” reminds beginner cosplayers that there’s nothing wrong with [asking for help], and encourages them to find a “sensei” or teacher or someone who can create with them. You can ask even ask one of the experts at Moon Costumes to help you to create a custom costume! While the design is all yours, you won’t have to get caught up in all the details that can put so many first time cosplayers off. This way, you’ll have more time to make the perfect travel plans for your first big convention instead of worrying about whether or not your costume will fit comfortably!

Remember, if you want to start cosplaying, there’s no better time than the present! Jump right in and you won’t regret it! Don’t miss out on any more fun.

Labels: Anime and Cosplay

 

Friday, January 20, 2012  0 Comments

It’s Time to Get on the Road to Ohayocon

Just a short decade ago in 2001, a couple of young staffers from Intrepid set out to create a convention for Japanese Animation fans near the Columbus Ohio area. Little did they know that ten years later the Ohio event would become the go-to destination for one of the most fun, original, and unique cosplay events of the year.

A weekend long event, Ohayocon, as the event has come to be called, is dedicated towards celebrating Japanese animation and all of the art, culture, and community that surrounds it. Ohayocon takes its brilliant name from the pronunciation of the namesake of its location and from the spelling of the Japanese word that means “good morning!”

The event, which uniquely focuses on Japanese animation or anime, whereas other conventions focus on a wider variety of genres, features a full helping of cosplay contests, panels, video programming, workshops, gaming and more. The highlight on Japanese visual media makes the event a very exciting one for Japanese animation lovers and cosplayers from not just only Ohio but from around the country, and even from around the world.

At Ohayocon 2012, which will take place in just a few short days, fans will be treated to five separate cosplay competitions. Competitors will vie for titles in the areas of masquerade craftsmanship, masquerade performance, Steampunk, and Hallway. The fifth competition will be The Lindsay Mascot challenge.

Truly unique features like the Lolita Tea Party which will take place on Saturday morning during the convention, and the Pajama Jam, which will feature games and other shenanigans as well as a "Sleepy Time Cosplay Contest" make Ohayocon one cosplay event you won’t want to miss.

Labels: Anime and Cosplay

 

Saturday, January 14, 2012  0 Comments

Victoria Secret goes Cosplay Crazy!

Last year, Victoria’s Secret, the lingerie retail giant who is perhaps best known for sending the top models in the industry down the runway each year, decided to change things up a bit. The company spent over $12 million turning their supermodels into “superheroes” using sci-fi and comic book inspired costumes that were adjusted to create an extra feminine flair.

Capes, wings, and tights filled Victoria’s Secrets Lexington Amory housed runway during the first week of November 2011, during what one could call “one giant leap” into the mainstream for the art of cosplay. Model’s costumes were even completed with props such as glow sticks, heels, wings, heroic white gloves and more.

Some of the costumes in the show took direct inspiration from popular and specific characters while others went a bit more out on a limb. The world famous Adriana Lima’s costume which mimicked the color palette of Deathstroke from Terminator, was one of the biggest hits of the show which was eventually was aired for public enjoyment by CBS at 10 p.m. on November 29^th. While other looks throughout the show disappointed some cosplay bloggers who thought Victoria’s Secret could’ve made the get-ups a bit more “field-worthy,” many seemed to appreciate the effort and the homage to the every growing cosplay community.

Last year’s Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show may have been one of many recent signs that cosplay is making its way into the mainstream, and of course the Victoria Secret’s looked great in their Superhero inspired garb. However, the members of the devoted cosplay community that can be seen at Comic Cons and expos all around the globe still seem to rock their costumes and know their characters the best!

Labels: Anime and Cosplay, victoria secret

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012  0 Comments

Famous Cosplayer Crystal Graziano goes Pro!

If you love cosplay chances are you’ve become acquainted with famous cosplayer Crystal Graziano. From Metal Gear to Valkyria Chronical, Crystal Graziano is said to be one of the most recognizable video game cosplayers on the internet and in person. Crystal is a self taught cosplayer who started cosplaying in 2005 at San Diego Comic Con and has enjoyed the hobby ever since. She has been featured along with her awesome costumes in many mainstream publications like The San Diego Tribune, OC Weekly, and more. Gracing the pages of many gaming publications like Xbox World Magazine and Official Playstation Magazine UK as well, she is the winner of gamer hearts everywhere! Crystal can also boast about two first place awards for cosplay costumes in 2010 and an impressive “Best Construction” award at Anime Conji 2011.

Now, cosplay artist Crystal is going pro! Last week the Fancy Pants cosplay feature from Kotaku reported that Crystal has just signed a one year sponsorship deal with developer Firefall developers Red 5 Studios. In fact, a great deal of Crystal’s work is now sponsored. When it comes to the Red 5 deal, the developer will be paying for each of Crystal’s cosplay costumes throughout 2012 no matter what she wants to wear. Talk about living the dream! The developer will be paying for all tools, costumes, and even photography in exchange for Crystal’s appearance as Firefall Mourningstar at all 2012 press and community events.

For a cosplayer whose mission is “to make sure [her] costumes as real looking as accurate as possible,” the sponsorship certainly doesn’t sound like a bad deal! Crystal’s own Firefall Mourningstar costume is being created by Hollywood effects living Steve Wang, the man who built the original predator. As “Fancy Pants” points out, sponsorships like these are proof that cosplay is certainly not just a hobby for “nerds” anymore. It is now respected as a serious (and lucrative) form of art!

Labels: Anime and Cosplay

 

Monday, January 9, 2012  0 Comments

What were Cosplayers Wearing in 2011?

Last year was yet another great year for Cosplayers with conventions and ComicCon events taking place around the world. With attendance steadily rising at many costume and cosplay events, cosplay veterans and newcomers alike could see that they certainly have many kindred spirits and fellow enthusiasts… but just what were those fellow enthusiasts dressed like in 2011? Read on to learn more about a few of Japan’s best selling cosplay costumes last year.

Three of the Top Selling Japanese Cosplay Costumes

Kyosuke Kosaka from There’s No Way My Little Sister is This Cute - This costume hails from a Japanese novel series written by Tsukasa Fushimi with illustrations by Hiro Kanzaki. The series is currently only widely read in Japan but who knows, maybe Kyosuke Kosaka will make her way to the states!

Nurse Costume from Macross Frontier the Movie: The Wings of Goodbye - This new show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series and introduces Earth’s latest main variable fighter, the VF-25 Messiah and a new ship called Macross Frontier. Although the nurse costume from the movie was the biggest hit, many other cosplay costumes based on the movie’s characters sold well throughout Japan.

Shingo Uryu Costume from Mashiroiro Symphony: Love is pure white – This costume from a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Palette was reportedly a great seller throughout 2011. Love is Pure White was released in late 2009 as Palette’s ninth title and still has a great following.

Interestingly enough, these three popular Japanese cosplay costumes of 2011 might be completely unfamiliar to many Westerners because they take their influence from titles that are only widely distributed in Japan. How many of them did you recognize?

Labels: Anime and Cosplay

 

Friday, December 23, 2011  0 Comments

History of the Mummer’s Day Parade

New Years Day is just around the corner. The day is the most exciting holiday of the year for many, especially for thousands of Philadelphia area Mummer’s and their fans. New Year’s Day is the annual culmination to a Mummer’s entire year of meticulous preparations. Finally, on this day each year, a mummer finally gets to strut his or her stuff in their handmade costume.

For nearly 200 years the city of Philadelphia has looked forward to watching the Mummer’s each year. Now, television viewers around the look forward to watching the Mummer’s parade on New Year’s Day, many having incorporated viewing parties for the event into their own family traditions.

On the surface, the Mummer’s Parade, is simply a festive costume rich celebration, which is of course, candy to the spectator’s eye, but to many, the annual celebration means much more. The parade’s roots can be traced back to mid-17^th century roots. The event is related to the Mummers Play tradition from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, but takes route in many other cultures as well.

Settlers from Sweden brought the custom of visiting neighbors on “Second Day Christmas” with them to Tinicum, near Philadelphia, eventually growing the Celebration into an event which extended into New Year’s Day for which participants wore elaborately festive costumes. Although “masquerades” and “masquerade balls” were declared common nuisances” in 1808, that didn’t stop those who wanted to carry on the Mummer’s tradition.

By 1840, the first documented competitive Mummer’s “club” or “chain gang” was formed, and later, the New Year’s Day parade also become the arena for a large costume competition. Local clubs, now called “New Years Associations” now compete in one of four categories (Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades). Elaborate costumes and scenery are prepared by the clubs by hand for each big day. Fans can now watch the parade along the streets of center city Philadelphia or on WPHL-TV, WGN America, and WGN-TV.

Labels: costume

 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011  0 Comments

The Mummer’s Museum - A Great Place to see Great Costumes

Taking a trip to the city of Brotherly Love? There are surely many interesting sites to see, but don’t forget to visit the Mummer’s Museum, especially if you have an appreciation for the art of the costume. The Mummer’s Museum is the only place you can see the best collection of mummer paraphernalia and memorabilia, including the spectacular costumes the annual parade of its namesake is known for.

The museum houses a rich collection of costumes, many dating back as far as the turn of the 20^th Century. You can view some of the costumes from parades of past on the Museum’s website, such as the wildly lavish 1985 “King of the Jungle” costume creating by Ferko Silly Symfunny, but to truly appreciate a mummer costume, it is best to see it in person. Mummer costumes traditionally take months or even years to create. The men and women who create them painstakingly apply all of the details by hand. Then, they finally show them off at the Mummer’s Day Parade which is held annually on New Year’s Day in the historic and diverse urban center that is Philadelphia.

Thanks to the Mummer’s Museum, visitors can get see a real Mummer’s Day costume any day of the year and even bring home a little piece of the Mummer’s spirit from the Mummer’s Museum gift shop. The museum is located at 1100 South 2^nd Street in Philadelphia at the intersection of 2^nd Street at Washington Avenue. Visitors of all ages can enjoy low cost admission to the museum since tickets cost just $3.50 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12, students, and seniors.

Labels: costumes, mummy

 

Monday, December 19, 2011  0 Comments

Costume Con 30 is Just around the Corner

Although New Year’s Eve isn’t even quite here yet, history has it that spring is just around the corner. The end of short days a just a bit more warmth should certainly give you something to look forward to if you’re currently experiencing the Holiday or winter blues. Fortunately, a rise in temperature and some brighter sunshine aren’t the only things cosplay fans will have to look forward to this coming Spring – they can also delight in the coming of CostumeCon30, which will be held at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe Arizona from May 11^th 2012 through May 14^th 2012.

Best put by Costume Con 30’s official website, “Costume Con 30 is a celebration of costuming where amateur, hobbyists, and professional costumers come together for a weekend to share knowledge, appreciation, and love of all types of costuming.” This year’s event slogan is “The Sands of Time,” and appropriately enough, costume and cosplay artisans will be exhibiting and selling costumes based in many historical time periods during the May event.

Love a good sparring match of sorts? Costume Con 30 will allow costume connoisseurs to compete in multiple arenas throughout the event. The historical masquerade, which is a series of short presentations showing off historical costumes, will feature a competition convention goers can sign up to enter for now.

Competitions will also be held during the science fiction/fantasy masquerade, giving science fiction fans the chance to really show off their stuff. If days of old are not quite you’re style, you can even compete in the future fashion folio and show off your post modern costume flair, and of course all cosplay lovers are invited to enter the single pattern art/wearable art contest.

Labels: Anime, Cosplay Conventions