Monday, December 20, 2010

From Anime to Cosplay

We thought we’d provide a little refresher course for those readers who are new to our blog and might not be completely clear on the connection between anime and cosplay. And since it’s a connection that we really enjoy celebrating here at Moon Costumes, it bears repeating!

Anime

Wikipedia explains that “anime” in English usually refers to a style of animation originating in Japan, heavily influenced by the manga (Japanese comics) style and typically featuring characters with large eyes, big hair and elongated limbs, exaggerated facial expressions, brush-stroked outlines, limited motion and other distinctive features.

The term may also be used by English-speakers for other animation connected to Japan or to anime proper, irrespective of style. The word comes from Japanese word “anime” which means “animation.”

Both hand-drawn and computer-animated anime exist. It is used in television series, films, video, video games, commercials, and internet-based releases, and represents most, if not all, genres of fiction.

Cosplay

Wikipedia’s explanation of Cosplay is that it’s short for "costume play" and is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. Role play includes portrayals of J-pop and J-rock stars, Taiwanese puppet characters, science fiction characters, characters from musical stories, classic novels, and entertainment software. Any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Inanimate objects are given an anthropomorphic forms and it is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered around role play.

Check out our Cosplay & Anime section to see all we have available, or order a custom-made costume to your specifications!

Labels: Anime and Cosplay, Custom Costumes