Five Steps to the Creative World of Cosplay

The increasingly popular phenomenon of cosplay sees fictional characters brought to life by devoted and creative fans. Costume Drama: The Wonderful World of Cosplay, Yasmeen Khan explores this growing subculture. But before you listen, we’ve put together a quick guide to cosplay for the uninitiated.

‘Cosplay’ comes from the term ‘costume play’. Its aficionados imitate characters from a wide range of comics, graphic novels, cartoons, computer games, TV shows and films.

The Deadly Assassin from Doctor Who

From Star Trek to Super Mario, Marvel superheroes to Harry Potter, cosplayers do more than just dress up in impressive costumes – many learn to speak, move and act in character.

(It’s also worth noting that ‘cosplay’ can be used as both a noun and a verb – so you might say ‘I love cosplay’, but you could also say ‘I cosplay as a hobby’.)

2. Why you might have missed it

Cosplayers generally wear their outfits to fan events and conventions, which is why non-fans may not have come across it before.

While many people cosplay just for fun, some events hold competitions. Entrants can be judged not just on the accuracy of their look, but on how well they perform in character and the amount of effort they’ve put into their costume.

As well as taking part in cosplay live, people also post photos online, where a fast-growing community is keen to see and share new and inventive creations

Although some cosplayers buy their costumes, many painstakingly make their own incredible outfits.

Creators go to great lengths to source the most accurate materials, and learn new sewing and crafting techniques. The most elaborate outfits can take months to perfect and cost hundreds of pounds.

For some people it’s all about taking on the challenge of recreating a two-dimensional cartoon or comic book character in 3D form.

4. There are lots of ways to cosplay

Not all cosplayers aim to precisely replicate their subject’s outfit. Some choose to mix things up by changing genders, combining characters, switching centuries or incorporating another genre. Examples of this include a female Captain America, a gladiator-style Wonder Woman, a Renaissance-era Batman (complete with ruff) and a steampunk Buzz Lightyear.

Often cosplayers join up with friends to create amazing team cosplays, like the Power Rangers, a group of Pokemon or The Simpsons.

But it’s not all about the big names. Some people enjoy opting for more niche characters, knowing that their outfits will only be identifiable by other superfans.

There are lots of reasons why people take part in cosplay. Some do it simply for the fun of dressing up and inhabiting a whole new persona. Others enjoy being seen as their favourite characters and having fans ask for photos.

Many people cosplay for the strong sense of community. There are online groups devoted to celebrating particular films, comics, games, TV shows or characters, as well as costume ideas and crafting tips. New friendships are often formed at events or online, and cosplayers meet up in between conventions to work on their outfits.

Some cosplayers even say that publicly embodying a more confident persona when they’re in character has helped them become more self-assured in their wider lives.

You can hear Costume Drama: The Wonderful World of Cosplay on iPlayer Radio from Saturday 27 May or it will be available as a download from Seriously... from Friday 2 June.