By FMT’s Lifestyle Desk
The cosplaying phenomenon was born when anime and manga first appeared in comic book stores and on TV in the 1970s. The flamboyant artwork, colourful characters and fantastical plotlines inspired creative fans in Japan and the US to embody their favourite personas through wearing makeup and specially-made costumes. Soon, amateur cosplayers began connecting with and meeting each other – and the fascinating subculture of “costume playing” or cosplay was born.
Today, thousands of cosplayers meet regularly at convention centres during events organized by film and TV studios, and anime or manga-related merchandise distributors, to promote their movies, TV shows, comic books and toys. Cosplayers attend fully rigged-up in elaborate makeup and costumes inspired by their favourite characters from Japanese comic books and cartoons such as The Last Airbender, to TV shows such as Games of Thrones to movie franchises such as The X-Men.
When industry bigwigs began to realize that dedicated amateur cosplayers – especially ones with their own fanbases, like YouTubers – were key to the promotion of their products, they began employing them as, shall we say, ‘brand ambassadors’. And so, the world of professional cosplaying was born.
How is this a career?
Cosplayers may seem like a bunch of people with a lot of free time on their hands, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Many cosplayers hold a degree in fashion, graphic design, photography or social media marketing, which help them connect with companies and studios that advertise on popular media sharing sites such as YouTube or Instagram. The more a cosplayer promotes a particular game, anime or movie, the higher their chances of being sponsored at official events or movie openings to increase interest amongst the public. There are many events on the cosplaying calendar – and many pro cosplayers have many sponsors who pay them lots of money.
How do I get started?
Cosplayers often begin with very little resources at their disposal. Whatever money you have will be spent on props, wigs, outfits and makeup, which can be quite costly. Virtually cost-free though, is creating your own fan page on Tumblr or Facebook, where you can sell your brand, as well as fan art. You should also be on-the-ball as regards social media platforms, where you can sell your cosplaying persona, and start building your online fan base. This can be your most important launchpad if you are serious in becoming a famous cosplayer.
How can I stand apart from other cosplayers?
What will determine whether you have only ten or over ten thousand fans is how realistic your cosplaying looks. From the buttons you use on your coat to the colour of your contact lenses – every detail of your costume will be scrutinised by a judgemental public. Do not cosplay as Wolverine from X-Men if you don’t even have hair on your face. Also, do not cosplay as Ada Wong from Resident Evil if you do not own a red Chinese dress or have a prop version of her famous handgun. Cosplayers become famous simply because their characters look consistently on-point.
What must I always remember about this career?
Surprisingly, privacy is highly valued among professional cosplayers. Many famous cosplay celebrities will not have more than two or three sentences of information on their social media accounts. One of the reasons behind this is the likelihood of being stalked by overly-enamoured fans – so while your goal is to ensure your character’s maximum exposure, keep your personal details mysterious.
Based on an article published in Asia’s leading education site, www.easyuni.com