People who dress as characters from anime, manga, or video games are known as cosplayers. The term “cosplay” is an abbreviation for “costume play.” They are referred to as “players” or “cosplayers,” respectively.¹⁾

Cosplayers fall into three categories: 1) people who dress up as fictional characters from anime, manga, or video games; 2) those who dress up as members of specific professions, such as nurses or soldiers; and 3) those who make their own costumes.²⁾

When cosplayers dress up and play characters of the opposite gender, this is known as gender-bending cosplay.³⁾

The slang term for “cosplayer” in Japanese is “layer”.⁴⁾

A cleaning service called “Layer Support” has been created especially for cosplay outfits.⁵⁾

After attending Worldcon in Los Angeles, Japanese journalist and manga publisher Takahashi Nobuyuki first used the term “cosplay”.⁶⁾

When Sailor Moon's final episode aired in 1997, a “gazillion cosplayers” donned Japanese schoolgirl miniskirts as part of their costumes.⁷⁾

The first cosplay cafe debuted in Akihabra, Tokyo, in 1999, and numerous others soon followed.⁸⁾

Launched in 2003, Dengeki Layers is a magazine aimed at the Japanese cosplay scene.⁹⁾

The inaugural World Cosplay Summit was place in Nagoya, Japan, in 2003.¹⁰⁾

In 2009, Jessica Nigri rose to fame as one of the most well-known cosplayers in the world when she was pictured at San Diego Comic Con wearing a seductive Pikachu outfit.¹¹⁾

The “No Costume is No Costume” rule was established by cosplay organizers in the 1970s and 1980s after a few attendees turned up to conferences in their underwear. If a character is being represented in a lawful way, partial nudity is still permitted.¹²⁾

Kris Lundi made an appearance as a naked harpy in 1974 at the 32nd WorldCon convention. In the competition, she was given an honorable mention.¹³⁾

Because cosplay costumes are intended to depict specific characters rather than to reflect the meaning of a festive event, they differ from Halloween or Mardi Gras costumes.¹⁴⁾

Women have created the “Cosplay is Not Consent movement” because sexual harassment at cosplay conventions has become such an issue. The movement emphasizes that it is inappropriate to grope, touch, or verbally harass fellow cosplayers, regardless of gender.¹⁵⁾

Japanese suppliers of cosplay costumes report yearly profits of over 24 billion yen.¹⁶⁾

Some cosplayers find that dressing up like heroes and well-known figures increases their confidence and self-esteem.¹⁷⁾

One cosplayer who attended the 30th WorldCon in 1972 carried a pretend blaster that shot actual flames; as a result, the event's organizers decided to outlaw fire.¹⁸⁾

A woman complained to the police about a cosplayer's “underboob” at a cosplay convention (the bottom part of the breast). The main protagonist of the anime Kill la Kill, Ryuko Matoi, was the cosplayer's chosen character.¹⁹⁾

The biggest cosplay event is Comic Market (Comiket), a semi-annual doujin market. Thousands of cosplayers and hundreds of thousands of manga and anime enthusiasts attend the Comiket convention in Japan.²⁰⁾

Scott Shaw dressed up as “The Turd” at the 30th WorldCon in 1972 in a peanut butter costume. Under the intense lighting, the peanut butter rubbed off, causing harm to other people's costumes, furnishings, and going rancid.²¹⁾

The San Diego Comic-Con and the New York Comic Con are the two most well-known cosplay gatherings in North America.²²⁾

Cosplay, which was first known as “costuming”, got its start in North America in the late 1930s when science fiction author Forrest Ackerman showed up in a futuristic costume at a convention.²³⁾

The most well-known cosplay competition is the World Cosplay Summit. Cosplayers from more than 40 countries compete in Japan.²⁴⁾

LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. Instead of performing as a pre-made character in this, you create, dress, and behave as your own character. The primary distinction between the two is that with LARP cosplay, you are claiming to be a character you created. Therefore, the entire creative effort is yours. This is enjoyable since you designed the game rather than being a part of it.²⁵⁾

Costume is useless without photographers, so while you are dressing up and taking in the atmosphere of your character, make sure there is a skilled photographer around to capture you in your best cosplay.²⁶⁾

For some folks, cosplay is more than just a pastime; it's a way of life. Yes, the addiction to this entertaining and stimulating hobby is so strong that fans save money to attend cosplay events.²⁷⁾

Costumes are inexpensive, simple to store, and often suitable for children. Cosplay is authentic, engaging, and realistic. In fact, I'd go so far as to argue that cosplay is the attire of adults and young people.²⁸⁾

It started in 1984 by the founder of Studio Hard when they attended the 42nd Worldcon in LA.²⁹⁾

Five cosplayers from Germany, France, and Italy were invited to the first global cosplay summit, which took place in 2003 at the Rose Court Hotel in Japan.³⁰⁾