Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
The pandemic itself is over, and across Malaysia, anime, cosplay, and game events are literally taking over shopping malls across the country. Selangor, Ipoh, Penang. You name it – every weekend there’s an event taking place somewhere.
The communities that have lain dormant for almost two years have surged back to life, and there are a lot of people now wondering, what is cosplay? I have my own opinion, but I asked around and received some interesting answers.
Costume vs. Cosplay
“A costume is something you wear, a Cosplay is someone you become.” I can’t recall who said it, but there is a vast difference between costume and cosplay.
When I say costume, most people think of “costume party” and “Halloween.” In either case, you buy or rent or make the costume, use it once, and then it gets lost in a box and is never seen until the next costume party or Halloween.
Cosplay is a passion, an artform, and a hint of psychology….
Cosplay is about more than clothes, fashion accessories, props (armor, shields, weapons, talismans), and makeup. It’s about getting into the headspace of the character. A passionate mad blend of all of the aforementioned, plus psychology and acting.
Most cosplayers will research their characters in detail, learn their stories and history (whether it’s from the anime, game, manga, comic, or movie), and be able to interact with the rest of the world as that character.
What Cosplay is NOT
Cosplays can be sexy and revealing in terms of the costume. The character might be overtly sexual in nature, and personality, which influences the costume itself, but that is not the cosplayer’s identity.
Cosplay is not “fancy dress pornography. It never has been. I’m taking a moment to emphasize that Cosplay IN NOT Consent for anything else to happen. A cosplayer is an artist, a performer, or an actor/actress. Any sexuality portrayed is a part of the character.
Why I cosplay
I was the quintessential nerd in high school, in love with science fiction, fantasy, anime, and games. I also got bullied a lot in both primary and secondary school leading to some seriously damaged self-confidence, and self-image.
Cosplay actually helped rebuilt my self-confidence after having a pretty miserable childhood as one of the nerds in my high school.
I discovered cosplay and people who shared my passion and interests when I was in university. From there, an admiration for characters who were everything I was not, drew me into cosplay namely, the chance to be confident, strong, suave, charismatic, and popular.
I know it sounds like I am hiding behind the mask, but the reverse is true. When cosplaying a character, I know who that character is and what they are like, which gives me confidence and the freedom to face my own fears.
Cosplay is both the how and the why I recovered from years of bullying. I built friendships and skills, and self-confidence that still keep me going today.
I asked around fellow Malaysian cosplayers why they do it
Source: @ciaraxcross
Ask any cosplayer why they do it, and you’ll get a different answer. Speaking to numerous Malaysian cosplayers, you find their reason is their own.
Ciara Cross, explains her motivations: “ I’m a fan of who or perhaps what I am cosplaying and I want to go deeper into the world of that movie, anime, manga, or game. I am empowered when I step into the shoes of a character that I admire and can pay tribute to the creative minds that gave life to their world, character, and story. I can make a small difference, to make our reality and world a more vibrant and vivid place to live.
I cosplay and am free to indulge in fantasy for a while, but I also get to give a favorite character I love a chance to stand in the limelight. When I am the character, it’s great that people get to interact with the character, be it for those few photos, that video on TikTok, or even make some child smile and laugh as they meet their favourite hero.
I get to meet people who share my interests and passions. Not just in cosplay but also in the wider universe my character of the moment comes from. When I do Cindy Aurum from FFXV, I get to meet cosplayers cosplaying characters from the whole Final Fantasy series (not just 15), and make a lot of new friends.”
In the end, cosplay is a great hobby
Cosplay can be seen as nothing more than “just another hobby.” But like all those who are actively involved in their hobby, there is so much more to it. We spend our money to get materials and costumes and other props. We read, research, and study the characters so that we can bring them to life at events, whether it’s as part of a performance or just on the convention floor for photographers and fans alike.
We collaborate, have our own workshops, and attend events because we’re all a part of a hobby that we are passionate about and enjoy.
In the end, every cosplayer chooses the characters for their own personal reasons and is a part of the cosplay community for their own personal reasons. But we’re all part of a growing, passionate community focused on creating and showcasing a unique mix of talents and skills by creating something unique with like-minded people. That’s why we are cosplayers.
For more stories like this, read:
Cosplayer Harassment In Malaysia: From 2010 to 2022, It’s Been a Decade of Degeneration
“Why You So Quiet Ah” – The Dos And Don’ts Of Befriending An Introvert in Malaysia
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