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As I once again prepare to embark on that douche-chilling adventure known as going to an anime convention, I just thought of one thing:
What goes through the mind of say, a Sora-from-KH cosplayer? Or a Cloud cosplayer, or an Edward from FMA cosplayer?
Because, without fail, every year I see about 20+ different people all dressed up as the same overdone anime/game characters. I'm sure they all knew it would happen, we all know it'll happen. But WHY? Why do you think you're contributing anything special when there's an entire army of people who did the same thing?
I mean, you aren't being unique in the slightest at your choice of dress-up. Sure, if someone could pull off mermaid!Sora or Miss Cloud I'd give them creativity points and I could look past the completely worn-out characters they are parading around as. But no, it's always ex-SOLDIER Cloud and "normal" Sora, followed soon enough by a flock of red jacket wearing Edwards.
The quality ranges from dollar-store rejected wigs and fabrics to the most intricately-done costumes. I would imagine the only reason a person would subject themselves to potential cosplay ridicule is because they think theirs is a well-done representation of the character. But when you're up against a myriad of people who thought the same thing... well, somebody's going to walk away the loser. I think the loser is each one of us, actually. No matter how much effort you put forth into being Edward Elric, you're one in a dozen, at best.
Then it comes down to body types, and honestly this is where the brainstorming should have ended in the first place about 98% of the time. I know anime-style guys and girls are pretty high standards to abide by, but really, I think self-delusion is the culprit here more than anything. You don't need the perfect body to pull this stuff off, but at least be within the ballpark. Or be able to fit inside the ballpark.
Finally, there's just damn laziness. God damn you, Sailor Moon in flip-flops. Damn you to hell.
But seriously, WHY? Why would someone think "Yeah, I'm going to be Cloud this year!" and expect it to end well? I can understand if you're the convention's "resident Cloud" and you're Cloud every year and you do a good job at it, but still. There are so many unique, under-appreciated characters in the most popular of games you could've been. YOU COULD'VE BEEN SOMEBODY. But no, you're yarn-wig Cloud with a cardboard buster sword that you didn't even bother to poke holes in. You lazy, greasy waste of carbon.
I suppose anime conventions are meant to be fun, and dressing up as your favorite character can be a part of that. But you'd be wrong. Anime conventions exist solely to act as self-confidence boosters to the attendees who are not dressed as "Sora, if Sora was that blueberry girl from Willy Wonka". I walk away from an anime convention feeling happier, thinner, and more appreciative of my life than ever before.
What goes through the mind of say, a Sora-from-KH cosplayer? Or a Cloud cosplayer, or an Edward from FMA cosplayer?
Because, without fail, every year I see about 20+ different people all dressed up as the same overdone anime/game characters. I'm sure they all knew it would happen, we all know it'll happen. But WHY? Why do you think you're contributing anything special when there's an entire army of people who did the same thing?
I mean, you aren't being unique in the slightest at your choice of dress-up. Sure, if someone could pull off mermaid!Sora or Miss Cloud I'd give them creativity points and I could look past the completely worn-out characters they are parading around as. But no, it's always ex-SOLDIER Cloud and "normal" Sora, followed soon enough by a flock of red jacket wearing Edwards.
The quality ranges from dollar-store rejected wigs and fabrics to the most intricately-done costumes. I would imagine the only reason a person would subject themselves to potential cosplay ridicule is because they think theirs is a well-done representation of the character. But when you're up against a myriad of people who thought the same thing... well, somebody's going to walk away the loser. I think the loser is each one of us, actually. No matter how much effort you put forth into being Edward Elric, you're one in a dozen, at best.
Then it comes down to body types, and honestly this is where the brainstorming should have ended in the first place about 98% of the time. I know anime-style guys and girls are pretty high standards to abide by, but really, I think self-delusion is the culprit here more than anything. You don't need the perfect body to pull this stuff off, but at least be within the ballpark. Or be able to fit inside the ballpark.
Finally, there's just damn laziness. God damn you, Sailor Moon in flip-flops. Damn you to hell.
But seriously, WHY? Why would someone think "Yeah, I'm going to be Cloud this year!" and expect it to end well? I can understand if you're the convention's "resident Cloud" and you're Cloud every year and you do a good job at it, but still. There are so many unique, under-appreciated characters in the most popular of games you could've been. YOU COULD'VE BEEN SOMEBODY. But no, you're yarn-wig Cloud with a cardboard buster sword that you didn't even bother to poke holes in. You lazy, greasy waste of carbon.
I suppose anime conventions are meant to be fun, and dressing up as your favorite character can be a part of that. But you'd be wrong. Anime conventions exist solely to act as self-confidence boosters to the attendees who are not dressed as "Sora, if Sora was that blueberry girl from Willy Wonka". I walk away from an anime convention feeling happier, thinner, and more appreciative of my life than ever before.
