Cosplay is a niche hobby that is huge around the world. Because of this, there probably are a couple of things about Cosplay which you may not know of.
We’ve gathered a list of them and are going to take a look at them throughout this article.
1. It Can Improve Mental Health Disorders
Yes, believe it or not, it can actually improve all types of mental health disorders.
Some cosplayers describe it as a way to escape from stress. Others have said it has helped their anxiety because they feel like people are not looking at them, but instead at the characters.
Most cosplayers also say it gives them a boost in confidence in many ways, as they have the freedom to express themselves.
Additionally, many cosplayers also say the community has a lovely feeling that they normally don’t find in society.
2. There Are General Categories
Although Cosplay is also used to express creativity and passion, most cosplayers will fall into one of the following four categories:
- Imaginary Characters from video games, anime, or manga
- Professionals: Nurses, Military figures, public services, etc.
- Hybrid: A mix of two or more costumes from movies, video games, etc.
- Creative: Those who create their own costumes
3. Professionals Can Face Copyright issues
Many professional cosplayers face copyright issues when pursuing their career.
This is quite ironic, as surely the movies or series would enjoy the free advertising. Apparently not.
To be fair, this isn’t too common. Plus, quite often, professional cosplayers are extremely creative, meaning they’ll come up with hybrid costumes. Professional cosplayers also know how to avoid copyright issues, and if they follow the next point of this article, they’ll rarely run into issues anyway.
If you’re interested in becoming a professional cosplayer, you can read one of our recent articles on can cosplay become a career? Although we have spoiled the answer already, we do cover how it can become your career.
4. A lot of professional cosplayers make their entire costume
Many cosplayers love making their entire costume on their own.
They see it as a fun challenge to see what they can create without buying pre-made costumes. This also allows them to express their creativity in ways a pre-made costume doesn’t.
Plus, it can also be helpful to avoid copyright issues, as it would make your costume unique. Just avoid using entire logos or something similar if you are looking to pursue cosplay as a career.
To make your own cosplay outfits, you can use your creativity, old fabric, or other materials and foam. The most popular foam types are EVA foam and moldable foam clay, as these are strong enough to hold their shape, while you’re walking around in them.
Fun fact: It can also often be a lot more affordable to create your own costumes!
Related:
How To Use EVA Foam For Cosplay
5. Fun comes first.
Like most hobbies, fun comes first.
Cosplay is there to be fun, not for any other reason. It’s not a competition (although there are some in which you can participate in), nor a business.
This means, at cosplay events, you’ll find there will be a fun and friendly atmosphere. You will never find a cosplayer who gets stressed about cosplay, for most, it’s always fun first.
And that’s the way it should be because it’s a hobby at the end of the day.
Want To Learn More?
We’ve got a library full of cosplay articles for you to dive into.
Take a look at some of them below. Or, if you are looking to start creating your own cosplay outfits, you can visit our store for all the high-density foam, you’ll need.
High vs Low-Density Foam: What’s The Difference For Cosplay?
