Unmasking secrets of cosplay craft

AT ANIME conventions, cosplayers find joy by stepping into fantasy realms and bringing life to the fictional characters they hold close to their hearts.

These events, held in many cities around Malaysia, are commonly attended by those in the ACG (anime, comics and games) community.

There were close to 80 ACG events within the Klang Valley in 2023 alone, with some months having multiple events each weekend.

Cosplay (portmanteau of costume and play) is a performance art where a person dresses up as a character from a film, TV show, book or video game, and acts like the character too.

Shun as Reze from Chainsaw Man.

Exploring identities

College student Cheesu (pseudonym), 20, who is taking a diploma course in interactive new media, said cosplay allowed her to express emotions through the character she was portraying.

“I like cosplaying characters who are similar to me in terms of personality and mannerisms.

“I research their backgrounds so that I can portray them as accurately as possible.

“For example, the first character I ever cosplayed was Hutao from Genshin Impact, who is known to mask the troubles she went through in the past with her cheerful personality.Rainy Isabella as Ayaka from Genshin Impact.

“I try to reflect those emotions in my cosplay and I feel she is representing me even though she is a fictional character.

“It makes me feel that I am not alone in my everyday struggles,” she said.

Dan (pseudonym), 21, who is also a college student, started the hobby as a way to find new friends and relieve stress after school.

“Before I started cosplaying, I had the impression that dressing up and putting on makeup wasn’t something for men.

“Part of it stemmed from societal gender expectations, but now I feel if it makes you feel more confident, just do it.

“Cosplay opened my eyes to a community of like-minded people who share my interests and opinions, and it introduced me to many friends I still have today,” he said.

“Cosplay can also be an introduction to skills that are useful in other aspects of life.

“You learn to communicate and be more approachable when you’re in character.”

Creative burnout

While cosplay can be a temporary escape from everyday life, too much of one thing will have consequences for some people.

Bachelor of Communications student Rainy Isabella (pseudonym), in her 20s, found her hobby too exhausting at one time and suffered cosplay burnout.Cheesu as Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

“I was taking part in an event almost every weekend and I got stressed out having to prepare my costumes and props.

“Many times, it got overwhelming and I ended up procrastinating.

“The projects started piling up until it was too much for me to handle,” said Isabella.

“Indulging too much in this hobby is especially dangerous when you have other aspects of life to tackle like exams or family plans.

“You have to know what to prioritise.”

Another cosplayer who became too engrossed was high school student Yukko (pseudonym), 17.

“I dedicated so much time to my cosplay projects that my studies took a hit,” said Yukko.

“Even if you have a passion for something, you shouldn’t let it dictate how you spend your time, because ultimately, it’s just a hobby.”

Finding a balance

Being able to juggle work and school responsibilities with hobbies can be a skill by itself.

College student Elle (pseudonym), 19, makes sure to finish all her assignments by Friday so she can open up her weekends for cosplay.

“I had to learn to divide my time efficiently so that I am able to attend cosplay events regularly without compromising on my grades.

“Imagine you’re dressed as a character known for being energetic, but the thought of uncompleted homework drags your mood down the entire time.

“This is not good as I want to portray my character as accurately as possible and show the correct emotions.

Sparks in her element as 2B from Nier Automata at an event. — Photos courtesy of interviewees.

“I look at cosplay as a means of rewarding myself after a long week of school,” she said.

There are times when urgent matters come up unexpectedly for cosplayers who have busy lives outside their passion.

Selangor-based business developer Elyana Sparks (pseudonym), 20, aims to be flexible with her schedule.

“You just need to go with the flow and act accordingly.Dan as Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen.

“Not every plan is set in stone, and some things are out of your control,” said Sparks.

“Don’t be ashamed to take breaks, especially when cosplaying starts to affect your mental health negatively.

“The hobby won’t run away, so take the time to focus on what should be done before coming back,” she added.

Selangor-based therapist and cosplayer Shun (pseudonym), in her 20s, explained the importance of finding a balance to ensure all aspects of life were handled properly.

“A lot of people cosplay as a form of escapism from real-life stresses and unpleasantness.

“Certainly, it can be therapeutic to have a momentary rest from the things that make you upset.

“When you’re in cosplay mode, you’re no longer the regular you.

“Instead, you’re the character you aspire to portray. Indeed, the strains from life disappear as long as you are wearing your costume and wig,” said Shun.

However, she warned that cosplayers would have to come back to reality eventually.

“As great as being able to escape sounds, you have to be responsible and remember to come back to tackle real-life duties like jobs and studies.

A participant at a cosplay festival in Penang attracting the attention of shutterbugs. — Filepic

“You need to take a step back and reevaluate when the hobby stops becoming fun and starts to become a source of stress.”

Shun said cosplay could be expensive so she structured her mindset to remind herself that she needed to work to earn money for her hobby.

“If I don’t do well at my job, I won’t be able to cosplay in the first place,” she said.

The cosplayers interviewed can be found on Instagram @cheesuhere, @dan__cos, @rainy_isabella, @yukkocos_, @ellecoser, @elyanasparks and @shvncos.