The Art and Craft of the Visual Culture of Anime Conventions: An Introduction to American Cosplay

Abstract

This study investigates the art and craft evident in the practice of Cosplay. Cosplay is the practice of dressing as characters from movies or books. Most often, Cosplay specifically refers to imitating the characters seen in Japanese anime, comic books and movies. Anime, a term short for animation, has inspired a growing group of artists who have developed multiple genres, animation styles and formats to suit their individual inspirations. With anime becoming increasingly popular in popular media, a certain standard of series quality, critiques and fan culture has evolved among the people that consume this animated import. Nowhere is this demographic of fans better showcased than in the hundreds of “cons”, or conventions, held across the United States every year. As of 2013, there were 335 cons held in the United States. The largest con is the Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California, which boasts an attendance count of 61,000. Otakon, held in Baltimore, is the second largest anime convention in the United States. As of 2014 its highest attendance reached 34,892 participants.¹