Cosplay: What it means to me.

Cosplay To me is a way to dwell into ones own imagination and feel closer to a story then ever before. Cosplaying at a convention something that many people will not understand or ever will experience. People refer to you as the character you are cosplaying and the feeling is like no other. To be identified as a character you really look up to and admire with your heart is like no other feeling,
It’s like being another person. The person in your imagination, The person you would love to be.

When I cosplayed the first time I made my own custom costume from a story I am working on and I got awesome response, However my next eventual cosplay got a huge reaction. My most known cosplay was a “Vault Dweller” from “Fallout 3″ I even went as far to make a “Working” Pip-Boy 3000 (tutorial video here)

I walked into the next convention with that full costume on and immediately I was recognized as the Vault Dweller. I was overwhelmed with this feeling like I was that person. I then automatically took on that persona (I think it’s the same for most cosplayers) I “was” a Vault Dweller at that convention and it was great.

That whole weekend the rest of the world began to fade. All the hate, greed, anger and stupidity of the masses from the outside world did not penetrate me.

Other people cosplaying had the same affect, we would run into eachother and act according to what we thought our character would act. (Cosplaying is great acting experience.) I ran into lots of costume from all forms of media, TV, Anime, Video Games, and more.

The pictures taken of me was the best part of the whole experience. People circling around me taking pictures from all angles and taking pictures with me as if I were the original character. If you cosplay and do it well costume wise prepare for this, You will get attention and pictures taken from everywhere. A convention is like a Hollywood red carpet for Cosplayers. Bottom line is that pictures are the best feeling of the whole thing.

It’s hard to explain what cosplaying feels like unless you have tried it. If you have not the best way I can try to explain it is, Imagine your favorite hero or character from anything and walking in his shoes around many people who love that person.

I Cosplay, therefore I am, That person.