COSPLAY
---By Yan Chen
Translated by Sho Huang
Many people may have fancied
themselves as a super hero or some comic-book
character when they were little. As adults,
at least some of them have found a place to
make their dreams come true at Cosplay.
Cosplay, a popular term that combines "Costume"
and "Play", first appeared in Japan
in 1970. People who attend these events call
themselves Cosers. In its early years, Cosplay
styles tended to be more fashion-oriented. However,
animation and comic characters seem to dominate
the scene today, making Cosplay an event where
animation and comic fans express their passion
in costume.
In Taiwan, Cosplay started
out with puppet shows--an important part of
Taiwanese traditional culture that highlights
characters' colorful costumes and strong personalities.
These became two important elements for Cosers
when choosing which characters they would play.
As a result, lots of puppet show fans have joined
the Cosplay fad.
 
There are three ways to have
costumes and accessories done in general. First,
simply buy ready-made items and have them altered
to fit. Second, have costumes made by the tailors.
Third, make costumes by yourself, which is probably
what most Cosers do. With their creative ideas,
they bring their dreams into reality.
If you're interested in understanding
more about Cosplay, you definitely won't want
to miss out on the annual Coser meeting in Taiwan,
or visit their website. They also hold sporadic
gatherings. With that in mind, keep your eyes
peeled, because you might just see your favorite
hero roaming around an MRT station one of these
days!
Cospho/Cospho, Cosplay Comic Communication-
http://cospho.dyndns.info
 
 
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