Casual Cosplay: What is it?

I've had a remarkable journey this year. I have ventured deeper in the world of pop-culture then I ever have before. Being a fairly new cosplayer myself, I am always curious to hear what is happening in our weird little world. Since 2011 online cosplay community forums have argued over the question: is Casual Cosplay acceptable? However, before I could make an informed opinion, I needed to find out one thing. 

What exactly is Casual Cosplay?

You’d think, from the name, it was just someone who cosplayed every now and then. Or perhaps someone who was particularly casual whilst in cosplay. But this is incorrect. 

Casual Cosplaying is a cosplaying trend that sees the costumes and props, identified with traditional cosplay, are left in the cupboard at home. Only the basics of the character such as wigs and makeup are used. They are worn with casual clothing. Basically, you look like Naruto on his day off.

Cosplaying communities around the world and divided and twitchy, debating strongly if Casual Cosplaying is even cosplaying at all.  

The affirmative team argue that Casual Cosplaying is perfectly fine, provided you do it correctly. It allows for a person to become more like the character, understand them better, and let’s face it; be comfortable in their outfit. They debate that a Casual Cosplay is much harder than regular cosplay because you are taking the character away from their trademark clothing and accessories. As long as you style your wig and put on your makeup correctly, then the affirmatives say, ‘it' okay!’

 The negative team reply back that cosplaying is about the whole package from head to toe. They claim missing the vital elements stops it from being cosplaying at all. It can be said that without the identifing clothing and accessories, you run the risk of being pegged as ‘some douche in an Ichigo style wig’. This argument comes from the Casual Cosplayers that are too casual in appearance. They do not put the time and effort into portraying the character correctly and come off looking strange and unkempt. 

In the cosplay community, these people are labelled to be wigplaying or Cosf*ck’ing the style.

Whilst the Casual Cosplaying trend may be the new shift in the traditional, a “Casual Pimp Boba Fett” and “Casual Vacation Stormtrooper” might just be going too far.

See Casual Boba Fett and Casual Vacation Strom Trooper (at Comic-Con 2012) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0ozUtsZ9Y

Melanie Stevens 2012

A moment with Keik: Remarkable Brisbane Cosplayer

Student Keik believes cosplay is about more than simply wearing an outfit and looking pretty.

Who is Keik? Well, by day she is just your average international student studying pharmacy at the University of Queensland. Passing her in the street, you would never recognise that inside she is a passionate cosplayer and creative genius.

Ever the perfectionist, Keik is all about improving her work again and again until it meets her high standards and artistic vision. She said, ‘I've never wanted to look amazing in cosplay... bringing the character to life is more important than just "looking pretty".’

Keik travelled to Australia from Hong Kong four years ago to begin her study. She has been cosplaying for about a year and is already wowing Australian cosplayers with her capabilities. Keik’s life has always been surrounded by the influence of Japanese pop-culture. She said, ‘My parents owned a Japanese Manga/Anime shop so basically my childhood was spent reading manga. I started cosplaying because I met some cosplayer friends and they made me interested in it.’

Keik gets her inspiration from copslay heavyweights such as KANAME, TOUYA HIBIKI and Kyuruu. ‘KANAME is the master of prop making and he's really good at putting different elements into cosplay. Touya and Kyuruu are crossplayers. They are girls but always make good guy characters. They're really talented at posing and making believable facial expressions,' Keik said. 

Whilst she has made some fantastic progress so far, Keik is always keen to create another head turning cosplay. ‘The next big cosplay would like to attempt next year is the Sengoku Basara group’, she said. ‘All the prop making and armour construction is going to be so much fun! Also, apart from putting lights on my costume, I am attempting to put more exciting elements on my projects such as fire and moving mechanical parts. Oh, but I’m not building a robot I promise!’ Keik laughed.

Keik said that she is very greatful for all her support so far and hopes she can keep improving and impressing the cosplay communities with her creations.

Melanie Stevens 2012

For more information in Keik vist her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/KeikCakeStore

And Website:

http://worldcosplay.net/member/33594/

 Photos and edits (c) to Keik & Laileian (Haru)

https://www.facebook.com/Laileian

The Magical Girl & Me

Once upon a time I dreamt of becoming a Magical Girl. I wanted to save the world, have a talking pet and of course, return to bed before my parents suspected a thing.

For the uninformed, allow me to explain the philosophy of the Magical Girl.

Magical Girls, (also known as mahou shoujo or majokko in Japan) are part of a sub-genre of fantasy anime and manga. They are girls, and sometimes boys, with magical capabilities such as black magic, wand powers and special gifts. For the protagonists of Magical Girl anime and manga, it's all about destiny and fate. They are sworn to protect the Earth from danger whilst often balancing a busy school life and hectically hiding their true identity. The Magical Girl genre makes up a large section of popular anime and manga.

But where did this incredibly influential sub-genre come from? I’m so glad you asked.It started in 1962 with the introduction of manga title Secret Akko-chan which produced the idea that a girl can get her magical capabilities through the use of a “special object”. This idea has fuelled a great number of the Magical Girl genres seen in modern times (Tokyo Mew Mew, Cardcaptor Sakura, Shugo Chara, and most recently in 2011 Puella Magi Madoka Magica.)

The Magical Girl influence has been staggering. Even non-anime fans are likely recognise the name of the most famous magical girl of them all: Usagi Tsukino (English: Serena) a.k.a Sailor Moon.  However earlier productions paved the way for the 1992 smash hit Sailor Moon. These include Cutie Honey (1972) that introduced the captivating idea of transformations. Followed by Magical Princess Minky Momo (1982) which created the talking animal side-kick, used in various anime genres today.

I love the Magical Girl genre. I believe it can inspire young girls to be independent little heroines. I owe a lot in my life to Sailor Moon. She brought me into a world of pop-culture that keeps me sustained every day. Of course it hasn’t been an easy road. Take twelve year old me. One sunny Saturday I plucked up all my courage to purchase the first ten episodes of Sailor Moon Season One on VHS. I clutched it tightly as I made my way to the checkouts at my local Target. Of course, at that moment I had to run into the class clown who teased me something terrible for years. All the way through high school, he never let me forget that day. But through endurance I was able to find my way back to the Japanese sub-cultures I adore.After all, you can take the girl away from the magic, but you can never take the magic away from the girl.