‘Cosplay’ is the shortened term given to ‘Costume Play’. The term embodies the art of dressing up as your favorite anime character and is a practice widely employed by enthusiasts the world over. It is a practice usually engaged in for large group gatherings such as anime or science fiction conventions or “Comiket” which is a huge even dedicated to the buying and selling of fan-created doujinshi or manga. According to Lunning (2006), cosplayers spend countless hours and immeasurable resources in order to transform themselves from their ‘real world’ identities into their favorite fiction characters.
This is the primary reason cosplay should be considered an ‘art’ form or a form of creative outlet. Many cosplay enthusiasts not only go to the trouble of creating their own Cheap Cosplay costumes but also place great care and planning into learning not only the “look” of the character they are presenting but also in the meaning behind who that character is and what that character stands for. True lovers of cosplay aim to embody the complete character, including a sincere portrayal of their “spirit”.
Apart from the personal reasons of wanting to pay tribute to characters loved by fans or to their creators, people also cosplay in order to express themselves. For cosplayers, one way they can share this expression of self is by acting as models for budding photographers with similar interests.
During Comiket for example, there are particularly arranged areas and dedicated spaces for the sole use of cosplayers and photographers who wish to capture still shots as well as the wider audiences who wish to watch. Taylor (2005), offers that conventions provide a safe environment for cosplayers to be able to perform a different role.
This role performance is also another social aspect of Final Fantasy Cosplay and Taylor states that this is a prime motivation for fans to become cosplayers who attempt to portray their choice of fictional characters through their “dress, acts and gestures.”