With a rich history of traditional costume and culture, cosplay is a natural extension of this tradition for some Chinese people interested in exploring their cultural roots through performance. Some Chinese cosplayers may not be so familiar with western conventions, but many are avid convention-goers in their native countries.
Let’s explore the world of these wonderful performers.
Origin of Cosplay
Cosplay is an art form that originates from Japan in which participants dress up as fictional characters often drawn from manga, anime, video games, comic books, and other media.
In order to be considered cosplay, the costume must be handmade, though wigs, make-up, and accessories can also be used in order to further transform oneself into a character.
Cosplay has become increasingly popular in recent years among anime fans who attend fan conventions. The art of cosplay is slowly becoming more widespread around the world.
Evidence of this trend can be seen in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
History of Chinese Cosplay Culture
China first became exposed to cosplay through anime being brought into the country by businessmen who were importing goods from Japan.
In the 1990s, cosplay was seen as very weird, and it wasn’t until the new millennium that this hobby started to become more popular in China. This can be attributed to anime being brought onto television for Chinese audiences.
In the past few years, cosplay culture has been growing rapidly in China due in part to the number of cosplay activities and contests held throughout the country. There are over a dozen well-known cosplay events in China, including China Joy, which is one of the biggest comic and game shows in Asia.
At last year’s China Joy, there were over 100 Chinese anime companies that showcased their latest products, 500 cosplayers attended a special event to show off their outfits, and 500 photographers showed up in order to take pictures of them.
Cosplay is not just a hobby for many Chinese people; it has become an integral part of their lives, and they participate in cosplay activities to express themselves, make friends and share the joys of this culture with others.
This can be seen through China’s online cosplay communities, which have over 800 thousand registered users. Many cosplayers have also taken their hobby a step further and turned it into a career by becoming professional models, actors, singers and hosts.
Life of a Chinese Cosplayer
Living the life of a Chinese cosplayer is definitely an interesting experience. It’s a way to express yourself and your love for anime, manga, and video games. It can also be a great way to make friends and meet new people. It’s definitely a great hobby to have.
Cosplaying can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. You have to make sure that your costumes are made well and look accurate. You also have to practice your poses and learn how to act like the character you’re portraying.
This can be a great way to express yourself and show off your creativity. It’s also a lot of fun to take pictures with friends and other cosplayers at conventions.
The life of a Chinese cosplayer isn’t always fun and games, however. Just like any hobby, there are things that you dislike about it as well.
For example, some people don’t like the attention they receive for dressing up as their favorite characters. They don’t want to be called names or stared at by other people simply because of what they’re wearing.
Cosplay is something that everyone can enjoy. It’s a way to express yourself and your love for Japanese pop culture. No matter who you are or what you look like, there is a character out there that you will love.
So, whether you’re an experienced cosplayer or new to the scene, now is the time to start living life as a Chinese cosplayer.
Some Famous Chinese Cosplayers
Cosplaying, or the act of dressing up as a character from a movie, anime, TV show, comic book, or video game, has been popular all over the world for many years.
But in recent years, China has seen a surge in cosplayers, with many talented and innovative cosplayers emerging from the country. Here are just a few of the most famous Chinese cosplayers.
Li Nian
Li Nian or Gao Yuanyuan is a Chinese cosplayer who started cosplaying in 2010. She has won awards for her costumes at numerous events, including ChinaJoy, an expo held in Shanghai every summer, where she won the award for Best Dress in 2012.
Li began making costumes by herself after becoming interested in the art and fashion of cosplay, and she has become well-known for her innovative costumes that challenge traditional ideas about what characters should look like.
Some of her best-known work includes creating a costume based on the video game Gravity Rush, as well as a unique take on Riven from League of Legends.
Ai Shinozaki
Ai Shinozaki is a Japanese model and cosplayer who has won numerous awards for her creative costumes. She began cosplaying in 2007 and was invited to join the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Cosplay Lab project in 2012.
Ai became famous overnight after she dressed up as Hatsune Miku, a popular character from the Vocaloid series. Ai has won multiple awards, including Best Dress at SacAnime in 2014 and Asia Cosplay Meet People’s Choice Award in 2012.
Yaya Han
Yaya Han is a Chinese-American cosplayer who began her career as a customer for Renaissance fairs and theatrical conventions before transitioning into cosplay.
She has won awards for her costumes at numerous events, including the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan, in 2007 and Anime Expo Los Angeles in 2008.
Yaya became famous after winning the award for Best Performance at Akon 21 in 2004. She is well-known for her attention to detail when creating outfits, and her work has been featured in several exhibitions.
Neko Magician
Neko Magician is a cosplayer from Shanghai who won the award for Best Dress at China Joy in 2012. She began cosplaying when she was just 16 years old after falling in love with anime characters and started creating costumes by herself.
She is best known for her costumes from the video game Kingdom Hearts but has also created outfits based on characters from League of Legends and Sailor Moon.
Side Note: SnowDragon is a talented cosplayer who loves collaborating with people with a creative mindset. To book him for cosplay shootings or events, you can contact him via Instagram.