DragonCon 2011 cosplay

For those that don't know Cosplay is when people dress up like fantasy characters. The practice was popularized in Japan, where fans of manga and anime dress as their favorite characters at social gatherings. The practice has invaded american geek culture, much like most of Japanese culture. Cosplay differs from Halloween or masquerade in that the point of the practice is to emulate the character as closely as possible, much as an actor plays a role on stage.

more after the bump

The sheer amount of effort people put into cosplay costumes at the major cons never fails to amaze me. Years ago when I had more disposable income I used to go to GenCon or Origins every year. Cosplay people are one of the coolest things about these events. Seeing a realistic Bobba Fett, a storm trooper group or a sexy demon chick was really cool.

This video is a highlight reel from this years Dragon Con