Each Fall in Irving large groups of people get dressed up for a good time- I’m not talking about Halloween… it’s Dallas Fan Expo weekend and the cosplayers are at it again. I talked with some of my favorite cosplayers of the weekend about why they do it. Below are some images and what they had to say about their costumes or shall I say COSPLAY!
Missy- Doctor Who- “i really wanted to be someone wickedly smart, and powerful. And her outfit can be used for other cosplays too”.
Alfred Pennyworth- Batman- “I like to cosplay because it gives me a chance to speak with people at cons I might not have a conversation with otherwise.” “I started doing Alfred a few years ago because I needed an age appropriate cosplay. Now when I don’t dress as him people are disappointed.”
Captain Marvel- Ballgown version- “Well, I already had the haircut. But also, I really wanted to come as a strong, kick-ass hero- and not all of us have long flowing hair. I went with the ballgown instead of the suit because it was easier sewing wise with the time constraints I had.”
Mario and Luigi- Hip Hop Variant- “We come as a different version of Mario and Luigi to every con. It’s fun to think about a new way to spin it and watch the way it make people laugh.”
Link- Legend of Zelda- “It’s like extra Halloween! And it’s my favorite game. I want to be the hero that saves the Princess. Plus my hair is already long.”
A Gryffindor- from Harry Potter- “It’s my favorite book so I like being someone from the brave house. It’s fun to image the stories of the other people who went to school there. They weren’t all worried about fighting Voldemort every year.”
Hellboy- from Hellboy- “Why this? I was looking at my beard in the mirror and said ‘Hell’ and it all just came together from there.”
Neville’s Bogart Snape- from Harry Potter- “This is what I do- I travel around to cons as different versions of Snape. This one seems to be a favorite. At Wizard World Oklahoma I’ll have an insulting Marauder’s Map with me.” (You can find him on facebook @TXSnape)
Ezra, Kanan, and Agent Kallus- Star Wars Rebels- “Well, I decided to be Kallus and then my friend here decided to be Kanan. We found our Ezra on a Star Wars fan page and just met today. Sometimes cosplay is just a great way to make new friends.”
MegaMan- from the MegaMan franchise- “I found the helmet and I just Had to do it! Plus the hand canon is great for storing stuff!”
Moana- from Disney’s Moana- “She’s so strong and capable. I love the kind of role model she is for kids and they way they light up when they see me. It’s one of my favorite cosplays.”
So it seems like everyone is in it for the fun! Not just the fun it brings them while piecing their cosplays together but also the fun they have with others while representing characters they love. If you haven’t cosplayed before I highly recommend it. You will be amazed to find how may people love the characters that you love too….
Written By: Rebecca Steinberg
