COSPLAY - Its a word that invokes a multitude of reactions and explanations. From comic conventions, to charity events, to movie premieres and parades, there are people donning the costumes and personas of every character from comics, video games, pop culture, and even internet memes. And behind the masks and tights of this costumed community are everyday people - doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, soldiers, and a lot of computer professionals of all ages, genders and races. Author James Hannon introduces you to a cross-section of costumers, and takes you behind-the-scenes of cosplay life over the last decade. From the small niche of early Star Trek and Star Wars costumers to the modern cosplayer community, meet the people who have been there along the way. ANATOMY OF A COSPLAYER has everything you ever wanted to know about cosplaying, but didnt know (or were too afraid) to ask. Learn about the costumers - the how and why they got into this hobby. Read about some of the larger costumed organizations, and their impact on the community and fandoms worldwide. Join others on their individual cosplay adventures and learn how they deal with the changing environment, costuming skill development, and what it really takes to survive a convention. Hear from over 70 cosplayers as they honestly tell of their experiences, good and bad, within this silly, yet rewarding thing we call COSPLAY

Expand your costume-making skills and go from beginner to confident maker! Picking up where Creative Cosplay left off, this new volume prepares costume enthusiasts to create out-of-this-world effects from head to toe! Cosplayers of all experience levels have much to gain from Amanda’s expertise as a national cosplay competition winner and judge. Learn the basics of making an original costume pattern, using prosthetics and latex, and customizing fabric through dyeing and painting. Transform yourself into the character of your choice with Special Effects (SFX) makeup. SFX makeup uses prosthetics and smaller on-skin materials to create illusions — such as wounds, scars, deformities, or supernatural features — directly on the skin. Get the scoop on sergers, embroidery machines, and using a digital cutter Pick up industry secrets on the basics of LED work, body painting, and SFX makeup Create a DIY costume repair kit for conventions, and market yourself in the cosplay world

Unlock the unlimited possibilities of EVA foam! Turn your wildest costume dreams into reality! Whether you are a master-level cosplayer or brand-new to making costumes and props, this is the ultimate reference guide to using different kinds of EVA foam and other up-to-date materials and to make epic costumes, props, accessories, and other projects out of this world! If you want to create your own high quality props, EVA foam is the way to go — it is a rubber-like thermoplastic that is both easy to work with, durable, and lightweight. You can build an entire costume with EVA foam — shields, armor, helmet, weapons — without getting weighed down. Knowledge at your fingertips! This comprehensive guidebook - take it with you to shop for materials, write notes and bookmark your favorite chapters, and use it right at your workstation Expand your cosplay skills with the latest industry techniques and materials, step-by-step tutorials, and 4 projects to get you started Create patterns for perfectly fitting costumes and accessories every time and use the patterns included to guide the way

Create the Cosplay Dress of Your Dreams Design and sew a ballgown fit for cosplay royalty! A crucial part of any cosplayer's wardrobe, the right ballgown can transform you into an elegant princess or a dramatic sorcerer. But it takes more than just magic to create jaw-dropping gowns and ball-worthy dresses. Follow along with world champion cosplayers Cowbutt Crunchies as they walk sewists of all skill levels through building a ballgown with all the flourishes. This book contains everything you need to know about silhouette, planning, patterning, construction, corsets, hoop skirts, and trims. Craft your own magical fairytale masterpiece from start to finish! Curtsy with confidence! Sew elaborate cosplay ballgowns from scratch Take your builds to the next level with tips from award-winning cosplayers Regan and Kelley This complete guide helps new and experienced sewists build stunning showpiece gowns

Don’t let your costumes fall flat! Give them the support they need Get the right fit every time! Elegant and professional cosplay foundations, fitted just for you. Create a capsule wardrobe of foundation garments, including corsets, bodysuits, hoops, crinolines, leggings, and more! Sew the perfect silhouette for any costume, from historical gowns to structured armor and anime builds with multi-award-winning cosplayer Casey Welsch. This visual guide includes more than 400 step-by-step photos, patterns, and all the inspiration you need to give your garments a professional look that lasts with well-made foundations. From armor to anime! Sew a whole closet of foundation garments for cosplay Get your best fit yet when you create fabulous corsets, hoops, petticoats, and more with award-winning cosplayer Casey Welsch Improve your skills with more than 400 how-to photos, a glossary, and resources Add longevity to your costumes with foundation garments that protect them from perspiration and wear and tear

COSPLAY - Its a word that invokes a multitude of reactions and explanations. From comic conventions, to charity events, to movie premieres and parades, there are people donning the costumes and personas of every character from comics, video games, pop culture, and even internet memes. And behind the masks and tights of this costumed community are everyday people - doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, soldiers, and a lot of computer professionals of all ages, genders and races. Author James Hannon introduces you to a cross-section of costumers, and takes you behind-the-scenes of cosplay life over the last decade. From the small niche of early Star Trek and Star Wars costumers to the modern cosplayer community, meet the people who have been there along the way. ANATOMY OF A COSPLAYER has everything you ever wanted to know about cosplaying, but didnt know (or were too afraid) to ask. Learn about the costumers - the how and why they got into this hobby. Read about some of the larger costumed organizations, and their impact on the community and fandoms worldwide. Join others on their individual cosplay adventures and learn how they deal with the changing environment, costuming skill development, and what it really takes to survive a convention. Hear from over 70 cosplayers as they honestly tell of their experiences, good and bad, within this silly, yet rewarding thing we call COSPLAY

Entrepreneurial Cosplay takes a comprehensive and insightful look at the business of cosplay, exploring the ways that artists and fans engage in entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial practices to gain personal and professional success. Centered around the concept of entrepreneurship and the newly emerging concept of intrapreneurship – using entrepreneurial principles to enhance or further an existing concept, organization or product – the book showcases the ways in which cosplayers create new ideas, new ways of working and new ways of doing things, exploiting their knowledge to create new opportunities. By analyzing the numerous motivations driving cosplay behavior (self-expression, external recognition and financial gain), this volume provides a unique view of current cosplay practice and its relationship to economic activity. Offering important insight into this emerging area, this book will be of interest to scholars seeking to learn how entrepreneurial and economic models may be used to understand the emerging field of cosplay studies, as well as students and scholars working in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Business, Fan Studies, Visual Art Studies and Gender Studies.