The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Cosplay: From Origins to Stunning Shots!
Honor Characters with Passion, Bring Souls to Life with Details
Table of contents
I. What is Cosplay?
II. How to choose a role?
III.How to choose costume for beginners?
IV.How to choose a wig for beginners?
Ⅴ.How to draw cosplay makeup for beginners？
Ⅵ.How to solve props for beginners?
Ⅶ.How to know the shooting and post-production for beginners?
Ⅷ.What you need to prepare for the beginners Event and Comic Con?
What is Cosplay?
Basic Information About Cosplay
Cosplay, broadly speaking, involves portraying characters from mythology, folklore, festivals, literary works, and more, using corresponding costumes, props, and mannerisms to bring them to life. It is a cultural practice that meticulously recreates fictional or real-world characters through detailed outfits, wigs, props, and makeup. The core of cosplay lies in achieving "dual-layered authenticity"—both in appearance and essence.
Appearance-wise: every element—from fabric texture to accessory structure—must align with the original design. For instance, fantasy characters often require flowing silks or sheer fabrics for an ethereal effect, while sci-fi mecha suits demand metallic materials paired with mechanical components.
Essence-wise: cosplayers must deeply analyze their character’s personality, conveying their soul through signature gestures, micro-expressions, and even breathing rhythms.
This distinguishes cosplay from casual dress-up or stylistic fashion—it must be tied to a specific character and rooted in profound understanding. A 2024 Global Cosplay Federation survey revealed that 72% of veteran cosplayers systematically study character backgrounds, with some even writing psychological analysis notes. Simply wearing gothic Lolita or cyberpunk attire without embodying a defined character is considered an incomplete expression in professional circles. True cosplay is a multi-dimensional art form that transcends dimensions, where the cosplayer is both a craftsman and an actor—every stitch and every gaze reconstructs the character’s existence in reality.
In a narrower sense, cosplay refers to imitating and embodying characters from fictional worlds. Over time, the term has evolved online to describe "people who pretend to be certain types of characters." Modern cosplay is typically regarded as a subcultural activity, with characters sourced from anime, manga, video games, light novels, films, TV series, tokusatsu (special-effects films), idol groups, professions, historical or social narratives, or even personified versions of real-world legends. The method involves deliberately wearing similar attire, accessorizing with props, and adopting the character’s makeup, hairstyle, and body language.
Linguistic Meaning
The term "Cosplay" is a portmanteau of "Costume" and "Play", each carrying distinct cultural significance:
Costume refers to a character-specific attire system, crafted to strictly adhere to the original visual design—including fabric texture, tailoring, and decorative elements—far beyond everyday clothing.
Play emphasizes dynamic performance, encompassing posture, expressions, and interactive scenarios, requiring the cosplayer to enter a state of deep immersion.
In Chinese, cosplay is translated as "角色扮演" (role-playing), but it differs from in-game role-playing—cosplay is a three-dimensional, tangible art form, whereas the latter is confined to digital interactions. Japanese cultural researchers define it as "the temporary migration of a fictional soul into a physical vessel," while Western academics describe it as "narrative identity transformation through wearable media." From ancient Greek priests donning animal skins to Disney employees wearing mascot suits, the essence remains: using physical existence to breathe life into fantasy.
Origins and History
Role-playing is deeply embedded in human civilization. While modern cosplay is often traced to Japan, its conceptual roots span millennia:
534 BCE: Thespis of ancient Greece performed monologues in goat skins during Dionysian festivals, marking the dawn of Western role-playing.
Han Dynasty China: Shamans wore wooden masks carved with flame patterns in Nuo rituals, using dance to bridge the human and divine.
Heian-era Japan: Nobles reenacted scenes from The Tale of Genji, dressing as characters and even matching fan angles to their identities.
The direct precursor to modern cosplay emerged in 1955 at Disneyland (California), where employees wore Mickey Mouse costumes to interact with visitors. These early costumes, made of cardboard and coarse cotton, weighed 8 kg and had mesh mouths for breathing. Despite sweltering 38°C heat, performers worked 3-hour shifts, their sweat-drenched efforts inadvertently birthing an industry. By 1957, Disney established a dedicated prop department, creating ventilated second-gen suits—these anonymous Mickey performers became the true ancestors of contemporary cosplay.
Historical Development
Japan’s Anime Boom & Systematization (1970s–1990s)
Modern cosplay crystallized during Japan’s 1970s anime explosion. The pivotal moment came in 1978: At Tokyo’s Sci-Fi Convention, seven Space Battleship Yamato fans debuted handmade polyester uniforms with cardboard shoulder pads. Dubbed "the genesis of anime characters materializing in reality," this sparked a wave of imitation. By 1983, Mobile Suit Gundam propelled industrial-scale prop-making—craftsmen used fiberglass to create 1:1 light-up laser swords, marking a technical leap.
Terminology also formalized:
1978: Comic Market’s Yonezawa Yoshihiro coined "Costume Play."
1984: Animator Takahashi Nobuyoshi popularized "Cosplay" at LA’s WorldCon, where Western media used it to describe a Macross singer’s impersonator.
Globalization & Technological Evolution (1990s–Present)
By the 1990s, cosplay spread worldwide:
Asia: Taiwan’s (1995) Pili Puppet cosplays blended tradition with pop culture. Hong Kong’s (1993) Legend of the Galactic Heroes cosplay birthed dedicated conventions.
West: Germany’s Animagic (2007) merged goth aesthetics with Franco-Belgian comics. The U.S. lagged until NYCC’s (2003) cosplay contests.
Tech revolutions reshaped the craft:
3D printing (2012): Slashed Iron Man armor costs by 75%.
Social media: Korean K-pop tutorials hit 2 billion views; Spanish creators fused AI with cyber-goth makeup.
Ethical frameworks emerged too:
Accuracy codes: Mandated hand-carved emblems for The Witcher swords (Poland, 2020).
Legal protections: A Chinese prop-maker won $10K in a copyright case; Italy enshrined cosplay rights (2022).
Inclusivity: London Expo banned body-shaming; Thailand introduced gender-neutral changing rooms.
When South Africa’s African Legends cosplay debuted at WCS 2023, and Meta sold $2K digital Hatsune Miku skins, this subculture—born from cardboard Mickey suits—had evolved into a global fantasy republic.
How to choose a role
Choose Passion Over "Perfection"
Entering the fantastical world of cosplay, selecting your first character is often a moment filled with both excitement and apprehension. Getting this first step right can significantly boost your confidence and enjoyment. For newcomers, character selection boils down to three core principles: passion, feasibility, and exploration. Don't chase flawless reproduction right away - focus on finding a character that ignites your enthusiasm while being achievable within your current skills.
Follow Your Heart
At its core, cosplay is about genuine love for a character and that burning desire to "become them". Don't limit yourself with thoughts like "this character is too popular" or "that one would suit my face/body better." Instead, ask yourself:
1.Who made your heart race?
2.Who brought you to tears?
3.Whose lines live in your head?
This character is your perfect starting point. Passion will fuel your perseverance - whether sewing late into the night, practicing expressions repeatedly, or gathering courage to pose before cameras. When you truly love a character, you'll naturally research their backstory, personality, and mannerisms, making your portrayal authentic from within. Remember: Cosplay is love made visible, choose a character you adore, and that affection will shine through.
Understanding Your Character Matters More Than Wearing the Right Costume
Want to nail your cosplay? A flashy outfit alone won't cut it. You need to dive deep into your character's soul—understand why they cry, why they laugh, why they clench their fists or turn away. It's like making a friend—you need to know their past to truly understand their present. Every character has unique personality traits and behavioral quirks, and studying their backstory helps you capture their essence. Analyzing their iconic lines, behavior patterns, and emotional expressions from the original work or game will elevate your cosplay to the next level.
Start with Their Life Story
Every action has a "prequel." Consider:
Professor Snape (Harry Potter): His constant sarcasm stems from childhood bullying, yet beneath it all lies his undying love for Lily.
Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): After losing his family to demons and his sister turning into one, he still shows mercy to enemies—his innate kindness hits harder because of it.
Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen): The strongest sorcerer alive, yet he can't let go of his fallen best friend, Suguru Geto. His loneliness is buried in that obsession.
Then Study Their Signature Mannerisms
The real magic is in the details! Notice:
Yor (Spy x Family): Her occasional speech stumbles betray her assassin instincts.
Luffy (One Piece): When he presses down his straw hat, you know he's serious.
Raiden Shogun (Genshin Impact): Usually a flawless statue of a god, but during the Vision Hunt Decree, her sword hand trembles for just 0.3 seconds—that tiny crack in her divine mask reveals her inner turmoil.
Physical Considerations & Comfort
While passion comes first, basic comfort and practicality are equally important. For example:
1.Bulky/restrictive costumes can be exhausting for long events
2.Vision-impairing contacts/masks require caution
3.Weather-inappropriate outfits (extreme heat/cold) need careful consideration
Choosing a character that allows physical comfort and mobility will help you fully enjoy the experience.
Complexity of Costumes and Props:
Core Principle: Start simple and work your way up to the complex. Ornate and complex armor, weapons with complex mechanical structures, flowing costumes that require special materials and craftsmanship, such as multiple layers of lace, large amounts of tulle, special reflective fabrics, or special looks that require advanced makeup skills, such as non-human skin color, complex scars, and special effects makeup, are very difficult to make, purchase, or master for first time novices. They may be time consuming and expensive, or encounter difficult technical problems during the production process, which can easily wear out enthusiasm in frustration.
On the contrary, it would be much friendlier to choose characters with relatively simple, modern, or everyday styles. For example, uniforms for school themes, simple modern clothing, or relatively refreshing daily clothing in fantasy works, avoid too many layers, complex accessories, and special materials. This allows you to focus more on understanding the character and practicing your expressiveness, rather than being trapped by technical problems.
Hair and Makeup:
Exaggerated hair colors and hairstyles, such as huge double ponytails, complicated braids, and strange buns that require a lot of hairspray to fix, as well as makeup that requires special makeup techniques, such as delicate scars, heterochromatic pupils, and complex tattoos, are also a big challenge for novices. Choosing a character with a hair color close to your natural hair color, or a character that can easily be achieved with a wig, a relatively regular hairstyle, and a character that does not require too special makeup can greatly lower the entry threshold. A natural everyday makeup or basic character makeup is easier to get started with than a makeup that requires a special effects makeup artist.
Budget Considerations:
Cosplay expenses can vary dramatically, from just a few dozen dollars for secondhand items or simple DIY modifications, to thousands for professional custom made or intricate props. As a newcomer, establishing a reasonable budget is absolutely crucial to avoid financial strain.
The wise approach is to prioritize characters whose costumes and props can be realistically achieved within your means. This might mean:
1.Repurposing items from your existing wardrobe
2.Working with affordable, readily available base materials
3.Selecting quality pre-made costume sets that offer good value
Don't put too much financial pressure on yourself by pursuing the ultimate restoration at the beginning. Remember, as your experience grows, you will always have the opportunity to challenge more complex characters.
Enjoy the process and embrace imperfection:
Embrace the "exploration" mentality and allow yourself to be less than perfect. The goal of your first cosplay is to have fun and learn, not to pursue a perfect reproduction at the competition level. When choosing a character, don't worry too much about whether you look exactly like the character or whether your body fits perfectly. This is not a beauty pageant, but a two-way journey between you and your favorite character. Doesn't your face look like the character? Doesn't your body fit the character? That's not a big deal! Look at those big guys who have become gods - who didn't start with "buyer shows" back then? The key is to "act" out the soul of the character in your own way: a signature gesture, a classic line, or even just the way the character walks can impress fellow enthusiasts more than a 100% restored costume.
One of the charms of cosplay is to "interpret" the character through costumes, props, expressions, and movements. What matters is your efforts to understand and express the character. Be bold to try your favorite character, even if the character looks very different from you. In this process, you will learn valuable skills: how to find reference pictures, how to purchase materials, how to make simple props, how to take care of wigs, how to imitate the character's facial expressions and postures... These are all valuable experiences.
Don't be afraid to ask experienced Cosers for advice, most people in the community are happy to share. Your first Cosplay is a ceremony to start a journey, not the answer sheet of the final exam. Enjoy the process of selecting a character, enjoy every bit of preparation, enjoy the wonderful feeling of putting on the costume, and enjoy the joy of communicating with other like-minded people on the day of the event. The pure joy of this first experience is the most precious.
Action formula = passion × feasibility:
In summary, the golden rule for novice casting is: find a role you really love, and then evaluate whether the costume, props, hairstyle and makeup of the role are "feasible" within your current time, energy, budget and skill level. If the answer is yes, then embrace your favorite role without hesitation! With an exploratory and learning mindset, bravely take this fun first step. When you see the shadow of your favorite character appear on yourself for the first time in front of the mirror, the excitement and sense of accomplishment are the best entry gift for Cosplay.
The surprise of growth is hidden in trial and error. When you fasten the last belt in front of the dressing mirror, look up and see the familiar yet unfamiliar figure - perhaps crooked stitches, flying wigs, props suddenly falling apart... These rollover scenes will be your medals in the future! The clumsiness of making props for the first time and the shaking hands when learning makeup from the tutorial are the truly precious entry packages. Remember: you are lighting up a new skill tree, not handing in a final exam. Feel free to ask the ladies in the circle for advice in private messages, and you will find that most of them are very happy to share stories of "I was even worse off than you back then".
All god-level Cosplayers started with "just looking like a human being". Your first time of careful preparation is already a perfect answer!
Next issue: How to choose costume for beginners?
