For a novice, an event like the Anime Expo — which was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the weekend — can be overwhelming. First, the range of anime TV programs and movies is incredibly diverse — there are kids with high school problems, groups of people who change into animals of the zodiac and beings with the power to destroy the world. And then there are all these people wandering around dressed as their favorite characters from said alternate realities.
Cosplay — short for “costume play” — is a universal experience at fan conventions, whether it’s at a broader-ranging event like the expo and Comic-Con or those geared to more specific fan bases such as Morphicon (focusing on “Power Rangers” lore) and Botcon (“Transformers”). Even if you aren’t otaku, seeing people who’ve spent hours/days/weeks/months working on a costume for a character can be a draw.
Above is just a small sampling of costumed attendees at this past weekend’s 2011 edition. Some characters were readily identifiable to a general fan — Captain Jack Sparrow, Alice and Green Lantern, among them — while others were a bit more obscure. And yes, there were lots of Hatsune Mikus, but none made this gallery.