Dressing as a specific character from fiction, games, comics or anime, often with elaborate handmade costumes and performance. A fixture of Gen Con, Dragon Con and every major fan gathering.
Origin
The Japanese word kosupure, from costume play, was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1983; fan costuming itself dates to the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939.
Quick answers
- What does "Cosplay" mean?
- Dressing as a specific character from fiction, games, comics or anime, often with elaborate handmade costumes and performance. A fixture of Gen Con, Dragon Con and every major fan gathering.
- Where does the term "Cosplay" come from?
- The Japanese word kosupure, from costume play, was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1983; fan costuming itself dates to the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939.