The
Narutard
Likely Cosplaying: |
- InuYasha
- Light from Death Note
- Anyone from Naruto |
Defining Traits: |
- Hive mentality
- Need to have an easy and recognizable cosplay in order
to fit in with crowd.
- Can't wait for the associated shoot in order to be in
pictures with the other hundred Naruto cosplayers. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
No. |
Do: |
Pretend you've never
heard of the series he/she is cosplaying. |
Do Not: |
Debate which Sasuke
costume is more detailed. It doesn't matter. |
|
The
Diva
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Felicia
from Darkstalkers
- Anyone from Tenjho Tenge or Burst Angel
- Any Final Fantasy T&A |
Defining Traits: |
- Tremendous body with a
tremendous costume that shows a tremendous proportion of
tremendous body.
- Flaunty pose.
- Utter disdain for other cosplayers. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Yes! You
know you want to, and she'll kill you if you don't. |
Do: |
Ogle. You
like it, she likes it, everybody wins. |
Do Not: |
Attempt to
date her. She's either already taken or too conceited to be capable of a faithful relationship. |
|
The
Walking Photoshoot
Likely Cosplaying: |
- A giant mecha
- A cute monster from Pokémon or a Miyazaki film
- Chocobo, Moogle or Tonberry from Final Fantasy |
Defining Traits: |
- A slave to his/her
ridiculously awesome cosplay.
- Forced to stop every fifteen seconds for photos, will
never experience anything at the convention. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Absolutely. Everyone
else is. |
Do: |
Offer to serve as crowd
control, carry accessories or the character's head. |
Do Not: |
Block a crowded hallway,
assume cosplayer's gender. |
|
Jailbait-chan
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Chi from Chobits
- Sexy Jutsu from Naruto
- Any Final Fantasy T&A |
Defining Traits: |
- A high school girl
wearing something mommy definitely did not pick out for
her.
- Thus, unfortunately, also qualifying as a Walking
Photoshoot. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Why don't you have a
seat over there? |
Do: |
Check for any
plain-clothes police officers before beginning a
conversation. |
Do Not: |
There are too many Do Nots
to list here. |
|
Mr.
Irony
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Anything from a
non-anime Adult Swim show
- Beloved prop from beloved video game
- Interpretation of an internet meme |
Defining Traits: |
- Fabric of choice:
Cardboard and construction paper.
- Time spent: The night before the convention.
- Popularity: Abnormally high. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Only if you laugh out
loud within three seconds. |
Do: |
Make silly quote related
to source. Then you're as awesome and funny as the
cosplayer! |
Do Not: |
Labor over the costume's
technical merits. |
|
Crossplayer (Bad)
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Sailor Moon
- Faye from Cowboy Bebop
- Any Final Fantasy T&A |
Defining Traits: |
- Dressed as same
characters as Diva.
- Absolutely nothing tremendous except disregard for his
fellow man. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Every time someone does,
God kills a Domo-kun. |
Do: |
Stare directly at the
forehead. Stare directly at the forehead. Stare directly
at the forehead. |
Do Not: |
Look down. |
|
Crossplayer (Worse)
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Cardcaptor Sakura
- Sakura from Naruto
- Bridget from Guilty Gear |
Defining Traits: |
- Same as Crossplayer
(Bad), only looking disturbingly good in the costume.
- Likely mistaken for a girl from a distance. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
A great military leader
once said: “It's a trap!” |
Do: |
Praise him for going
all-out. Or, conversely, curse his filthy ruse. |
Do Not: |
Continue to fall for
said filthy ruse. |
|
The
Non-Costumed Cosplayer
Likely Cosplaying: |
- L from Death Note
- Shinji from Eva
- Heero from Gundam Wing |
Defining Traits: |
- A desire to fit in
by "cosplaying" without exerting any actual effort or
looking at all weird.
- Often enters the masquerade anyway. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Absolutely Not. |
Do: |
Talk about the series.
You may expose him/her as a fraud or be treated
to a hilarious in-character rant or angst session. |
Do Not: |
Acknowledge that he/she
is actually cosplaying. |
|
Adorable Kid
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Shippo from InuYasha
- Anyone from Tiny Snow Fairy Sugar
- Beloved decades-old Saturday morning cartoon character |
Defining Traits: |
- Here with parents, who
may be in related cosplay.
- Infinitely more photogenic than parents.
- Not entirely sure what the hell is going on. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Yes, with parent's
permission. |
Do: |
Ask if they're having
fun. Alert authorities if answer is an emphatic no. |
Do Not: |
Glomp him/her. A child is not
a plushie. |
|
The
Cosplay Mafia
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Assorted characters
from InuYasha
- Assorted characters from Hellsing
- Assorted characters from Final Fantasy |
Defining Traits: |
- Individually, each
cosplay is pretty average.
- Individually, may qualify as a Narutard.
- But when their powers combine, they collectively morph
into Walking Photoshoot! |
May I Take A Picture?: |
No. Another group will
come along that does it better. |
Do: |
Lavish attention on one
to inflict jealously and sabotage the operation. |
Do Not: |
Yell that their series
“Rules!” or “Sucks!” Your spine will survive
neither the incessant glomping nor beating that will
ensue. |
|
The
Harajuku Girl
Likely Cosplaying: |
- N/A |
Defining Traits: |
- Wearing a “trendy”
Tokyo outfit that is not technically cosplay.
- Still could not be worn in public unless it was an
anime convention or Halloween. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Yes. You'll never see
such “trendy” fashion again. |
Do: |
Ask what character she's
cosplaying. They hate that. |
Do Not: |
Follow one into a Lolita
panel. It does not mean what you think it does. |
|
The
Post-Modernist
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Human version of a
Pokémon
- Sexy/chibi/transgendered version of stock character
- “Look mommy- I'm hentai!” |
Defining Traits: |
- Costume representing
some bizarre twist on an old favorite.
- Coincidentally, bizarre twist fits the wearer's form
and sewing ability perfectly.
- In rare cases, an actual clever take on a trite
concept. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
This will almost always
be gold for your camera. |
Do: |
Appreciate them for
being different. Especially if it's sexier. |
Do Not: |
Ask how they got the
idea. Don't give them that much credit. |
|
The Hot
Topic du Jour
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Misa from Death Note
- Robin from Witch Hunter Robin
- Anyone from Rozen Maiden |
Defining Traits: |
- One step above Non-Cosplaying
Cosplayer, wearing an ensemble comprising recent Hot Topic
purchases.
- 70% chance he/she considers themselves goth.
- 90% chance he/she is merely emo. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Only if you can identify
the character by name. |
Do: |
Compliment the costume
if warranted, but in a disgustingly fanboyish/girlish
way. |
Do Not: |
Ask where he/she got the
fabric. Cosplayer will take it the wrong way. |
|
The Old
School Tribute
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Lum from Urusei
Yatsura
- Anyone from Ranma ˝
- Anyone from Final Fantasy II through V |
Defining Traits: |
- Looking really good in
a classic cosplay
- Unless it's overly complex or revealing, being
completely unrecognized and ignored. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Please do. |
Do: |
Thank them for
remembering a show that came out before InuYasha. |
Do Not: |
Mistake the Daicon bunny
girl for Haruko from FLCL. |
|
The
Furry
Likely Cosplaying: |
- N/A |
Defining Traits: |
- Any established
character from a popular series is officially a Walking
Photoshoot.
- Anything that's not is a walking discomfort. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Please don't. |
Do: |
Treat them like any
other human being. Whether they like it or not. |
Do Not: |
Ask what show they're
from. There is a good chance they are an original
character of the wearer's design, and an even better
chance that you're going to hear its life story. |
|
Bondage
Boy/Babe
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Anyone from Death Note
- Myriad of characters from various yaoi series and/or
Yu-Gi-Oh. |
Defining Traits: |
- One keeps the other on
a chain, ignoring all public decorum and related
connotations.
- Actual costume qualifies as Hot Topic du Jour. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Only if you e-mail it to
their parents. |
Do: |
Assume the one on the
leash is in charge. |
Do Not: |
Accidentally stab yourself
on their chokers or bracelets. |
|
Diva
Deluxe
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Anyone in a schoolgirl
uniform
- Any Final Fantasy T&A |
Defining Traits: |
- An overweight fan
dressed as a scantily-clad schoolgirl.
- Evokes the same reaction as Crossplayer (Bad).
- Quickest to defend (and the primary argument against)
the "free to cosplay anything" philosophy. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
Your camera will hate
you. |
Do: |
See Crossplayer (Bad). |
Do Not: |
See Walking Photoshoot. |
|
The
Chick Magnet
Likely Cosplaying: |
- Anyone from Ouran Host
Club
- Vash from Trigun
- Any Male Lead from Final Fantasy |
Defining Traits: |
- Patrolling the con in
bishounen costume with intent to score that night.
- Barring physical defect or being caught
out-of-character, will be successful.
- May be with girlfriend who forced him to cosplay. |
May I Take A Picture?: |
If Male: No. If Female:
Refer to cosplayer's intent. |
Do: |
Ask permission to tag
along and pick up potential leftovers. |
Do Not: |
Come between him and
squealing fangirls. You will not survive. |
|