Cosplay is about embodying a character from a manga, anime or comic. For some time now, however, more and more films or computer game heroes have been used as models. Characters should be imitated as authentically as possible through their costumes and behaviour. There are no compromises here in terms of suitability for everyday use or comfort, because the outfit must reflect the character - and do so as faithfully as possible and in as many facets as possible. Here, not only are costumes built with all kinds of electronic gadgets, such as lighting, monitors, speakers or even moving extremities, but choreography and movement patterns are also rehearsed.
Unlike many Japanese scenes that turn out to be merely fashion trends, there is a subculture behind cosplay. In Japan, this has gone so far that famous cosplayers, who often win prizes for their costumes at relevant events, sell their own "idol cards". These are trading cards of cosplayers and their various outfits, which fans then like to have signed at events.
At these events, it's mainly about competition, about the best or most accurate costume. Judging is done in categories such as "resemblance to the original", "make and fabrication of the outfit", "presentation of the character", "audience popularity" or even "overall concept of the group", when you imitate a whole cluster of characters from a certain film or anime together with other cosplayers. The world's largest event, the "World Cosplay Summit" is organised by Japanese television and attracts tens of thousands of participants from all over the world. Similar events are also developing in this country. At the ComicCons, which take place in Stuttgart, for example, similar competitions are held. The gothic scene is feeling the spillover of this trend because outfits from cosplay are being adopted into the black scene by the younger generation.