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How To Cosplay
Anime Book Review
There are a number of books out there on making the costumes for cosplaying, but until now, there have been none that specialize in cosplay make-up. Taking full advantage of the know-how amassed through its publication of various how-to books, Graphic-sha has produced a detailed and thorough book on how to do cosplay make-up.
 Graphic-sha has obtained the necessary authorization to use the popular (and copyrighted) anime, manga, and game characters featured in the book, and can present the actual make-up techniques needed to reproduce them accurately! Using familiar materials and items, professional make-up artists present complete lectures on such topics as Basics/Cross-dressing/Using face paint/Special wound and make-up/Covering facial faults!
Also featured are exclusive reports on major cosplay events!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, July 2010
Cosplay Fever
Anime Book Review
While attending a recent Sci-Fi convention, I was struck dumb by the sheer magnitude that cosplay penetration has achieved. While once a niche part of any con, it's now the dominant portion of the convention and the dealer's room. Fully 75% of the con was people doing cosplay.
Cosplay (meaning "costume role-play") has been a significant subculture in Japan for decades, but it is now growing in popularity all over the world. Cosplayers dress up in the costumes of their favorite characters from manga, anime, movies, video games and other popular media, then step into the shoes of those characters as they adopt their attributes and personality traits.
 The book "Cosplay Fever" is a celebration of an extraordinary art-form, with over 300 photographs of inventive and talented cosplayers. There is incredible diversity on display in Cosplay Fever. Some of the costumes are bought or commissioned. Others are painstakingly constructed over months or even years. There are expertly-crafted works of art, made from materials such as metal, latex, and synthetic leather. And there are less permanent creations, made from old cardboard boxes and duct tape.
The costumes are elaborate and eye-catching, or simple yet ingenious, or beautiful and evocative, or horrifying, or delightful, or goofy and amusing. While every costume is wonderfully unique, each one reflects the creative spirit of the individual cosplayer. It is this creative spirit which has inspired the development of Cosplay Fever.
Cosplay Fever is more than a collection of photographs. Everyone featured in the book has been asked about the creation of their costumes, the challenges they faced, what they like about the character, and why they cosplay in the first place. Their responses are sometimes informative, other times poignant, often hilarious, but always revealing.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2010
Fandomania
Anime Book Review
In Fandomania, photographer Elena Dorfman examines the pop culture phenomenon of "cosplay," in which participants dress up in costumes (and live part of their lives) as characters from video games, animated films, and Japanese graphic novels.
This exploding subculture flourishes at convention centers, college dorms, private clubs, and in homes across the country. Dorfman puts herself quietly behind the scenes of these fan-based events to create a remarkable collective portrait.
 As she describes it, "The theater of cosplay has no boundaries, is unpredictable, open-ended. It includes both the fantastic and the mundane, the sexually aberrant and innocent, female characters who become samurai warriors and brainy scientists, and male characters who magically change their sex."
Explorations of identity through portraiture are at the forefront of Dorfman's work, with the blurred lines between fantasy and reality a continuing theme. She allows each individual a spotlight in which to enact their fantasy. The effect is pointedly evocative of this new world of role playing and narrative, one in which scenery is secondary and persona is everything.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, February 2008
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Cosplay Website Links:
"The" Anime Cosplay Links Page
Perhaps one of the best websites for anime costume fans!
Cosplay Meetup
iPLAY: Infornography Cosplay
Cye-Chan’s Cosplay Photo Gallery
Cosplay UK
Copure.net (Japanese)
Cosplaysai (Japanese)
Pinoy Cosplay: The Filipino Cosplay Community
Cosplay in Finland
Cosplay in Russia
Cosplay in Singapore
Cosplay in Taiwan
Cosplay in Italy
Angel Hitomi: Official Cosplay Page
Angel is also an Italian cosplay girl too...
Cosplay Cats, Meow Meow, Meow!
Cosplay Cat Ears Hat
Anime Goodies Review
Baby, it's COLD outside! What you need to keep warm, as well as appear kawaii, is this cosplay kitty hat with ears, making you look like the fluffy adorable creature you are once you're all snugged up in the rest of your winter gear.
And the nice thing is, even in more temperate weather, the hat still makes you look cute. And who doesn't want to look cute?
But seriously, bundle up, drink lots of hot cocoa, and always wear your Cosplay Cat Ears Hat. It's the best way to survive until summertime arrives.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, March 2009
Anime Chick Wig
Anime Goodies Review
Every cosplay person should get at least one of these as they are too cool and will probably be removed from sale before long and then there will be no more!! And hey, girls, just imagine the amazing fantasy you'll provide your anime-uber-geek boyfriend showing up for a date dressed as a Sailor Scout! Hubba-hubba!
Anime cosplayers can get on stage and dispatch ninjas with flair, confident in the knowledge that a proper spiky hairdo is the secret to every anime heroine's ultimate success against the bad guys. Banzai!!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, December 2005
Cosplay Girls:
Japan's Live Animation Heroines
Anime Book Review
What is she wearing?!? All over Japan, hard-core fans of animation, video games, and manga comics are hitting the streets in their latest cosplay (short for costume play) outfits— especially women! Inside, you'll find street-fighting tough chicks, emerald-haired princesses, spunky school girls, and faux-fur kittens.
This book is full of cute Japanese girls dressed in every Anime and Manga character costume you can think of (and a lot you can't). Why do they do it? Well, it's all explained, plus bits and pieces about making costumes, doing your hair, posing, etc. There's also interviews with Cosplayers and the Cameko who follow them around with cameras. This is Japanese pop culture at its most fun. Cosplay Girls will have you smiling and scratching your head from the first colorful page to the last. A great gift for somebody or for yourself!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, June 2003
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