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Avatar Look-alike Contest

8/25/2008 -Voting for this month's look-alike contest featuring Avatar The Last Airbender is now under way. Voting ends on Aug 31st, so take your time and hurry! ^_^

Cosplay - Made For China

8/23/2008 -China is fast coming into its own with regard to fandom as this Marketing Trends cosplay article by Moa Hellstrom reports. It's not every day that you get to read about cosplay and see barcharts in the same article. Nevertheless, what was once reserved only for the most devoted of fans is almost mainstream in every developed country. The real question is - will you still be cosplaying after the age of 40?

UK is Primed for Cosplay

8/21/2008 -Andrew Williams writes about the UK cosplay scene for Metro. It's a quick read and one that should make you want to "roll out" on the cosplay catwalk at your next convention.

8/18/2008 7:55:00 AM - Alabama is All Over Cosplay Birmingham news staff writer Rick Frennea encourages their readers to take a trip through the ever-expanding universe of fantasy conventions. See how having kids heading for college can expand mom and dad's minds?

8/17/2008 12:28:00 PM - Comikket Survival 101 Madeline Ashby over at Frames Per Second has a brief review of Comikket 74 with some good advice for anyone planning to make the journey to future Comic Market conventions.

Misunderstood Cosplayers

8/17/2008 -Ian Yee has a great read on the perils of cosplay. Written for a Malaysian audience, it's interesting to see the similarities cross-culture to the Western cosplay scene. Maybe you can relate?

8/6/2008 9:17:00 AM - Miami Heralds Cosplay The competition among the conventions is fiercer than the contest between the cosplayers. Here's a quick recap on Yasumicon down at Florida International University as reported by the Miami Herald.

8/5/2008 9:13:00 AM - Brining Anime to Life Right outta Brooklyn comes this fun cosplay article that follows what goes on before the convention - a day in the life of a cosplayer. There's a video and a second page with more details too. Kero-chan check.

7/25/2008 8:38:00 AM - Dressing in character The Maryland Gazette reports on the activities of the DC Anime Club and the behavior of cosplay fans in the wild.

7/17/2008 12:09:00 PM - Cosplayers in the Wild Photographer Steve Schofield has put together an inspiring gallery of cosplayers captured in their natural habitats. I think the photos do a nice job of portraying these costumers as real people passionate about their creativity. Of course, some of these dressed up fans might argue that they are more in tune with their alter egos than lesser humans, but I think we can all relate.

D.Gray-man Look-alike Winners

7/17/2008 -Winners from our D.Gray-man look-alike contest are now posted. Arguably the toughest contest ever to judge because of the volume of Gray-man fans, I congratulate the judges for sticking it out and helping pick the best of the best. It was also among the closest race ever. Thanks to everyone who played a part.

Trinity Blood Look-alike Winners

6/14/2008 -Winners from our Trinity Blood look-alike contest have been posted. This was a hugely fierce competition with the costume construction bar being raised to stellar heights. All of you did an outstanding job and have been very inspiring to us.

6/11/2008 8:12:00 AM - Japanese Cosplay Event Being Threatened The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that a local cosplay event held regularly at an anime-themed Flower Center in Japan has received a complaint and are considering closing the competition.

6/4/2008 12:32:00 PM - How About That Video Game Cosplay Record? We've made mention before of the latest craze in the cosplay realm to set new world records - specifically on the most number of video game characters in one place. Here are the latest results as reported by Kotaku. Just be forewarned that not everyone who reads Kotaku is a cosplayer, so the comments are raw.

5/16/2008 9:59:00 PM - Will Otaku Shiver in Winds of Change? Here's an interesting article about changes that are taking place in the heart of Tokyo's fan-centric mecca. While I think it's good that strides are being taken to protect kids from certain kinds of otaku "material", Japan still has a long way to go. It'll be interesting to see how the internet continues to shape the mainstream's perception of what is or is not allowed and just how far Japanese mangaku will go to draw an audience regardless of moral consideration.

Code Geass Look-alike Winners

5/14/2008 -Winners from our Code Geass look-alike contest are now posted. Thanks to our magnificent judges for selecting the best of the best in this close competition!

5/6/2008 7:35:00 AM - Extreme Cosplay Crackdown As much as we've enjoyed watching some performances recorded for the benefit of YouTube audiences, I applaud Akihabara's police for enforcing the law in one of Tokyo's busiest markets. Leave the cosplay skits to the professions in designated areas only. ^_^

4/18/2008 7:47:00 AM - Costuming and Cosplay - Distinctly Related Here's an interesting read about how one might typically find themselves drawn into costuming, the difference between it and cosplay, and the reaction of a few fans. Do enjoy.

Ragnarok Look-alike Winners

4/10/2008 -Congratulations to our Ragnarok look-alike contest winners! And thanks also to our dedicated judges (all of you guys) who took the time to help select the winners!

Premium Membership Features

One Dollar a Month for All This and More We're grateful to the dozens of serious cosplayers who see the value the Lab offers and who contribute to keep it running. Your $12 upgraded membership subscribes you to these nifty features: 10% discount on all contact lens orders! See how many times each of your costumes has been viewed by others. Enhanced search page lets you sort results for easier use. Schedule all of your costumes for future events by date and time. Track all of your favorite Cosplay Lab members on a single page. Pin point Lab members in other cities you plan to visit. View the newest and recently updated costumes on one page. 50% savings when you advertise your site in the ProShop. LightBox - see all full-size completed costume photos on one page for any cosplayer. Every dollar donated goes to support cosplay here at the Lab. If you have more than 10 completed costumes in your collection, we know you're serious about this art and we thank you for your continued financial support. Yay cosplay! Upgrade Your Cosplay Lab membership today

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