Cosplay Lab features tens of thousands of anime, manga, video game, J-Rock, sci-fi and fantasy costumes created by people just like you from all over the world. If you're new to cosplay, or are a seasoned cosplayer, Cosplay Lab is your one-stop shop for maintaining your entire costume collection, organize cosplay skits and photoshoots, meet other cosplayers, get info on upcoming anime conventions, and way more! Join for FREE and take your cosplay to new levels .
Frilly Flair in Finland
12/16/2008 -Cosplay is an international pastime as big as World Cup Soccer. Finnish fans show their enthusiasm in this article from the Helsinki Times. For more fun with Lolita and Japanese culture, watch Kamikaze Girls, a hilarious movie about two unlikely friends.
12/13/2008 10:29:00 PM - Haruhi Look-alikes
Congratulations to all our winners in our recent Haruhi look-alike contest! And thanks to the hundreds of judges who helped select the best of the best. Awesome job SOS Brigade fans!
10/27/2008 1:54:00 PM - Comedic Costumes Roll Out I love costumes with a sense of humor, and who doesn't love transforming appliances? There's more than meets the eye with Australian comedians Merrick Watts and Tim Rosso.
Thrilling Zombie Event
10/27/2008 -With 3,960 zombies on hand, a new world record was set in Austin. That's a lot of dead people dancing to the classic hit Thriller. We hear a lot about pirates and ninjas, but I think it's time to add zombies to the mix for a regular LOTR-style throw down. I wonder how this would look doing the Haruhi dance or the Lucky Star theme? Perhaps not as cool as the lone storm trooper Danny Choo working his groove.
Cosplay, The Art of Dressing Up
10/23/2008 -3 News has a splendid video segment straight from Japan on the growing popularity of cosplay. I always enjoy the reactions of the media when they first experience cosplay. Cosplay heaven? There's a concept. Enjoy!
Abandoned Cosplay Backdrops
10/20/2008 -If ever there was a cool collection of great places needing to be visited by cosplayers with digital camera in tow, it'd be the Web Urbanist's 24 Tales of Ghost Towns. See if you can find the one that sounds hauntingly similar to the location where the story of Silent Hill took place. Free kay desu ne?
9/26/2008 -Has it really been 7 years since Cosplay Lab came online? Birthed from an experiment to keep track of our growing list of costumes and friends we'd made at anime conventions, we're amazed at how it has grown into something more. You've made it extra special by being an extended part of our family. Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu!
Range Murata's Latest
9/9/2008 -Word came out today [moonphase] that Gonzo will be producing Shangri-La, the latest story with characters designed by none other than Range Murata (Last Exile, Matrimelee). Details are sketchy as to when the first episode might air, but I know I'm looking forward to it.
9/7/2008 -Canadian Sean Waring got more than he bargained for when he let his Jrock-cosplay skeleton out of the closet to roam free in public. Of course, when I was in high school, I looked exactly like the bands I listened too as well, but I 'drew the line' at eye makeup. Today's society is challenged to be more tolerant, but the increased dependence on video games, music, the internet, and other social outlets make it hard for this generation to live completely in a reality devoid of their virtual identities.
Japan High School Fashion Awards
9/5/2008 -The winners from the recent High School Fashion Design show in Tokyo are up. Some of the outfits look like they came right out of Sailormoon. link to Sina via [RisingSunOfNihon]
9/1/2008 10:15:00 PM - Interview with a Cosplayer- From reporter Maggie Koerth-Baker: "I'm a journalist working with the Associated Press on an article about folks to design and make costumes of fantasy/sci fi conventions. I'm looking for crafters who are interested in being interviewed and maybe (but not necessarily) photographed for the story." Go to the Lab Rats LJ for details.
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.
7/17/2008 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.
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!
