Arabic version: ممارسو الكوسبلاي الأستراليون ينقلون الأزياء إلى ما بعد المؤتمرات

According to The Guardian, an increasing number of Australian cosplayers are gathering for casual meet-ups and photoshoots outside major comic convention events. Cosplay, a blend of “costume” and “play”, involves dressing as a favourite character from media and gathering with others as collaborators, audiences or photographers, says Japanese literature, popular culture and cosplay academic Emerald L King.

Willow*, who was photographed at Sydney town hall dressed as Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony, meets friends for high-concept shoots around the city about twice a month. The group chooses locations and poses suited to their characters without a crew or formal camera equipment. Willow says cosplay began as a way to dress up and stand out, but has become more about spending time with friends she has met through the community.

King says she has observed a return to smaller, more casual gatherings that were common in Australia’s cosplay scene in the early 2000s. Melbourne-based cosplayer Nocti* says fan-hosted events have increased, offering people a way to dress as characters they like and spend time with friends. King says some people are moving away from crowded convention spaces, where it can be harder to carry out the creative storytelling work they pursue in shoots.

Shelley, a Canberra-based cosplayer, says people no longer want to wait for conventions to cosplay and meet friends. She administers an Instagram page and Discord server promoting meet-ups nationwide, and says its group of cosplayers and photographers has grown from 40 to more than 1,000 since she took over the page in 2021. Casual gatherings can also lower costs: a multi-day pass at a major convention averages $70, while Nocti says costumes can range from $50 to $300. For Dennis, seeing cosplay in unexpected places is empowering, especially when strangers recognise a character.