Cosplaying something when you are unfamiliar with the source material?

By Seakittens. 04/01/13, 03:17 am

How do you guys feel about cosplaying a character when you don't know the source material? E.g. That online game character has an amazing design but i have no interest in the game. For me, i want to cosplay from aion online or sailor moon but dont want to watch/play it. Opinions?

My phone cut me off here, so hopefully you guys don't mind a double post... For me, I like to familiarize myself with the character and source material first, like when i cos'ed aegis, i went and bought the game first. But when it comes to characters from long running anime i feel like im in a bind.

By **Riven_**. 04/01/13, 03:53 am

I've cosplayed a number of characters who I hadn't seen the show for, though I looked them up to make sure I knew at least a little about them first.

I don't mind not knowing the original show/book/etc because I haven't got time to watch everything and if I only made costumes for things I know well I'd have a very limited range.

That said, I always enjoy cosplaying from things I know well because I can get more into character and tell people about the show/book/etc if they don't know it.

Also- for future reference there is an edit button which you can use to keep from having two posts!

By Seakittens. 04/01/13, 05:47 am

For me, if i do cosplay something I don't know the source material for chances are it'll be for a group so they can fill in a character

(thanks for editing that together, posting on a phone that restricts me to a 300 character limit :c)

By brunetteyes. 04/01/13, 08:49 am

I sometimes decide to cosplay from something I'm unfamiliar with because I love the design, or the character's image or if I really want to join a cosplay group with friends :)

I almost always get really into it though and watch all the episodes or the movie or learn to play as the character. I just cant help it Razz

If I cosplay a character I want to know all about them ^^ To a limit though as I do get pretty busy with lots of other stuff going on.

I find it a lot more fun cosplaying as someone I know really well so I can really get a feel for what they are like. It makes it easier to express their personality through poses etc and I just get so much more out of it ^^

By Highlander. 04/01/13, 01:25 pm

Long running series.

Like when I cosplay Zoro, no matter how many series I watch I will have fans talk to me that are several series ahead of me.

By azeria. 05/01/13, 04:01 am

I've only cosplayed from something I haven't played/watched/read when friends were doing a group and asked me to join. Though like what other people said I looked up the source/character first to get a little bit of backstory behind them.

I'm quite tempted by the character designs of stuff like Granado Espada and Aion online but at the same time there's so many characters I already know and love that I want to cosplay that I can't really justify spending time/money on something where its just the design that's nice xP Especially when I've wanted to cosplay some of these characters for a few years now.

By Highlander. 05/01/13, 06:01 am

azeria wrote:: I'm quite tempted by the character designs of stuff like Granado Espada and Aion online but at the same time there's so many characters I already know and love that I want to cosplay that I can't really justify spending time/money on something where its just the design that's nice xP Especially when I've wanted to cosplay some of these characters for a few years now.

My thoughts exactly. Trying to find the materials for/learn skills for/figure out how to make each aspect of a cosplay means I have several on the go at a time, and a list of a few more. And also I have a long list of possible ideas. It's not hard to think of ideas.

By HeavensForge. 06/03/13, 03:33 pm

I think it's completely ok to Cos something you're not familiar with, as long as it makes you happy to do it.

Sometimes the sheer joy of creating something amazing is all you need.

That said, I'd always research a character first; there's been a few times I've been invited to join a group but on researching the character, realised I'd never be able to put my heart into the cos.

By aucontraire. 27/03/13, 03:48 am

Seakittens wrote:: How do you guys feel about cosplaying a character when you don't know the source material?

It seems weird to me, but there's nothing actually wrong with it. I would have thought there'd generally be plenty of characters who you do know the source material for who'd be more appealing because you know them. It reminds me of friends who get heavily into a particular fanfic fandom without ever reading/watching the original!

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