Fans Suit Up for the Annual International Cosplay Day Aug. 25
Cosplay has become a beacon of hope for thousands of people around the world. To outsiders, cosplay is just an excuse for people to dress up in crazy costumes when, in actuality, cosplay is an expression of individuality and passion for cherished movie, video game, anime and comic characters brought to life and shared with the community. This lifestyle allows cosplayers to dive into a world of adventure and imagination. The last Saturday in August every year is designated as International Cosplay Day. In 2018, International Cosplay Day is Aug. 25.
Conventions like Fan Expo Dallas and Dallas Fan Days are the heart of cosplay. In April, during Fan Expo Dallas, 60 area cosplayers competed in the first ever Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix Qualifier event. The Dallas Best in Show winner was 29-year-old San Antonio cosplayer Jessi Arntz. As the winner, she received VIP passes for the 2019 Fan Expo Dallas event and a paid trip for two to Toronto to compete for $5,000 in the Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix finals Sept. 1 at Fan Expo Canada. Arntz will compete against winners from Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, Megacon Orlando, Fan Expo Boston and Fan Expo Canada.
Her winning costume was Inquisitor Adrastia from the video game “WarHammer 40,000: Dawn of War II,” created by Relic Entertainment and Feral Interactive. The costume took Arntz around 200 hours to create and is mostly composed of hand tooled leather. The hat and chest armor are intricately tooled with elaborate stained-glass designs.
Arntz stated, “These are not part of the original design, but I felt they would elevate my armor and reflect elements of the Spanish Inquisition and its Gothic style.”
“Even more than being in a costume, I love the process of making them,” Arntz said. “There is nothing more gratifying to me than designing and creating a suit of armor from the ground up and bringing something to life that otherwise would just be on paper. I love learning new techniques and constantly try to reach for a more complex design.”
In the DFW region, cosplayers from around the region, ranging from amateur to professional, will showcase their passion for creativity and imagination at Dallas Fan Days Oct. 19-21 in Irving, Texas. Many cosplayers claim that it was because of an event like Dallas Fan Days that they first were introduced to the craft.
“The beautiful thing about Fan Expo Dallas and Dallas Fan Days is watching the cosplayers interact with our other guests,” commented Fan Expo Vice President Andrew Moyes. “They are always so warm and welcoming. From superheroes to princesses to video game characters, our guests overdeliver. While not everyone who visits our event is in costume, a great many spend hours and hours creating elaborate characters. Not only are the characters exhilarating to look at, most will welcome guests’ photo requests. It truly is a family-friendly community unlike any other.”
Dallas Fan Days also hosts adult and child costume contests. These events feature fans showcasing their original costumes derived from the comic, sci-fi, horror, anime and fantasy worlds – all onstage for a chance to win bragging rights. From caped-crusaders to hot anime characters, guests can be awed as a spectator or a contestant.
Dallas Fan Days is Oct. 19-21 at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039. Ticket prices start at $20. To purchase tickets, go tohttps://www.dallasfandays.com/en/tickets/admission.html.
For more information, please visit the Dallas Fan Days website at www.DallasFanDays.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. General inquiries can be sent toinfo@fanexpohq.com, exhibitors can contact exhibitor@fanexpohq.com and questions about tickets can be sent to tickets@fanexpohq.com. Fan Expo After Hours is the official biweekly podcast that celebrates all things Pop Culture! The show is available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts and Google Play. ~ Media