Cosplayer at MCM Comic Con London

For a while now Gamerhub has been looking at building out it’s content to cover cosplay. There are many talented artists who dress up and travel the country attending various events, doing what they are awesome at and passionate about… Introducing the Gamerhub in house cosplay artist, Yaz! Yaz has a passion for cosplay and is making it her mission to give you keep you informed of the goings on in the Cosplay scene.

With the rise of social media, cosplay has become more popular and accessible, encouraging those who perhaps would have never tried it to give it a go. For many, cosplaying is not just about dressing up as your favourite character, it’s about the experience of leaving behind every day stress and being someone else for a little while. It can be a therapeutic form of escapism that brings people together. Cosplaying also opens up avenues to explore new ventures through art and community; Meeting new people you never would have met otherwise and creating amazing, long-lasting friendships.

The UK Cosplay Scene

Cosplaying has been around for decades and since lockdown has grown more and more, with events catering directly towards cosplayers looking for a safe and fun experience. One of the most popular in the UK being MCM Comic Con.

I recently had the opportunity to attend MCM London for the whole weekend and the number of cosplayers who were there to have fun and show off their amazing costumes was staggering. From anime to gaming, even books – characters from every corner of pop culture all brought smiles to attendees’ faces.

From full body paint, to hand-made costumes, the talent was endless. Friends reuniting with each other after lockdown and sharing a weekend of laughter and memories was truly heartwarming to see. The overall atmosphere when walking around the convention seeing old friends hug and reunite was truly wonderful to see after the isolation of the past years.

As a cosplayer myself, the sense of community I experienced at MCM was incredibly wholesome, close knit and loving. There was not a single moment I felt out of place, everyone was so welcoming and I made many new friends and connections through similar passions and getting to see the finished result of people’s hard work and dedication displayed.

Some words from other cosplay artists

One of the cosplay journeys I witnessed from beginning to end was Orpheus and Artemis from the hit game Hades, made by the hugely talented duo ‘Twisted Sisters Cosplay’.

I had the honour of meeting them and seeing their costumes in person and admiring the details up close. The level of craftsmanship and detail in their costumes was outstanding.

Upon asking them what inspired them to choose these characters to make, they told me;

‘The rule is we have to choose characters we know we will continue to be passionate about when we are stressed & unmotivated. So picking something you love is super important. Because we are a duo it’s usually one person saying I want to do this character and seeing if the other wants to do one from the same source material. We keep an online board between ourselves to share ideas.’

Orpheus and Artemis

The attention to detail and the love poured into their costumes shows and is inspiring for any budding cosplayer. I asked if they had any advice for anyone wanting to attend MCM and start cosplaying, their advice was;

‘Don’t over face yourself too early or get disheartened thinking you aren’t good enough. Everyone starts somewhere and there are tutorials everywhere online. Also you don’t have to make everything from scratch, buy and adapt!’

Orpheus and Artemis

Over the weekend I spoke to many creative individuals who expressed their comfort and happiness whilst attending the event, one saying ‘Back home I’ve always felt on the outside and would constantly get unapproving stares. I was consistently judged, whereas here it is the opposite. Instead of judgemental daggers, I’ve received smiles and cheers. I’ve never felt more accomplished or safe.’ Seeing cosplayers complimenting each other and getting excited to see one another’s costumes shows how cosplaying can be a wonderful hobby to build confidence and encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people and receive warm welcomes from others.

MCM is a memorable experience that creates memories that last a lifetime.

If cosplaying isn’t your thing, MCM also invites a vast array of attendees to experience several attractions including panel discussions with celebrities from genres such as film, games, novels and anime, as well as vendors selling comics and related merchandise. Conventions are truly a hub for people to make new friends and build their confidence.

For more on the UK cosplay scene, stay tuned to Gamerhub.