GENERAL COSTUME & COSPLAY CONTEST RULES

• Anime Magic!’s Cosplay Contest is a celebration of costume play including cosplay construction, stage performance, and general love for cosplay! 

• You may choose to sign up for one of our two divisions, Showcase or Craftsmanship. 

  • Showcase division is for allcosplayers who would like to show their cosplay off on stage. It does not require any amount of the cosplay to be homemade. All costumes are welcome, including closet cosplays, bought cosplays, and commissioned cosplays. This division also permits original character cosplays. 

  • Craftsmanship division is for cosplayers who want to display their crafting skill on stage. Cosplayers in this division must create at least 75% of their costume and participate in craftsmanship judging prior to the Cosplay Contest. 

• All Cosplay Contest participants must be registered attendees of Anime Magic! 

• Each participant may only participate once in the Cosplay Contest. (For example, one person may not participate both as a solo participant and as part of a group.) 

• All costumes must conform to federal, state, and local law and guidelines, including those for public decency. All costumes must follow the general Anime Magic! Rules for costumes and props set forth at Anime Magic! Rules including the Weapons Policy. 

  • Weapons Policy: 

    • All weapons must be easily distinguishable as props.  

    • Live steel and firearms are strictly prohibited. This includes real swords, knives, guns, airsoft weapons, blades, etc.

    • All prop firearms must have an orange tip with no projectiles loaded.

    • All blades must be fake and dull.

    • All ranged weapons, such as bows, must not be tightly strung.

    • Live projectiles are not allowed. 

    • Prop weapons should never be pointed in the direction of another human being. 

    • No smoke, vapor, dry ice, fire/flame, explosives, lasers, etc. are permitted. 

• Costumes must not use any materials which may damage, destroy, or ruin the convention space or the costumes of other attendees. This includes glitter, confetti, fake blood, messy or oily substances, etc.

• Generative AI in contest entries is strictly prohibited. This includes AI generated build books, audio, character art, scripts, sewing patterns, etc. If you would like additional clarification on if a certain use is permitted, please contact cosplay@animemagic.org.

• Costumes must be self-contained. No connections to electricity, water, amps, projection screens, etc. will be available. 

• All performances must be PG-13. Presentations may not include profanity, obscenities, lewd content, excessive violence, or political/religious/etc. statements. If you are unsure if your cosplay/walk on/skit would break this rule, please reach out to the Cosplay Department at cosplay@animemagic.org. 

• Surprise the audience not the Anime Magic! staff! Any surprise elements of your skit/walk-on must be run by the Cosplay Department for approval. No jumping on or off stage. No acrobatics/flips/cartwheels. 

• Please clean up after yourself. No props, participants, or other mess should be left on stage after your performance. Objects may not be thrown into the audience. 

• Group entries are permitted in both Showcase and Craftsmanship. Groups may not exceed 8 people. 

• Parents/guardians may stay with underage performers. 

• Participants may provide their own music/audio file in .MP3 format, 320 kbps bitrate prior to the event to be used while they cross the stage/during their skit. Additional details will be provided via e-mail to accepted contestants. If you are walking across the stage and do not provide an audio file, default music will be used while you walk across. It is strongly suggested that you bring a flash drive including your audio with you to the convention in case there is any issue with the submitted audio. 

• Contestants are encouraged to notify the Cosplay Department if they will require any assistance crossing the stage. For example, contestants should let the Cosplay Department know if they will be using any mobility aids, require a handler, or have limited vision or mobility in their costume. 

• Anime Magic! reserves the right to make final decisions on any contestant, performance, or costume, including stopping your presentation during the Show if these rules are not followed.

• Performers may enter skits into the Cosplay Contest. 

• Costumes for skits may fall into either the Showcase or Craftsmanship divisions. If you are performing a skit and would like to have your cosplay judged under Craftsmanship, please notate that on your application. Craftsmanship judging and skit judging will take place separately.

• Skits may not exceed 2 minutes in length. 

• Skit applications must include a comprehensive description of their skit, such as a script or video run through. 

• Skits that have won awards at other conventions may not be reused. 

• Skit performers must be present for the runthrough scheduled prior to the Contest. All performers should be present as the entire skit must be performed for staff. Failure to show up for run through may forfeit your space in the Contest. 

• Skit judging will take place on stage during the Contest. 

• Skits should be self-contained. Any cleanup after the skit must be completed within 10 seconds. Crew will not be available to help clean up dropped items/props.

SHOWCASE RULES

• All costumes are welcome, including costumes from Japanese media, western media, fan art, and original designs. This includes anime, manga, video games, comic books, films, sentai, danmei, etc. 

• Costumes do not have to be homemade. Purchased, commissioned, thrifted, or otherwise constructed cosplays are permitted. 

• Showcase participants are eligible for Showcase Awards and Judge’s Awards.

• All walk on entries are limited to 30 seconds. 

• Entries are first come, first serve.

CRAFTSMANSHIP RULES

• To participate in the Craftsmanship division, all costumes must be at least 75% crafted by hand. Thrifted, purchased, or commissioned components may not exceed 25% of the costume build. If you have any questions about whether your costume complies with this, please contact cosplay@animemagic.org. Costumes that do not qualify for Craftsmanship judging are welcome to participate in the Showcase division. 

• Only costumes from established media are allowed, including anime, manga, video games, comic books, film, sentai, danmei, etc. Costumes outside of these categories, including fan art, must be pre-approved by the Cosplay Department at cosplay@animemagic.org. Original designs are not permitted. 

• Physical (not digital) build books, including progress images, reference photos, and any additional information contestants would like to share with the judges, are required for Journeyman and Masters class competitors. Complete books are not required for Novice and Youth entries, but competitors in these classes must at a minimum provide a physical (not digital) reference image for their costume.

• Classes: 

  • Youth: Contestants under 18 years old. Contestants are allowed to receive help from a parent/guardian during crafting, but still must have crafted at least 75% of the costume with or without assistance. 

  • Novice: Contestants who are new to Cosplay Contests generally will enter in this category. Contestants may not have received any major awards such Best in Show, Best Novice, or Best Journeyman at a larger or similarly sized convention. Hallway awards, Judge’s awards, or Honorable Mentions do not disqualify entrants from this class. 

  • Journeyman: Contestants who have participated and placed previously in other contests, but have not placed in Master’s level should enter in this class. Generally, if you have won 1-3 major awards such as Best Novice and/or Best Journeyman, you should enter this class.  Contestants who have won Best in Show or Best Masters at a larger or similarly sized convention may not enter in this class. Contestants may choose to enter this class even if they have not previously won a major award if they believe their skills/experience would place them in this class. 

  • Masters: Contestants who are at the top level of their craft or who are a professional should enter this class. If you have won 4 or more major awards, such as Best in Show, Best Masters, Best Journeyman, etc. please enter this class. If you are a professional costume creator (in other words, someone who receives regular income from costume creation) you should enter into the Master class. 

• The Cosplay Contest Department reserves the right to move a cosplayer up to a more competitive class. A cosplayer may request to compete in a higher class than they are placed, but may not compete in a lower class. If you are unsure of the correct class to enter in, please contact cosplay@animemagic.org, and we will be happy to help!

• Judges may move a contestant up a class at their discretion during deliberation. 

• The class of group entries will be determined by the highest skill class member. For example, a group of a novice and a journeyman will be judged in the journeyman class. 

• Entries are not first come, first serve - the Cosplay Department will review all applications for compliance with the rules and available spots. 

• Costumes that have received awards at other conventions may be entered, but there must have been significant alterations/improvements to the cosplay. Costumes that have won Best Masters or Best in Show at a larger or similarly sized convention may not be entered into Craftsmanship judging. They are welcome to compete in the Showcase.  

• All walk on entries are limited to 30 seconds.

• During pre-scheduled craftsmanship judging, our judges will evaluate the accuracy, quality, and skillsets used in the creation of the costume. The judges may inspect your costume up close. Entrants will only have 7 minutes per judging session. Be sure to be on time for your judging - failure to show up on time may cause you to forfeit participation in the Craftsmanship portion of the Contest. 

• AT CON EXPECTATIONS

  • All Participants

    • All participants must check in with the Cosplay Department during designated times. Check in times and locations will be distributed via email prior to the convention. Failure to check in means your entry will be dropped.

  • Craftsmanship

    • Judging times will be assigned prior to Anime Magic! (or at check-In for in-person sign-ups). 

    • Please arrive on time for your judging time. If you will be late, contact the cosplay department at cosplay@animemagic.org as soon as possible for rescheduling.

    • Failure to show up to your judging time will disqualify you from Craftsmanship participation. At your option, you may still walk the stage as a Showcase competitor. 

    • If you believe that a personal or business relationship with a judge will make it difficult for the judge to be objective, please bring up your concern to the Cosplay Department. They will consult with the judging panel and come up with a reasonable course of action. 

    • Decisions by the judges are final (except in the case of rule violations.) 

    • On the day after the Contest, there will be a feedback session available with the judges to discuss your questions or ask for specific criticism or suggestions on your costume. This panel is optional. 

  • Performance

    • Outside of Craftsmanship judging (if applicable), performance entrants must be available at a specified time to run through their complete performance for the Cosplay Department staff. Additional details will be provided prior to the convention. 

    • Failure to make the run through may forfeit your skit spot. 

    • Microphones and other equipment will not be available. All dialogue/music must be pre-recorded and provided to the Cosplay Department prior to the event. 

Online signups start on May 4, 2026 and close on July 20, 2026. 

• After the close date, entrants will be messaged with confirmation of their place in the Cosplay Contest or waitlist status within one week. 

• In person signups are limited to any spots not filled by online signups/waitlist. 

• Participants under 18 must have a legal guardian fill out the signup form either online or in person at the convention. 

• Once all slots are full, entrants will be placed on a waitlist. If anyone drops out or otherwise is unable to perform, we will reach out to the members on the waitlist to fill the slot. 

If you must drop out of the Contest for any reason, please reach out to the cosplay department at cosplay@animemagic.org as soon as possible.

• Showcase Awards

  • Best Stage Presence

  • Crowd Favorite

• Craftsmanship Awards

  • Best Youth

    • Runner Up Youth

  • Best Novice

    • Runner Up Novice

  • Best Journeyman

    • Runner Up Journeyman

  • Best Masters

    • Runner Up Masters

• Performance Awards

  • Best Skit

    • Runner Up Skit

• Judge’s Awards

• President’s Awards
  

Awards may be updated at any time at Anime Magic!’s discretion.

By participating in any cosplay competition/showcase at Anime Magic!, you authorize the convention to take your photograph and video. This media may be used for reference by the judges and staff when determining a winner or for promotional/commercial use by the convention. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anime Magic! Staff at contact@animemagic.org.

Do I need to create my costume to enter the Cosplay Showcase?

• Nope! The Showcase division is open to all cosplayers, including those who did not create their costume. Performance entrants can also enter in the Showcase division. Only Craftsmanship division entrants need to have created at least 75% of their costume.

What is a “closet cosplay”?

• A closet cosplay is a costume created using everyday clothes and items (from your closet, a thrift store, or purchased) rather than custom-made outfits or elaborate builds.

What is a skit?

• A skit is any type of performance for the audience. Skits include dramatic or comedic scenes, dance routines or other choreographed routines, parody songs, etc. If you have a question about whether your specific performance qualifies, please reach out to cosplay@animemagic.org.

What is a “Walk On”?

• A Walk On is a chance for participants to walk across the stage and showcase their cosplay. It consists of being introduced by our Host while walking on stage, stopping at three spots to pose, and then walking off. 

Can I cosplay with a group?

• Of course you can! Each group counts as one entry into the Cosplay Contest. We do ask that groups contain a max of 8 members. If your group is entering into the Craftsmanship Division, the class of your group must be the class of the most advanced member of your group (so for example, if your group is a Journeyman and a Masters level cosplayer, the group must enter in the Masters class.) Please choose one representative of the group to fill out the Registration Form. They will become the point of contact to set pre-judging times (if applicable) and organize the group's stage order in the show. If entering in the craftsmanship section, all group members will need to be present for the same pre-judging time slot. All group members will share stage time, hitting marks together during the event. In the case that a group cosplay receives an award, it would be shared by all members of the group. 

What is a build book? Is it required? 

• A build book is a physical breakdown of your costume and how you made it. It should contain, at a minimum, a reference photo of the costume, progress photos of the costume creation, and any additional notes on the techniques used to create your costume such as prop work, wig styling, or weathering. Build books are required for Craftsmanship participants in the Journeyman and Masters classes and are optional for Novice and Youth classes (however, Novice and Youth classes must still provide a physical reference image of their cosplay.) Build books are not required for Showcase participants. 

Will there be in-person sign-ups?

• We will have in person sign ups available on Friday of the convention for any walk on (both Showcase and Craftsmanship) spots not filled by the online signups. We will announce the times for in-person sign-ups and whether any spots are available closer to the convention. 

When will pre-judging times be?

• Pre-judging will be scheduled closer to the convention for confirmed participants in the Craftsmanship division. Please keep an eye on your emails for additional information!

Can I have a specific audio track play behind my Walk On?

• Yes! Once you are confirmed as a participant for the Contest, you will be contacted to gather an .MP3 at 320 kbps bitrate of your preferred audio track. If you do not provide one, we will play default music during your Walk On.

Can I have a handler in the Contest? 

• Yes - if you need a handler to cross the stage or are under 18, you can have a handler stay with you in the Green Room prior to the Contest. If you have questions about whether you qualify for a handler, please feel free to reach out to cosplay@animemagic.org. In order to keep the Contest running smoothly, we request that other friends/partners who are not participating sit in the audience and meet up with participants after the show. 

I have some other questions!

• Please reach out to cosplay@animemagic.org with any additional questions! We’re happy to work with you to guarantee a fun experience for all participants.