Put your craftsmanship on display at our Friday Hall Cosplay Contest!
Apply below to participate, and if selected, you will be assigned a time Friday afternoon to be judged.
Some slots may open up at the con, so feel free to stop by the Cosplay HQ table to check in. Open slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Looking to participate? Read the rules and apply below.
Hall Cosplay Submissions Rules and Guidelines
- All judging will occur on Friday.
- Once you submit your application, our judges will review your application, and you will be notified if you were selected.
- All cosplays will be considered, but preference will be to those influenced by Japanese culture; anime, manga, kaiju, tokusatsu, and J-Cinema (Japanese movies and series).
- If selected, you will be assigned a time slot.
- Please do not be late. If you miss your time slot, you will have to wait for the next open time slot (if available).
- You may apply as either an individual or a group.
- This is a craftsmanship contest; judges will be looking at your cosplay for quality and accuracy.
- Costume Composition:
- Store-bought costumes are NOT PERMITTED! Your costume needs to be made or modified by you.
- 80% of the costume must have been made or modified by you.
- Original character designs and concepts are accepted as well! We are also allowing mashups and different takes on existing characters. Please be prepared to show the judges your reference for all characters not cannon to their original intellectual property.
- Please specify your level of craftsmanship and enter the appropriate category on your application.
- Craftsmanship Levels
- Novice – A cosplayer who has never entered a contest, or a cosplayer who has not won an award in any costume competition at the adult level.
- Intermediate – A cosplayer who has won one (1) but less than three (3) awards in adult competition such as Best Costume, Best Skit, Best Workmanship, First Place, etc., and has not won a "Best in Show" or "Best in Class" award, or won any kind of award at the Master level; including Judge’s Awards.
- Master – A cosplayer who has won three (3) or more awards in adult competition, has won a "Best in Show" or "Best in Class" award, has won any kind of award at the Master level, or is a professional costume maker.
- Contestants can always compete in a level higher than their level.
- If you compete as a group, all cosplays must be 80% handcrafted by the wearer, and the competition level will be the level of the highest cosplayer in the group.
- Submitting (and bringing) a build book is not required but encouraged.
- To compete you must have a Friday ticket to Anime NJ++ 2024.
- Contestants will be selected Friday afternoon and winners will be posted at the Cosplay HQ Table where they can pick up their prize and take a photo.
- Please refer to the Anime NJ++ costume and weapon policies.
- ANY Anime NJ++ staff, volunteers, celebrities or cosplay guests are prohibited from entering the Anime NJ++ Hall Cosplay Contest.
- Entry into the event is at the discretion of the event staff, and we reserve the right to reject ANY entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose costume is in violation of them.
Prizes will consist of 3 Judges Awards, and Best Novice, Best Intermediate and Best Masters awards. These will be non-cash prizes (e.g.,tickets for Anime NJ++ 2025 and merchandise).
If you have any questions, please contact our Head of Cosplay hailiumworkshop@gmail.com |