Hall Cosplay

Information

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Hall Cosplay Contest at AnimeNJ++! Please take a moment to review the rules and policies before submitting your application. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to hailiumworkshop@gmail.com.

Hall Cosplay online applications will be open from September 10th, 2026 until October 9th, 2026. Applications will NOT be available at the convention and will only be accepted pre-convention. Hall Cosplay Contest entrants must be registered for the convention before participating in the Hall Cosplay Contest. The Hall Cosplay Contest will be held on Friday, November 13th, 2026.

Rules & Guidelines

Guidelines

• Applications will be accepted from September 10th, 2026 through October 9th, 2026. Late applications will be automatically denied.
• Professional costumers and/or performers are not permitted to compete.
• All entries are individual only; no group entries are allowed.
• AnimeNJ++ is a family-friendly convention and as an entrant, your cosplays and performancs at AnimeNJ++ shall be family-friendly (think PG-13).
• All cosplays will be considered, but preference for acceptance will be given to those influences by Japanese media and culture.
• Entrants shall be registered for the convention prior to competing. AnimeNJ++ staff, volunteers, guests, exhibitors, and featured cosplayers are prohibited from competing in the Hall Cosplay Contest. The registered badge must provide access to at least Friday (such as a Friday or Weekend badge).
• Hall Cosplay Contest entrants will receive a confirmation email after submission of the application; if no confirmation email has been received, please reach out to hailiumworkshop@gmail.com.
• Entrants will hear back regarding the status of their application by October 23rd, 2026.
• Entry into the Hall Cosplay Contest is at the discretion of AnimeNJ++ staff. AnimeNJ++ reserves the right to reject any entrant who does not adhere to these rules or whose cosplay/performance is in violation of them.
• Entrants shall be respectful to AnimeNJ++ staff, Hilton Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands staff, and fellow attendees.

Rules

• If you are selected, you will be assigned a time slot for pre-judging.
• All judging will take place on Friday.
• Please do not be late. If you miss your time slot, you will be disqualified.
• Entrants consent to have their cosplays examined closely by the judges during judging.
• Store-bought or commissioned cosplays are NOT PERMITTED! Your cosplay needs to be made or modified by you. Our judges will know.
• 80% of the cosplay 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 canon to their original intellectual property.
• You do not need to have a build book or build sheet to share with the judges during judging, but it is recommended.
• A build book or build sheet should include:
  – Reference images of the character(s)
  – Work-in-progress pictures
  – A list of any purchased items
  – Swatches of fabrics used
  – A list of any third parties who helped with the costume
• Builds do not need to be complete at the time of application.
• Entrants will be scored on:
  – 20% Design Accuracy
  – 20% Technical Proficiency
  – 20% Creativity/Problem-Solving
  – 20% Attention to Detail
  – 20% Level of Difficulty

Competition Levels

• Novice – A cosplayer who has never won an award in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
• Intermediate – A cosplayer who has never won a ‘Best Intermediate’, ‘Best Journeyman’, ‘Best in Show’ or ‘Best in Class’ or comparable award or higher in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
• Master – A cosplayer who has won a ‘Best Intermediate’, ‘Best Journeyman’, ‘Best in Show’ or ‘Best in Class’ or comparable award in an adult Cosplay Contest or Masquerade.
• Contestants can always compete in a level higher than their level.
• If you compete as a group, the competition level will be the level of the highest cosplayer in the group.
• The Cosplay Coordinators and Cosplay Guest Judges reserve the right to move contestants to a higher level should they deem it appropriate.
• If you have any questions as to what level you should compete at, please reach out to hailiumworkshop@gmail.com

Prizes

• Masters: $50
• Intermediate: $30
• Novice: $20
• Winners will be announced at end of day on instagram and via email, and listed at Cosplay HQ on Saturday and Sunday. Prizes must be picked up at Cosplay HQ on Saturday or Sunday.