Costume Craftsmanship
The Maquerade is filled with costume play, but what about all of the behind-the-scenes work that went into making the costumes themselves? Enter the Animazement Craftsmanship Hall Play Contest where judging is solely based on the artistry and technical merit of the costume. Hard work and precision is involved in creating the amazing costumes that range from impressive mechas and armor to intricate sewing work.
Are you a costume Creator?
Animazement’s Craftsmanship Hall Play Contest is a chance to show off your costume and a chance to win great prizes! Contestants will present their costumes to our panel of professional judges and will be scored by the quality, appearance, and skill of their work depending on entry level. During the event, judges will ask questions regarding the construction and detail of each costume. Read on to learn how to participate in the contest!
When: Due to an overwhelming response of talent and entries last year, hall costume judging will be held on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Awards will be presented at the end of Masquerade, Saturday night.
How to sign up: Pre-registration is now closed. You can still register at the convention, at con-Ops, from 1-2pm on Friday
Please note:
1. Arrive ten minutes prior to your entry to fill out paperwork as so it does not cut into your judging time.
2. If you are only entering the Hall Play Contest, separate from the Masquerade, then you do not need to attend the Cosplay Orientation Meeting on Saturday Morning.
3. There is a costume feedback panel on Sunday where you can ask for advice to improve your costumes or understand the criteria in which you were evaluated. All the judges have competed before and understand the pressure and stress that goes into a costume.
4. There are three levels and one child division, Novice, Journeyman, Craftsman, and Youth, respectively.
5. Youth is 12 and younger.
6. Novice is someone who has won no major awards in cosplay. Major awards are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Best of. Honorable Mentions, Judge’s Awards, etc, do not count. Journeyman is someone who has won three major awards in cosplay in Novice. Craftsman is someone who has won three awards above Novice.
7. If you feel that you would like to compete at a higher level, you are welcome to enter as such. “Competing down” (i.e. Craftsman competing as a Novice), is not permitted and will be disqualified.
Contest Rules:
No costume is no costume. No nudity and your costume must be at least 50% made or altered by the entrant.
All costumes must be relevant to Anime, Manga, or Japanese culture (takarazuka, J-rock, etc…)
All entrants must be registered Animazement Convention Attendees and may be asked to present their badge.
You may wear your costume in the Masquerade and Hall Play, as the Masquerade is judged entirely on performance.
No live steel or weapons that would cause a panic if you brought them to a public space.
You must have made the costume or have the person present who did. No Ebay or bought costumes permitted.
Original or alternative take on designs (for example: Halloween Town Riku or Steakpunk Link) are acceptable, but must have strong or obvious references from the series that you must have documentation to back up.
Documentation is very much appreciated. From swatches to notes to construction detail that you think the judges might have missed… How you made your costume, progress photos, drawings are all considered to be very helpful to the judges and they appreciate the time you took for them.
You may not compete with a costume that has previous won major awards unless significant changes to update and improve the costume have been performed and documented.
Prizes are awarded at the end of the Saturday night Masquerade, before Masquerade awards.
Falsification of creating a costume or lying to the judges (purchasing a costume and passing it as your work) will result in your entry being pulled, awards revoked, and being banned from future Animazement Hall Costume Craftsmanship contests
ALL DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES ARE FINAL.
