Minami Con 19

[Diablos]

[zack_materia_hunter]

It's always a difficult one to put a finger right on when it comes to outside of the usual Japan sources.

There's also the thought of where the line is regarding Western characters that have appeared in Japanese media?
(Disney characters in Kingdom Hearts, Marvel characters from the Madhouse Marvel anime series' etc..)
It starts to boil down to everyone's personal opinions of what counts and what doesn't..

I guess it starts to just fall under the usual tried and tested rule of
"If you're not doing Anime/Manga/Japanese characters, make sure it's a bloody good cosplay to make up for it!"

This isn't really me trying to answer anything, more just adding food for thought, as well as being mildly curious about other people's opinions on it myself!
_________________
"Die Monster! You don't belong in this world!"

[Revd. Mike]

I think all of us have a little more self respect than to cosplay Twilight

[Misato]

If anyone does want to do a Twilight cosplay I have a big spade I can hit you in the face with for that genuine Kristen Stewart gawp.

[Revd. Mike]

[Milo jimewbi]

[Diablos]

[Em]

[zack_materia_hunter]

[Diablos]

[hunter]

I'd allow pretty much anything to a skit so long as you know its adding to the experience (thinking back to a 'My waifu now Dave' *runs off with Rikku* [or something like that - my memory's bad] couple years back).
And nobody can question the Barbie choreography this year or the acting ability to the Dr team!

Technically i could wrap myself in wiring, gaffer tape and write 'stall for time Rob' on my t-shirt, wear glasses and be cosplaying a crude P-chan. ...but it wouldn't be animé, so y'know, I wouldn't do it unless specifically to troll the poor sod. People should really remember why the audience is there and respect that. Ame this year denied a panel for bronies/ponies because frankly it doesn't hold enough direct reference to the east or its art forms. Completely reasonable so we'll just meet on the side/out of the way.

The cross-frontiering 'should' probably have set jurisdiction. But it 'would' upset people if we enforced it. I mean, this year had fewer cosplay entries than most - so if you removed the western, we'd have just heard Rob mention his 'bloke in a dressing gown' joke for a larger percent of the time.

This year I did cosplay for the Bronies. I did look like a tit. It was for the guys - and I did enjoy it... but I would have never masqueraded as Spitfire... why? because she's not technically animé and had no tie-in to a con-joke or anime reference.
I like that line 'if its not from animé then make up for it'. This is how my invisible line is drawn too.

[Diablos]

So from what I can gather, the general consensus is this:
- deviation is ok when it is a skit, or when it is really good
- juggernaut was in Marvel versus Capcom and so is still technically within the rules.

Still, with a year to go until next Minami, an official ruling would be early enough not to inconvenience anyone. I expect exceptions will be allowed on a case by case basis though.
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BEHOLD!
A toilet without a seat!
(cue Twilight Zone esque music)

You sit on it, but you can't take it with you.
Why is it gone then?
I took it.

[ilpalazzo]

[Diablos]

[Revd. Mike]

[Diablos]

[ryoko]

It is always tricky to comment on topics like this.
I have seen some great costumes over the years that it is obvious a lot of thought and effort went into. However Minami is an anime convention and so there should be some linkage back. There are many western shows I have seen that would make good costumes but still they are not anime. A skit covering Cutie Honey vs. Stargate SG1 would at least have some anime frame of reference.

For floor costumes - well everyone can wear what they like. Just don't take offense at any "what has that got to do with anime" type comments.

For the masquerade it is a numbers game. If there are too many entries then I think priority should go to the anime related ones.

In the end there is no shortage of characters from anime and Japanese games to choose from. Picking a non-related character makes me think the person is lacking some imagination.

[Diablos]

[Edmon]

It is my opinion that as long as it's from a game or anime, it's fine.

I mean, I don't think anyone can seriously say that game culture between the UK, US and Japan is particularly different. Noting that most of the biggest games come out of the UK and the US, such as WoW, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Star trek/Wars etc, etc. These are just as popular in Japan as they are anywhere else on earth.

The only real difference is Eroge, JRPG's and VN, which is more exclusively Japanese. However, most of the best of these do make it to the UK/US and become as much a part of our culture as theirs.

Never forget that both games and anime were started in the UK (BBC) and US (Micky Mouse) respectively and imported and improved on by Japan. So you could actually strongly argue that it's originally our culture that they are building on in the first place. Therefore, you could also argue any game from anywhere is UK culture gone wild in foreign lands and there isn't a "japanese" gaming culture at all (there is of course, but I'm working on absolute technicalities here).

Bottom line is. If it makes someone happy to attend dressed as their favourite game character, even if it's not strictly "japanese" what is the harm? If someone decides the last airbender is what they want to cosplay, who cares that it was made in the USA?

Surely we are all united in our love of anime and games and prehaps... where they originate from isn't so important in the grand scheme of things. An interesting debate prehaps, but surely it shouldn't be any more than that.

And yes, I can understand that some things, like starwars have massive fandoms and prehaps there are better places to do those kind of cosplays. But, isn't that all a bit too intolerant and clicky an attitude to take? Hell, if you talk to that hardcore starwars fan, maybe you'll come to love it too. Surely that is what a con is all about.

Edmon

[Xandyboi7X]

well said mr.nukem