Cosplay Contest

Anime Bemidji is excited to bring you the first annual cosplay costume contests, to let you get the chance to be the best cosplayer you can be!

For the schedule of events, the schedule page on the website will have a complete schedule when the schedule has been finished for this year.

 

Rules applicable to all events:

  • Please behave responsibly while at the convention. Be considerate of all guests, attendees, and convention staff.
  • Any violation of rules can result in the suspension of attendance privileges to the convention. You may be asked to leave, and in extreme cases you may be asked to never return. In addition, any attendee found breaking state or federal law will be reported and suspended from the convention. We reserve the right to determine what is and is not acceptable, and we may revise the code of conduct at anytime without notice.
  • "You break it, you buy it." If you damaged, deface, or otherwise break any equipment you are to pay for a replacement out of your own pockets.
  • If you win any prizes but are not present during the allotted time limit, the prize may be handed down to your follow up. Please consider checking your cellphone and in Con Ops regularly, and be aware of when the prizes will be handed out.
  • Anyone found willfully damaging another individual's costume or harassing another cosplayer, will be ejected from the convention and likely prosecuted.

 

Cosplay Competition

The Mainstage cosplay contest happens Saturday afternoon.

While we make every effort to have the complete and final rules published, we may need to make adjustments or modifications to the rules at any time to improve the clarity of the rules or the operation of the cosplay events.

Must be 13+ years of age to enter.

There will be one winner chosen per skill level. There may also be honorable mentions or "shout outs", however they will not receive any official award or prize.

 

Rules

Craftsmanship is broken down into three divisions based on the competitors' experience and previous awards. Competitors will be assigned a division based on information given on the sign-up form.

  1. Costume(s) must be handmade by the contestant.
    1. If an outfit includes a combination of created and purchased items, at least 80% of the costume must have been created or altered in a significant manner.
  2. Outfits do not need to be worn by the creator so long as the costume creator is present at the convention during judging.
  3. While a build book is not required, contestants must be able to present progress photos upon request.

 

Judging Divisions

  • Beginner: this division is for beginners. Those that are new to making costumes or competing in cosplay competitions fall in this category:
    • Contestants who have never before competed at a convention
    • Contestants who have not won a major award (Best in Category or Best in Show) at a convention of equal or larger average attendance.
    • Contestants who have won any award at a division higher than beginner may NOT compete in the beginner category.
  • Experienced: This division is for those who have a few wins under their belt and have experience competing in cosplay competitions.
    • Contestants who have won 1-5 major awards at a convention of approximately equal or larger average attendance.
    • Contestants who have won any award at a division higher than experienced may NOT compete in the experienced category.
  • Master: This division is for those who have mastered several crafting techniques and have won many major awards at previous competitions. A higher level of cleanliness, creativity, and overall mastery of craft is expected in this category.
    • Contestants who have won more than 5 major awards at conventions of equal or larger average attendance
    • Contestants who are professional costumers must enter the master division. Those who are paid for any work related to cosplay creation or seamstress work are considered professional.
    • Contestants who have won a Best in show at a major event (20,000 average attendance or more) must compete in the master division.

 

For group entries, the contestant with the highest level of experience determines the category. For example, if a group has two beginners and one experienced crafter they must compete in the experienced division.

 

Craftsmanship Pre-judging

All contestants competing in craftsmanship are required to attend a pre-judging Saturday of the convention. Pre-judging is a one on one session with the judges that allows the contestant to explain their crafting process while allowing the judges to see the custom up close.

  • Pre-judging session times will be assigned at check-in and will take place between 12:30 pm-3:00 pm on Saturday.
  • Contestants must be in full costume and have any relevant/judged props with them.
  • If the costume is being worn by someone other than the maker, both the model wearing the costume and the creator must be present.
  • Pre-judging sessions will last 5-7 minutes. Consider it an elevator pitch on how you made your costume.
  • Those that miss their pre-judging session will be disqualified from the competition and unable to compete.
  • While a build book is not required, contestants must be able to present progress photos upon request.

Judges have the right to determine a costume's eligibility and whether or not a costume meets the craftsmanship requirements. If the judges have any valid reason to suspect that they are being misled or misinformed regarding the process of creating the costume, they may determine that an entry is disqualified.

Disqualification decisions must be unanimous from all judges.

 

Walk Ons

To show off the costume, contestants will walk on. Think of it like a fashion show! Contestants will walk to far stage for pose #1, near stage for pose #2, and center stage for pose #3, making sure to hold each pose for 3-5 seconds.

Contestants may provide custom audio/music to be played during their walk on, otherwise generic music will be provided. See the audio section for more details.

 

General Rules

Check In

All contestants are required to check-in at Con Ops on Saturday of the convention.

  • Check-in is from 8:00am - 12:00pm.
  • Entry information will be verified and pre-judging times assigned.
  • Any entries that have not checked in by 12:00 pm Saturday will be disqualified and unable to compete, unless an exception is approved in advance.
  • At con entries will be allowed during the check-in time, space permitting.

 

Run-Through

We run a full runthrough at all of our competitions to ensure the best show possible! Competitors will verify their stage name and introduction with the MC, receive full instruction on posing and stage directions, as well as getting a practice run of the show.

Run-through will take place during the two hours directly before the contest.

Run-through is MANDATORY. If you are not present for the run-through you will be disqualified from the competition.

 

Audio

  • All audio must be turned in before the end of sign-in (12:00 pm Saturday).
  • Audio files must be in MP3 format and no longer than 2 minutes.
  • Audio files can be uploaded through the sign up form or emailed to animebemidji@gmail.com.
  • Please name your file [your stage name + year] so that it can easily be found and accessed. EX: abccosplay-2027.mp3

Good quality audio, that is not too-soft at some parts and too-loud at others, will make or break your performance scripts. If you have pre-recorded sounds or dialogue, the importance of the quality of your audio can not be overstated.

 

More Rules

  • All Cosplay participants must be registered attendees of the convention.
  • Passing other people's work off as your own original work whether it be crafting, designing, or performance, or not making 80% of your cosplay is considered unethical and will get you disqualified.
  • Staff members, and immediate family, are not eligible to compete.
  • NO blatant nudity/adult related content or language. This event is rated PG-13, and we are a family-friendly convention. Please use some discretion with your character, props and presentation.
  • Your entry must be finished before you get to the contest room. No sewing, gluing, spray painting, welding, or other construction work is allowed backstage. However, final assembly of large pieces and/or props and unexpected repairs will be allowed.
  • Participants will be required to agree to a liability release and a release for use of video and photo images.
  • We reserve the right to modify the rules, change or withdraw offered prizes, or cancel or withdraw the competition, if the convention finds it appropriate in its sole discretion for the benefit of public safety, taste, appropriateness, or other necessity
  • For safety reasons, the following are not allowed:
    • Live animals
    • Alcohol or illegal substances of any kind
    • Substances which might damage, stain, or soil
    • Aerosol sprays
    • Projectiles of any kind (including but not limited to nerf, darts, baseballs, etc)
    • Pyrotechnics or fireworks (including but not limited to: fire, flash powder, explosives, smoke bombs or sparklers)
    • Entries that could potentially damage the Convention Center facilities, other participants or the wearer will not be allowed.
    • Illegal weapons of any kind
    • Prop weapons used as part of the costume are allowed with restrictions. You are expected to act responsibly with your weapon. If you decide to carry a weapon, by attending you accept any legal and financial responsibility for damage your weapon may cause to persons or property.
    • Entries with electric power requirements need to be self-contained. There will be no access to electrical outlets on stage.
  • All contestants must be able to move their costume on their own. So please no 80 lb wings or giant mecha unless you can walk up stairs in it.
  • Audience members are not allowed to run up to the stage area for any reason.
  • Audience members and contestants must be courteous and respectful. Please do not boo or shout negative things to contestants.
  • You are required to exercise caution when on stage. Please take care to avoid stage edges. Do not do dangerous things on stage.
  • When a specific cosplay has won a Major award, it must not be re-entered into a competition of equal or smaller size without significant changes/modifications. 

 

The Cosplay Director, or convention management in cases of safety/liability, have the right to eliminate any entry from the competition on the basis of legal liability risks, appropriateness to the competition, public interest, discrimination (such as performances that target individuals of a protected class), risk or hazard to the audience, the venue, the entrant, other entrants, violation of any of the above rules, or for any other reason deemed sufficient for disqualification.