Cosplay Contest Rules

REGISTRATION

In Person Registration will take place in person at the Convention.

Registration will remain open until 30 minutes before prejudging begins.

Registration will take place at the Main Registration Table and will be dealt in a “first come, first serve” basis.

All contestants and walk-ons must pre-register. No walk-ons will be accepted once the contest begins.

Each participant will be issued a numbered index card at registration to complete with their name, character’s name, what movie, book, or anime etc. the series the character is from.

You can prepare a brief introduction for yourself that you can announce from stage. An introduction is limited to less than 30 sec. and can be used for you to describe your character, costume or just information you want the crowd to know about you. You are not required to make an introduction from stage, but this is your time to shine.

Walk-Ons are limited to the first 40 people to register.
Contestants are limited to the first 40 people to register.

All entries MUST include following information on signup sheet:

  1. Contestant or Group Name.
  2. Character’s Name
  3. Class Type
    1. Journeyman
    1. Master
    1. Youth
    1. Closet Cosplay

JUDGING

Pre-judging will take place 1 ½ hour preceding the Cosplay Contest.

All contestants must arrive on time for rehersal & judging.

The judging room will be closed to all non-contestants during judging.

Entries will be separated into categories:

  1. Youth – Contestants under the age of 14
  2. Journeyman – First time contestant or any contestant who has participated but not won a major award.
  3.  Master – Contestants who have participated and won any first place or best of show at any convention.
  4. Closet Cosplay – Contestant who has hand made less than 70% of their costume.

**Judges reserve the right to move any contestant into a different category should they feel their skill level exceed the category they initially signed up for.

Costumes that have won any major awards at any past convention may NOT be entered into the Costume Contest.

All participants should be prepared to briefly explain the process through which their costume was created, altered, or modified. Costume(s) should be 70% “hand-made”.

Closet Cosplay! We are adding a new category this year! This is for the closet cosplayers, or those who have “hand-made”, created, altered, or modified less than 70% of their costumes. We recognize that altering existing clothing to make a character is an art of its own.

Groups may be allowed to enter the contest but will be judged as if the entire group were as 1 person entering.

Each entry’s appropriate category will be determined by its participant with the greatest amount of experience. For example, an entry consisting of 3 people with 2 who have never participated in a cosplay contest, but the 3rd has participated in more than 2, the group will be placed into the “Journeyman” category.

Pictures and video may be taken during the “Showmanship” portion of the Judging process of the participants. These pictures/video are the property of College of Charleston Anime Club for the purposes of advertising and promotion of future events and contests.

This is an open genre costume contest. Genres include but no limited to: Zombies, Sci-Fi, Anime, Comics, Novels, Steam Punk, TV, and Film.

All costumes must abide by the rules of the convention dress code and weapons policy. If a policy violation is discovered by any of the staff or judges panel, that entry will be disqualified.

No glitter, confetti, pyrotechnics, live flame or smoke generators of any kind are allowed in the Costume Contest.

Costumes do not have to be worn by its creator. Costume creators may have a “model” for their costume but the costume creator MUST be present at the pre-judging portion as well as the entire costume contest. Creators must be prepared to explain the creative process behind their costume.

All entries are strongly encouraged to bring reference material for their costume(s). While we will not turn away entries that do not bring reference material, it is very helpful! Not all judges know all characters and creatures, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to bring a color photo (or several) if at all possible. If costume is an original design, then reference images of inspiration or in cases of characters from novels, a printed description from the literary work will be most helpful. Digital devices may be used to present reference photos to the judging panel.

Each contestant may present or wear one and only one costume, or in cases of group entries, each member may wear one costume per person or may wear one costume together (i.e. large costumes that require several people inside to move it.)

SHOWMANSHIP PORTION

All Contestants and Walk On entries must arrive by 15 minutes before the contest start time.

You must have your entry card to participate. If lost, replacement cards are available.

Entrants should line themselves up according to the number on their cards and the category (color) from least to greatest. There will be volunteers available to assist.

Your costume must allow you the freedom of movement so that you can go up and down steps. Should assistance be needed, you may have up to two assistants help you but they will not be provided. Should a costume be deemed as “excessively large” some accommodations can be made so that the contestant is not required to go up or down the steps.

You must remain in the contest main area for the entirety of the contest. You will have designated areas for waiting pre and post judging during the showmanship portion of the contest. Please listen to the directions given by the volunteers and be respectful to your fellow contestants. If you have special needs, please let the judges’ panel be aware at the pre-judging portion of the contest.

Each participant will have the MC to announce your name from the contestant’s index card, make sure you have printed legibly. Contestants will have 30 seconds on stage to make their introduction. This is your time to shine. So make the best of it.

In cases of groups you are granted an additional time, not to exceed 3 minutes.

All Cosplay Contest Audio to be provided by College of Charleston Contest volunteers.No special requests for audio will be permitted for contestants.

SKITS

All skits must be pre-approved by the judges and may not exceed 3 minutes. Your own music must be provided. We will make every effort to provide a speaker and system to play your music on, but cannot guarantee. Please make arrangements to play music, in case we cannot provide system. There are no awards for skits.

PRIZES

All decisions are final and judging is based on a collective scale rating from three judges. In the event of a tie, either the contestant who scores the highest in craftsmanship or the judge’s collaborative decision will determine the winner.

Prizes to be awarded in the following categories:

3 – Judges Choice (one from each judge)

1 – Best of Youth (Under age of 14 = 1st Place Youth)

1 – Best Prop

1 – 3rd Place Closet Cosplay (Bronze)

1 – 2nd Place Closet Cosplay (Silver)

1 – 1st Place Closet Cosplay (Gold)

1 – 3rd Place Journeyman (Bronze)

1 – 2nd Place Journeyman (Silver)

1 – 1st Place Journeyman (Gold)

1 – 3rd Place Master (Bronze)

1 – 2nd Place Master (Silver)

1 – 1st Place Master  (Gold)

1 – Best in Show (Top Position)

Each award winner will receive a Certificate and/or prize. There are no cash prizes.

All skill levels are eligible to win prizes. Duplicate awards are possible for contestants.

While no changes to these rules are foreseen, certain circumstances may require the rules or times be changed. Any changes will be noted as soon as possible. A copy of these rules will be posted at the information table on Friday and Saturday of the convention.