Before cosplay was labeled as such, it was just expressing your love for a character. Beyond just Halloween, people would take on character costumes for movie openings or bring their hobby to life for different events. Since cosplay has been labeled, someone dresses in costume to role-play from movies, TV shows, books, comics, or video games. The hobby that becomes a love can have so many positive aspects on someone's life and even on other people. Bringing a smile to a passerby can warm the heart when you're in their favorite childhood cartoon.
The ability to just be you, for some, the path is to dress in cosplay.
Most show their talents in the detailed costumes that they wear to conventions. The role-play that speaks to an individual lets them focus on the uncommon talent they might have. Sewing is not as common as it was in the '60s, but hidden talent gives the person working on the mid-century attire a confidence boost. Also, cosplay could help someone deal with things more personally. Becoming a superhero and taking the time needed to make the cosplay costume could be therapeutic in a time that is needed. These people bring love into their lives by loving what they have made and who they can portray themselves as.
Halloween is a time for kids, but cosplay can be a time for family.
Many cosplay families enjoy and presenting themselves during conventions. When you decide on the theme, you can make memories with your children, then enjoy the time together while making the co-play costumes. The enjoyable part would be spending the day with your child taking pictures as a group, while people praise your family unity. This builds a child's confidence to explain the process of cosplay to a stranger. Children are like sponges, so this could be a way to help them think outside the box of life.
Most of the convention-goers are surprisingly introverts in their "real life." Becoming a cosplay can bring out the outgoing character that someone's anxiety can shadow. Having to take on a character and bring justice to the actions or personality takes dedication. Going in front of a crowd or a photographer and displaying your character's signature position or action could be hard if you are not dedicated.
Building a community is the most important part of cosplay.
Some cosplay costumes are the person's take of the character, so they can all be different. That being said, seeing zombie Shaggy and signature Shaggy taking a picture together can brighten those two people's lives. Having something in common but be so different is a base of cosplay at conventions. Conventions bring people for miles away from each other into one place to interact as a community. Most give out phone numbers, just in case you're in their area, or Instagram names so they can keep up with each other. They end up like family.
