Cosplay: The Cosplay Awards

To finish off this mini-series of blogs on cosplay we thought we’d bring to you the Cosplay Awards (Mel and Ruth Style). Here we present to you the gold, silver, and bronze of the cosplays we have come across. We want to make it clear that these are our personal (and therefore biased) opinions!! Now, on to the awards!

Bronze Medal – Ruth’s Selection

Belle

LucioleS Photography by L² Photography

My bronze medal goes to this beautiful interpretation of Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I’ve awarded this medal to a new cosplayer on my radar, LucioleS, for the detail that went into replicating Belle’s blue country-style outfit. LucioleS shows off this princess’ classic beauty, and tops it off with her adorable props. Sometimes simple cosplay is the hardest cosplay to pull off, so a big hat tip here!!

Bronze Medal – Mel’s Choice

Kagamine Rin from Vocaloid

Keik Cake Store,  [Photo credits & Coaching: E3Studios Photography, Forgotten Memories Photography, Lorenzo So Photography & Red Dumpling]

I love LED lights—I’m talking in general—but add them to a cosplay and look out! Keik has used LED lights in a number of cosplays, each one skilfully crafted and a massive convention hit. I think they make her Vocaloid cosplays (which are a popular cosplay) a step above the rest. This outfit is perfectly constructed and looks even better in the dark!

Silver Medal – Ruth’s Selection

The White Queen, Emma Frost

[Yaya Han  Photography by Brian Boling]

It is hard to go past the genius that is Yaya Han when giving out cosplay awards. She has created a vast array of costumes over the years, making it tough to choose one. But my silver medal goes to her version of Emma Frost, the White Queen, from X-Men. This comic beauty has telepathy and the ability to turn her skin to diamond. Yaya has done an incredible job of showing off these diamond skills, while looking stylish too.

Silver Medal – Mel’s Choice

Elsa and Anna from Frozen

Yuurisans Cosplay, [Photo credits: Yuuri-little sister]

Yuuri-K and Yuuri-C are well known for their double-team cosplays. The love anything they can do together, so for them to portray the Frozen sisters Elsa and Anna is a natural move! The cosplays are designed with insane detail; Anna’s buckles and small details were all handmade by the cosplayer, as were Elsa’s cape, bodice and even shoes! When it comes to putting their heart into something, these sisters go all the way.

Gold Medal – Ruth’s Selection

Captain Jack Sparrow

[CB Studios.  Photo by Ecky Reyes of e-Photography]

There’s a lot of fantastic cosplay out there and it was already difficult to narrow down just three to showcase for you. But picking my gold medal was actually simple. I did a double take with this one to check it wasn’t actually Johnny Depp. CB Studios takes out my gold medal for his phenomenal portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. The detail that has gone into recreating the loveable rogue from Pirates of the Caribbean is outstanding. The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can’t do. For instance, you can accept that this man can pull off Captain Jack or you can’t. But pirate is in his blood, savvy? (I may have adlibbed the script there…)

 Gold Medal – Mel’s Choice

Yurai as Angewomon from Digimon

 [Photo credits: Unknown Photographer]

This girl has a special place in my heart because of her amazing work with Final Fantasy cosplays. I was hard pressed to decide which of her cosplays I should pick, because she does a lot of pieces people would love to do, but would never try. However, seeing as how Angewomon (Arn-jay-wo-mon) is a beloved character from my youth (before I knew what an anime addiction was) I had to give it to her. This is a cosplay she did about six years ago and revamped it for a convention in 2013. I love the detailing and the fact that she works with her body shape, making a hard 2D costume fit with a normal 3D person’s body. I hope one day she can find an awesome Angemon cosplay and do a rocking set!