Cosplay Competition Rules

General Competition Eligibility

• Please remember to treat convention staff, judges, other convention attendees, and fellow competitors with kindness and respect. Disrespectful behavior, as well as breaking any competition rules or convention policies, are grounds for disqualification.
• Convention staff, volunteers, vendors, artists, press and guests are ineligible to participate.
• Participants that are 12-years-old or under must be accompanied by an adult.
• All participants must have a current event year badge.
• All participants are required to appear on stage during the competition. Stage presence cannot exceed one minute.
• All participants must participate in pre-judging prior to the event.
• All participants are required to provide a reference, either physically or digitally, of the character they are cosplaying, except in the cases of original character designs.
• Staff and judges retain the right to reject or disqualify an entry based on inappropriate, unsafe, or illegal behavior, and/or violations of the family-friendly nature of the convention.

Competition Rules

• At this time, SoUAnime’s cosplay competition is based on craftsmanship judging only. Con goers submitting performance entries will be disqualified. Participants will only be expected to do a brief walk-on stage to showcase their cosplay. In order to get through all participants, please be mindful that there will not be time for any performances on stage.
• Entries can be from any source material — from east to west to the world-wide-web! This contest is not restricted to anime or Japanese-only media.
• Individual participants may only enter one costume. Duo entries may only enter two.
• Participants are allowed to enter a costume and have someone else wear it as long as the creator of the costume is present during pre-judging and the stage presentation/awards.
• Costumes must adhere to SoUAnime’s general dress code. They should be suitable for a general audience, free from excessive violence/gore, profanity, controversial symbols or statements, or immodesty.
• Contestants must wear attire that provides proper coverage. Implement precautions (body tape, skin colored undergarments, “safety shorts”, etc.) to prevent accidental exposure throughout the competition. Competitors wearing a spandex/similarly skin-tight suit are required to wear a dance belt (or equivalent) for proper support and coverage. Body paint does not count as proper coverage.
• Bare feet are not allowed. Protective footwear is required not only for the contest but in all areas of the convention.
• No special effects such as projectiles, confetti, glitter, water, flash pots, fireworks, explosive devices, smoke, vaping, fog machines, lasers, or similar effects are allowed. Additionally, the use of skateboards, Heelys, skate, rollerblades, etc. are not allowed.
• Participants are not allowed to jump off the stage or enter the audience. Only enter and exit through the approved stage entrances.
• If you bring it on the stage, you must be able to take it off with you when you are done.
• All props must follow SoUAnime’s Weapons & Props policy:
  • No functional weapons: No real or simulated weapons of any kind that can be used to harm.
  • Costume weapons: Allowed only if inspected by approved staff members and made from safe, lightweight materials (wood, plastic, foam, rubber, cardboard, paper, thermoplastics). Metal may be used for accents but not as the main construction.
  • Blades: No “live steel” or “show blades” — no swords, knives, claws, or similar sharp or dull metal weapons.
  • Prop firearms: Must be incapable of firing projectiles and have an orange cap on the barrel.
  • No stilts.
  • No potentially hazardous tools (hot glue guns, scissors, etc.) are allowed unless they are fake/toy props which cannot be used to cause harm to others.

Divisions

Youth

Any participants younger than 13 years old.The Youth division competes but does not receive placements.

Novice

Participants with little to no craftsmanship experience; has not won or placed in a contest yet, or has entered no more than 3 craftsmanship competitions regardless of winnings.

Intermediate

Participants with some craftsmanship experience; one or more craftsmanship wins, or has entered more than 3 craftsmanship competitions regardless of winnings.

Masters

Participants with craftsmanship experience; has won and/or placed in multiple craftsmanship competitions or any wins in a masters division. If you take on cosplay commissions of any kind, you are additionally part of the master's division.

Competition judges reserve the right to assign participants to a different division than the one initially entered if they deem it necessary. If you are unsure about what level you should enter, feel free to reach out to info@souanime.com for clarification.

Pre-Judging

Pre-judging will take place at the convention, with spots available Saturday afternoon before the competition. Slots for pre-judging will be 5 minutes long. If duo participants are worried about time, please reach out to info@souanime.com so we can make arrangements. Sign ups for craftsmanship pre-judging will open a bit closer to the convention itself, so please keep an eye on your email for more details once you have been accepted!

Cosplays are judged based on craftsmanship, detail work, originality/accuracy, and overall presentation of the cosplay. Entries must be at least 60% handmade (or have significant custom additions or modifications) by the entrant(s). Restoration and/or modification work (sometimes called “kit-bashing”) can count toward the handmade requirement, provided the entrant(s) have significantly restored or altered the costume themselves. If you got help with your costume, make sure that the assistance you received is less than 40%. Please disclose any help you received to the judges during your pre-judging time.

Be prepared to answer questions and tell the judges about how you created your cosplay. A “build book” or similar documentation of your creation process is encouraged but not required. The judges may ask permission to take a closer look or touch your cosplay. If this makes you uncomfortable you are welcome to say no at any time.