Cosplay, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and Sci-Fi. Favourite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies.
No, cosplaying is completely optional. However, there are a few cosplay-related events which do require you to be cosplaying in order to take part.
Of course! While Eirtakon is an anime and manga convention, our fandom also spreads to video games, Japanese culture and other related media! Some great cosplay sources from non-Japanese media we've had in the past include Doctor Who, Iron Man, My Little Pony, Halo etc.
Any form of cosplay is allowed; provided the subject matter is PG-13, and does not imitate any real military unit that has existed since 1900.
Please check our Costume Policy for further details on what is and is not allowed.
With our move to a new venue, as of yet we do not know if there will be dedicated changing rooms available. There are also plenty of bathrooms available that you can use to change. Alternatively, you could change in the hotel room or house of a friend who is staying nearby.
More than likely, yes, people will want to take a picture of your cosplay. It is very common at conventions that people will ask cosplayers if they can take their picture, particularly if your character is well known or your costume is of a very high standard.
If you are not comfortable with people taking your picture, don't be afraid to say so. People are generally respectful of the cosplayer's requests and won't take your picture without your consent. If you are having problems with people taking unwanted photographs of you, please inform a volunteer or member of the committee, and an Attendee Liaison will be happy to help.
Offensive and/or revealing costumes are prohibited. Your costume should cover you at least as well as a modest swimsuit would, with no transparency. For reference, Yoko Littner from Gurren Lagann is the absolute limit for revealing costumes.
If you are asked by a volunteer or a member of the committee to cover up, please do so. We ask not only for the decency of others, but also for your own health - Ireland in November can get pretty darn cold!
Props and weapons are permitted within reason. If you have any doubt as to whether a particular prop or weapon is admissible, please contact the Admissions Officer.
Please check our Props and Weapons Policy for further details on what is and isn't allowed.
