*** Disclaimer: This taken from the multiply article of Andrew Tetangco of the Philippines***

" Before I start, let me try to define what "cosplay" is.

The term "cosplay" doesn't have an exact meaning. If you try to look it up through Wikipedia, it is defines as "a type of performance art whose participants outfit themselves, with often-elaborate costumes and accessories, as a specific character." Simply put, cosplay is when people dress up as their favorite characters, whether be it anime, movies, and such.

I would also say that cosplay should not be mistaken for a costume party, like what is done in Halloween. Cosplaying, and just wearing a costume, are of different levels, although both wear costumes. For me, cosplaying has more dedication to the character details, or in other words, you really become the character when you cosplay.

Now, in regards to cosplay, there are also different people, and different styles in cosplay. Easily noticed are the mecha cosplayers. They are the people who dedicate time, resources and concentration on building massive costumes imitating robots, whether it be Gundam, Transformers, Macross' Variable Fighters, and Super Sentai mecha.

There are then some that cosplay Western comic book characters. Whether it be Iron Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, and such. Sometimes they also try to put in more detail, and they try to push it to the limit, like making Iron Man's hands, chest and even his eyes glow.

There are some, like me, who prefer cosplaying tokusatsu characters. Tokusatsu is a type of Japanese live-action TV show, which features the lead characters transforming into costumed heroes. Examples of such shows are from the Kamen Rider, Ultraman and Super Sentai franchise. Some would make their own helmets, buy toys for their props, and some would even go as far as having a custom-made helmet.

Another would be cosplayers who imitate movie characters. They can be anyone, from Jason Voorhees, or even The Mask. I was impressed with one cosplayer, who did a Darth Vader cosplay. He had the suit custom-made, but his helmet and lightsaber were authentic Star Wars merchandise. The lightsaber itself was a master replica.

One type of cosplay that I like to see, but sometimes I would need reminding who he or she is, are video game cosplayers. It's been a long time since I've been updated with new games, and I haven't played any MMORPG lately, since I don't have the time anymore. The cool thing about video game cosplayers would be that sometimes, they would go as far as imitating the moves that the characters make.

A rare type of cosplayer would be the "crossplayers," or cosplay crossdressers. They are really not that rare, but they are sometimes not easily noticed, specially since some crossplayers are so good, you don't know they are crossdressing already. But a note to this: just because a person does a crossplay, doesn't mean they are gay. They do it either because they love the character, or just for kicks. Sometimes male crossplayers are so good, some people mistake them for real girls, and are asked for their phone numbers.

And we come to the part of the cosplay community that, for me, has the biggest population: anime and manga cosplay. From my point of view, that's how cosplay started here, when anime and manga fanatics tried to dress-up as their favorite characters. Anime has the bigger influence among kids and kids at heart, that's why anime cosplayers are more common, as far as I can see.

There are also some rare chances that some would cosplay something out of the ordinary, but I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Take for example the J-pop costumes, or like Vocaloid's Hatsune Miku, or some that wear maid costumes.

...and we now finaly come to the topic that I wanted to bring up: Is there such a person as a "low class cosplayer?"

I think not.

It all boils down to how people interpret the costume, or the character, and how people like it. Not all people has the same exact interests.

Take for example, the tokusatsu genre. Few people know of it, fewer people appreciate it. There were some people who laughed at our Power Rangers cosplay last November 2008, during the Hataw Hanep Hero: the AMPED Edition, saying that it was "corny." But we still continue what we like, and it just goes to show that "one man's food is another man's poison."

Let me also say that I'm no exeption to this. I myself rarely take pics of Naruto cosplayers, although I am still a Naruto fan.

There are also some cosplayers that will look less satisfactory to some people. Let me try to make some examples, like a chubby Lockon Stratos, a crossdressed Usagi Tsukino, or a cardboard Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form.

I've also noticed that the people who laugh at cosplay, most of the time, are non-cosplayers. Sometimes they are the event-goers that attend conventions for cusiousity's sake, or they are just simply passers-by. That, I can understand, since they don't understand how we love what we do, but it still hurts when that happens. No one wants to see anyone getting laughed at.

What I'm trying to say is that, there are cosplayers that have their own way of presenting their love for the art, plus how they love the character that they are portraying. There is no reason for someone to call another "low class," or anything similar.

Most of us cosplayers belong to one community. Let the people who don't understand, or those who don't want to understand, laugh at us. But hopefully, within ourselves, there will be no more discrimination. Besides, cosplay should be fun... ^_^"

This is a very nice article, I agree in many ways. ^___^