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See the original image at morbidoptimism.com —

Why Americans Shouldn't Cosplay

morbidoptimism.com — Cosplay is a conjunction of the words 'costume' and 'play.' Fanboys and fangirls dress up like their favorite characters and go to conventions and show of the awesomeness of how much they look like their fantasy counterparts. I'm here to say that this should be banned in America, here are some pictures why.

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  • Sererena, on 12/10/2007, -15/+121I've seen some good American cosplayers, but they're harder to find... and just because we don't see any pictures, I'm pretty sure there's some really horrible Japanese cosplayers, too.

    The whole Japan > America attitude of this article strikes me as a bit weeaboo-ish.
    • Gaulven, on 12/10/2007, -32/+26Did someone just say "Weeaboo?" 'cause I think I just heard someone say "Weeaboo."

      WEE-A-BOO! WEE-A-BOO!
    • Elranzer, on 12/10/2007, -17/+50It's just like the otaku (whites who think they're Japanese) who think the Japanese voice acting in anime/games is better than the English voice acting. It isn't. The Japanese voice acting is just as corny. They just think it's better because they don't understand Japanese (I can).
      • Gir53457, on 12/10/2007, -5/+19Believe it.
      • gotcheaprice, on 12/10/2007, -4/+12Actually, then you would know otaku doesn't apply only to Japanese.

        Cmon, look at densho otoko :D
      • Mononuclear, on 12/10/2007, -5/+13Is an otaku like a wigger? Why do white people always try to pretend they are some other race besides white? btw I am white but I think I am Polynesian.
        • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -14/+2Then why don't you answer your own question? Also, white people always try to pretend that? Gee, I guess I'd better ask the KKK to stop acting like Cambodians! Also, if you've ever been to Japan, you'd see a horrid amount of bad English, showing the phenomenon of trying to be a different culture is not just one of Americans (have you ever noticed how the weak, black-haird characters in Dragon Ball Z become powerful only after turning blond with green eyes?).
          • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -0/+6Actually, they become powerful by grunting and groaning and then taking a massive dump in their pants. I've never seen a show with so much constipation in my life.
          • Drahkar, on 12/10/2007, -0/+3I dunno. I certainly wouldn't want to run into any of those 'Weak Black-Haired Characters in Dragon Ball Z' and be on their bad side. I think you are stretching this one just a tid bit.
        • hiikeeba, on 12/10/2007, -13/+1Because Whites are haters and destroyers of the environment. If we pretend we're another race, our conscience is clear and we can say, "I'm not really white." I for one am proud to be Otaku.
          • popfrogs, on 12/10/2007, -0/+3Speak for yourself. -7 should tell you something about the popularity of your opinion.
      • halavais, on 12/10/2007, -3/+36If you understand Japanese, then why are you translating "otaku" as "whites who think they're Japanese"?
        • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -15/+6Because that's basically what it means when used in English. Sort of how "sushi" in the US means "raw fish" to a lot of people, but it actually is just food made of vinegared rice in Japan. Or how "manga" in Japanese includes anime, but in the US manga is the printed comics, while anime is the video equivalent. See, e.g., the phrase 漫画を見る ("to watch manga").
          • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -3/+17No it isn't. If you understand Japanese beyond the language and to the point of the culture, there is no direct translation for "otaku" because we do not have the social guilt and repression the Japanese have. You may have introversion, but otaku is completely different because of the social and cultural pressures that are uniquely Japanese.
      • boo19, on 12/10/2007, -9/+3Actually, it IS better. Trying to sound Japanese in English doesn't work very well, imo. It works pretty well in Japanese, though.
      • Xanin, on 12/10/2007, -3/+8I think the term 'otaku' in English in 'Wapanese'
      • Midnightbrewer, on 12/10/2007, -5/+22I both speak Japanese and live in Japan (5 years now), and I can tell you that there is no comparing the Japanese to the English voice acting. With the exception of the English voice actors hired by Pioneer and Bandai (Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, and Tenchi Muyo, for example), most of them are pretty bad. I think it's partially to blame that the Americans who do it are dead-set and determined to precisely match the mouth movements while not losing one iota of meaning in the translation, with the upshot being that the actors typically end up sounding rushed and just a bit hyper.
        • popfrogs, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4Yeah I can't stand the squeaky-voiced girl that does 99% of children and all girls for dubbed movies from "lesser" studios. Cowboy Bebop's voiceovers are probably the best in the business and the movie was interesting for people that don't even watch cartoons. +1.
      • staticneuron, on 12/10/2007, -5/+5I actually find alot of japanese tracks better than english ones. Not because of the acting but just because the voices are less annoying and some characters retain their intensity. There have been really good english dubs but they are few and far between. Because of the corniness I have pretty much stopped watching both japanese anime and their american counterparts.
      • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -4/+8I speak Japanese and English. I concede that a lot of Japanese voice acting may be corny (on shows like Yakitate! Japan, not on films like Perfect Blue). Japanese voice acting may be, AT WORST, Lindsay Lohan. However, English voice actors sound like Ben Stein.
        • Gir53457, on 12/11/2007, -0/+1I thought that they get a few characters right in the English Dub of some anime. Luffy for example was pretty true to the original Japanese actor in the 4kids dub of One Piece, and Naruto is kind of off. But really when they license these shows for western audiences they essentially take a TV show that is aimed for 13-15 year old Japanese children and remake it for 10 year old English speaking children, not for the 18-32 year olds like me and you guys who still watch cartoons.
      • Azimuth1, on 12/10/2007, -6/+6"They just think it's better because they don't understand Japanese"

        Yeah, what's your point? When you don't understand it, it doesn't seem as corny. That makes it better to listen to. What's wrong with that?
      • noumuon, on 12/10/2007, -1/+4*****... go watch chobits in japanese and then watch it in english. english dubs are horrible. there's the rare occasion that they're acceptable; this, of course, is extremely rare.
      • cfuse, on 12/10/2007, -0/+7Any anime with screechy female voices is an automatic fail in my book, regardless of language. Yelling your lines is not acting.
    • cyberpope, on 12/10/2007, -2/+25Didn't anyone ELSE notice that the Japanese cloud was cosplaying the Advent Children Cloud and not the FF 7 one, same goes with Tifa. Hell the Japanese Sephiorth isn't even Sephiroth, it's Kadaj, totally different character >_>

      I'd have to guess this was written by someone who's not a fan of the media to not easily spot the differences.
    • ceris, on 12/10/2007, -6/+5.
    • seanieb, on 12/10/2007, -4/+9It might be also down to the fact that anime/games characters are usually not over weight or fat, and a freighting number of Americans are over weight. This removes a huge part of the population from playing anime/games characters
    • betterth, on 12/10/2007, -2/+11Retarded, while it's true that there are a lot of ***** American cosplayers, I've been to AWA (Anime Weekend Atlanta) for about seven years straight now and I've got pictures of some just draw-droppingly amazing cosplayers. Guys, girls, of every nationality (Japanese, American and beyond) have put together some incredible outfits.

      As with ANY con, 90% of the costumes are gonna be total misses, but there are always some great ones.

      Heres some pics from AWA that others have taken:

      http://animebelle.com/gallery/album143/PICT0114
      http://animebelle.com/gallery/album143/PICT0216
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/17198517@N00/25133559 ...
      http://animebelle.com/gallery/album143/PICT0161
      http://animebelle.com/gallery/album143/DSCF0084
    • sotopheavy, on 12/10/2007, -3/+11Man, some of those American chicks should have gone for the kirby or pac-woman look. ugh so Fat!
    • Arkz, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1Damn.. Japanese Tifa and Yuna look HOOOOOT!! ....Thats it im MOVING!
    • DeFex, on 12/10/2007, -2/+2if they banned everything that people are not very good at, that would have to kill a lot of people.
    • Duamerthrax, on 12/10/2007, -0/+2The problem here is that we aren't seeing the bad Japaneses cosplayers. The reason is because nobody takes pictures of them. Also you need to have the right attitude to pull it off and thats what the good Japaneses cosplayers have.
    • morningmatters, on 12/10/2007, -1/+3Of course, only self-hating white Japo-philes would think this way. The funny thing about this whole Japan-envy thing is that the Japanese themselves try VERY HARD to look and simply be Caucasian or Black. Yet here you have all these Japo-philes busting their asses trying to be Japanese. Now, most Anime/Manga Characters are drawn to be Caucasians, so wouldn't it make MORE sense for white Americans to cosplay?
  • MikeonTV, on 12/10/2007, -13/+193I would like to hear an argument to why anyone should cosplay.
  • darksky100, on 12/10/2007, -2/+64I'm guessing these are the best Japanese pictures the author could find and the worst possible American pictures. Probably not a fair comparison.
    • Mononuclear, on 12/10/2007, -1/+15I think all cosplay is retarded but It looks like all the Japanese ones are professional models and the American ones are just normal fans. I doubt any of those Japanese ones even know anything about the character they are dressed up as. Some agency got professional costume designers and professional models to dress up at the convention so the real fans can drool over how cool the costumes are.
    • MaybellineSP, on 12/10/2007, -0/+1Yeah it looks like they just found fat/ugly americans and skinny/fit japanese people.. What I don't get is how a Japanese person can look more like a white person than a white person.
    • deanypop, on 12/10/2007, -2/+1The real trick to Japanese cosplay pictures is a simple combination of three factors-

      1) yes, some of the really bad ones ARE omitted/never seen...

      2) ANYONE looks better in even a bad costume, if they are in decent shape.

      3) Whether cosplaying or not, Japanese people tend to "play to type" - fat guys cosplay fat characters, or in normal situations "dress like a larger guy". The real problem with Americans is that, instead of adjusting to how we ARE, we want to stretch to be something we aren't - an admirable drive, sometimes, but when we're talking skin-tight spacesuits and revealing ninja-wear, it's ALL BAD.

      As an experiment, do the following: Find the three fattest Japanese girls you can find in Japan, and the three fattest Americans in the US. Take their pictures, then line them up and judge who does a better job of "looking good" for their weight.

      The only people in Japan who don't seem to "get" it are older (40s) women, who buy up 90% of the country's leather jeans supply.
  • SuperGreen420, on 12/10/2007, -4/+20Anyone else LOL at American Cloud Strife? An accurate costume... but something was lost in translation.
    • xxA7XxaDdiCtxx, on 12/10/2007, -3/+5American Yuna scared the crap out of me
      • Legato, on 12/10/2007, -1/+3wait till you have the chance to see 'manfey'
    • chingy1788, on 12/10/2007, -1/+8I think the american one is trying to copy cloud from the PS1 Game, all the polygons and stuff
  • whymanwhy, on 12/10/2007, -12/+63Nobody should cosplay
  • kungfuhamsta, on 12/10/2007, -12/+12AHHHHHH Camel Toe in American Rei... My eyes!!! My eyes!!!
  • uziko, on 12/10/2007, -3/+15The Japanese Tifa is really hot. The Japanese Vincent is really cool looking.
  • Anub1s, on 12/10/2007, -6/+29America? Try the world. There is no reason why anyone should be that geeky. None. Period.
  • sirlancelot88, on 12/10/2007, -10/+12Someone should capture some Diggers and open up a "nerd zoo."
    • Murdats, on 12/10/2007, -1/+13there is already a team on the way to your house.
    • LokitheComplex, on 12/10/2007, -0/+9What are the conditions like? What do we get fed? Do we get to mate? How often is the hay changed? It might be step up.
      • Wartz, on 12/10/2007, -0/+8the real question is, do we have computer access?
  • icepick314, on 12/10/2007, -5/+22i say if you are going to do something, then do it all the way...
    do spend more than 30 minutes and $5 making up costumes...
    http://www.adellacosplay.com/
    • Tyrghast, on 12/10/2007, -1/+3that chick is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
    • daeggman, on 12/10/2007, -0/+2I was going to post this exact same link as a key reason why Americans SHOULD cosplay.
    • centran, on 12/11/2007, -0/+1God damnit. Now I am in love. Ass! Thanks for posting that.
      And now I am one of those creepy internet guys looking at pictures of someone I don't know. So now I hate myself. Thanks again!
  • Maynza, on 12/10/2007, -6/+25This is obviously meant to bash americans, but I think in reality it just shows how rapped up some asian people can get into that stuff. Take for instance the first example, the american. Do you think that guy eats sleeps and breaths cloud, no, but he thought it would be fun to dress up like him and probably made the costume himself.
    • AceLy, on 12/10/2007, -0/+18That site seems to imply Americans are fatter, too.
      • openartist, on 12/10/2007, -1/+10But uh...Americans are fatter, or were you being sarcastic? I'm american and last I went to France last year I was stunned...because I realized I was used to seeing fat people everywhere and there weren't any. I was stunned that all the women were lean and hot...in France, what americans consider "chubby" is obese.
        • hollygolitely, on 12/10/2007, -1/+7i went to amsterdam for 11 days and lost 10 lbs. its all that walking europeans do. thats how they all stay so slim. we americans just drive everywhere.
      • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -1/+2Well, after living in Japan, I can tell you that we are much fatter than Japanese people, on average.
      • hollygolitely, on 12/10/2007, -0/+1Um, duh. This has been so for at least the last 25-30 years. Try reading "Fat Land" by Greg Critser. Interesting look at why we're the fattest people in the world.
    • punchingjudy, on 12/10/2007, -2/+11Um yeah, because those American cosplayers weren't even slightly obsessed... or something. I think if you're willing to make yourself look hideously stupid all for your love of a video game, you're a bit "wrapped up".
    • boo19, on 12/10/2007, -3/+2He did a pretty bad job... I mean, if you're going to be geeky, at least put some effort into it?
  • alamosh, on 12/10/2007, -10/+4There are some good american cosplayers out there. But the japanese cosplay level is definitely much, much higher.
  • punchingjudy, on 12/10/2007, -2/+83It's already starting to lag, so here you go.

    http://duggmirror.com/comics_animation/Why_America ...
    • hearingvoices, on 12/10/2007, -1/+4Sorry mate... buried you by mistake. Cheers for the link.
    • latinjones, on 12/10/2007, -7/+5LOLZ NUB! get a reel computer. I'm getting like 90 FPS on teh website!!!!
  • bluemist, on 12/10/2007, -3/+24I can gather some pictures of bad Japanese cosplay too, like horrible male cross-dressers in female high-school uniforms.
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -2/+7Oh, please do. Can't wait.
    • danwallace, on 12/10/2007, -1/+8I'm fairly certain the American "Vincent" example is just a bad Japanese one.
    • DuffDemon, on 12/10/2007, -0/+7Dude, you may not want to advertise that fact
  • katrayun, on 12/10/2007, -5/+34What? People who spent less time/money on their costumes don't look as good? This is facinating!
  • TripcodeMel, on 12/10/2007, -19/+5Buried for ***** OFF. Christ, it's like you're judging coffee based on what the used grounds taste like.
    • Anub1s, on 12/10/2007, -5/+17You "cosplay" don't you?
      • Travelsonic, on 12/10/2007, -8/+3No you arrogant *****, he actually thinks.
      • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4Not only that, but he's a 4chan fan as well...TripcodeMel? Tripcode? Anon cannot wash that shame off with 2 hours of scrubbing.
  • doctordbx, on 12/10/2007, -10/+39Dugg down for being a ***** ***** article on a ***** ***** server.
    • saisumimen, on 12/10/2007, -1/+4Dude, take your orange Dragonball Z suit off and calm down.
  • sdphost, on 12/10/2007, -3/+20Yeah pretty much he found really good japanese cosplayers some of them are payed actors and compares them to the worse cosplayer of fat people. It is true japanese cosplayers are usually better but that article is stupid.
  • elitexero, on 12/10/2007, -9/+36Why ANYONE shouldn't cosplay ---> Nothing screams I'm a 28 year old outcast who lives in my mother's basement and collects comic books like cosplayers. LARPers are one step below that, and below them are Warhammer players. (Seriously who spends 150$ on a piece of plastic you have to paint yourself?)
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -4/+5WTF you got against comic books and Warhammer? LARPing however........
    • audiophiliac, on 12/10/2007, -0/+1I buy those $150 dollar toys, paint 'em and sell 'em on ebay for much more money.
    • Octopie, on 12/11/2007, -0/+1Who collects comic books and plays warhammer... I don't know maybe the same kind of guy who comes on digg to call other people losers in the comments...
  • effinboy, on 12/10/2007, -1/+26Of course, this is kinda like saying that Morgan Freeman could play a black man, better than John Travolta could. I can almost guarantee you that most American Batman cosplay would look much better than most Asian.
    • actorboy, on 12/10/2007, -2/+5Sounds like you saw White Man's Burden.
  • hfxadv, on 12/10/2007, -10/+8American Rei Ayanami = nice Gunt
    • Rodman930, on 12/10/2007, -2/+4Dugg for introducing me to a new word.
    • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -2/+1If the server wasn't down I'd blog this article just to point to your Gunt comment.

      I'll never look at a 50 Cent shirt the same again, either...especially when some fatass is wearing it.
    • RandomTaskMan, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1Another Gunt User...wait.

      i'm not alone!
  • Pastyman, on 12/10/2007, -3/+9All cosplayers should be added to the potential serial killer file at Quantico.
  • Loxahatchee, on 12/10/2007, -7/+7Submitter is a fun Nazi
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -3/+4Do you mean "Submitter is a Nazi who is enjoyable to be around" of "Submitter likes to ethnically cleanse fun" ?
    • cloudyprison, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1Responder is the cosplayer
  • ceris, on 12/10/2007, -3/+6Looks like little boys with blue contact lenses who spend way to much time and money on costumes to me.
  • invinciblenow, on 12/10/2007, -1/+15the American Rikku... I'd still hit it
    • xaxxon, on 12/10/2007, -7/+3OH GOD! Oh god. Because of you I went back and looked at the picture again. I mean.. it's no tub girl, but if that's the standard, then I'm not playing your game.
  • CaLeDee, on 12/10/2007, -7/+0Japanese are so cool!!
  • Tombie, on 12/10/2007, -9/+2Why the Japanese should: http://www.hdrjapan.com/akihabara-tokyo-japan-girl ...
    • Anub1s, on 12/10/2007, -4/+2Did you intend to send us to a picture of two girls that look to be MAYBE 13? Or was that an accident?
      • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -0/+5They both look like they're in their 20s. But they're wearing "lolita" fashion, so I can see how it could have fooled you.
      • sporg, on 12/10/2007, -1/+2Im pretty sure it wasnt an accident.
      • Wartz, on 12/10/2007, -0/+2japanese girls want to seem as young as possible.
    • gregstrander, on 12/10/2007, -2/+1You do realize these girls are hideous?
      • saisumimen, on 12/10/2007, -0/+3You do realize you're a homosexual, right?

        Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. Just thought I'd give you a dose of truth.
  • Incognito, on 12/10/2007, -3/+20Buried cause you obviously slanted the pictures as much as possible

    ***** cosplay is ***** cosplay it knows no race or creed

  • moisie, on 12/10/2007, -2/+16To be fair, many of the "bad" ones are clearly going for a more animated look, which even with a lot of money spent on them is never going to look real. The "good" ones have obviously had a lot more money spent on them and are worn by much more attractive people. If the costumes were worn by the opposite people would you be saying the same thing. Oddly, the official Lara Crofts played by models with proper fitted costumes and accessories tend to look better than the people who dress up for fun out of their own pocket.

    I personally find the whole thing stupid but that's not the point, this article being ***** is.
  • PieterOpie, on 12/10/2007, -4/+13I don't get it. They all look like perfectly ordinary Americans to me. Each culture has its own slant on fashion and taste. I live in Australia and we have only recently begun to wear clothes so I am no position to judge..... They are rappers or something. Is that right?
    • Nyaos, on 12/10/2007, -1/+6The majority of Digg users won't consider rappers traditional Americans.
    • sporg, on 12/10/2007, -2/+3Oh I see what you did there. lol!
    • Ouchimoo, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4"I live in Australia and we have only recently begun to wear clothes"

      Heh.
  • boran, on 12/10/2007, -3/+11It does not help that the US cosplayers are like twice the weight of the Japaneese ones.
    • chix0r, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4..and its not just the cosplayers.
    • NeoMatrixJR, on 12/10/2007, -2/+1Twice?! Ok, I'm big (hence no cosplay for me...and I just won't do it) so I can say this...the American Rei ATE the jap one!
    • xjeffx, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1exactly
    • KawaiiOtaku, on 07/14/2008, -0/+0are u trying to say most americans are overweight or hevier than asians...because we arent, that is a very common stereotype, like saying all asians look exactly the same and have black hair and wear kimonos around...just plain wrong. i am an american and u should no that we dont all hang out eating cheese burgers on the couch all day. like 60% of us are vegitarian and or health freaks. and no we arent fat, we are usuallt taller structured, but not fat. im 19 and i am 90 pounds, and 5 feet and 6 inches tall,,, which is pretty damn tall and thin, and sure, in the big cities like new york thare is some heavy people, as is the same just about everywere in the world. but i live in a small 1,000 person town in northern iowa, and there if u are even the least bit overweight u get teased and made fun of, i is verry irregualr cuz everyone is a string beal practically. so no we are not twice the weight!!! not to be mean or anything but u need to get ur facts straight. i really dislike stereotypes, because i grew up in japan and i moved here when i was 14 (but i am still compleatly american) and it is pretty much the same weight wise here as in tokyo
  • shadydentist, on 12/10/2007, -0/+15Dressing in costumes is not as socially acceptable in America. Nevertheless, those would make kickass Halloween costumes. And yes, most biased selection of pictures ever.
    • nsamurai, on 12/10/2007, -0/+1You just named one occasion where most American's do find it socially acceptable.
  • AWooWoo, on 12/10/2007, -0/+12"I am into costume business not costume play" -The Monarch
    • NeoMatrixJR, on 12/10/2007, -8/+0Do not mix Anime with $hi77y American [read: adult swim] pot-smoking, crack-adict, speed & heroine mixed with alcohol OD animation that shouldn't even exist.
      • InfinitySnatch, on 12/10/2007, -0/+5It's the Venture Bros.
        ***** you.
  • urpwnd, on 12/10/2007, -1/+25it's not really that it's Japan > USA so much as it's the Japanese have a lot more practice. A walk through Shibuya or Shinjuku (both areas of Tokyo) on a weekend day will pretty much end that argument. You'll see kids on the streets hanging out with their friends in the most amazing cosplay outfits. Right alongside them you'll be sure to spy some of the gothic lolita crowd as well. Of course, any day of the week you are likely to see girls in full-on gothic lolita gear in the more fashionable/hip areas of the city... some of them dress that way nearly all the time.

    I think it's also a money thing, fashionable clothes are outrageously expensive in Japan. And if you are used to buying boots and pants that are 20,000YEN (close to $200 US), I think that spending the money to buy the right ***** so your costume ends up looking good isn't that big of a deal. I've talked to some cosplayers and gothic lolita girls, and they'll easily spend $500+ on making a good outfit. Japanese seem to take costumes/uniforms/traditional clothes pretty seriously, from corporate buildings to mcdonald's, it's all about the presentation.
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -1/+4gothic lolita?
    • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -0/+6You forgot Harajuku, the mother of all cosplay locales.
    • cybrguy, on 12/10/2007, -0/+1yay, someone with some real knowledge on the subject.

      While I don't cosplay I must say I have seen the good and the bad cosplayers... ... ok and the REALLY BAD... Our society is more forgiving of failure than theirs, I would gladly see our less "pretty" people do something like cosplay than see the suicide rate of Japan.
  • Travelsonic, on 12/10/2007, -11/+13The arrogance and lack of thought on this thread is astounding.

    Buried as a slanderous, generalized, exaggerated,biased, and poorly thought out piece of work.
    • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -2/+5Your comment makes me want to Digg it, even though the server is down.

      It ain't that big of a deal. Get over yourself. Cosplaying is dorky. Don't do it if you aren't prepared for the ridicule. Don't give a *****. Don't cry.
      • Travelsonic, on 12/11/2007, -0/+1There is ridicule, then there is the untrue.

        You obviosuly don't know the meaning of either.
    • KingGorilla, on 12/10/2007, -2/+1NO! You're comments are slanderous, generalized, exaggerated, biased, and poorly thought out piece of work!
  • rickbauls, on 12/10/2007, -1/+5I guess you people here on Digg have something better to do than these people? A little condescending aren't we?

    Just wanted to add, I don't dress up, but I also don't nit pick what people do to themselves on their own time.
    • ronaldinho, on 12/10/2007, -0/+2Although if you read most of these comments, it seems (me included) we are more picking on the author than the people doing cosplay. Personally I think that anime-watchers are the same as people who watches shows like Lost on TV. It's just that they are into differernt stuff. And unfortunately, those who watches anime are generalized into outcasts while those who watched Lost are considered normal and mainstream (which is "cool"). I used to really like anime when I was in college, and I still prefer anime over drama. And I don't care whether people cosplay or not.....at the very least they provide either admiration from me for their dedication or some intense ROFL.
  • gquaglia, on 12/10/2007, -4/+10I sum it up like this and I'll add Canadians into the mix.
    Female cosplayer - fat, unattractive, geek. Male cosplayer - loser who ***** the fat, unattractive geek.
    • shikkaba, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1I guess that makes you one of them?
  • exomni, on 12/10/2007, -6/+3For the same reason Japanese shouldn't cosplay.
  • waynetheman, on 12/10/2007, -2/+25I think the article author is a little biased. That said, I still walked away with a few thoughts looking at it....

    1) In Japan, it's far more socially acceptable, on the whole, to be really, really, really into something. Most Americans will run from anyone who they think is "obsessed" about their hobby.

    2) The Japanese culture just has a higher tolerance for "strange" than American culture in general. Keep in mind, those characters being cosplayed are Japanese-created characters in the first place. Then again, maybe the Japanese think we're strange for the way we... um... DO we do anything that could be remotely compared to cosplaying anime?

    3) Even if it is a little "strange", it doesn't chase away more mainstream Japanese. Look at some of the hotter gals cosplaying in those pictures. Now find me any American girl that good-looking who would be caught dead even admitting they know what cosplay is about. Sorry, I know this one will get me dugg down, but I throw the challenge out there...
    • Kokichi, on 12/10/2007, -3/+7After having lived in Japan for 5 months, I can comment on your comments:

      1) Not really. Otaku here are still seen as otaku in America - really being into anime or videogames is taboo and will get you the "geek" status. It's slightly more acceptable to casually watch it, but if you're really into it, you'll be a social outcast again.

      2) We have no trouble eating carrots raw, eating the peel on an apple, or eating a PB&J. That's all totally weird to them.

      3) You're probably saying that with the non-Japanese perspective of your standard Japanese girl being cuter than your standard American girl. However, the Japanese will look at our standard / substandard American girls and fall in love.
      • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -1/+5When I lived in Japan, the Japanese people I knew ate the skin on apples. And PB&J was normal to my hostmother (who was almost 70). Although technically she used "peanut mousse" or "peanut cream" or something like that, not peanut butter (which was a different product).
      • Elranzer, on 12/10/2007, -0/+6Regarding #3: He's saying it's more likely for hot Japanese girls to be into anime than hot American girls. There are hot American girls, but they're more likely to not be into geeky stuff than hot Japanese girls, since what's mainstream in Japan can be considered geeky in the USA.
      • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -2/+5I think you're the perfect example of why foreigners will always be gaijin and never be accepted. You get some horrible definition of "otaku" that is not right and then go on to use/misuse it when you don't know what it means.

        If you want to understand otaku, look at someone who is truly socially awkward there. Try to look at how people treat him, look at him, shame him, the subtle ***** games Japanese people pull to make people feel like absolute worthless *****. Otaku is not geek, or obsessed. Otaku is a ***** cultural pariah, but until you can understand the culture you will never understand what otaku means, so just leave it out of your vocabulary. If you had any idea what the Japanese thought of you and cared about it, then you'd know what it feels like to be otaku.

        Living in Japan for 5 months is about as valuable as living there for 500 months. You are still gaijin and you don't get it. My wife is Japanese, total otaku outcast when she lived there (same with her mother) and I've known her for 7 years and I still don't totally get her.

        You're embarassing yourself. Stop.
        • defwheezer, on 12/10/2007, -1/+1"Living in Japan for 5 months is about as valuable as living there for 500 months. You are still gaijin and you don't get it. My wife is Japanese, total otaku outcast when she lived there ... I've known her for 7 years and I still don't totally get her."

          //So true...
    • Coffeedemon, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4"DO we do anything that could be remotely compared to cosplaying anime?"

      You ever walk through the park and stumble upon the LARPers?
      • Travelsonic, on 12/11/2007, -0/+1LARPing is fun, though I have one hell of a headache at times trying to roleplay a confused dwarf.
  • BlackJackJester, on 12/10/2007, -3/+16Give or take the quality of the article, I have a few things to recommend here.
    1)Hair matters - The Japanese do everything possible to make the hair work...the Americans just wear a crappy wig (in these pictures)
    2)regarding the american Cloud - the whole point is to imitate what it would be if in real life (see - naruto one) not put nerf on your head
    3)Skinny japanese girls are way hotter than fat american girls.
    4)Attention to detail is a must.
    • Kelchup, on 11/01/2008, -0/+0Thank you. This must be the most sensible post in here.

      Not everyone can pull off a good cosplay. If you look completely different to the character, of course it is going to look bad.
      Now, anime is generally based on Japanese. So of course they look more like the characters.
      Also, you will find that many Japanese BUY their costume professionally made, where as in the Western World cosplay community more people make their costume.

      I also don't agree that people who cosplay/love anime are social outcasts. It is not what you like, it's how you can relate and get on with people. Those people who said things along the lines of "who would want to cosplay", maybe you should take that into consideration.
  • itsthebrod, on 12/10/2007, -13/+6I'm going to go ahead and agree with the fact that NO ONE should cosplay. Seriously, ALL of those pictures were pathetic. I can't believe there are people out there that are so lame that they feel the need to dress up like gay cartoon characters and pretend to act out episodes and *****.
    • LegendX, on 12/10/2007, -3/+7never once in your childhood you try to act out something you read in a book or something on TV? This is just a step ahead.
      • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -1/+4Childhood? I guess that technically everyone is someone's child, but these Americans are hardly children. Though they seem to be quite involved in their childhoods...
      • itsthebrod, on 12/10/2007, -3/+2Keyword: childhood. You can't compare a kid dressing up for Halloween to these losers.
      • Godlike, on 12/10/2007, -3/+2Not everyone gets their rocks off on 30k a year and a dog, what do you care what people do for fun?
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -4/+3Cloud is gay? Cosplayers pretend to *****? This is all news to me.
    • eastlondoner, on 12/10/2007, -3/+1god damn right you are.
    • KyleGoetz, on 12/10/2007, -1/+5Your comment is the reason American cosplay isn't as good: it's looked down upon by a large segment of the population. I've dressed up for Harry Potter releases, Star Wars films, and the Texas Renaissance Festival.
      Dressing up is fun, you feel more in tune with what you're experiencing, and it's a big "***** you" to all the people like you in the world. It's just another way to express your fandom. Have you never really liked something that much? I feel kinda sorry for you...
      • itsthebrod, on 12/10/2007, -4/+2I like tons of things, but I'm not going to go make a costume and make an appearance at an event. That's just lame and it shows abnormal amounts of obsession and social awkwardness.
        • JeffD, on 12/10/2007, -2/+4Have you ever dressed up in team colours and went to a football game? (Or any other sport for that matter). Its the exact same thing.
          • itsthebrod, on 12/10/2007, -2/+2No it's not. I don't go pretending in the parking lot that I AM that player, pretending to catch football throws and other stupid *****. Besides, at least then you're *showing support* for a ***REAL PERSON***. Your analogy is so far off it's funny.
      • saltinekracka20, on 12/10/2007, -3/+3Get a life dude.
  • fakekevinrose, on 12/10/2007, -4/+4***** cosplay knows no borders

    whoever wrote this is a child
  • LegendX, on 12/10/2007, -0/+7Whoever did this article hasn't seen the american cosplayers that I have. Plus you are forgetting that cosplaying is "fun for me not for you" kind of thing. But hey gotta love anime conventions. Everyone gives you hugs ^^
  • cell00, on 12/10/2007, -1/+58reasons WHY america should cosplay (not entirely work-safe):
    http://xs322.xs.to/xs322/07501/1155851837607.jpg
    http://xs322.xs.to/xs322/07501/1167706763381.jpg
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -2/+7Time to play Street Fighter.
    • over90000, on 12/10/2007, -0/+9Healthy women.
    • iamsocruel, on 12/10/2007, -2/+7holy crap the second woman has freakin gigantic thighs
      • dawnlikethesoap, on 12/10/2007, -0/+8yeah and she's still really hot.
    • cherwilco, on 12/10/2007, -0/+2holy ***** you just completely changed my stance on cosplay!
    • KingGorilla, on 12/10/2007, -0/+3I too like boobies
    • artmanphil, on 04/15/2008, -0/+0Oh man please tell me where did you get that pic from!
  • fcukbush, on 12/10/2007, -21/+6japanese or american, Any adult who plays "dress up" is a loser.
    • aptiva, on 12/10/2007, -1/+10Yes, let's all conform
      • fcukbush, on 12/10/2007, -6/+2I suggest eating some dog *****, Hardly anyone does that.
        you wouldn't want to be seen to be "conforming" by not eating ***** like everyone else.
    • smacksaw, on 12/10/2007, -1/+11I dunno...I dig it when my wife puts on sexy costumes and ***** me in character. I guess I'm a loser.
      • fcukbush, on 12/10/2007, -7/+2Yeah, having to disguise your wife to get an erection sounds brilliant.
  • LegendX, on 12/10/2007, -1/+6It really isn't hard to find a sexy american chick cosplaying Rikku. Jeez.
  • Nyaos, on 12/10/2007, -3/+4Sure, not all of us are fat (me), but I think being a Weeaboo shortens your life expectancy by 20 years.
  • eastlondoner, on 12/10/2007, -18/+6cosplay is gay
    • Eupatorus, on 12/10/2007, -0/+11East london is gay. West Side!
    • shadydentist, on 12/10/2007, -1/+3I don't think the word 'gay' means what you think it means.
    • w1bmw, on 12/10/2007, -0/+4it's 'Coldplay made me gay'. Get it right.
  • r00tus3r, on 12/10/2007, -1/+3Seriously, I didn't get past the hot blonde asian chick.
  • chsbrgr, on 12/10/2007, -0/+5They can pry my suede dog suit from my cold dead hands ...
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