There are many shows that I enjoy watching, but none make me smile so much as this one. I appreciate the behind the scenes that let you know the individuals as people you can cheer for, you share their hopes and frustrations with them. It gives you the sense of being there with them, not just watching them. In addition it is very exciting to see the different venues the show visits and to watch people just having fun and enjoying life with an almost childlike innocence. That is something all of us as we age should try to grasp hold of and never let go, this show helps you do that! I realize that cosplay may be a niche thing, but if you broaden your horizons a bit, watch the show and let yourself have fun, it will draw you in.
... View MoreAs a person who's never experienced Cosplay before this series, and dislikes Reality TV (people with no lives watching others with no lives), I thought a more neutral view was required for other like minded souls.Every great story starts with people who are driven, people who love their hobby so much it becomes something more. The computers of today were once the domain of geeks in garages trading capacitors and diodes, wrestling was a sport generally restricted to schools or drunken brawls, and anyone who played computer games was part of a curious minority group called "nerds" ...... who would have believed that hobbies would be worth millions in the future?This story follows several people as they show their intense passion for a unique but growing form of entertainment called Cosplay. For those who are unsure, Cosplay (I assume is short for Costume Play) appears to be people competing in role playing a character from any fictional source where each person/group designed and created their own props. Some of these costumes and props can range from basic and economical to true works of art with a price tag to match.Each episode revolves around a particular competition, most set at different locations. As the series follows these unique people through their lives, many of whom have their financial situations closely related to these Cosplay competitions, there is a strong sense of community. Seeing peoples dreams and aspirations, their success and their failure, it's hard not to feel empathy. Possibly it's easier if you've felt the addiction of competition but by then end of the six (6) episode you feel, on some level, bonded to each of the actors.The only area of disappointment resides in the producers attempt (only a few scenes) to hyper inflate certain situations to imbue emotional reactions in the viewer, it cheapens the empathy a person feels.By far the true value came from watching the props and costumes go from thought to production to completion. Some of these people have prodigious levels of talent, and as a team, they compliment each other perfectly. Jinyo and Victoria for example. At first they appear complete opposites, but within minutes we can see how well they suit each other. Jinyo is a skilled designer and helps keep Victoria grounded. Victoria has extraordinary flare as an actor and helps to bring some much needed chaos into Jinyo's life ..... after all, what's the point of existing if nothing changes.If you haven't found interest within the first thirty (30) minutes then you likely won't enjoy the series, if you do then you'll probably watch all six (6) back-to-back like I did.
... View MoreCosplay wants to bring role play/costume making to the public. It wants you to see/experience the competition. The problem is all of the drama (fake drama also because the camera is in someone's face for all of it) that is prevalent in every single competition show nowadays. This show would have benefited more by showing how the contestants made their costumes and their creative ideas. By also having Victoria on the show you have damaged any positives that you could have had for the Cosplay community. First off: she does nothing for herself and has a boyfriend who she "uses" to make every single outfit for her; secondly: she just gripes on the boyfriend and complains about every single thing; third: she made a disparaging comment on how heavy people should not wear costumes (and in a world that want you not to be judgmental of their work -- she is a hypocrite) and lastly she is just a nasty, negative, spiteful person who is a bad example of a Cosplayer.
... View MoreOver the years, I've seen some amazing costumes at comic book conventions- but few as elaborate as what we see here. I had no idea that "playing dress-up" could be so time-consuming- or so expensive. The desperation some of these contestants experience is understandable when one factors in the amount of time, the workload and the out-of-pocket expense(s). By far the most impressive of the cosplayers (for me) is Yaya Han (or, as Howard Wolowitz of THE BIG BAND THEORY might put it: "Yaya YEAH!!!"): I can't think of a better ambassador for cosplay than Miss Han; anyone who thinks that cosplay is just for kids only needs to take a long look at her...
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