Mainstage Cosplay

Mainstage Cosplay divisions:

• Youth – Under 13
• Novice – First Cosplay experience or have never won a Cosplay award
• Experienced – Several Cosplay presentations and/or have won Cosplay award
• Master – Many Cosplay presentations and Cosplay awards would also include professional qualifications
• Exhibition – This class is for those who do not wish to compete. Any entry in this division is ineligible for awards. Previous winning presentations would qualify here.

An important thing you need to know is that there is a presentation time limit for Mainstage and that is 60 seconds. The light and sound crew will be instructed to end entries after one minute. In rare circumstances an entry maybe granted special permission to exceed the 60 second time limit. The maximum extension is 30 seconds.

You must get permission in advance from the Cosplay Department Head to exceed this time limit. Special circumstances that might qualify for an extension of time may include but are not limited to large groups, large or unwieldy costumes/props, and mobility issues. If you believe you have good cause for a time extension you must contact me no later than noon on Saturday August 15th to request the extension sooner would be better. Contact me directly at cosplay@animeiowa.com.

Although we want to do our best to grant your Cosplay requests time extensions will be very rare. Last year we had 54 entries for Mainstage. That is already nearly a hour not counting the set up between entries! I have been a part of a presentation with 16 people in limited vision and mobility penguin costumes. The presentation basically summarized the plot of Happy Feet in 57.8 seconds so it can be done. We will suggest ways for maximizing your 60 seconds in the post dealing with Stage Tech and other resources. Contact the Cosplay staff if you have concerns about the time limit. We will be happy to work with you.

Sound for your entry is not required but is highly recommended. You should plan to record any dialog for your entry as there will be no mic available. Any words spoken from stage will not be heard by the audience. More suggestions for working with your presentation sound will be in the stage tech post.

Mainstage Cosplay Contest Rules

1. NO GLOMPING at all… ever. ‘Nuff said
2. All Cosplay participants must be registered attendees of the AnimeIowa convention. This event is open to all members including staff assuming your duties allow.
3. Presentations may not exceed 1 minute in duration. The Tech crew has explicit instructions to cut lights and sound at one minute. Plan ahead. If you need assistance with editing your music/sound contact the Cosplay staff prior to noon on Saturday.
4. NO blatant nudity. This event is rated PG-13. Please use some discretion with your character, props and presentation.
5. The following may not be worn for competition: purchased costumes, rented costumes or entries that have been worn in the Hall contest or have been previous winners at AnimeIowa. These may be entered on stage in the Exhibition Category but will not be eligible for awards.
6. Youth participants must be accompanied by a responsible paid adult member at all times.
7. Your entry must be finished before you get to the Green Room. No sewing, gluing, spray painting, welding, or other construction work is allowed back stage. However, final assembly of large pieces and/or props and unexpected repairs will be allowed.
8. Cosplay Central does have some emergency repair supplies and the Cosplay Staff may be available to help with emergencies or damage repair. AnimeIowa does not supply participants with any of the following: make-up, make-up applicators and/or removers, paint, etc. Please come to the convention with everything you need to complete and/or assemble your cosplay.
9. Participants will be required to sign a liability release and a release for use of video and photo images.
10. For safety reasons, the following are not allowed:
    • Live animals
    • Substances which might damage or soil
    • Aerosol sprays
    • Projectiles
    • No pyrotechnics will be allowed including but not limited to: fire, flash powder, explosives, smoke bombs or fireworks.
    • Entries that could potentially damage the Convention Center facilities, other participants or the wearer will not be allowed.
    • Illegal weapons of any kind are not allowed.
    • Legal real or prop weapons used as part of the costume are allowed with restrictions. You are expected to act responsibly with your weapon. The Green Room is not the place to practice your presentation's sword play! You may be asked to check your weapon in to our Props Master prior to the start of the Cosplay if we deem the weapon potentially dangerous to your fellow participants. If you decide to carry a weapon, by signing your registration form, you accept any legal and financial responsibility for damage your weapon may cause to persons or property. Normal AnimeIowa Weapons Policy rules apply. Don’t be a Dink!
    • Entries with electric power requirements need to be self-contained. There will be no access to electrical outlets on stage.
    • Participants who want to use special effects in their presentations (i.e. strobe lights, fog, etc.) must notify the Cosplay Director no later than 2 pm Saturday. The Cosplay Director has the right to deny requests for special effects due to safety concerns and building regulations. Do not plan your presentation around unapproved special effects!
    Surprise the audience, not the Cosplay staff. If you are planning something completely different, let us know well in advance. All information will be held in the strictest confidence.
11. Smoking is not allowed in the Convention Center. Contestants who leave the building for a smoke break may lose their turn to appear on stage.
12. No Whiners! All judge's decisions are final.
13. The Cosplay Director has the right to eliminate any entry from the competition on the basis of taste, danger to the audience, building or yourself. Violation of any of the above rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient.

Anime Iowa 2009 Mainstage Cosplay Sign-up Form

If you have questions, concerns or need clarification on any of these rules please contact the Cosplay Department Head at cosplay@animeiowa.com. We want you to have the best presentation possible and we will work with you to make that happen. Please let us know what you want we can probably find a way to make it work for you.

Hall Cosplay

This event takes place in Cosplay Central. You don’t need to register in advance simply show up at one of the Hall Cosplay time slots and fill out a short entry form then pose for your picture. You may choose from a light or a dark (read white or black) back drop. You will have your picture taken by the Cosplay staff. All pictures from the time slot are printed and grouped together for voting. The AI staff vote on the best entry for each time slot. Then the Cosplay staff will choose and over all Hall Cosplay winner from the time slot winners. The winners will be announced during the Mainstage Cosplay awards ceremony. If you miss that you can pick up your award on Sunday in Cosplay Central.

Hall Cosplay Contest Rules

1. Contest is open to all AnimeIowa attendees (must have badge to play) Any AI staff competing in Hall Cosplay is prohibited from voting
2. All entries should be related to the Anime genre
3. Reference material is not required, but recommended.
4. Entries may be made as an individual or as a group. All groups will be judged as one entry, meaning the group as a whole counts as an individual.
5. You may enter multiple costumes, but not the same costume multiple times.
6. Costumes entered for the Hall Contest are not eligible for the Mainstage Cosplay competition.

Friday: 2, 4, 7, & 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am, noon, 1 & 2 pm