This past April, the 12th annual 'China Cosplay Super Show' was held as part of the 2016 China International Cartoon & Animation Festival. With a greater number of participants and a high level of competition, the event gave Chinese gamers to a unique opportunity engage in competitive cosplay.
This year, the China International Cartoon & Animation Festival was held in the ancient city of Hangzhou and it attracted more than one million attendees. One of the main draws was the China Cosplay Super Show, which gave both Chinese and international participants an opportunity to use costumes, makeup and accessories to reenact characters from popular games, comics and animation. Unlike North American cosplay events, the China Cosplay Super Show saw bigger teams focusing more on accuracy than on on-stage entertainment.
With the rapid growth of China's gaming culture, there is a growing interest in events such as the China Cosplay Super Show that allow fans to take their love of games beyond the computer.
Chinese Cosplay Competitions
The 'China Cosplay Super Show' Gave Gamers a Chance to Role Play
Trend Themes
1. Competitive Cosplay - As gaming culture grows, there is increasing interest in competitive cosplay events that prioritize accuracy over on-stage entertainment.
2. International Cosplay Competitions - International cosplay competitions, such as the China Cosplay Super Show, are drawing participants from all over the world.
3. Cosplay as Marketing Tool - Businesses can use cosplay as an innovative marketing tool by sponsoring and highlighting their products or services through participants' costumes and accessories.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - As China's gaming culture continues to grow, competitions and events such as the China Cosplay Super Show can drive innovation and growth in the gaming industry.
2. Animation - Events such as the China International Cartoon & Animation Festival and the China Cosplay Super Show can drive innovation in the animation industry by encouraging fandom and engagement with animated characters and stories.
3. Marketing - Businesses can leverage cosplay as an innovative marketing tool to reach audiences in new and engaging ways, particularly through sponsorships and product placements during cosplay events and competitions.