Well anyone who browse's /cgl/ or coscom will know about the recent WCS competition. It occoured to me while many of our European neighbours have entered we don't seem to have submitted anything. The UK is full of talented cosplayers, I think that submitting a team would be an awesome boon to the image of UK cosplay. Who would you guys recommend? Maybe CosplayIsland could even run a poll or competition to find entrants?

I think I know a couple of people the problem is that the might be too busy to do it.

I've heard rumors that the UK gets to enter in 2010.

As I understand it a participating country is required to hold a preliminary event (possibly during the pre-seeding year) to choose there Team.

Oh right.

It would be great to see this preliminary if it happens next year. How do these prelims work? Is it between teams? Or is used to pick individuals for a team to compete?

Brazil won this year and they really looked like they deserved it.

I have to be honest I am not keen on the WCS, I quite like to win the odd silly award now and then but the WCS just seems so competitive. D:

I wouldn't have a chance anyway so I will be leaving it to everybody else.

~M

I must admit I don't know much about the WCS apart from the fact that it happens every year, but I was under the impression we weren't considered because the cosplay 'scene' in the UK isn't big enough. (Even though people submitted an interest the last few years)

This may have changed over the last few years but I'm guessing that if we actually got accepted, the preliminaries would be organised at an event like London Expo? (The France team is decided at Paris Expo, the biggest convention in Europe!)

It's something that would be worth investigating though, I know a lot of people would love to represent their country

Sounds like you're volunteering yourself there Kat.

With the way London Expo has been going I imagine that is the biggest influence on us being "considered" for the WCS. It attracts more cosplayers in one weekend then Animecons have for a couple of years now! :O

I'd love to represent my country well, but that's also the reason I won't be entering! XD

The first time I heard about the WCS was when I went on Cos.Com the day Brazil won.

It would be great for the UK to be included, it would, I think, really help to intergrate cosplaying as a main stream thing - and also maybe help kick off a few more conventions or Expos around the country.

But... and excuse me if I seem a little dense here, what does the WCS actually entail?

Obviously is groups of cosplayers from across the globe (I assume...?) being judged, but is it like a glorified (for lack of a better term) masquerade? Or is there more to it than that?

Haha, *definitely* not. I'd be happy investigating whether or not the UK would be accepted to enter, but I think that would be as far as my involvement would go XD Looking at the competition process, it's far too much performance based for my liking - so anyone who knows me well enough will understand that unless they are looking for people who have perfected the 'rabbit in headlights' on stage act, I'm not the one they seek
(Also the fact that I think they require people who can actually sew properly )

Actually I'm not so sure about that. while nobody really knows how many casual cosplayers hit Expo the publishable figures are severely curtailed by the time limits we are put under and the lack of audience space - Expo simply isnt a proper cosplay venue.

With Amecon on the other hand, which is itself limited by it's venue and the fact it's a members only convention we can advertise that it has twice the audiance of Expo and this year in excess of 50 competitive entries and 160+ cosplayers in the masquerade (with a waiting list).

I think proven participation of that magnitude would be enough to put us in the running.

Wow, those are some pretty interesting figures dude.

I guess with Expo is just *seems* like more due to the space and time frames.

Well I never! :O

~M

I'm interested in entering as I do have years of experience behind me. The only thing that dose put me off if that it seems to prefer skit enterys rather then prue cosplay entries. Thats something I heard from a couple of people. i'm not sure if thats true myself. I would be intriged anyway.

I had thought it would be cool to manage (but not participate in, nooo wayyy) a UK team, mainly for a free trip to Japan However looking at the application for countries to join just made my head spin. Seems you need sponsors and all sorts and as Ilpala said, it gets more complex with prelims and so forth. The only problem with having preliminaries at Amecon would be that under 16's are allowed to enter WCS with a guardians permission.

However, with the cosplay scene in the Uk blooming so much I reckon preliminaries could even be held as an independent event?

Maybe I'm just being optimistic however, but it would be cool to rent out a big theatre for the night purely for cosplay XD

Hihi =) Just chanced upon this thread and would just like to poke alittle something for everyone to get excited over..

There have been alot of proposals and plans coming through from many different parties...and TV Aichi has already been notified of UK's interest in participating..

The main issue that TV Aichi has is that there are WAYY TOO MANY countries trying to enter : and since we have France & the most of Europe, and now USA is back in...the networks gets a mite bit too big to control... UK's scene is big enough - I'm studying in London, and yes I'm well acquainted with greatt makers/cosplayers like Laura Sindall & group (who are very into Dynasty/Samurai Warriors cosplays) - but UK's scene is just not CONSOLIDATED enough.

Anime Expo is a good choice, but their organizers are not keen to bring things too high for the moment.

Besides that, the rest of the events are too small to even consider.

To host WCS as a solo event is not recommended - WCS comes as a commercial network to bring Anime businesses (or organizers who are INVOLVED in the business) closer together for a chance @ business opportunities (which is why its called a SUMMIT and not a COMPETITION). They have their ideals/purpose to stick to.
E.g Germany's Organizers are an anime Magazine "PEACH"'s producers.
Thailand's Organizer of selection Event "Comic Party" is the director of his anime/manga publishing company "Negiboshi"

Plus...Working with host's funding would be easier for TV Aichi if there was already a KEY HOST to the WCS competition.


Alot of Organizers & interested parties in Europe has been contacted to help UK launch their side of the WCS hosting - but like mentioned - they do not think the Events in the UK are suitable enough as yet. It also has to fit the criteria of a "PROFITABLE" HOST -preferably an active anime company of good status/profile, not just an event hoster-. Details will be released later. Please stay tune. But yes, it won't be till 2010. =)

Cheers!

For me it sounds interesting, that there is only a small Cosplay 'scene' around UK, especially if I see the nice events you have got within the year. I think this year will be the 3rd? time Germany will join the WCS.

We have got the competition on the Connichi, think the most famous convention in Germany in September. For me it will be interesting to watch (not to join, cause there will be years, if I will be able to go on stage with a costume, also I am too shy for it).

But it is not the only bigger cosplay event we have. There is also the DCM (Deutsche Cosplay Meisterschaft = German Cosplay Championship). Where you have got local competitions for single cosplayers on the smaller conventions or events (I think it is for every federal state) and the winners of every event will have a final competition on our Bookfair in Frankfurt in October. The winner will also fly to Japan, not for a competition but will have holiday there.

Japan Expo in France, Hyper Japan In here : )
Good luck For everyone trying to get on the team this year !!