The Big Read in short: Why cosplay is more than a hobby for its followers
Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at the growing cosplay community here, what it means for its avid followers and how it has grown.
FILE PHOTO: People walk past the barricade of India's first Apple retail store, that will be launched soon, at Jio World Drive Mall, Mumbai, India, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo
Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at the growing cosplay community here, what it means for its avid followers and how it has grown. This is a shortened version of the full feature, which can be found here.
- Once seen as a niche hobby, cosplaying has grown in popularity here over the years
- The industry has also grown globally, with one research firm projecting the cosplay costume market to grow to US$23 billion by 2030
- Some cosplayers here have also been cashing in on the trend, with one such individual telling TODAY she earned a “five-digit” figure from cosplaying part-time last year
- Beyond money, cosplay also holds a deeper emotional and psychological significance for many who partake in the activity
- However, cosplayers said that although society is now more accepting of them, they still face some issues such as unwelcome attention or physical contact
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SINGAPORE — An unlikely relationship began to form between Maoru and cosplay when she was in secondary school.
“(At first), I was actually not a big fan of cosplay,” said the 24-year-old graphic designer who initially found it "odd" when two-dimensional characters were translated into real life.
But she started getting “excited” after seeing other enthusiasts dressing up as her favourite characters, and even “jealous” of them for having a group of friends to share an activity with.
Maoru, who wanted to be identified only by her cosplay stage name, eventually began dabbling in the activity herself at the age of 15, and has not looked back since.
Cosplayers like her portray animated, fictional or sometimes historical characters by using costumes and props.
A portmanteau of costume and play, cosplay has left an indelible mark on Maoru’s life.
Besides connecting her with fellow enthusiasts, some of whom have become close friends, cosplaying has made Maoru interact and talk to people more frequently, which has helped her “gain a lot of confidence”.
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