Cosplay Mania

Cosplay Mania
Genre Cosplay
Venue SMX Convention Center
(2010-present)
Location(s) Pasay City
Country Philippines
Inaugurated 2008
Most recent (current) 2014
Attendance About 23,000 (2013)
Organized by Cosplay.ph
Website
http://www.cosplaymania.com/

Cosplay Mania is an annual cosplay-centered convention usually held in the final quarter of the year in the Philippines.[1] The convention features various events related to cosplay and features rookie and veteran cosplayers, costumers and cosplay enthusiasts. Below are the mainstay activities, some of them unique to the event:

Cosplay Mania is created and hosted by Cosplay.ph,[2] a Philippine-based cosplay website and organization.

History

2008

The first event was held in Megatrade Hall 3 in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on October 12, 2008. Its theme was "Plan... Build... Cosplay!" which revolved around three main activities: Workshops, Costume Building Contest and the Cosplay competition for individual and group.[3] Notable cosplayer Jin Joson and her group the Tux Team[4] were invited to be part of the workshop tutorials as well as judge for the cosplay competition.[5]

2009

With the theme "Bigger and Better", the event incorporated both Megatrade Hall 2 and 3 and opened on September 13, 2009. Introduced the Cosplay Museum exhibit as well as the Mech Cafe.[6] This event introduced the inclusion of an onstage LED Video wall backdrop to help enhance the catwalk experience of cosplayers joining Project Cosplay as well as giving those competing in the group cosplay category the option to use digital visual effects to augment their performances.

2010

Cosplay Mania 2010 marked the year where a few major event changes were made. First was the move to a new location, from SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, to SMX Convention Center beside SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The second is having the event as two days instead of just one, October 2 to 3. The last was the change of their title brand from calendar year 2010 to Roman number X, which became the reoccurring promotional symbol to represent the move to SMX Convention Center as well as the event's theme of "A Decade of Cosplay", where the event celebrated 10 years of cosplaying in the Philippines.[7]

This also introduced the first nationwide cosplay competition called the Cosplay Tournament of Champions (TORCH), where winners of tournament legs from SM Cagayan De Oro, SM Clark, SM Davao, SM Cebu, SM Davao and SM Manila converge for the finals at SMX Convention Center.

The event also invited International Cosplayer guests Clive Lee and Jesuke of Singapore to be part of the celebration and become part of the judges panel for Project Cosplay and TORCH.[8]

Also introduced a cosplay-centric activity called Cosplay Checkmate,[9] a variation of Human Chess where participants in costumes play chess pieces in a life-size chess board, but would act out in character in a choreographed fight scene when the pieces interact. This version however has no Knight pieces.

2011

The event's theme was "Epic" due to its major changes in its format. It was still held SMX Convention Center beside SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on October 1 and 2 but has now occupied 3 function rooms, namely Function Room 3, 4 and 5, making the floor area a total of over 5,200 square meters. The floor plan was changed to a new format, separating into the Stage Area at Function Room 5 where the bands and cosplay activities are held, the Fiesta Hall at Function Room 4 where dealers/sellers are located, and Function Room 3 as an open hall for visitors to socialize. The Stage and Fiesta hall has entrance fees while the open hall is free for all.

The event held its first ticketing system that involved distribution through SM Ticketing services that made pre-selling of tickets available in all SM Supermalls nationwide. This was in response to the long lines that plagued its past events when ticket sales were sold on the day itself.[10]

This year's event introduced its first partnership with Anime Festival Asia where the winning pair of Cosplay Mania's Cosplay second Tournament of Champions (TORCH II) will become the official Philippine representatives to join AFA's Regional Cosplay Competition, performing against other cosplay teams from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.[11] The Philippine Team, represented by Amado Carl Hernandez (AC) and Zhel, won this year's AFA's Regional Cosplay Competition.[12]

The event also invited International Cosplayer Guests Pinky Lu Xun of Indonesia, YukiGodbless and JiakiDarkness of Thailand, and returning guest Clive Lee of Singapore, all of whom became judges for the event's TORCH, Project Cosplay and Costume Building Contest.[13]

Cosplay Mania also hosted Cosplay Appreciation Day, where cosplayers are invited to register upon entering Function Room 3, in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record of the number of cosplayers attending an event.[14]

Other notable international partnerships that graced the event included Bandai, Gunpla Japan, Crypton Future Media and CosplayGen.

2012

This year's event is still held at SMX Convention Center beside SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, but with the dates moved to September 29 and 30, occupying Function Room 3, 4 and 5. The floor plan also retained last year's format, separating into the Stage Area at Function Room 5 and the Dealer Area at Function Room 4, both as paying areas. Function Room 3 is still assigned as a free hall.

The event will again host the finals of the Cosplay Tournament of Champions (TORCH) where the winning pair will represent the Philippines in Anime Festival Asia's (AFA) Regional Cosplay Competition in Singapore.

This year's roster of invited International Cosplayer Guests include renowned Japanese cosplayers KANAME☆[15] and Reika[16] as well as returning Singaporean guest cosplayer Jesuke. A Premium Pass was introduced that would give visitors the opportunity to attend Kaname and Reika's Meet and Greet closed-door activities. The limited sales of the passes is separate from the regular convention ticket sales.

Cosplay Mania will again host Cosplay Appreciation Day, where cosplayers are invited to register upon entering Function Room 3, to again attempt to set the Guinness World Record of the number of cosplayers attending an event.

New activities are being introduced in this year's event:

Notable supporters of the event include the Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines), The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines,[17] All Nippon Airways, Toei Animation Philippines and SGCafe.

2013

With the event theme "Overdrive", this year's event is still held at SMX Convention Center beside SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, on October 5 and 6, occupying Function Room 3, 4 and 5. The floor plan also retained last year's format, separating into the Stage Area at Function Room 5 and the Dealer Area at Function Room 4, both as paying areas. Function Room 3 is still assigned as a free hall.

The event will again host the finals of the Cosplay Tournament of Champions (TORCH) where the winning pair will represent the Philippines in Anime Festival Asia's (AFA) Regional Cosplay Competition in Singapore.

Cosplay Mania '13 Guests

This year marked the event's most number of guests invited, with 10 guests featuring Jesuke, Vic, Starpolaris Reiko and Viospace from Singapore, Pinky, Orochi and Shinji (Endless Illution) from Indonesia, and returning Japanese cosplayers guests KANAME☆ and Reika, with a new guest Goldy Marg, a well-known mecha and armor cosplayer from Japan. All of them were introduced weekly in a series of Guest Reveals presented on Cosplay Mania's Facebook page.

The Meet and Greet Premium Pass were available to KANAME☆, Reika and Goldy with a limited sales of 100 passes per guest is separate from the regular convention ticket sales.

This year introduces the application of Cosplay.ph's CRS, or Cosplay Ranking System, where cosplayers who will join the event's contests are required to apply. This system would help designate the beginner and veteran ranking as to improve fairness in Cosplay.ph held competitions.

Returning activities are being introduced again this year:

New activities being introduced this year:

2014

This year's event marked several new changes which coincide with the theme "Evolution" and held at SMX Convention Center beside SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, on October 4 and 5, occupying Function Room 3, 4 and 5.

Prior to the event, two cosplay events were held which promoted Cosplay Mania '14, dubbed "Road to Cosplay Mania" and the "Cosplay Mania 14 Preview Event". They were held in SM City Clark, Pampanga and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.

The event will again host the finals of the Cosplay Tournament of Champions (TORCH) where the winning pair will represent the Philippines in Anime Festival Asia's (AFA) Regional Cosplay Competition in Singapore.

New Logo

Cosplay Mania logo is known to incorporate elements that portray the event's varied themes but still retain its usual font and general shape. This year, a new logo was launched that incorporated sleeker, more modern-looking lines but retained the corporate colors of the event.

New Mascot

Cosplay Mania also introduced their new mascot Cosima Karin that would represent the event's fun-loving ambiance and cosplay-centric atmosphere. She is accompanied by DotPeach, the official mascot of Cosplay.ph, the company behind the convention and who had long since represented the event.

Cosplay Mania '14 Guests

Ten guests were invited, with returning guests featuring Jesuke Jes and Vic Kumiko from Singapore, Pinky Lu Xun from Indonesia, Orochi X from Australia and Japanese cosplayers guests KANAME☆ and Reika. New cosplayer guests to arrive are Inui Tatsumi from Japan and Linda Le (Vampy Bit Me) from the USA, the event's first guest cosplayer invited from the west. All of them were introduced weekly in a series of Guest Reveals presented on Cosplay Mania's Facebook page.

The Meet and Greet Premium Pass were available to KANAME☆, Reika, Inui Tatsumi and Vampy, now with two sessions available for KANAME☆ and Reika. Inui Tatsumi will be partnered with Orochi X to share one session together, while Vampy's two sessions will be accompanied with Jesuke and Pinky respectively.

Cosplay Mania JAM Concert

As part of the evolution theme, the event introduced JAM (Japanese Anime Music), a two day concert held at Function Room 5 which starts at 7pm. The concert featured Japanese singer Aya Ikeda, who sang songs from the anime Pretty Cure, and Loverin Tamburin, a band that covers a variety of anime songs but best known for "Aishitageru" (愛したげる), the opening song for the anime Makai Senki Disgaea. The concert will also be accompanied by local anime cover band Moonspeak and Ninja Tuna. Japanese cosplayers KANAME☆ and Reika will be having collaborative singing performance with Moonspeak. It should be noted that this would be KANAME☆'s first ever singing performance in a convention.

Aya Ikeda also had her own Meet and Greet session prior to the concert, but also held her own handshake and merchandise selling session after her performance on Cosplay Mania JAM Day 2. Loverin Tamburin also initiated their own Meet and Greet but free of charge, giving away free posters for signing as well as the selling of their music CD's.

Ticketing System

Cosplay Mania improved on their ticketing system by providing more options for con-goers on how they will customize their convention experience by introducing the following ticket tier system:

 • Valid for 2-days;
 • Access to ANY Meet-and-Greet of the user’s choice;
 • Limitless access to the Dealers Hall and Main Stage;
 • A VIP seat inside the Main Stage;
 • Access to the Cosplay Mania JAM Concert;
 • A VIP seat during the Cosplay Mania JAM Concert;
 • Limited Edition Poster signed by all of the guests;
 • Gift packs from partners

The Titanium tickets have long been sold out since August of this year. However one ticket will be given away at Cosplay Mania's Early Bird Raffle.

All tickets are available for purchase at all SM Tickets outlets.

Notable supporters of the event include Japan's Haneda Music Festival,[18] Magic: The Gathering, Doraemon and even the appearance of the official Pikachu mascot which was recently named by Japan as the official mascot for the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup.[19]

2015

Cosplay.ph, the organization behind Cosplay Mania, has announced the date of next year's event as October 3 and 4, 2015 at SMX Convention Center. The biggest surprise was that the event will occupy Function Rooms 1 to 5, which is all of the major rooms available for the second floor. No confirmation yet regarding the use of Meeting Rooms.

References

  1. ↑ "Cosplay Mania Event Information". Cosplay Mania. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  2. ↑ "About Cosplay.ph". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  3. ↑ "Cosplay Mania 2008 Press Release". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  4. ↑ "Behindinfinity DeviantArt". Deviantart.com. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  5. ↑ "Cosmania 2008 Report". Deviantart.com. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  6. ↑ "Mecha, Maids, and Mayhem at the Cosplay Mania 2009 Mech Cafe!". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  7. ↑ "Cosplay Mania celebrates 10 years of Philippine cosplay". zenhonbuph.net. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  8. ↑ "International guests to grace Cosplay Mania X". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  9. ↑ "Cosplay Checkmate". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  10. ↑ "Cosplay Mania X boasts of a record-breaking headcount, with a line that stretched almost an entire city block. Cosplay Mania X Day 1 Event Report". magnetic-rose.net. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  11. ↑ "An epic in disguise". manilatimes.net. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  12. ↑ "Asia crowns its best cosplayers". asiaone.com. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  13. ↑ "Cosplay Mania 2011 Special Guests". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  14. ↑ "Philippine Cosplay Appreciation Day". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  15. ↑ "International Cosplay Guest Kaname". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  16. ↑ "International Cosplay Guest Reika". Cosplay.ph. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  17. ↑ "Embassy of Japan Joined in Cosplay Mania ‘12". The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  18. ↑ "Haneda International Music Festival". http://www.haf.tokyo.jp/. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  19. ↑ "Japan Names Pikachu As Official National Football Mascot For 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup In Partnership With Adidas And Nintendo". www.ibtimes.com. Retrieved 2014-04-17.

External links