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Nay, dude. People are going to want you to do in-character poses and talk to them about the series you're from. If they quote something or ask you to do a special pose and you have no idea what they're talking about, you'll look like an idiot. Besides, there's dozens of good games, shows, and comics out there; just find something you like and choose a character from it.

No, don't bother... what if when you finally watch/play/read it, you end up hating that character? Besides, if you're making a costume, can't you watch a full series in the time it takes to finish it?

>>5836558
>but I don't like their series
Now this... I would say if you know the series, know the character, but just don't like the series, that's still fine, I mean you still like the character and know about it.
As long as you know what the hell you're cosplaying from, y'know?
Best if you actually watch/read/play the source material, but at least friggin wiki that shit and get familiar with them before committing to it.

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i say nay. there's no way to stay in character if you dont. i like my little pony but i am not a huge fan so when i cosplayed Applejack it was hard to remember things about the series when fans would walk up- and i really felt bad about that because to me being in character has a lot to do with being in cosplay to me.

I don't expect people to act in-character but when I see someone cosplaying something I like I want to have a conversation about it! It's a little embarrassing and awkward when I start gushing about a character someone's cosplaying and they say, "Oh, I actually don't really know this series" or something.

I mean it's up to you OP but it's kind of a downer for fans when you don't know what it is you're cosplaying.

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No

>>5836571
this.Also this is why I don't get why people want to cosplay a character from a series that isn't even out yet. Sure you may love the character design but why not wait til you actually watch the show or play the game first?

I don't agree with cosplaying something just to be the first to do it.

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I dont see the problem with it.
I cosplay things that I like the designs of more than I cosplay things that I like the character of.

I do read up on characters I dont know before cosplaying them, and I make an attempt to play/watch/read whatever they happen to be in so if someone asks I dont sound like a total dumb ass.
Hate on me if you want to, I just like making costumes.

>>5836591

When I cosplay I don't play in-character. It's just me.. In a costume.

No roleplaying unless I'm taking a picture or making a video.

>>5836645

This

Nay. Big nay.

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>>5836645
agreed. I personally would think it was a little odd if the cosplayer was in character the whole con....but I know some people do that. It's whatever.

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nah, I get why people do it if they just like the design, but still think it is kinda dumb.

But well, I can barely work up the energy to cosplay something I am obsessed with, let alone something I don't really care for. I have trouble imagining people spending all that time/money on stuff they don't know anything about, and yet it happens. It seems silly to me.

OP is female cosplayers in a nutshell.

>>5836692
Most of the people in this thread saying you should be familiar with the series are girls. So...no.

>>5836558
I say YAY. The only requirement for cosplay is that you are in costume. All this other shit about not being a furfag or knowing the material is superfluous.

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yay. just do it. idgaf

>>5836558
I say nay. No one is stopping you by any means....but what's the fun if you're not cosplaying for the love of it?

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I say nay, but do whatever you want. Not my problem. Just don't make a fuss when you look like an idiot because someone wanted to talk to you about whatever you happened to be cosplaying and you draw a blank.

Absolutely fucking not. If it's some shit like Miku or another mascot, sure, but not for an actual character. You like the design, so what? Find a design you like from something you've actually seen. MAYBE if you're just filling a spot in a group, but not if you're just doing it because you like a design.

>>5836618
>and I make an attempt to play/watch/read whatever they happen to be in
Now that's totally fine. You like the design, so you look into the character and the source. And sometimes, that way, you might find that the character is a total cunt and you don't want to cosplay them anymore. Or that you truly love them. Or you're indifferent but the design is still cool so you go with it.

Nay, part of cosplaying a particular character is to show your passion for that character and the series, and then you can connect with other fellow fans who will recognize you for it. It's so disappointing otherwise. If you are going to make the effort to make the costume, make some effort to read/watch/play the series and get to know the character before choosing them to cosplay.

Don't bother unless you're with a group of people cosplaying from the same thing. And then, you should at least study the series so you can keep up if anyone asks you about it.

When you're cosplaying alone well..
I can only speak from experience. I have once, many years ago, cosplayed a girl from a game.
I kept getting her name wrong when fans started talking to me. The character has two dolls - A fan teased me because I didn't have any, to which I responded that I just couldn't find anyone who knew the game enough to want to cosplay "her two friends" with me (dolls).
When I realised what I had done later, I felt like a complete idiot.
And its not just humiliation for me, it's also a slap in the face to the fans who get excited about seeing someone cosplay from somethig they like, only to figure out that the person knows nothing about the character they're cosplaying.

Even IF you study the character beforehand when cosplaying alone, it's still easy to tell that you're not actually familiar with the source you're cosplaying from.
So don't bother with that.

If you like the design or want to join a group of a series you don't know anything about- watch or read it! When I join random groups I always watch the shows first to make sure that I actually like the character's personality, lol. Not like it takes very long anyways.

Are you gonna cosplay something from a show or game you don't know about or play? Do your research then. Because like all other people with this view, you'll look like an idiot when you don't know

What if you want to cosplay from a game you suck at (difficulty level/low fright level for a horror game), or you don't have the console to play it? There's only so much Wiki research you can do, after all.

It, depends for me.
Nay, if it's from an anime, movie, tv show, comic, things that are easy to watch or read.

However if you do a cosplay from a game that's maybe old and the console doesn't exist anymore, or the console is way too expensive, at least watch a playthrough or research it

>>5837966
Watch play-throughs of it on Youtube!

Yay, I guess. I've only done it for group cosplays...it typically looks better on you if you do it only for a group though. Since the line of 'my friends asked me too....', works pretty well.

Truthfully though, I've done cosplays with limited knowledge of the series though... I mean it's not like I don't try to make an effort to watch/play whatever but I'm one of those types that get bored midway thru something and sometimes don't always go back to finish it. Then I end up cosplaying from it and I still don't go back to finishing it.

So sometimes when someone approaches me about whatever series and blah blah blah, I just nod and commet about things I know. Its possible to do it with just reading the wiki I think.

I say it's fine if you do your research.
Most of the time when I find a character design I really like, I'll get into the series, or attempt to, in order to find out if I actually like the character. Sometimes I just can't get behind the series and I usually don't bother cosplaying after that.
But a few things I still go ahead with. For example Cammy- I suck royally at fighting games, so instead I just watch people play on youtube. Works well enough for me.
Why not. If you don't do enough research you're the one who looks foolish in the end.

Well I always find it disappointing when I see a character from my favorite anime and then the cosplayer doesn't really know a shit about it. It also makes me wonder why would you even bother making that costume, I have absolutely no motivation unless I really like the character.

I think its ok if your boyfriend/girlfriend or friend wants you to pair/team up with them for a series they like but still, I'd at least look into what you're going to be. If your series has a tvtropes character page list you can check that out. The fandom for the show you might be doing could be full of assholes so that's the only thing I'd be wary of. I wouldn't personally do it though but have fun! You'll have much more fun if you connect to fans though.

This is my about my one and only peeve when it comes to cosplay, so I'm glad some of you think the same way.
Tbh I don't even like the thought of someone just researching whatever they're cosplaying from either. Sure, they'll be knowledgeable about it, which is a step up, but they won't be a fan of it. Dunno, kinda comes off as fake to me.

>>5836688
>I have trouble imagining people spending all that time/money on stuff they don't know anything about
Agreed. Seems like a bit of a waste of time/money.

no thanks. cosplay from something you know- unless it's a friend or boyfriend/girlfriend who wants you to cosplay with them.

as a vocaloid fan nothing infuriates me more than people deciding to do miku or whatever because "kawaii uguu" while knowing nothing of any producers/pvs outside of fucking matryoshka and magnet.

I think some people cosplay because they like a character, but if I see a beautiful costume, I want to make it and wear it. Don't give a shit whether I like the character or series or what, I want to pay homage to the beautiful design work.

Bizenghast, for instance, has some of the most beautiful character design I've ever seen. The actual characters and plot though are awful.

Uh oh, it looks like the /cgl/ police are out in full force today! Want to know a secret? I never know who the fuck I am cosplaying, ever. Seriously, who has the time to sit inside all day long and watch anime/ play through 80+ hour long JRPGS? Well, I guess the foreveralone neckbeards do. I shouldn't bash them; they are the ones that flock to me every con that I go to. Because I dress slutty. And have giant boobs. And am not obese. In the real world I am a 6/10. At an anime convention? I get interviewed by G4. So keep raging about people like me who have never even watched a single episode of Japanimation. I'll be too busy getting paid to cosplay.

>>5838235
The sad part is, you really tried, huh?
Maybe next time.

2/10

>>5838235
Thanks for the lovely piece of fiction.

>>5838235
go away jnig