Costume play, better known as Cosplay, is an international phenomenon where enthusiasts get creative and sharpen their skills - from sewing to prop-making - to bring some of their favourite fictional characters to life.
With the rise of gaming events and comic conventions across the UAE, cosplay has become a regular feature that invites residents to showcase their impressive gear based on Japanese or Western personas and participate in competitions.
Nagoya: a cosplay paradise
The World Cosplay Summit (WCS), which takes place in Nagoya every year, is like the holy grail for cosplayers around the world; an ultimate goal that comes with its fair share of fame and bragging rights.
The week-long events held as part of the summit include exclusive photoshoot locations, a chance to roam designated public areas in character outfits, join parades, and attend anisong concerts featuring renowned anime music groups.
While most activities are open for the general public to take part in, the Championship is exclusive to teams of two that are qualified from local cosplay events across the globe. Hand-picked by organisers based on certain criteria, the chosen ones are flown to Nagoya to compete against global contestants in a battle of craftsmanship and character performance to win the prestigious title.
This year was the first time a team from the UAE participated, and were up against 33 other countries. Even though they failed to make it to the finals due to stiff competition, their incredible armour-based cosplay, carefully crafted with layers of foam and acrylics wow'd the crowd.