Cosplay Rules

Wai-Con 2012 Cosplay Competition Rules

The following rules and regulations are for the Wai-Con 2012 Cosplay Competition, (hereafter referred to as “the competition”).

Breaching ANY of the rules listed here at any stage of the competition will result in immediate disqualification. Serious breaches may result in entrants being banned from future Cosplay competitions and Wai-Cons.

Please read through these rules thoroughly and if you are unsure about anything please contact us via the email addresses at the bottom of this document.

 

Entries:

  1. WAI-Con is an Anime convention; so the competition is open to any competitor with a costume whose original source is from Japanese Anime, Manga or Games. This also includes anything where the original source is ‘in the spirit of Anime’ (eg. Western cartoons in the style of Anime).
  2. Costume entries which do not have an original source that is from Anime, Manga, Japanese Games or is not directly ‘in the spirit of Anime’ is ineligible for entry. Original Characters, Fruits Fashion, Gothic Lolita and other fashion styles or simple cultural elements are not eligible. A Western character (eg. Disney, Star Wars) – even if the game was made in Japan – is not allowed. If you are unsure about your entry, please contact the Cosplay Coordinator for advice.
  3. There are two separate competitions: the Saturday competition and the Sunday competition. You can enter either competition or even both if you want to. If you are entering both competitions, you must wear a different costume for each competition.
  4. To enter the competition, you must register via the Wai-Con website before the cut-off date. Any entries received after the cut-off date will not be entered into the competition. The cut-off date for registration will be advised through the normal Wai-con channels; The Wai-con website, forums, Facebook, Twitter and so on. There are a maximum number of entries for each competition, so if a competition is full then registration may close before the cut-off date and without warning.
  5. Entries are accepted as a first come basis. Popular characters tend to overwhelm a competition, so there is a limit on the same character being cosplayed, each day/competition. There will be notification if there is enough of one character for each competition. Best to get in first, to ensure your spot or perhaps have something else in mind.
  6. You should expect confirmation that your entry has been accepted within one working week of your registration. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact the Cosplay Coordinator. There may be longer delays closer to the convention as we will be very busy compiling entries.
  7. You may enter as a group. Group entries are for groups of two (2) to a maximum of ten (10) people. All group members must be present on stage at once during your performance/walk-on and/or during the on-stage interview.
  8. The competitions are pre-registration only. We are not accepting new entries on the day.
  9. You will be judged based on your selection of category on the entry form and eligibility for the selected criteria. If you ONLY enter a category you are ineligible for you will not be considered for a prize. It is up to the entrant to ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements for the category/categories they enter.
  10. If you are performing, please give a brief rundown of your intended performance on your registration form. If you require assistance, please let us know beforehand. Anything that is deemed too dangerous or inappropriate will not be accepted, but feedback can be provided early enough to change your skit. Please be as thorough as possible when describing your performance/skit.
  11. If you are providing music (which is encouraged to make your entry more interesting) you must submit your music with your entry online. MP3 and WMA audio files are accepted. If you have a large audio dialogue, it is best to prerecord it to avoid any microphone audio related problems. There may be only a couple of microphones available on the day, if any at all. If you choose not to use a microphone and wish to talk on stage, please project your voice so everyone can hear you. Your skit is not a performance just for the judges – it is to entertain the whole crowd.
  12. When you submit your entry, you must include a reference picture of your character(s) from the original source. Your entry will not be accepted if this is missing. File formats accepted: .jpg/ .jpeg/ .gif/ .png
  13. If you wish to submit a video with your entry for your performance you may. The length of the video cannot exceed the entry time limits. Accepted formats are: .mkv/ .mpg/ .mp4/ avi. No realmedia or quicktime formats please. H.264 codec for video is preferred with any audio codec. A maximum resolution of 720p (1280×720) and a size limit of 30MB please.
  14. No metal props will be allowed. This includes but is not limited to: replica guns, blades and anything sharp or with an edge. Check with the Cosplay Coordinator before the competition if you are unsure. A strict weapons policy will be enforced by Wai-Con and the venue staff. If you do not surrender a prop when asked, you may be asked to leave the premises (and therefore will be unable to compete in the competition)
  15. Ignorance of the rules is no basis for exemption. Please read these rules thoroughly before submitting your entry.

Awards & Judging

The following categories are available for entrants to nominate for:

  • Best Female Cosplayer
  • Best Male Cosplayer
  • Best Group Cosplayers (2 – 10 persons)
  • Best Performance
  • Encouragement Award
  • Craftsmanship

  1. You must enter one (and only one) of: Best Female Cosplayer, Best Male Cosplayer, Best Group Cosplayers. The other categories (Best Performance, Encouragement Award and Craftsmanship) are optional and you may enter if you meet the eligibility requirements of each category. You must indicate which category/categories you are entering on your entry form. An entrant can only win in one category in each competition.
  2. The male and female categories refer to the gender of the entrant and not the character that they are cosplaying.
  3. A skit/performance is defined as an act which may involve; talking, (prerecorded or otherwise) on stage before the MC interview begins, lengthy choreographed sequences, acting parts or dancing. Walking out on stage, optionally to music and posing is not considered a skit/performance
  4. To maximise the number of acts in the competition, there is a very strict time limit for each entry. A simple walk-on for a pose is limited to thirty (30) seconds maximum for groups and individuals. If you are doing a skit/performance then the maximum time is two (2) minutes for individuals and three (3) minutes for groups.
  5. You will be judged primarily on the following:
    1. Accuracy of the costume to the picture supplied.
    2. Quality of the costume such as materials used and finish of the costume.
    3. Your onstage presence.
    4. If you are performing, the quality of your performance.
  6. The Craftsmanship category is awarded to the individual cosplayer whose costume is of exceptional make and has been created entirely by the entrant. This category is intended to reward cosplayers with exceptional skill and crafting ability. Your honesty and integrity are appreciated and entrants may be questioned in detail over their costume. The Craftsmanship award can be awarded to one individual within a group and is in no way an indication of the overall group result.
  7. There is an Encouragement Award which is awarded to an individual, or group, with exceptional Cosplaying potential that does not yet have the experience that other entries may have. Entrants cannot select if they wish to enter this category – eligibility is determined by the information provided on your registration form and by the judges.
  8. Please respect the judges’ decisions as they are final and the competition is intended to be fun. There will be no feedback provided about any entry prior, during or after the competition. Please also be aware that awards may not given if there is no winner for a particular category.

On the Day:

  1. You must sign in at least ninety (90) minutes before the listed start time of the competition on the day that you are entering. You must sign in wearing your costume so that it can be examined to ensure that it is acceptable under the rules. If you are in a group, your whole group must be present and in costume and you cannot have someone else sign in for you. No late check-ins will be accepted. If you do not sign in, while in costume, you will be disqualified. It is strongly advised that you check in as soon as you arrive at the convention.
  2. When you check in you will be given a time and location to meet for marshalling and every entry will be given a group number. The group number will reduce the time spent marshalling the entrants, so please hang on to your group number. If you are late for marshalling, you will be removed from the competition.
  3. At no time is any adult content to be a part of your stage presence. This means and is not limited to; Yaoi, Yuri, Shonen-ai, Shoujo-ai, sexual content (implied or otherwise), kissing, obscene gestures, swearing or anything else that is deemed for adult viewing or inappropriate by any Wai-Con staff. Committing any of these acts will result in immediate disqualification, your act being stopped and you will be asked to leave the stage and may be subject to removal from the premises. Please remember that WAI-Con is an all-ages event. If you are unsure about your entry, please contact the Cosplay Coordinator for advice.
  4. You are not allowed to physically interact with the stage staff and/or MC(s). If you are actively encouraged, you may be permitted to have light contact in the name of fun/entertainment for the crowd. You choose to do so at your own risk – the stage staff and/or MC(s) can disqualify you if they deem it excessive. Do not swear, threaten or physically interact with any of the staff or audience members. This is meant to be a fun competition, so please keep your manner friendly.
  5. In the spirit of friendly competition, do not at any time insult, heckle or abuse other competitors (or the crowd). After you have left the stage, you are not permitted to re-enter it for any reason. Please do not interfere with any other acts in any way.
  6. Please do not mess up the stage. If you do bring objects with your costume, please pick them up when you leave. No liquids, sticky substances, explosives, laser pointers, glitter, anything incendiary/flammable or anything that could damage the stage. If you do not leave the stage in the exact same condition as you entered it, you will be disqualified.
  7. By entering the competition, you acknowledge and accept that you will be photographed and filmed. This material may be used by PAniC in the future.

Contacts:

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Cosplay Coordinator: knux_911@iimetro.com.au or the Head of Competitions: competitions@panic-wa.org

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the WAI-Con 2012 Cosplay Competition!