Crossplay (cosplay)

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Crossplay (the term is a portmanteau of crossdressing and cosplay) is a type of cosplay in which the person dresses up as a character of a different gender. Crossplay's origins lie in the anime convention circuit, though, like cosplay, it has not remained exclusive to the genre. While it is similar to Rule 63 (gender-bending) cosplay, it can be differentiated by the performer becoming completely immersed in the codes of another gender, rather than picking and choosing what behavior enhances the performance.[1]

Female-to-male crossplay[]

Two female crossplayers strike a yaoi pose.

In most countries that play host to hobbyists who would call themselves cosplayers, female-to-male crossplayers (females costumed as male characters, sometimes abbreviated "FtM") are far more common, due to a variety of social and cultural factors.[2]

Many (or even most) females will crossplay for the same reasons that they would cosplay – because they like the character and/or the costume, and wish to represent that. In Japan, female costumers tend to dominate (in numbers) the field of cosplay in general, often portraying a huge assortment of colorful characters regardless of gender.

As bishōnen are portrayed in manga and anime as liminal beings, it is considered "easier" for a female to cross-play as a bishōnen than it would be for her to crossplay as a male character from a Western series.[3]

Male-to-female crossplay[]

Crossplay at Comiket 91.

Male-to-female crossplayers, (males costumed as female characters, sometimes abbreviated "MtF"), are somewhat more common outside Japan. Originally, in America, a popular anime series for MtF crossplayers was Sailor Moon, creating "humorous effect and social levity".[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gender and the superhero narrative. Goodrum, Michael D., 1983-, Prescott, Tara, 1976-, Smith, Philip, 1983-. Jackson. 2018. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4968-1880-5. OCLC 1030446156.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Palmer, Ada (March 29, 2007). "Let's Cosplay: Crossplay". TokyoPop. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  3. ^ Craig Norris; Jason Bainbridge (April 2009). "Selling Otaku? Mapping the Relationship between Industry and Fandom in the Australian Cosplay Scene". Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific (20). Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Winge, Theresa (2006). "Costuming the Imagination: Origins of Anime and Manga Cosplay". Mechademia. 1: 65-76. doi:10.1353/mec.0.0084. S2CID 121679787.

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