Cosplay in South Africa is a nationwide pastime, and it would be impossible (and unfair) to name one location as the country’s cosplay hub. Passion and talent is literally everywhere, often emerging at events out of apparently nowhere to delight fans and dazzle judges. That said, Cape Town is a special place for cosplay, for several reasons.

1 – A thriving, welcoming community

While it’s still coming out of hibernation after the pandemic, Cape Town is home to one of the loveliest and most active cosplay communities. As Anzel Schutz (Baka Sakura Cosplay on Instagram / Facebook) explains, “It’s a nurturing community; it’s a cosplay community that wants to help each other grow, and wants to see each other level up… We like crafting and sewing together. I’m not sure if that’s a thing elsewhere but it happens here.”

Helping to encourage social connections and positivity is Cosplay Cape Town (Instagram / Facebook), which organises cosplay picnics; keeps members up to date with local events, crafting workshops and competitions; and sometimes even runs fun themed contests of its own. Says Wesley Jade (Wes Jade Cosplay on Instagram / Facebook), one of the Cosplay Cape Town admins, “I think the local community is pretty chilled, laid back. Many of us cosplayers know each other and, if we don’t, we make friends very easily. We meet up whenever we can at picnics and things like that; just trying to have as much interaction and networking as possible because we’re not as big a community as in the Joburg area for example.”

2 – The inspiring local talent

Cape Town, and the broader Western Cape, is home to several big names in South African cosplay. These include cosplayers who have represented the country, and placed, on the international stage, as well as cosplayers with large social followings.

Among these notable cosplayers is Ludus Cosplay (Instagram / Facebook), who was named 2nd at C2E2’s Cosplay Central Global Crown Championship, held in Chicago, earlier this month. Luke’s path to this world-topping achievement started when he won the Comic Con Cape Town Regional Champions of Cosplay before placing first at last year’s Comic Con Africa Championship of Cosplay, held in Johannesburg. As for other acclaimed Capetonian cosplayers, there’s the familiar-faced pair of Baka Sakura Cosplay and Yamaki Cosplay (Instagram / Facebook), who were selected to represent South Africa at the prestigious World Cosplay Summit.

Many of these talented individuals are regarded as senpai of the South African cosplay scene, having spent years now helping to nurture newcomers with their freely shared tutorials and advice, acting as judges (and MCs) for cosplay contests, and arranging after-hours social meet-ups around key events.

3 – Dedicated cosplay suppliers

While cosplay celebrates creativity, especially in terms of crafting materials, it doesn’t hurt to have certain products at your disposal. However, sitting alone at the bottom of the African continent, it can be challenging to acquire things like Worbla, foam clay and anime-style wigs, all of which often feature in online YouTube tutorials. Helping local cosplayers out is Cape Town-based online store and small business CosKraft, which sources and imports certain cosplay resources. CosKraft will also be exhibiting this weekend at Comic Con Cape Town, in the Cosplay Central zone (Booth CC4).

4 – Those natural backdrops

There’s nothing like an on-location photo shoot to elevate a cosplay, and Cape Town has no shortage of striking, diverse backdrops – ranging from the natural to man-made. Just remember to always check beforehand if filming is permitted, or must be pre-arranged, as some spaces (whether public or private) may expect a shooting fee. And you don’t want to risk damaging your costume while running away from surly security guards.

5 – Comic Con Cape Town

There’s a lot of enjoyment to be gained simply by transforming yourself into a character, but it doesn’t compare to the thrill of appearing in public in costume, and getting a reaction from fans. Which is why Comic Con Cape Town is such a big deal, as it provides cosplayers – whether competitive crafters, or casual attendees wearing a rented or store-bought outfit – with that spotlight.

Baka Sakura explains, “Cape Town cosplayers are hungry for these opportunities because we only have literally one convention in our city, so we really like to show up and do Cape Town proud when we do cosplay. It’s a very exciting thing, a big pinnacle. And we have a lot of people who like to compete in Cape Town, which is an exciting thing in itself.”

Comic Con Cape Town is certainly full of opportunities for the competitively minded. On opening day, 27 April, the 6-hour Comic Con Cape Town Sew-A-Thon will take place on the main stage, with already-signed-up sewists completing a mystery challenge on the day. There’s a special gaming themed Ubisoft cosplay contest on the Saturday (29 April) at 2pm, with R20 000 in prizes up for grabs. And Comic Con Cape Town caps off on Sunday, 30 March, with the Comic Con Cape Town Regional Championships of Cosplay, which will see the overall winner receive an immediate pass to the national grand finals at Comic Con Africa later this year.

Meanwhile, for more casual cosplayers, there’s also the daily Casual Cosplay Competition, hosted on the main stage at 1pm. Entry happens every day on a first-come-first-serve basis in the Cosplay Central area. Coincidentally, Cosplay Central is also where cosplayers can find the all-important cosplay hospital (for emergency repairs), enjoy a dedicated space and backdrop for photos, and meet both local heroes and international cosplay guests. The latter includes the likes of Elizabeth Rage and Leon Chiro, who are back after their CCA 2022 appearance, and Mauritian star FredWolf Cosplay.

Cosplay attractions aren’t limited to the Cape Town Convention Centre either, where Comic Con Cape Town 2023 is taking place. On the Saturday, from 4-6pm there is a Cosplay for CANSA fundraising party on the Jolly Roger pirate boat at the V&A Waterfront.

But apart from the competitions, and scheduled events, people can obviously just dress up for fun at Comic Con Cape Town, and relish the reactions from con attendees as they encounter their favourite characters in the living, breathing flesh. That is probably the biggest rush for everyone, cosplayer and fan alike.