While South Africa’s three major cities have produced world renowned cosplayers, the cosplay scene in the Mother City is especially vibrant thanks to an active community and presence of several senpai. Which makes the cosplay on display at Comic Con Cape Town every year so exciting to see.
2024’s five-day pop culture celebration, taking place from 27 April to 1 May the CTICC2, brought together cosplaying locals and visitors from across the country, and even further abroad. The resulting mix included familiar faces, and loads of newcomers; casual cosplayers through to globally competitive masters. It didn’t matter the experience level or costume source though. Friendliness, positivity and appreciation was shared across the board.
On a more serious note, Comic Con Cape Town 2024 hosted two prestigious cosplay competitions in addition to daily casual cosplay contests.
First up, on the Sunday, was the World Cosplay Summit South African Qualifiers run by GeekXP. This year marked a return for the preliminary WCS competition, which last took place in 2019, pre-pandemic. Three duos participated, demonstrating a combination of crafting and performance skill as they acted out a short 2-minute scene from Japanese pop culture. In an extremely close judging, the winners ended up being Cape Town-based Team FrostyKin, comprising of Frostykity and Pamikin, who brought back classic survival horror game Fatal Frame to the stage. The pair will be heading to Japan in August to represent South Africa at the invite-only Summit in Nagoya.
As for the popular con-capping Comic Con Cape Town Cosplay Competition, run by GES Cosplay, on the Wednesday, the challenge was once more embraced by first-time competitors. In fact, the overall winner – who now gets a fast pass to the finals of Comic Con Africa 2024 – was making their competitive cosplay debut.
The full award winners’ list for the 2024 Comic Con Cape Town Regional Championship is as follows:
- Regional Champion of Cosplay: The Curious Tiger (as Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes)
- Regional Masters Champion: Neon Okami Cosplay (as Link from The Legend of Zelda)
- Regional Needlework Champion: GeekiGear (as Chopper from One Piece)
- Regional Champion of Armour: Life’s A Glitch (as Space Marine Titus from Warhammer 40K)
- Regional Best Wig: Tarz Martin (as Widowmaker from Overwatch)
- Regional Best Prop: Minaripari (for Pyramid Head from Silent Hill)
- Regional Best Newcomer: Alice
- Regional Most Creative Techniques Award: LokiDoki (as Raiden from Guilty Gear)
- Regional Judges’ Favourite: Leyla Heylen (as Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Regional Champion of Cosplay: The Curious Tiger. Photographer: Matthew Ashley 
Regional Masters Champion: Neon Okami Cosplay. Photographer: Matthew Ashley 
Top 3 Regional Champions of Armour: Life’s A Glitch (1st), KTL Cosplay (2nd), Zero (3rd). Photographer: Matthew Ashley 
Top 3 Regional Champions of Needlework: GeekiGear (1st), Leyla Heylen (2nd), Lania Titania (3rd). Photographer: Matthew Ashley 
Regional Best Newcomer: Alice, Regional Best Wig: Tarz Martin, Regional Best Prop: Minaripari. Photographer: Matthew Ashley 
Regional Most Creative Techniques Award: LokiDoki. Photographer: Matthew Ashley
Congratulations to all the winners, and competitors in general – for all their hard work and courage in stepping up on that stage. Now, with the competitive stuff out the way, below you’ll find some of the cosplay that caught our eye at the second-ever Comic Con Cape Town. It’s only a fraction of what was seen over those five jam-packed days.
As is tradition, if you’re one of the cosplayers spotlighted below, and want any images in high-res jpg (including any other snaps we have of you), please message us through the site’s social channels or by emailing noelle(at)pfangirl.com. See you at the next geeky gathering!
