Contest Rules

Qualifications for Representative Selection:

1. One team of two cosplayers will represent each country or region.

2. To participate in a preliminary round, cosplayers must provide, to the satisfaction of the preliminary round organizer, proof of citizenship or residency of the country or region holding the event. Participation as a representative of a country or region is permitted if the organizer or license holder is satisfied that the cosplayer is in the process of obtaining permanent residency in the specific country or region, and the corresponding residence status has been obtained under the legal system of the concerned country or region. In cases where regional affiliation is more relevant than national affiliation, or under joint systems such as confederations, participation is permitted as representative of the country or region to which cosplayers consider they belong.
   However, after participation as a representative of a specific country or region, participation as a representative of a different country or region is not permitted for 5 years from the year of participation, despite any changes in the cosplayer’s place of residence or nationality.
   The organizers of the corresponding country or region should be contacted for any question regarding the eligibility for participation and should they deem it necessary to be reviewed by the World Cosplay Summit Secretariat, the organizations and cosplayers shall adhere to the findings of that review.

A person who has held the position of the organizer in a country or region must step down from the organizer role and wait for at least one year before participating in the representative selection competition.

3. Participants shall be aged 18 and over by December 18th, 2025.
   
   
4. Participants shall be able to travel to Japan and participate in activities during the period of the World Cosplay Championship. In case it is not possible to travel to Japan, participants shall be able to participate in the schedule of the Championship and in the awarding ceremony via a remote online connection.
   
   
5. The organizers of preliminary round events are granted the right to select the representatives by a method of their choice. In the event that a change of representatives cannot be avoided, the organizers of preliminary round events can appoint new representatives provided that they meet the requirements for participation. In such cases, the organizers of preliminary round events shall duly inform the WCS Executive Office of the change of representatives and the grounds for the selection of the new representatives.
   
   

6. For the “World Cosplay Championship,” both representatives must select costumes based on characters from the same Japanese manga, anime, game, or tokusatsu series. Additionally, the cosplay costumes must be hand-made by the representative themselves.
   
   

• Characters from dôjinshi (fanzine), anthology, or original design works of IP protected characters are not permitted.
• The character must be recognizable as of Japanese origin. (For example, even if the anime is made in Japan, characters from Disney or Star Wars are not allowed.)
• Titles based on novels or popular stories originally published or created in countries other than Japan are allowed as long as they have been adapted into manga, anime, or games in Japan and their character designs have been created in Japan. (For Examples: Howl’s Moving Castle by Studio Ghibli)
• The costumes should generally be hand-made by the representatives, but they may receive help from family and friends and the assistance must be documented in their build books and disclosed to event organizers. Failure to disclose this information may result in disqualification.
• Costumes from stages or live-actions adaptations may be used as references, but championship’s costume judging will be based on the original work.

Rules and Expectation of Representatives:

1. Representatives shall cooperate in a positive manner in order to ensure the success of the World Cosplay Summit and its selection events.
   
   

2. Media, such as TV programs, internet sites, newspapers, magazines, etc., may use pictures of the representatives and images of the preliminary contests for the purpose of promoting the World Cosplay Summit. On these occasions, compensation will not be furnished.
   
   

3. Image rights in all media exposure such as the news from TV programs and other assorted media involved with the World Cosplay Summit, promotional activities in the print media as well as events and performances, announcements of the World Cosplay Summit during the World Cosplay Summit event period, will be attributed to World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee.
   
   

WCS USA Craftsmanship and Performance Scoring:

 Costume Judging (100 points)

Points are awarded according to the following three criteria related to the production of the constituent elements that express the character (costumes, hand props, makeup, wigs, etc.):

• The differences of race, gender, or size of the cosplayers with respect to the original characters will not influence the judging of the degree of completeness of the costume proper.

 
Level of precision in the costumes (40 points)

The costumes are evaluated by comparing the actual costumes with the design of the costumes in the original work.

If the actual costumes are completely identical to the costumes in the original work, the full points are awarded. If completely different, the lowest score of 0 points is given. In addition, in cases where there is an unknown part in a costume that appears in the original work, as long as the costume for judging is true to the spirit of the character and the atmosphere of the original work, design construction and choice of color are left up to the discretion of cosplayers, and differences between it and the image submitted of the costume in the original work will not affect scoring.

(ie: In the black and white manga, it is not possible to know the correct color of costumes)

Costume Quality (40 points)

The costumes are evaluated according to multiple factors, such as how well the costume is combined, how well it fits the contestant, how beautifully it is constructed/painted/sewn, etc.

Technique (20 points)

The techniques used to create the costumes shall be evaluated by number of techniques used and mastery of these individual techniques. These points shall be in addition to the overall construction and quality of costumes to support any work that exceeds expectation of the costume construction.

 
Stage Performance Judging (100 points)

Performance (50 points)

Evaluation of aspects such as the quality and degree of accomplishment of the performance, the manner in which the story is conveyed, the usage of props, the respect to the original work, or the overall entertainment value.

 
Acting/Stage proficiency (20 points)

Evaluation of the expressiveness on the stage, including aspects such as the degree of accomplishment of singing, dancing, or other active elements in the performance and how well-rehearsed they appear, the expressiveness of performers in scenes with simple or no action, or the delivery of dialogue.

 
Costume stage presence (20 points)

Evaluation of the impression caused by the costumes on the stage, such as the values that are first perceived when the costume appears on stage. Aspects such as the use of gimmicks to change the appearance or the structure of the costumes during the performance are also taken into consideration.

 
X Factor (10 points)

The additional evaluation of points that exceed expectations and results which are particularly moving or exciting, or of the realization of new ideas that had not been seen before in the competition.

 
Overall Scoring:

The total score is on a scale of 200 points (total of 1. Costume Judging and 2. Stage Performance Judging).
Should the final score for the Costume Judging and Stage Performance Judging result in a tie, the ranking will be determined at the discretion of the judges in deliberation and reviewed by staff.

Costume Judging Rubric and Further Explanation:

 Craftsmanship Judging:

 In the Costume Judging, each judge evaluates the excellence of the representative cosplayer’s handmade costume creation technique, design, or overall atmosphere. The jury will assign a score based on half of the full score (50 points on a 100-point scale), with points added or subtracted.

 All the costumes used by the representatives on stage with the elements composing the character are to be evaluated and judged. The subject for judging is all the costumes (more than one is acceptable), make-up, wigs, and hand props.

 All the elements deemed indispensable to portray the character are considered a part of the costume and can be subject to judging. Elements not worn by the cosplayers but placed on the stage (objects to be used as assistance for the performance) cannot be subject to costume judging.

Judging is to be carried through a combination of costume build book and in person judging.

The judging order will be decided before the contest begins. The order may be changed only with the approval of the Organizing Staff and will only be allowed for reasons such as health or emergency circumstances.

Additionally, in case the Organizing Staff requests the correction of documents determined to be defective, it is required to resend a corrected version of the documents addressing the defects indicated from the Organizing Staff within 48 hours from the communication of the request.

Failure to adhere to requested timelines may result in disqualification for the competition year. 

Stage performance judging:

In the stage judging, the judges evaluate the representative cosplayer’s staging, expressiveness, creativity, entertainment value, and other overarching impressions through an on-stage performance of a maximum of 2:30 minutes. The jury will assign a score based on half of the full score (50 points on a 100-point scale), with points added or subtracted.

All requested and required items for participation must be submitted by the deadlines assigned by the Organizing Staff before the judging, together with original photos of the costumes, audio files, and video materials.

While contestants are free to select the content of their performance, they should leave the stage promptly after the conclusion of their performance unless otherwise advised. Actions that have the potential to dirty the stage or leave any residue or marks behind are prohibited, and contestants should act in accordance with the competition rules. The props left on the stage after the performance will be collected by the staff members, and neither the staff members or Organizers shall be held liable for any damage caused to the props during collection.

The period of about 60 seconds before the start of each performance is treated as change-over time. Performances that have stage props will have the props set by themselves and Event Staff during this interval. This time is used to emulate the experience at the Championship event in Japan and will be strictly adhered to at the WCS USA Selections. To this effect, it is required that ALL WCS USA HOPEFUL TEAMS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A STAGE REHERSAL BEFORE PERFORMING.

It is not possible for anyone other than the two representatives to act as support during the performance. There will be no stage ninjas and no staff interaction beyond assisting the placement and retrieval of set pieces/props before and after the performances.

 The order of performances will be decided beforehand at random by the Organizing Staff. Once the order has been decided, it cannot be changed for any reason other than health reasons.

Full Rules for Participation:

Costume Judging:

All items that are judged should all be made by the 2 representatives themselves. A proportion of 75% or more of the items should be handmade, and the process and method of production shall be explained in the costume build book. If friends or family members have assisted in the creation process, this should be clearly presented in the costume report. If it is determined that 25% or more of an item is not made by hand, the item will not be included in the judging.

Items which are heavily transformed (such as covered shoes or altered gloves and stockings) may be used if the techniques of their transformation are documented.

Shop-purchased items (commercial articles) with no transformation (outside of basic items such as tights, standard undergarments, etc.) that are included or used on stage will not be eligible for judging. Shop-purchased pre-made props, outside of set decoration, are not allowed.

In case that details are changed with respect to the original work, such as when adding parts for gimmicks, this must be clearly explained in the costume build book.

3D Printing:

It is permitted to use fully automatic production tools that rely on data input, such as 3D printers or fabric printers. Aspects such as the modeling data, balance with the costume, finishing, paint, and coating or fitting/attachment to the representative are to be judged with the costume if it is part of the worn structure of a costume. Items which are hand props and not attached to the body of the representative will be judged separately as hand props.

Purchasing digital 3D models is allowed (like the purchasing of commercial sewing patterns) provided the original creator of the model is credited by the representatives. Representatives may utilize public places such as maker spaces and libraries for the use of 3D printers and are not required to own a 3D printer for their prints to be judged.

However, the items will only be judged on the steps the representatives themselves carry out. These steps are to be clearly outlined in the cosplay build book of the representatives and should clearly indicate which steps were taken to produce the final result. Items which have less process steps or are of low quality when they are finished will receive lower scores than items which follow multiple process steps and have high quality in their finishing.

Examples of these multiple steps include modeling/creation of the 3D print, printing/scaling and manipulation of materials used for the print, finishing, including connecting the seams of multiple printed pieces to create a larger piece, sanding, priming, painting, and the attachment of these items to the costume/body of the representative.

Cosplayers who create their own 3D files will need to show proof of their work (ie: a digital signature and/or screenshots of their process) and be able to explain their processes in their cosplay build book or in their craftsmanship presentation. Failure to acknowledge a purchased 3D print file or lying about the origin of 3D print files will be grounds to exclude the items from judging and they will receive no points.

Additional:

Items which are purchased and printed/finished not by the representatives will be treated as ‘purchased’ items like pre-made swords or knives. There must be at least 50% alteration to a purchased item for it to be considered for craftsmanship judging. Items which are purchased and have little to no alteration work from the cosplayer will be excluded from craftsmanship judging entirely.

If an issue arises upon which it is difficult to make a decision regarding a representative’s costume, it will be discussed by the judges and the Organizing Staff.

All representatives must comply with the decision of the Organizing Staff or may withdraw.

Stage Performance Judging:

Items including costumes that are necessary for the performance are to follow the rules below:

Please note that all weights and measurements are required to be in metric for the WCS Championship event and should be prepared by representatives accordingly.

A maximum of 3 stage props/sets are allowed. Each item should weigh under 10 kg (22lbs) and measure no more than 2,100 mm (82 inches) in height, 2,100 mm (82 inches) in width, and 900 mm (35 inches) in depth.

Furthermore, unique items that are used to hide the costumes or that include special features such as gimmicks or other mechanisms, must be clearly indicated in the performance sheet. Also, in case that stage props need to be connected, unfolded, or manipulated likewise, such an adjustment must be carried out within the 2:30 minute limit for the stage judging.

Failure to adhere to these rules may result in disqualification.

Items other than the stage props that need to be set on or at the side of the stage before the performance are to be set by the representatives. The setup should be possible within the stage changeover time (60 seconds), and the total weight of costumes and props should not exceed 40 kg (88lbs)

Weapons such as shop-purchased imitation swords, katana, or similar items are prohibited. If the Organizing Staff considers an item to be dangerous, for such reasons as the possibility that it can be dropped and/or cause injury to the audience during the performance, its use may be prohibited at their discretion.

Logos, Videos, Music, etc.:

The use of official illustrations or logos from WCS or official logos and images from other original works on items required for the performance is prohibited.

Rules for the use of background music and videos are as follows:

Music used in the video must be played or sequenced by the representatives if it is music that would otherwise be subject to rights management by JASRAC, or it must be copyright-free music and sound clips. Representatives and Organizers should confirm that no sound sources used in the representative’s video incur copyright infringement.

Background videos may be projected on the screen set up on the stage. As the use of such videos is intended to assist with the stage and enhance the scope of the stage production, points will not be awarded for the quality of the background video.

Audio must be in English. The use of background music or the words of voice actors from original works (in any language) and the copying or tracing of scenes or images appearing in original works for use in the background videos is not permitted. In addition, the use of videos for which the copyright holder is someone other than the representative team is also prohibited.

In addition to the above points, background videos are to be produced in accordance with the following points:

• Standard backgrounds: backgrounds that augment the stage atmosphere. i.e.: landscapes, groups of buildings, interiors
  • Permitted production methods: live-action video, hand drawn illustrations, computer graphics, dioramas, etc.
• Special effects: Explosion, energy, or light effects that coordinate with movements of the cosplayers on stage.
  • Permitted production methods: live-action video, hand drawn illustrations, computer graphics, dioramas, etc.

 
Sound: Full stereo at least 192 kbps Image: 1920×1080 pixels, Screen resolution 1080p, Aspect ratio 16:9 If using a background video, submit it as a video file mixed with the sound clip in one of the following file formats: MOV, MP4, AVI, or WMV.

The video data must be submitted with a resolution of 1080p  (1920×1080 pixels), a screen aspect ratio of 16:9, and in MOV or MP4 file format.

Additional rules regarding special effects and further considerations:

Performing in the audience area or outside of the stage is prohibited.

All items used in the performance must remain on stage.

Props, performers, or items which pass the stage and into the audience may result in disqualification.

Using the following materials is not allowed:

• Powder, small confetti (metallic, plastic, paper, etc.)
• Fire or Smoke
• Water or any Liquids
• Items which produce a strong smell or leave residue upon the stage
• Paper/feathers/petals smaller than 2 cm may not be scattered on stage beyond what may naturally fall off a costume or set piece. No items should be scattered and left behind on stage.
• Crackers that use gunpowder
  
  
• Kabuki streamers can be used provided that their clean up does not exceed the time limit of stage turn over or interfere with the performances following their use.
  
  

Event Organizers will stop the use of any material that it deems dangerous or a hindrance to further changeover of the stage. When planning any special stage effects please consult with the Event Organizers in advance. Only equipment that has been approved by the Event Organizers can be used for special effects. (i.e. make an explosive sound, emit strong lights or strobe, etc.)

Performers are not allowed to use any other external power source, such as the plugs, at the venue. All power must come from built-in batteries only.

For the World Cosplay Summit USA Selection:

Any performance and costumes used in the preliminary selection round must be new performances and costumes which have never used in competition before the preliminary selection round. The only exception to this rule is teams which have been selected at Delegate Selection Events.

The performance at the Championship can be the same as, or different from the performance given in the preliminary selection round. However, if it is the same, it should be enhanced to a level appropriate for the Championship stage.