Cosplay & Performance

Official Cosplan Frames

Want to share your cosplans for Tekko this year? Feel free to use our special frames and share them on social media!

Download them here:

2 by 2 grid, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

single row of 4, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Cosplay Guests

ChibiTifa

ChibiTifa is a cosplayer & experienced seamstress from Maryland who has been in the hobby for over 15 years. Her passion for cosplay was ignited at her first ever anime convention which was Otakon 2002 and in 2004 she began her journey into the hobby. Since then, Tifa has made a vast array of costumes and has been a cosplay craftsmanship judge at several major conventions on the East Coast. As part of Team Stellar Rose, she was chosen to represent the US as Team USA 2021 at the World Cosplay Summit. Tifa makes it her mission to make the cosplay world more welcoming and diverse to any and all newcomers.

Linktree

Instagram

Photo credit: Solitadphoto

Nekoyasha

Nekoyasha is a long-time cosplayer from Ohio. She has been attending anime conventions since 2003 and creating cosplay since 2006. Over the years she has competed in cosplay contests for both craftsmanship and performance skits gaining awards along the way. In recent years, she has been working behind the scenes as a cosplay judge for local conventions. Forever swimming in a pile of spandex, she calls herself the “queen of using spandex in unconventional ways”. Nekoyasha is a huge advocate for diversity and accessibility in cosplay, and uplifting the black cosplay community.

Photo credit: Eeza Photo.

Vickybunnyangel

Vickybunnyangel is a Canadian cosplayer and Twitch Affiliate. She has dedicated herself to the art of cosplay for over a decade and received international acclaim for her work in magazines and numerous websites. During the pandemic she rediscovered the joy of streaming and created JRPG centered content in addition to cosplay. Vicky loves trying out new things and encourages others to get creative and innovative with their builds. From sewing, to thermoplastics, to dyeing, to 3D printing, Vicky does it all. She's worked with companies like Riot Games, Arda Wigs, Worbla North America, Redbull Gaming, Acer, Prime Video Canada, and Warner Brothers Canada.

Photo details: Vickybunnyangel as Technoblade Butterfly from Arena of Valor

Photo by Trickylove Photography

Enrana

Enrana of Asgard is a cosplayer from the DMV area who officially started cosplaying in October of 2014, but has loved dressing in costumes her whole life. Her love of theater and performing started early as well. She has been performing onstage and entering cosplay contests for years, and has won several awards including placing Best Advanced in last year's masquerade. She is also a strong advocate for body positivity, anti bullying and living with disabilities since she herself has struggled with all and values their importance.

Photo by Lyst Photography

Momo Kariño

Momo Kariño is a veteran cosplayer, seamstress, artist, and designer, who strives to spread happiness and inspiration to all! Her experience as a seamstress ranges from theater, to fashion, parades, theme parks, and even bridal! Momo has won numerous awards for her creations, and has served as a craftsmanship judge at several cons all over the U.S.

Dizzy Lizzy

From Maryland, DizzyLizzy is no stranger to the world of Costuming. For over 20 years, she has been creating costumes for herself and others while receiving several Best in Shows for her workmanship and performance skills. When she is not creating costumes, you can find her still behind her sewing machine creating bridal gowns for K&B Bridals and working her geeky fashion line for Silly Little Things. Lizzy believes in Cos-Positivity and stays active in the community by hosting workshops, judging, running Cosplay Departments such as Zenkaikon, Katsucon and AnimeNEXT, and is the curator of The Magic of Cosplay Exhibit. She is very excited to be attending Tekko this year and looks forward to meeting everyone!

FB: @DizzyLizzyCostuming

Insta: @DizzyLizzyCosp

Magic of Cosplay Exhibit

DizzyLizzy is bringing her “Magic of Cosplay Exhibit” to Tekko. For 2022, we have secured a number of beautiful costumes, props, and wigs for your viewing pleasure. The exhibit will give you a chance to get up close and personal with the creations, but please, No Touching. Don’t worry, we do have some great items that you can touch and a project you can participate in. We have videos, costume construction books, and a Cos-Positivity question for all to answer. We hope the exhibit will inspire you to get creative! Our Exhibit staff will be present to answer any and all questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at the convention. Would you like to be showcased in this exhibit? Please contact us on our Facebook page .

Ely Renae

Ely Renae is a local cosplay commissioner from Pittsburgh, PA. She started cosplay in 2012, and enjoys building large armor pieces and working with body paint! About 5 years ago, Ely took her love of her cosplay hobby and started Kangaroomis - a costume company that creates handmade fleece dresses, rompers, and accessories. Ely is a firm advocate that cosplay is for everyone, and she strives to make sure to have fully inclusive sizing, as well as custom sizing for all body types. Since starting Kangaroomis, she has created over 500 costumes for customers all over the world.

Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok at @kangaroomis.

Crafting to Career (hosted by Ely Renae)

Crafting to Career: Learn how to turn your artistic endeavors into a thriving business!

Do you have a lot of creative energy, and want to try selling your work? Or maybe do you have a really cool product, but just don't know where to start? Come learn all about how to turn your artistic endeavors into a thriving business! Learn how to choose what customers will want to buy, advertise, grow customer support, build and organize inventory, price products, and more. We'll teach you all you need to know to turn your hobby into a creative empire! There will be a Q&A at the end of the panel for any additional questions you may have!

Ely Renae is the founder, owner and lead stitcher at Kangaroomis, a cosplay brand of kigurumis, kigu dresses, rompers, and other fleece attire. She started cosplaying as a hobby in 2012, and launched her brand a few years later. Kangaroomis has been Ely's full-time job for the last 6 years, and she has picked up a TON of trade secrets along the way. She loves to talk business strategies, and wants to help other artists grow their brands as well!

Rakumaroo

Rakumaroo has been involved with theatre since she was young, but began performing cosplay themed skits at conventions in 2016. Since then, she has won a Judge's award as Princess Zelda at Tekko 2016, First Place as Princess Zelda at Tekko 2017, a Judge's Award as Yuno Gasai at Tekko 2018, First Place as Yuno Gasai at Hazardcon 2018, Best in Show as Ochaco Uraraka at Tekko 2019, and First Place as Violet Evergarden at Setsucon 2022.

Jez Roth

Cirque du Soleil. Celebrities. One Piece. EDC. Red Carpets. After many years of competing at anime convention masquerades, winning Best in Show 20 times with tailored costumes and heavily choreographed skits, he moved to Las Vegas to work for The Venetian designing the Opera Gowns. Eventually he landed at Cirque du Soleil’s water spectacular O building costumes. Since then, Jez has designed for clients such as Tao, EDC, the Billboard awards, with A-list celebrities such as Kim Kardiashian, Eva Langoria, Snoop Dogg, and DJs such as Benny Benassi, and Dash Berlin; He has represented the United States at the IOEA Otaku Expo in Japan as the American Cosplay Representative, was the head judge in the Official Sailor Moon Masquerade, the Canadian World Cosplay Summit 2016, and a couple hundred Cosplay Competitions all over the world. His journey went full circle when he was a designer for One Piece Gold, collaborating with Toei Animation and created official costumes for the anime series Aria and Emma. In Fall of 2019 he opened the first brick-and-mortar School of Cosplay: Cosplay.Vegas where students train in all forms of costuming and performance and have gone on to win awards all over the country. He loves ballroom dancing, cottagecore, coffee, Goldens, and of course, sewing. He is so happy to return to Tekko bringing with him his signature Lip Sync for your Cosplay!

Lip Sync for Your Cosplay

You'd Better WERK!

By popular request, Tekkocon is excited to be again hosting Jez Roth's Lip Sync for Your Cosplay!

Do you get your life from performing? That rush of getting onstage and being fierce? Then you'd better WERK! Lip Sync for Your Cosplay is the high-energy, heads-up dance battle competition where you show us what you're made of!

When and Where

Friday 7/22

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Formal Ballroom

How it works

For each round, a different song will be announced. From a show of hands, two people are randomly picked from the audience to battle against each other in a two minute competition. They each share the stage and once the music starts they lip sync, dance, perform, and SERVE the audience in a battle of performance, each fighting to keep the attention on them.

Once the music stops, the two judges declare one the winner.

Don't worry, we'll start with a demo song to show you the basics of a typical Lip Sync Battle.

Please note: You can only go once, unless there is a song that is short on volunteers.

Final Round

The Finale Song is not announced until the end of the event. Anyone is eligible to participate in the final round, even those who already performed! In the final round however, entrants will be selected by the judges - so if you already performed, your prior performance may be how they base their selections!

Guidelines

If you are practiced and able - Voguing -spins, hands, death drops are acceptable. No jumping off the stage or hard acrobatics.

No need to register in advance, just show up! Contestants are picked from the audience.

Will you win by choreography or being able to De-liv-er every syllable in Electric Shock? Is acting your forte? Play to your strengths!

You do not need to be in costume, but it adds to the performance element.

Judging is based off of three things: Knowing the words, choreography, and presence. This also factors in cosplaying elements - are you using parts of your costume i.e. a cape/prop to add to your performance? Are you nervous or owning the stage? Are you working the crowd or staying in one, stationary place?

So grab that costume, get dressed, and get ready to either perform or support the performers!

Cosplay Craftsmanship Contest

In the Craftsmanship Contest, cosplayers are judged on their ability to skillfully recreate a design in a private, scheduled interview with a panel of experienced judges. Please review all of the rules below before registering for this competition.

Info & Rules

1 Only costumes handcrafted by the entrant are allowed to be entered into the Craftsmanship contest. Commissioned, store-bought, or thrifted costumes cannot compete. Most of the costume should be made from scratch or heavily altered.

2 Official designs or fan art designs of licensed characters are welcome to compete. Original characters will not be permitted. All entries must have accompanying reference materials brought to their judging appointment. Participants will be judged on faithfulness to the design in addition to craftsmanship.

3 Participants may not enter a costume that has been judged in any previous Tekko craftsmanship contests.

4 If a costume will be modeled by someone else, the crafter of the costume is considered the entrant. They are the person who must submit the application, speak to the judges, and the one eligible for a craftsmanship award, not the person wearing the costume.

5 All craftsmanship awards will be presented during the performance event. Attending the performance is HIGHLY encouraged. If the entrant cannot participate for any reason, please notify a judge or staff member during the scheduled judging session. Entrants may also participate in the Walk-On portion of the performance, but it is not required.

6. Entrants with a Friday judging time slot may participate in the skit portion of the performance event. Entrants with a Saturday judging slot may not, due to the performance rehearsal conflict. Preference for a Friday or Saturday time slot will be in the application form.

7. Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment. If the participant does not show up at the time assigned, they will forfeit their right to compete.

8. Active Tekko staff and current guests are not permitted to compete.

Divisions

Junior : Participants 15 years of age or younger. This category is meant to encourage young participants to develop their crafting skills. As such, Junior entries must have made most of their own costume. Costumes made by adults for juniors cannot compete at the Junior level and must compete at the skill level of their creator.

Novice - You are new to costume making or have received no major* awards.

Journeyman - You have some experience in costume making or have received no more than 2 major awards.

Master - You are an experienced costumer or have received 3 or more major awards.

*Major award examples are: "Best Of…," "Best In…," "First Place," "Second Place," and so on. Judges' awards, fan favorite rewards, etc. do not count towards the participant’s skill level. Craftsmanship Contest skill levels only take into account awards won on the merit of craftsmanship. Performance rewards are not considered.

Participants may compete in a skill level higher than they are in, but may not compete lower level. We encourage entrants to challenge themselves! However, once the participant wins an award at a certain level, they can only compete at that level or higher from then on.

In a group, the skill level of that group is determined by the highest classed skill member of that group. For example, a group of Novices with one Journeyman must all compete as Journeymen.

Performance Contest

In the Performance Contest, cosplayers will take to the Main Stage and perform in front of a live audience. Performers are not judged on craftsmanship, only overall presentation. You may compete with bought or commissioned costumes.

Rules & Requirements

The Masquerade is open to Tekko attendees. Staff and guests are not permitted to compete.

You may not enter both Craftsmanship and Performance. Rehearsal conflicts with Craftsmanship judging. You cannot enter in both the Walk-Ons and Performance. You also cannot be in two different performance entries. Stage ninjas/helpers count as performers/entrants.

Being a cosplay masquerade, cosplay is required. No cosplay = no going onstage.

1 As this is a cosplay Masquerade, performers are required to be in cosplay. Please contact the coordinator if you have questions about your costume's appropriateness.

2 The Masquerade is open to Tekko attendees. Staff and guests are not permitted to compete.

3 Skits have a time limit of 4 minutes. The time it takes for you to get on and off the stage does not count toward your time limit. Your audio track must be within the time limit.

4 Tekko is an all-ages event and the material in the Performance section must reflect such. No explicit sexual references or gestures, obscene language, graphic violence, or nudity is permitted. All audio must be edited for content.

5 You will be required to submit a script of your skit for approval via email before the convention. Pre-recorded music and/or dialogue is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED and PREFERRED. We cannot guarantee more than 1 microphone. You will be asked to submit your audio file via email before the convention.

6 Masquerade rehearsal is mandatory unless cleared with the coordinator before the convention. Participants in Friday craftsmanship judging may also participate in the Masquerade, but not on Saturday judging as it is a scheduling conflict with rehearsal.

7 Stage combat and other more physical things will need approval at rehearsal to ensure the safety of attendees and equipment.

8 Whatever comes on the stage with you must leave the stage with you. Confetti, silly string, and other “messy” props are prohibited. Your performance must also be limited to the stage area.

9 You cannot enter in both the Walk-Ons and Performance. You also cannot be in two different performance entries. Stage ninjas/helpers count as performers/entrants. If you wish to enter both Craftsmanship and Performance, you must have a Friday judging time for craftsmanship.

Divisions

Novice - No more than 1 major award received Novices are new to performing and competing.

Advanced - 2 or more major awards received. Advanced competitors have some experience and have often competed or performed on stage before.

Categories may be changed/combined depending on cosplayer turnout.

Major awards are awards that are considered “Best Of” , “Best In”,”First Place”, “Second Place” and so on. Honorable mentions, gag awards and Judges awards do not count towards your skill level.

You may compete in a skill level higher than you are actually in, but you may not compete lower than your skill level. We encourage you to challenge yourself! BE AWARE- Once you win at a certain level you can only compete at that level or higher from then on out.

In a group, the skill level of that group is determined by the highest classed skill member of that group. For example, a group of novices with one journeyman must all compete as journeymen.

Walk-Ons

The Walk-Ons are a non-judged exhibition of cosplayers during the Performance Contest. You walk on the stage, pose a few times and that’s it!

This portion is open to all costumes from any genres, as well as original designs. You do not have to have made your costume to participate.

You may not be a Walk-on and in a Performance entry. Walk-ons do not attend rehearsal.

Registration for walk-ons will be done at con before the Performance Competition. Please show up at Main Events an hour before the competition starts and staff will direct you. There are limited spots available and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please have the following information ready to go! This will be written on a card that you will hand to the MC, who will read it to the audience as you walk on stage.

*IF YOU ARE WALKING ALONE:*

The name you want to be called on stage. This is YOUR name, not your character's name. A cosplay handle, nickname, or first name are all acceptable.
The character's name that you are cosplaying. If you are not cosplaying a character, write out what your costume is. For example, "original fox spirit design" or "historical kimono."
The title the character is from. For example, "My Hero Academia," "Genshin Impact," "Disney." If you are not cosplaying from a series, you do not need this information.

Examples:

Erica as Princess Jasmine from Disney's Aladdin

Bob Cosplay as an original fox spirit design

John as Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia.

*IF YOU ARE WALKING AS A GROUP:*

You will all be listed on one card. Please have the name of each group member followed by the character they are cosplaying, as well as series if you are all cosplaying from different media. Make sure that they are all comfortable with the name you provide being broadcast.
The title of the media the character is from. For example, "My Hero Academia," "Genshin Impact," "Disney." If you are not cosplaying from a series, you do not need this information.
You do not all have to be from the same series, but all groups must be under ten people.

Example:

Erica as Kyoko Kirigiri, Bob Cosplay as Makoto Naegi, and John as Monobear from Dangan Ronpa.

Dragon Cosplay as Batman and Evan as Goku from Dragonball Z.

Iron Cosplay

Hosted by our cosplay guest: Ely Renae!

Make costumes from actual garbage, play outrageous mini games, SABOTAGE your friends!

Join us for a fast-paced creative adventure, where you get to speed-build costumes, and maybe sabotage your friends a little bit along the way! The audience will be split into teams and must choose their Cosplay Champions to create the ultimate costume and win the competition! Champions will have to use scrap cosplay materials and their imagination to make a kick-ass costume before the time runs out. If you're not a creative type, never fear! Audience participation will be paramount in helping your team win this event. Compete in mini-games in order to sabotage other teams, or to help your team receive items that will help them build their costume! All sorts of entertainment, inventiveness, and mischief will be had! Don't miss out on this outrageous event!

To sign up for the Iron Cosplay event, use this document !

Cosplay Repair Station

You are now entering Hangar Bay 16 aka Cosplay Repair! We are a highly skilled group of Cosplayers and enthusiasts here to help you fix your minor costume and prop mishaps.

This FREE service is available for all with badges to the convention!

You will recognize our staff by their aprons and CRC badges. We will also have a Cosplay Medic wandering the convention to help with on the spot needs.

We have dressing rooms and stations for Wigs, Glues and adhesives, Sewing, general repair and paint. Our staff is knowledgeable in all areas. We are a safe space where you can change outfits, fix items (yes, even your pants for you non-cosplayers!) and prepare for judging.

Cosplay Guest Suggestions

Would you or someone you know make an amazing cosplay-themed guest at Tekko? Let us know who you want to see and why!