Cosplayicalia

In Brazil, the birth of cosplay occurred at an anime convention in São Paulo in 1996. Since then, the act of wearing of elaborate costumes and then going to a big room to compete and hang out with other people wearing elaborate costumes has exploded. Brazilian nerds were starving for something like this, and now that they have it, they are chomping it down like a horde of Jewish dads at a tantalizing bar mitzvah buffet of deep-fried obscure cartoon characters. Here are a few cosplay devotees we recently met in Liberdade, a Japanese neighborhood in São Paulo. They were in costume for no apparent reason other than that it’s awesome.

Leonardo Piccoli Mendes, 19 years old

Vice: What are you wearing?

Leonardo:

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is he your most favoritest ever?

It seems like you’re a little uncomfortable.

And how much did it cost you?

Do people make fun of you?

Azzis Jirges Hanna Netto, 25 years old

Vice: Who are you?

Azzis:

You’re a pioneer of the whole scene in Brazil.

You’re huge, kind of a big bear. Doesn’t it seem weird to people who know you?

Have you ever taken a cop to an event?

YuYu Hakusho

Loren de Oliveira Louro, 20 years old

Vice: Who are you dressed as?

Loren:

Burst Angel

And did you make your costume?

A passerby just called you a hottie. Does that happen to you a lot in the streets?

Are you ashamed of exposing your body?

You don’t care because it’s not your ass showing, it’s the character’s?

Fabiola Russo, 29 years old

Vice: What are you wearing?

Fabiola:

Bleach

Are you the oldest in your group?

How long have you been cosplaying?

What do you do in your spare time?

And what’s the psychological profile of your character?

Gabriel Niemietze Braz, 27 years old

Vice: Well, we know who you’re supposed to be. How old were you when you started cosplaying?

Gabriel:

Like what?

So you’re into contests?