Anime Senpai Cosplay Contest

Interested in entering our annual Cosplay Contest?
Then you’ve come to the right page! Make sure you review the guidelines and rules for the contest before you enter.

The contest is held on the Saturday of the convention, October 7. Exact times TBA.

Contest Preregistration

WHAT IS PRE-REGISTRATION?

We offer a chance for contestants to register for our contest in advance of the convention. This allows our contestants adequate time to plan and prepare their entries without the last minute hassle of entering at the con as well as freeing up your time to enjoy the convention more.

WHY PRE-REGISTER FOR THE CONTEST?

We almost always fill up all craftsmanship division spots BEFORE the convention starts. Preregistering is the best way to ensure you are entered in the contest, especially if you are interested in entering in a craftsmanship division. We usually have Exhibition division spots available to register for on site at the convention.

Pre-registration opens on August 1, 2023. Pre-registration closes on September 30, 2023 or when entries are full, whichever comes first.

Skill Categories

Anime Senpai maintains skill and experience-based divisions in order to ensure that both novice and experienced cosplayers have a reasonably equal chance to win one of the big competitive awards given in the contest.

The Novice division is intended for competitors who are new to cosplay, crafting, or cosplay contests in general. Anyone who is a professional (defined as someone who earns revenue from cosplay or related crafting) is not eligible for this division. This division is generally recommended for those in their first 1-3 years of cosplaying or contests. Anyone who has won major awards at Anime Senpai at the Novice level already cannot enter this division. If you have won major awards (at least 2) at other similar or larger sized conventions and are unsure if you are ready to move up, please email jessi.gaston@mcaentertainment.org with pictures of your work and we will discuss the correct placement for you.

The Journeyman division is intended for competitors with an intermediate level of skill with cosplay and/or contests who do not feel ready to move up to the Master division yet. Anyone who is a professional is not eligible for this division. Anyone who has won major awards at Anime Senpai at the Journeyman level already cannot enter this division. If you have won major awards (at least 2) at other similar or larger sized conventions and are unsure if you are ready to move up, please email jessi.gaston@mcaentertainment.org with pictures of your work and we will discuss the correct placement for you.

The Master division is open to anyone who wishes to enter. A professional is required to enter this division. This division is recommended for those with an advanced skill level and/or years of experience entering contests.

The Exhibition division is judged ONLY on stage presence and overall appeal. The costumes in this division are NOT judged on craftsmanship ability. Exhibition contestants are NOT prejudged and only walk the stage during the evening competition. This division is for contestants who did not make their costume or who do not wish to go through the prejudging process. 

Exhibition competitors are ineligible for major craftsmanship awards but can win minor awards based on presentation during the Cosplay Contest at the judges’ discretion.  

Contestants should enter this division if: 

  • They did not make 60% or more of their costume.  
  • The costume is purchased or commissioned (please see details about exceptions for commissioned costumes under Entry Guidelines, rule number 15). 
  • They have already won a major award with the same costume at this convention or a similarly sized one. 
  • They do not wish to go through the prejudging process or there are no prejudging spots left but the contestant still wants to enter in some capacity. 

The Junior division is for entries age 12 and under. In order to encourage our young cosplayers, if the junior contestant participated in the construction of their costume in any capacity, they may enter to be prejudged. If the costume is purchased or commissioned, they are treated like an Exhibition contestant and not prejudged. If a parent or guardian made the costume, they can enter the costume to be prejudged but in the adult’s skill level division and the adult is considered the winner should any prizes be won. ALL Junior contestants, regardless of judging status, receive a participation prize and walk together in the Junior portion of the contest.

Due to the various levels of craftsmanship skill and experience that may exist within a single group entry, Yama-Con does not maintain a major group award. It is possible for a group to win the major award “Best in Show” but for this condition to exist, every costume worn by the members of the group must have been made by at least one member of the group. Having one group member in a commissioned costume (unless it follows rule 15 in the entry guidelines) will make the group ineligible for any Major craftsmanship-based awards. However, it is possible for individual members within the group to win a major craftsmanship award. 

Groups must share any awards won. No additional rosettes, trophies, money, etc. will be supplied for all group members. 

Award Categories

The Cosplay Contest operates under the principle “Excellence Deserves Award”. What this means is that we want to recognize all instances of excellence in craftsmanship. If an entry shows merit, it should receive an award.

We maintain two classes of awards: Major and Minor. Major awards affect future division placement. These awards are classified as “Best in Show” or “Best in Division.” Minor awards do not affect future division placement. They include any “runner-up,” Judge’s Choice, and non-Craftsmanship based awards.

This award is granted to competitors who have the overall highest aggregate score. Only skill-based entrants who have gone through the prejudging process are eligible for this award. Winning “Best in Show” will impact future division placement.

These awards are usually granted to competitors who have the highest aggregate score in their respective divisions, however; the contest judges retain the discretion to grant the “Best in Division” award to another competitor based on our “Excellence Deserves Award” principle. Only skill-based entrants who have gone through the prejudging process are eligible for this award. Winning a “Best in Division” award will impact future division placement.

This award is granted to outstanding presentation in the Junior/Youth Division. While this award is designed to recognized a single outstanding youth contestant, all youth participants receive a certificate for participating in the contest. Winning this award will not affect future placement.

These awards are granted to competitors based on the “Excellence Deserves Award” principle. While contestants may not have necessarily achieved the highest aggregate score in their divisions, judges may choose to grant these awards based on other criteria. All contest participants are eligible for minor awards, including Exhibition entries. Winning these awards will not effect future placement.

We no longer maintain a fixed list of minor awards.

Anime Senpai has developed the following guidelines to adhere to the International Costuming Guild’s guidelines for ensuring fair competition. By aligning with these established standards, we hope to make cosplayers of all skill levels feel more comfortable and welcome in our annual contest! 

  1. Only contestants who have submitted their costumes for prejudging are eligible for Major awards.
  2. Contestant costumes are expected to adhere to the established Safety and Weapons policies.
  3. Contestants must wear their costume to prejudging.
  4. Contestants who are entering the contest under the Exhibition category do not submit their costumes for pre-judging. They will just walk the stage during the evening show and be judged purely on overall presentation.
  5. A contestant who misses their appointment will be rescheduled as time permits. Although we will try to accommodate the contestant, if we are unable to do so, the contestant will be reclassified as an Exhibition and will not be eligible for a major award.
  6. Contestants are expected to provide some kind of visual documentation for their costume if they are pre-judged. A reference photo is required for all contestants submitting to pre-judging. Progress photos taken during the construction of the costume are not required but are highly encouraged. Contestants who registered for pre-judging online can submit their photos with their application and do not need to provide them again at the convention. It is the policy of the convention not to print out reference photos for contestants. Using an image on a cell phone for a reference is frowned upon but may be considered in extenuating circumstances with the approval of the Director. Due to the use of the reference photos as guides for the judges who may not be familiar with the character, it is strongly encouraged that these pictures be both clear and in color. Due to the increased costs of color printing, contestants are NOT required to leave their photos with the judges unless they choose to.
  7. Contestants must walk in the Cosplay Contest evening show in order to be eligible for any awards.
  8. Contestants must walk in the Cosplay Contest in the same costume they submitted to pre-judging.
  9. Contestants are expected to arrive in the Main Event room at the time designated by staff in order to be placed in the line-up. This is usually an hour before the Cosplay Contest begins. Contestants who do not arrive on time run the risk of not being able to walk during the Cosplay Contest and will no longer be eligible for any awards.
  10. Contestants in the Junior/Youth divisions must be accompanied by an adult throughout the Cosplay Contest.
  11. Contestants with large and elaborate costumes are welcome to bring a handler with them to assist them during the Cosplay Contest. If a contestant requires extra assistance, a volunteer will be assigned to help.
  12. Contestants are responsible for keeping up with their own personal belongings. Convention personnel cannot secure personal items for contestants. They are advised to leave anything of value somewhere safe or with someone they trust. We discourage wearing your badge while on stage.
  13. Contestant costumes must be self-contained (i.e. utilize a battery back) as the convention cannot provide any power sources for costumes on stage.
  14. Contestants are responsible for alerting staff members or volunteers of any problems they may be experiencing during the contest. This includes overheating in costumes. Contestants will not be penalized for removing part of their costume in the case of an emergency.
  15. Commissioned costumes are only eligible for craftsmanship awards and entry into the Novice, Journeyman, or Master divisions if the creator of the costume is present for pre-judging. In this scenario, any awards, if won, are presented to the creator. The individual wearing the costume is considered a model only.
  16. Contestants are not permitted to throw any objects on or off the stage. This includes but is not limited to silly string, glitter, props, etc. Any contestant who violates this rule is responsible for the cleanup fees incurred by the convention center.
  17. Any part of the costume that a contestant wants to remove while they’re on stage is the sole responsibility of the contestant. The contestant (or their handler) must pick up and remove the discarded costume pieces on stage at the conclusion of the contestant’s stage walk. The removed pieces may not be thrown off the stage or at any person or equipment on stage. Any damage to the stage rigging or electronics is the sole responsibility of the contestant.

While it is the convention’s policy to try to reach an amicable solution to any challenges during the Cosplay Contest, the cosplay department does maintain certain conditions in which a contestant may become disqualified, banned from future competitions, and escorted off of the convention floor.

  1. Contestants who are found to have purposely misled the judges on either the construction of their costume or on their level of experience and skill in order to compete in a lower-division will be immediately disqualified. In the cases where this is not discovered until after the competition has ended, the contestant will be banned from participating in future Cosplay Contests.
  2. Contestants who are found to have presented a commissioned costume (and the creator is not present for pre-judging) or a store-bought, mass-produced
    costume as a constructed costume will be immediately disqualified. In the cases where this is not discovered until after the competition has ended, the contestant will be banned from participating in future Cosplay Contests. Any instance where the individual misunderstood the rules or criteria and entered the costume in good faith will simply be reclassified as an Exhibition contestant or given a score of 1 for every part that was not created by them.
  3. Any contestant who displays nudity on stage during the Cosplay Contest will be disqualified and dismissed immediately.
  4. Contestants who make profane, political, religious, or any other disruptive statements, including through the use of signage or clothing, during the Cosplay Contest will be disqualified and dismissed immediately.
  5. Any contestant displaying physical or verbally abusive behavior to any staff members and volunteers, convention center staff, judges, other
    competitors, or convention attendees will be disqualified, dismissed from the Cosplay Contest, and banned from future competitions. Extremely serious infractions will result in having convention membership revoked and being escorted off the premises immediately.
  6. Any contestant who fires a projectile from the stage during the Cosplay Contest without the expressed permission and pre-approval of the Cosplay Director will be disqualified.
  7. Any contestant who throws silly string, glitter, or any other product that leaves residue on the stage or convention floor/walls/chairs will be solely responsible for the cleanup fees incurred by the convention center and disqualified from entering any future cosplay competitions.
  8. Contestants are discouraged from performing any acrobatics on stage for safety reasons. This includes but is not limited to flips, kicks, and high jumps. Performing a maneuver that was not approved by the Cosplay Director may result in disqualification.
  9. The use of explosive devices is expressly prohibited. The use of one by a contestant will result in disqualification and dismissal from the Cosplay Contest
    as well as having their membership revoked and being escorted off the premises.
  10. Contestants who are visibly intoxicated will not be allowed to participate in the Cosplay Contest. Any contestant found to be intoxicated during the contest will be dismissed and disqualified.
  11. The Director and other executive-level staff maintain the right to dismiss and disqualify contestants for reasons that are not expressly listed here.

  • Convention: Anime Senpai

  • Theme: Class of ’23

  • Date: October 6th – 8th, 2023

  • Location: Gateway Center in Collinsville, IL

Don’t Miss out!

Anime Senpai: Class of ’23!

Tier 1 Registration: February 1st 7 PM CST – February 28th 11:55 PM CST

Tier 2 Registration: March 1st 12:00 AM CST– August 31st 11:55 PM CST

Tier 3 Registration: September 1st 12:00 AM CST– October 6th 10:00 AM CST