Photo by Get Geekish
Photo by Chris Gilstrap

Cosplay Competition Information

Important Dates & Times to Know

Online Signup:
Opens: Afternoon of July 21st, 2024  Closes: End of Day July 27th, 2024
Note: Any emails sent before signup opens will be deleted.

Changes From Last Year:

  • Stage Shape and Dimensions  **TBD**
  • Children’s Category has been dissolved. They may now compete in the appropriate skill category whether they made the cosplay or their parents. Or they can enter the Cosplay Catwalk during intermission. More details below.
  • NDK Cosplay Discord Server and Waitlist rules
  • Portfolio Requirements
  • After Competition Photos in the Corridor 
  • Cosplay Catwalk Info
  • Check-in Details:
    • Location: MainStage
    • Times: August 30th, 2024. Friday Evening, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
    • You may Check In during your Craftsmanship Slot but you must tell the Cosplay Head prior to Check In time on Friday.
    • Reminder: All members of an entry must check in; failure to do so results in disqualification.
  • Communication
    • Communication is mostly done through email prior to the competition and convention. 
    • During the convention, communication will be done through the NDK Cosplay Discord Server. The server is open to all but those in the Competition and the Cosplay Catwalk will be given specific roles on the server during the competition and convention that gives them access to channels only for them. 
    • Exceptions will be made only for those who have talked and communicated with the Cosplay Area Head about it. 
    • Facebook Messages are hit or miss as we get closer to the convention as all attention is given to the email and application processes. 
    • If you have any questions and you cannot get a hold of cosplay staff during the convention, please contact Operations Staff for help.
  • Craftsmanship Portfolios:
    • Portfolios are to be given to judges during craftsmanship judging slots
    • Portfolios will be up for display backstage during the competition, which you may take home at the end of competition. You may opt out for your Portfolio being put on display.  Any Portfolio left backstage will be given to Operations to be picked up by your Cosplay Name.
    • Craftsmanship Questionnaires are given merely as guides for Portfolios. They are not required for the Portfolios. 
    • Digital Portfolios will be permitted but know that it will not be considered for the Best In Portfolios Award. Digital Portfolios means showing it on a tablet. We prefer not phones because they are not large enough and  not easy to navigate for our judges in their slotted times.
    • Do not send your portfolio digitally to us, they will get lost and not printed in the mass emails of the competition.
    • Examples will be on our NDK Cosplay Facebook Page
  • Waiting List:
    • The Waitlist is a Live channel on the exclusive Nan Desu Kan Cosplay Discord Server. If you do not have a Discord account, we will text the phone number given during the application process. 
    • Waitlisted Contestants have 30 minutes to respond to a message or it will be given to the next one in the queue. This is highly important for Craftsmanship slots.
    • Slots will be offered to waitlisted contestants if a contestant does not show up or backs out.
    • We will no longer email Contestants on the Waitlist. 
    • Those who back out without warning or talking with the Cosplay Area Head will be disqualified and be put on a 1 year probation for entering the competition. Special exceptions will be made if communicated with the Cosplay Area Head.
  • Green Room Information:
    • Green Room is the Check In and Beginning of the Cosplay Competition. If you do not make it to check in, you will not be allowed to walk on stage.
    • If you happen to be part of a group, your group will go on without you unless they forfeit their place.
    • Cosplay Competition Check In is Saturday 3:00pm to 3:45pm
    • Check In is through the VGR Room in the back. There will be signs. It is the same place as last year. A staffer will be there to meet you and check you in.
    • Competition starts at 4pm exact. No exceptions.
Photo by Get Geekish
Photo by Chris Gilstrap

Cosplay Requirements

  • You must have purchased a badge with the convention before you register online for the costume contest.
  • NDK weapons policy will be enforced.
  • Cosplay area head has final say! 

Costume Requirements:

  • Everyone competing must be pre-registered for the convention before entering the contest.
  • Adherence to NDK’s cosplay and weapons policy is mandatory.
  • Decisions are final by the Cosplay Area Head and/or Nan Desu Kan’s Directors.
  • Previous award-winning costumes at NDK or larger conventions are not allowed.
  • All costumes, even barefoot characters, must include shoes.
  • Torso covering required for all contestants, all genders. This pertains to the chest area, not the stomach. Please see Convention Cosplay Policy for details.
  • Nudity, even the illusion of such, is strictly forbidden.
  • Contestants will NOT be considered, and will be immediately removed from the contest if they paint their skin to appear as a different real-life race. Fantastical skin colors are permitted
  • Category Specifications
    • Beginner – Entrants cannot have more than 50% of their costume be street clothes. Out of that 50%, 25% of the street clothes must be modified.Beginners get 1 minute for their performance and walk on.
    • Intermediates – Entrants cannot have more than 25% of their costume be street clothes and all street clothes used must be modified. Intermediates get a 1 1/2 minute for their performance and walk on.
    • Masters – Entrants are not allowed to have any street clothes. Any props not made by the contestant must be approved by the cosplay area head. Masters get 2 minutes for their performance and walk on.
  • Genres and Restrictions:
    • All genres are welcome within the convention’s dress code and TVPG rating.
    • Best in Show award is restricted to East Asian origin or inspired by it.
  • Modeled and Commissioned Costumes:
    • Commissioned costumes must be one-of-a-kind and for the wearer and entered as a modeled cosplay.
    • No ebay or over the counter cosplays.
    • Modeled cosplays require consent from the costume maker for eligibility.
  • Professional Costumers:
    • Defined as those earning 50% or more income from costume commissions.
    • They can only enter into the Masters Category

Competition Details

  • Entry Slots:
    • 45 to 60 slots available depending on the ratio of the different categories.
    • Maximum 6 participants per slot; non-transferable entries.
  • Performance:
    • You may not throw or whip props around. 
    • You may not take or use any sort of spray paint, silly string, fireworks, projectiles, water or any other items on stage that could mar the stage or leave a mess. 
    • You may not run onstage or run/jump offstage or perform any acrobatics. 
    • You may not use signs in the costume contest. 
    • Doing any of these things will immediately disqualify you and you will be held responsible for any and all damages and/or medical bills that may occur as a result.
    • NDK’s cosplay contest is rated TVPG (Parental Guidance Suggested): This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive dialogue (D).
  • Performance Times:
    • Beginners: 1 minute
    • Intermediates: 1.5 minutes
    • Masters: 2 minutes
    • You do not have to fill the full time, but any audio past that will be cut off right at the time mark.
    • All performances include setup and teardown within allotted time.
Photo by Get Geekish

Audio, Time and Stage Information

 

  • Audio and Stage Requirements:
    • No music or audio submissions will be accepted late or on site.
    • Audio submissions (MP3, WAV, WMV) are due with confirmation emails
    • All audio must have your category and name or cosplay groups name in the title nothing else. Example: BeginnerJohnDoe or MastersRockNRollCosplay
    • All audio submitted for entries will start when the first contestant steps onto the stage unless otherwise asked for. 
    • All audio submitted for entries must note visual cue, otherwise audio will begin when the first contestant steps onto the stage.
    • Total maximum running time is listed in each category. Overlong audio will be cut right at the time limit. No exceptions. 
    • If you need help getting on or off stage because of the size or intricacy of the costume you may have one handler with you. They must be pre-approved either online or at check-in on Friday night/Saturday morning. They do not have to be pre-registered for the convention but we will need their full name. 
    • Due to space issues children may only have one parent or guardian accompanying them backstage.
    • Stage and light directions required with audio submission. Keep in mind that we have very limited abilities with lighting and sound. At max fade out and fade ins.
    • ADA compliant stage; It is a Proscenium Stage with an apron frontstage. Dimensions are Main Stage 32 feet  x 12 feet, Apron Runway is 12 feet long, 32 feet wide. The space of the stage is 6ft wide on the runway. Example below.
    • All contestants must use the stairs to get off the stage unless your costume is too large for the stairs or you are in need of it for mobility reasons. There is no longer a runway. 

  • Craftsmanship:
    • Categories are Beginner, Intermediate, Masters
    • Craftsmanship judging is based on workmanship, pre-scheduled sessions. 
    • Check out our Cosplay Facebook for break down of the scoring for Craftsmanship
  • Photos After The Competition
    • Photos will not be on the stage at the end of the competition this year
    • For photos please go to the cosplay photo corridor
    • All Winners will be asked to go for a quick group photo and individual photos to celebrate them!
Photo by Get Geekish

Competition Awards

    • Main Awards:
      • Best in Show (East Asian origin only)
      • Best in Performance (Beginner, Intermediate, Masters)
      • Best in Craftsmanship (Beginner, Intermediate, Masters)
      • Best in Category (Combined presentation and craftsmanship scores, Beginner, Intermediate, Masters)
    • Specialty Awards:
      • Audience Favorite, The Consulate General of Japan’s Award
      • Cosplay Area Head Award, Cosplay Judges Awards (One for Each Judge)
      • Best Video Game, Best in Portfolios
    • Prizes: Total over $4000 in cash and trophies!
      • Awards distributed to the entire group per slot.
      • Best in Show – $800 Cash, Trophy, Cosplay Judge for 2025, Cosplay Guest Status at NDK 2025 with hotel room and board paid for by NDK.
  • Best in Performance
      • Beginner $100 cash, Certificate
      • Intermediate  $150 cash, Certificate
      • Masters $200 cash, Certificate
    • Best in Craftsmanship 
      • Beginner $100 cash, Certificate
      • Intermediate  $150 cash, Certificate
      • Masters $200 cash, Certificate
    • Best in Category 
      • Beginner $200 cash, Trophy
      • Intermediate  $300 cash, Trophy
      • Masters $500 cash, Trophy
    • Specialty Awards
      • Cosplay Area Head Award $100, pass to NDK 2024
      • Audience Favorite $100 Cash, Certificate
      • Ringo’s Award $100, pass to NDK 2024
      • Best in Portfolios Award $50, Certificate
      • Best Video Game Award $50, Certificate
      • Cosplay Judges Award $50 each, CertificateNOTE:  Judge’s Awards are awards given out by NDK’s guest judges to their favorite costume or cosplay contestants. These awards go to the costume of each judge’s choosing. There is no contest-mandated criteria for who a judge or specialty award may give an award to.
Photo by Chris Gilstrap

Cosplay Catwalk Details

  • This segment is not judged; it’s your chance to showcase your cosplay with a simple walk-on and a few poses, true to the catwalk style.
  • This is a great opportunity for those who couldn’t make it into the competition or want the competition experience without the stress. 
  • Participants in the Cosplay Catwalk will remain backstage throughout the competition. Sitting is limited so you may end up standing, but we will work hard to get seats for everyone. If you need a seat for health reasons, please let us know in the application process. 
  • After your catwalk, you can join the audience to enjoy the NDK Cosplay Video Contest and celebrate the competition winners.
  • To ensure a smooth event, we’re limiting sign-ups to 45 through applications, excluding those on the waiting list. Due to time constraints during the cosplay competition, we can’t keep sign-ups open indefinitely.
  • Applications for the Cosplay Catwalk will open August 12th and Close on August 19th, 2024
  • Once applications close, we’ll send you an email with additional details regarding the catwalk.