On November 10, the League of Legends S9 World Finals came to an end in Paris, France. According to data released by Esports Charts, a total of 3.7 million people around the world (excluding China) watched the finals that day.

At the finals, photographers captured a group of special audiences: in order to watch the game, they carefully prepared costumes and props, and used exaggerated makeup and gorgeous wigs to shape themselves into their favorite heroes. For them, this world-renowned world-class top event is not only a stage for professional players to show their competitive strength, but also a show for them to pay tribute to their favorite games.

What these audiences show is a Costume Play culture that is very popular in Europe and the United States. From Halloween every year to the San Diego Comic Con, young people in the Western world are accustomed to expressing themselves in this role-playing way. When this culture was introduced to China, it was called Cosplay by young people in China.

As ACG culture represented by games and animation gradually becomes popular among young people in China, Cosplay, a subculture derived from ACG culture, has gradually formed a scale and stepped onto a larger stage, which in turn has driven related consumption and even achieved commercialization. In China's increasingly prosperous electronic cultural industry, Cosplay culture also has a pivotal commercial position.

From liking you to wanting to be you

All Cosplays start with the love of a certain character. Cosplay is essentially a fan behavior and a tribute to virtual idols.

Since the Cosplay culture was introduced to China from Japan in the 1990s, many scholars have studied it. Dr. Li Qinkai of Nankai University once interpreted Cosplay culture in this way: Cosplay participants (also known as Coser) are first anime fans. When the love for anime works cannot be satisfied through reading, watching and copying, Coser will break the barriers between reality and illusion between them and anime in a more expressive way to express their love for anime, and Cosplay behavior is thus stimulated.

In fact, Cosplay can not only generate a large number of personalized consumption, but also derive new professions. Taking the birthplace of Asian Cosplay culture as an example, those who take Cosplay as a profession are not only professional Cosers, but also Cosplay magazine editors, Cosplay professional makeup artists, stylists and weapon makers.

At present, for more and more young people who love Cosplay culture, Cosplay can indeed be more than just a hobby, but a career worth loving.