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PHOTOS: 28 Days of Black Cosplay Shows off Inspiring Dream Cosplays

Crunchyroll @ #28DaysOfBlackCosplay

 

There comes a time in a cosplayer’s life when they encounter a character who inspires them so much that creating the look is like crossing something off a bucket list. I’ve gone on record saying that my “dream cosplay” is Anthy Himemiya from Revolutionary Girl Utena and Rita Repulsa from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I have my reasons behind wanting to do both characters, but rocking their looks has become a quiet goal of mine.

 

RELATED: 28 Days of Black Cosplay Gears up for the Anime of 2023

 

To kick off our series of #28DaysOfBlackCosplay features this week we decided to share cosplayers who have dared to dream, who have gone the distance, who have… you get where I’m going with this. Along with sharing their looks, they explained why this particular cosplay felt like such a huge achievement. Just like last week’s features, this is the first set of three, so be sure to check back later this week for more!

 

Pros and Cons Cosplay as Tracksuit Peach and Daisy

 

Pros and Cons Cosplay as Tracksuit Peach and Daisy
Photographer: C. Mason Photography

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?

 

We’ve always wanted to try designing a piece based on a character. Peach and Daisy have vibrant and eye-catching colors and we’ve enjoyed cosplaying them in the past. Gucci-inspired Peach and Daisy tracksuits seemed like the perfect opportunity to highlight characters we love by giving them a personalized twist.    

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?  

 

The costumes provided an opportunity to try out new construction skills and add in little details. Pro drafted the patterns for the suits which included gold welt pockets (all princesses need gold welt pockets). Con designed the fabric before sending it off for printing. Since they’re Gucci Tracksuits and Peach and Daisy inspired the backward Ps and D’s feature color samplings and tiny crowns and daisies for each respective character. Details like those are the best parts of this cosplay.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

The list of future cosplay projects is never ending and ever-changing! Will it be returning to our love of 90’s anime characters and sporting those classic anime bangs? Another ballgown that takes up yards and yards of velvet? Is this the year we finally crank out a Gundam? Who knows?

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram
Facebook
Website

 

Starla Wynn as Rita Repulsa (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

 

Starla Wynn as Rita Repulsa
Photographer: Timeslip Photoworks

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

This was a dream cosplay because I loved Rita Repulsa and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as a child, and I really had to push my sewing and crafting knowledge and techniques with executing this cosplay.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I learned a lot of new sewing techniques with this cosplay that I’m hoping to use in the future.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Goldar from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

Stardust Megu as Ayra (Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War)

 

Stardust Megu as Ayra
Photographer: Brittany Lee Artistry

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I’m a huge fan of the Fire Emblem series! I’ve played a good amount of the games. Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War is my top favorite Fire Emblem game of all time! Out of all of the characters, Ayra is my favorite one! She’s a princess and also is a great swordswoman (and a great and powerful unit in the game!). She takes no nonsense from people and is strong, but also has a soft side to her. I really admire her so much and wanted to become her for so long!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love everything about this cosplay even if I’m always constantly redoing parts. I worked on this cosplay on and off for about 3 years. The embroidery on the bottom of the dress alone took me about six months by hand. This cosplay is one of the few that pushes me to always work to improve! When I first put on the cosplay, I cried because  I was so happy at how amazing I looked as her!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

I still have plenty of dream cosplays to do! More Fire Emblem and also more Sailor Guardians from Sailor Moon!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter

 

Videogamevixen (Kris) as Kokushibo Upper Moon One (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

 

Videogamevixen (Kris) as Kokushibo Upper Moon One

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

This was my birthday and first comeback cosplay. It was also my first time doing face paint and I was sooooo nervous but it came out amazing thanks to my friend! I’ve been wanting to cosplay this character for so long, ever since I read the manga!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love how beautiful he is, like initially, you don’t really see his face, so I also loved cosplaying his human form!

 

Videogamevixen (Kris) as Kokushibo Upper Moon One

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Ooooo, that’s a secret, hehehe ^_^

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

Ezz as Rengoku (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

 

Ezz as Rengoku
Photographer: a_pows

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?

 

I didn’t expect to be so inspired by seeing Rengoku in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, but after hearing his speech during his battle with Akaza I felt an enormous surge of encouragement and determination watching his resolve and perseverance in what seemed like an impossible battle!    

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I made the wig for him myself from scratch! I love including Afro-centric hair textures and styles in all my cosplays as a Black cosplayer! They really make the cosplays feel more like me!

 

Ezz as Rengoku
Photographer: a_pows

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Onto a new dream! Hopefully one day I can do all my favorite characters justice!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter

 

Dollie as Tengen (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

 

Dollie as Tengen

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I absolutely love Tengen’s personality. Strong yet kindhearted. I feel like that is my mentality.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I made the swords myself! It was my first time making props and I’m super proud of myself!

 

Dollie as Tengen
Note: be sure to check out the rest of the photo set!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

I plan on doing countless other cosplays in the future.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

Andi as Sailor Moon

 

Andi as Sailor Moon
Photographer: Will

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Sailor Moon has been a dream cosplay for years. As a child, and even now, I’ve had an emotional connection to Sailor Moon, seeing so much of myself in her. She’s a fun, authentic, clumsy and sugar-obsessed girl, with a group of friends who, alongside her, want to bring love and justice to the world while wearing pretty, colorful sailor-inspired outfits. She’s a dream character and that makes her a dream cosplay for me.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

It’s simple, yet iconic. Especially the hair. Oh, and it’s quite comfortable to wear and cute!

 

Andi as Sailor Moon
Photographer: Will
Note: be sure to check out the rest of the photo set!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Sailor Moon’s outfits change a bit the stronger she gets so I want to see if I can get the Moon Eternal Power outfit. And start working on another dream cosplay of mine.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

Shockolate Energy Cosplay as Neo Queen Serenity (Sailor Moon)

 

Shockolate Energy Cosplay as Neo Queen Serenity
Photographer: DCM Cosplay

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

What makes Neo Queen Serenity a dream cosplay is I always looked up to her when I was growing up. She made me realize that I can stand for truth, justice and love.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I really love the staff and how it makes me feel like I’m a queen.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Another dream cosplay is in the works 🙂

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

 

Empressjasmine as Wicked Lady/Black Lady (Sailor Moon)

 

Empressjasmine as Wicked Lady/Black Lady

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?

 

I always admired the style and grace that Naoko Takeuchi gave her characters. It was always a dream of mine to embody that as well.    

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I really love the color scheme and the flow of the dress.    

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Sailor Galaxia from Sailor Moon.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram

 

Deka Hime as Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)

 

Deka Hime as Sailor Jupiter
Photographer: DeJon Kilcrease

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I’ve always seen myself as Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter as she’s a strong person with a tomboyish personality but is a hopeless romantic that loves to cook and garden with dreams of getting married and opening up a cake shop. She’s a character who helped teach me that it’s ok to show off your feminine side while still being the strong person that I am. She’s always been a dream cosplay to me so once I had the opportunity, I knew I had to make it happen as I’m the Pretty Guardian who fights for Love and for Courage!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love that I get to embody one of my favorite characters who’s just like me as it was the first professional cosplay that I did that helped me get into it after a difficult time.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Continuing to find more characters that I connect with to cosplay as I’m always looking to do so. Currently, I have plans to cosplay Makoto in her school uniform as that’s another dream cosplay of mine and Desumi Magahara from Love After World Domination as she reminds me of myself in a way as well. Would love to do more of Nami from One Piece as she’s another favorite character of mine, but trying to find which outfit of hers to cosplay is hard as she has so many!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

litznasanaii as Gingerbread Pyramid Head (Silent Hill franchise/Christmas Mashup)

 

litznasanaii as Gingerbread Pyramid Head

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I’ve always been a connoisseur of weird, and wacky, it’s basically my job. I saw this cosplay a few years back as just the Pyramid Head we all know and love, and it was winter and everyone was making gingerbread houses and I just kinda thought to myself, “Could I?”

 

Yes, I could, and did create a full Gingerbread Pyramid Head Cosplay. Anytime I wear it out everyone loves it, I even installed lights on the inside just to add a little pizazz lol!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

How easy it was to make. After finally figuring out my dimensions, this was a very easy-to-build piece, it’s stunning in all lighting, and has its own! It’s seriously a fav and probably one of the best handmade cosplays I’ve ever done.

 

litznasanaii as Gingerbread Pyramid Head
Note: be sure to check out the rest of the photo set!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?

 

Something bigger, and definitely better. I made Nightmare Marionette from the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise already so I can’t do that, I made Sans from Undertale, too. I want to make something with stilts cause I’ve never done that, like Bacterial Contamination Miku or something, something… wild. Maybe a real-life-sized Huggy Wuggy from Poppy Playtime.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram
Twitter

 

Kasumikat as Bowsette

 

Kasumikat as Bowsette
Photographer: sight_n_soul

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Being able to make the outfit come to life on myself and pulling off a ballgown Bowsette look. I also love how I was able to create some cool, fun accessories, from the iconic blue earrings made out of Christmas bauble to the fuzzy mushroom in the crown.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love how this cosplay gives me empowerment and confidence, especially in heels! I had such a fun opportunity performing as Bowsette in cosplay chess and embodying the character last year. I also like how I can style up the outfit into a ballgown dress and style it down into a casual punk look with fishnets and boots.

 

Kasumikat as Bowsette 2
Photographer: sight_n_soul
Note: be sure to check out the rest of the photo set!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Time to work on my next dream cosplay of course! I want to push my creativity and see more of my cosplay visions come to life. For my next cosplay project, I want to experiment with LED lights, improve on my Clockwork Key Bomb Girl cosplay and make some large black wings for my Albedo cosplay from Overlord.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

 

Prince Noir Bunny as Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)

 

Prince Noir Bunny as Cloud Strife
Photographer: Shonny__jins

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I’ve always loved the Final Fantasy games and always wondered what it would be like to cosplay as Cloud. I had no sources at the time when they had a movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Now that we have easier access with cosplays, it makes me happy to finally pull this off.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love the style and the Buster Sword with how the Materia glows and changes colors.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Might be working on a Tekken character or the wanted donut lover

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

A Little Twilight as a Miqo’te (Final Fantasy XIV)

 

A Little Twilight as a Miqo'te

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I’ve always wanted to cosplay as a Miqo’te, the look just appeals to me. For years I would just look at photos trying to convince myself to make it.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love everything about it but the ears are pretty nice.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

More cosplaying of course this is but one of the “dream cosplays” done.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

MeltingMirror as Lilith (Trinity Blood)

 

MeltingMirror as Lilith
Photographer: michaelle.cosplay.photo

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Trinity Blood costumes were the pinnacle of difficult costumes when I started cosplaying many years ago. I always wanted to make one, I wanted the challenge.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love the flowers. I had to custom-dye them to get a nice gradient to the petals.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

There is always another one on the list. My next one is from a Wii game called Zangeki no Reginleiv. They have such beautiful costumes. I’m going to make it even though no one will likely recognize the character…

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok    
Instagram    
Twitter    
Facebook
Website    
YouTube

 

Tranquil Ashes as Big Mama (One Piece)

 

Tranquil Ashes as Big Mama
Photographer: dtjaaam

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?

 

I love cosplaying villain characters and doing cosplays that subvert expectations! I always wanted to cosplay a character from one of the “Big Three” and I finally had a chance to rock one!    

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love that Big Mama wears a lot of soft colors like pink and yellow but she is one of the top pirates in the entire series! 

 

Traquil Ashes as Big Mama

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

My next cosplay I hope you build is from My Hero Academia. The character’s in the manga and I can’t wait to see her debut in the anime!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Facebook

 

Rod as Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

 

Rod as Luffy
Photographer: Dapper.Arts

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Ever since I watched a few episodes of One Piece, I really liked Luffy through his mannerisms and his drip.        

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

It’s comfortable.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Sky’s the limit, maybe My Hero Academia.

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter

 

Lequincia as Anthy Himemiya (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

 

Lequincia as Anthy Himemiya
Photographer: tokimoriarty.photography

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Anthy was my idol growing up, and seeing a strong independent Black/Desi woman on the screen was so special to me as a Black/Desi woman myself!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

The dress and the confidence it gives me while I walk around as my favorite character.

 

Lequincia as Anthy Himemiya
Photographer: tokimoriarty.photography
Note: be sure to check out the rest of the photo set!

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

To continue cosplaying and supporting other Black/Desi women in the cosplay community as a whole!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram

 

The_gboj as Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

 

the_gboj as Howl

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

Ever since I started cosplaying I had been looking for a cosplay that truly feel comfortable with. I’m a huge fan of Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle and greatly enjoy Howl’s presence, energy and as they say his “rizz.” It literally took years to finally find a cosplay that I thought I could present well and also build upon over time.

 

The day I cosplayed Howl for the first time I was super nervous, but the second I stepped out and received my first comment all my nervousness melted away. Not only that, but I met a couple of others that had told me my cosplay inspired them to finally get out there and try cosplaying. This was a surprise dream for me. I was inspired to finally feel comfortable cosplaying and now I could do the same for others!

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?

 

I love the versatility of this Howl. I have a couple of other ideas to build into it, but Howl lets me become creative with added items that allow me to still show Howl while also being able to share a piece of me!    

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

I want to keep cosplaying and finding ways to inspire others to cosplay. I actually co-founded the largest anime meet-up group in NJ and I hope to keep helping create a safe space while inspiring more people to cosplay and dive into the fandoms they love with confidence. I’m hoping to cosplay Yami Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sesshomaru from Inuyasha and/or Rock Lee from Naruto next!!!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

Instagram

 

wurmybrains as Chel (The Road to Eldorado) and Catwoman 

 

wurmybrains as Chel

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

I was a The Road to Eldorado superfan as a kid, but most especially because of Chel. Her take-charge attitude and quick wit (and obviously her figure, look at her!) were all reasons I held her in a way higher regard than any of the Disney princesses. It was a total dream getting into this cosplay and I’m in love with the way it looks on me. It’s like little me’s dream come true :’)

 

Also, as someone who grew up in a home with probably 8 or so cats at any given time, I’ve been a Catwoman fan basically forever. My late dad and I bonded over superheroes and always rooted for the ‘good’ guys, but for me, Catwoman was a hard exception. I was a shy kid, and seeing a ‘bad guy’ (she was neither bad nor was she a guy but still) whose goal wasn’t to maim anyone or take over a city blew my meek little mind. She was assertive, knew what she wanted and how to get it (ignoring the whole burglar part), and she did all of that while embodying feminine feline energy. 

 

wurmybrains as Catwoman

 

As a grown-up, just gathering the separate pieces of this cosplay was thrilling. Putting it on for the first time was euphoric, seriously. It was the closest thing to a dream come true for this meek, formerly little girl who wanted to grow up to be a zesty cat lady.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?

 

With Chel, I didn’t anticipate it fitting so comfortably! I figured it would be a few strips of cloth but it is SO well made and keeps you covered enough to not violate community guidelines. Meanwhile, with Catwoman, I pulled elements from several different variations of the character from the comics, movies and TV and made my very own version of her.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?    

 

Gotta find a new dream! My next biggest goal is to build/create a Princess Daisy gown from scratch (following a pattern though!) I’m also thinking of building another one of my childhood faves like Sailor Mars!

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok

 

OMGleeroy as Cyborb (Teen Titans)

 

OMGleeroy as Cyborb
Photographer: prophetic_fish

 

What makes this a dream cosplay for you?    

 

The OG Teen Titans for me (and countless others I’m sure) was such a special show. It gave us heroes who not only were very rare but very real. The themes the show portrayed were things that anyone could feel at any stage in life, and growing up Cyborg spoke volumes to me.

 

Everything about him was so cool, down to even his design was just extraordinary. I spent years perfecting my craft before I even attempted to make the cosplay and when I finally finished it and showed him off to everyone I was met with unreal levels of love and support. A real dream come true with that cosplay.

 

What’s something you love about this cosplay?    

 

I love armor builds so that’s already a win, and of course, he’s very iconic so everyone recognizes him immediately across a huge age range lol, while not the most important thing about cosplay, it is quite fun to see everyone from middle-aged adults to elementary level kids freaking out about it.

 

Now that you’ve done your dream cosplay, what’s next?  

 

Next is probably another huge League of Legends cosplay, something with stilts (cries in crafting ;_;).

 

Where can everyone follow your work? 

 

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter

 


 

That’s all for now! Stay tuned for more inspiring dream cosplays later this week! Also, be sure to check out all the #28DaysOfBlackCosplay themes from previous weeks:

 

Week One: First Cosplay Part One and Part Two
Week Two: Favorite Anime of 2022 Part One and Part Two
Week Three: Most Anticipated Anime of 2023 Part OnePart Two and Part Three

 

 


 

Briana Lawrence is the Senior EN Features Editor here at Crunchyroll. When she’s not writing she’s taking care of her three butthead cats and playing Hades for the 100th time. You can check out her writings and her book series over at her website and give her a shout over on Twitter.