World Cosplay Summit

WCS US 2012 Preliminary Rules

Please read all rules fully and completely, and please check back for any updates.

Thank you for and good luck to everyone that has entered! The submission process to participate in the preliminary round is closed.

INFORMATION

When: TBA
Where: Katsucon 18 in National Harbor, MD (February 17-19, 2012). Specific location TBA
Audition Format: This is a pairs competition. You will need to have a series picked with your partner, performance, and props and sumbit a resume to the WCS email. Craftsmanship judging will separate from the preliminary performance part of the event event and you will schedule a time to see the judges. The preliminary performance will be a full performance with stage, sound, and video. Further information will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Stage Information: TBA
Awards: TBA
Prizing: TBA
Sponsorship: TBA
Official WCS Site: http://www.tv-aichi.co.jp/wcs/e/
Katsucon Convention Website: http://www.katsucon.org/
WCS US Prelims Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/WCSPrelimsUS
Event Email: wcsprelims2012us@gmail.com
Event Twitter: WCSPrelimsUS

Katsucon/WCS US Specific Rules

1. In order to compete at Katsucon, you must be a registered attendee of the convention, and have your badge with you at the event. We will verify at craftasmanship judging, and before the perfomance. Registration information is here: http://www.katsucon.org/registration/.
2. The group will consist of two people.
   • Both members must be in costumes from the same series
   • The costumes must be anime, video game, or manga inspired [See WCS rules on costumes below for further info]
   • You cannot enter with costumes from Shueisha series (ie: Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, etc.)
3. The judging will consist of performance and craftsmanship judging [Please see WCS rules below for point breakdown]
   • The performance time limit is 2 minutes 30 seconds.
   • It needs to be prerecorded and on CD. If dialogue is used, please record in English for the preliminary event. If you move on to the finals, please re-record in Japanese.
   • The video portion of the performance is optional this year. It may not be available in Japan at the time of finals, but you have the option to use video as an ambiance piece/background to create mood or to interact with. The image/video used cannot be copyrighted. Please have the video portion of the performance on DVD. It is preferred if you use video to have the audio overlaid. Please let me know if you will be requiring video for your performance.
   • Audio (or video if you decide to) needs to be submitted to me two weeks before prelims. You can do this by emailing me, using a service like Megaupload, or standard mail. Bring a spare copy with you to the convention as well.
4. Craftsmanship judging will be done by giving each group an assigned time to spend with the judge.
   • If you do not make your scheduled craftsmanship time you will only be judged based on what the judges can see of your costumes from the stage. The schedule is tight. You will get the option to pick three different time slots, and it is first-come first-serve once I make the announcement. I will be as accommodating as possible, but once you get your time, please stick to it.
5. For your group to be in the event, we require a group resume for sign up
   • The resume needs to include this from each member:

   Full Legal Name:
   Cosplay Alias:
   Group Name (if applicable):
   Age:
   Date of Birth:
   Gender:
   Home Address:
   Contact Phone Number:
   Contact E-mail: (Make sure this is your regular email address that you check. I will send all further emails for the event here.)
   US Passport Number: (yes/no currently)
   Costume and series intended for prelims:
   Cosplay Website (if applicable):
   History of Major Costumes and Awards (include the convention):
   Send four costume photos of your favorite costumes you’ve made with descriptions
   Include a few sentences about why you love to cosplay

   • Resumes preferred in PDF or Word Document formats with both teammates on the one document. Send an additional copy of the group photo as an attachment.
   • If you are part of the winning team, you must have an active US Passport by July 1, 2012, if you do not have one already.
   • A group photo must also be included with the resume. In costume please. It does not need to be the costumes being worn for the preliminary round (I suggest that it not be). This photo will be released on the official Facebook page before the event. If you can’t get your team together to take a photo or have a photo to use, make a single photo by editing photos of each of you together. Please note we will not edit any photos for you.
   • Groups will be required to submit a craftsmanship portfolio that includes reference images of the characters.
   • Some info will be used for press (primarily cosplay alias, photos, experience, and why you love to cosplay). Your real name and all personal contact information will be kept private. If you want to use your real name for press as well as your cosplay alias, please notate.
     Send your resume to wcsprelims2012us@gmail.com
6. You must abide by Katsucon’s Weapons policy: http://www.katsucon.org/faqs/cosplay-prop-guidelines-and-weapon-policy/
7. No costume/fashion industry professionals are allowed to participate in the competition. If you are industry and wish to be a part of the event, please send an email. Please note: we are not accepting any more judges for this year.
8. Costumes and performance must be new. You may not use costumes or performances from any other event. This is to include Katsucon’s competitive cosplay events.
9. If you are a permanent resident of the United States, but not born here, you can still enter the US prelims. It is the official ruling from TVA since the 2010 prelims that if a participant has a valid permanent resident ID card and a passport, you may compete in the preliminary round.
   • You cannot complete or judge for any other country’s preliminary and be able to enter the United States prelims for the same competition year. You will need to pick one or the other.
10. We will be allowing 30 pairs to enter. This is subject to change.
11. If you need to cancel your entry from the event, you need to give 72 hours notice before the preliminary event begins. You will face possible exclusion from any WCS event you may want to enter for the next year if you do not. For example, if you sign up for the 2012 prelim, and do not show up without previously notifying me, you may not be able to participate in the 2013 prelims. I stress the importance of this. Please be responsible.
12. If an emergency or issue comes up for either craftsmanship or the ability to perform, let me know as soon as possible. I completely understand if certain circumstances keep you from being able to abide by this, but keep up on your contacts with me and let me know what’s going on.

WCS 2010 Participation Regulations – Official Event Rules from the WCS site for the Preliminaries and Finals

• The World Cosplay Summit constitutes the Cosplay Parade, the Cosplay Championship, and other related promotional activities.

Rules on Participation in the Cosplay Summit

1. Each country will be represented by one team of two cosplayers. The team must be in costumes from the same series.
2. The costumes must be from Japanese anime, manga and video games.
   • Dojinshi and unique characters from live actor movies based on anime or manga are not permitted. (ie: Dragonball Evolution, etc.)
   • When doing a costume from a game, the character must be recognizably Japanese. (ie: not a Disney or Star Wars character even though the game may be made in Japan).
   • You may not audition with costumes from Shueisha (ie: Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, etc.) since it is not allowed in the finals. Shueisha costumes are also not allowed for the Cosplay Parade or media events.
3. Cosplay costumes are to be hand-made. Pre-/ready-made costumes are not allowed.
   • It is permissible for family and friends to help with costumes, but basically it is preferable that costumes are hand-made by the contestants themselves.
4. You must be able to come to Japan for about one week from the end of July to early August for the World Cosplay Summit.
5. You must be age 18 or over when you come to Japan.
6. You should cooperate in a positive manner in order to ensure the success of the World Cosplay Summit.
7. When the sponsor (World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee) asks for documents (i.e. passport application, official documentation etc.) related to the World Cosplay Summit, please prepare and submit them as quickly as possible.
8. Media such as TV programs, internet homepages, newspapers, magazines, etc., may use your pictures and images of the preliminary contests prior to the World Cosplay Summit. On these occasions, compensation will not be furnished.
9. All image rights in all media exposure such as news from TV programs and other assorted media involved with the World Cosplay Summit, promotional activities in the print media as well as events and performances, announcements of the Cosplay Summit both prior to the summit and during your stay in Japan, will be attributed to the World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee.
10. After the World Cosplay Summit has finished, images/footage of cosplayers, photographs, programs broadcast, internet homepages and DVDs etc., come under the jurisdiction of the World Cosplay Summit Executive Committee. Compensation will not be furnished for such images used by the media. (Your signature will be required on an acceptance form regarding this matter.)

Preparation: Rules and Warnings

1. You are required to bring three costumes to Japan: one for the parade, one for the championship, and one for media appearances.
   • Shueisha costumes are not permitted
2. In the Cosplay Championship, please make sure the costumes of the characters in which both of you will appear are from the same Japanese manga or anime or video game
   • It is not necessary to coordinate costumes for the parade.
3. All equipment, costumes and props for the Cosplay Championship performance are limited to a maximum weight of 40 kilograms (roughly 88 lbs) combined for both performers. Please report the weight of each item with the other material in the submission materials for the finals.
4. All large props set on stage before the Cosplay Championship performance begins are limited to a maximum weight of 10 kilograms (roughly 22 lbs). Prop dimensions are limited to 2100 millimeters (approx 6.8 ft) in height, 2100 millimeters (approx 6.8 ft) in width and 900 millimeters (approx 2.95 ft) in depth.
5. All large props set on stage are limited to a maximum of 3 items. Dimensions of smaller props carried onto the stage must be relayed to the WCS head office in written form and accompanied by photographs.
6. It is not permitted to directly copy original drawings or logos to your equipment or props.
7. You are required to bear the cost of any overweight luggage charges when shipping costumes and other items. It is not possible to send them to Japan by air or ship beforehand.
8. Please prepare your own music for your performance. A performance sheet stating what you will perform is to be submitted in advance.
   • Please note that the use of the voice(s) of the original voice actor(s) for the audio is prohibited.
   • Please send your music on a CD, send an mp3 to the organizer, and bring a spare copy ot the finals
9. Please send the documents and CD one month prior to the date of the Cosplay Championship.
   • Material for submission (forms will be supplied):
     • Performance sheets
     • Original images of the characters wearing the same costumes that will be used in the performance
     • Costume construction report
     • Music CD
     • Information on the large props (size, image, placement location and weight of each item)

Other Regulations for the Championship

1. The performance at the Championship should be the same as the performance given in the preliminary round. If it is the same, your performance should be augmented to a level appropriate for the Championship. If you are the winning team, and wish to change the performance, please clear it with myself.
2. Please strictly adhere to the time limit of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Stage staff will set the maximum 3 stage props before your performance and remove them after your performance. There will be 40 seconds to make the necessary changes before the next group begins.
3. The 3 props on stage and background video (if available) will not be subject to evaluation by the judges.
4. Only the 2 representative cosplayers, an organizer, and an interpreter are permitted to enter the backstage area of the Championship. Family, friends and related press will have seats provided for them in the audience.
5. The organizer and WCS staff or any other person is not permitted to help you during your performance on stage (2 members of the stage staff will help you to set up your equipment/props on stage).
6. It is possible to scatter things on stage during your performance, but staining, marking or damaging the stage in any way is prohibited. Anything that takes time to clean up on stage is also not allowed.
7. It is prohibited to take your performance into the audience area.
8. Using fire or water on stage is prohibited.
9. The order of performances is decided by a draw after your arrival in Japan. Countries may be divided into separate pools to ensure an even spread of nations or prevent groupings of similar performances.
10. Smoke related special effects are prohibited.

Judging Criteria for the Championship

Each judge of the cosplay championship can award 10 points for costume, 10 points for performance, and 5 points for faithfulness to the original work, for a maximum total of 25 points. .

1. Performance (10 points): level of performance, inventiveness, entertainment value
2. Costume (10 points): design, faithfulness to the original characters costume, craftsmanship
3. Fidelity to Original (5 points): level of faithfulness of the performance towards the original story and characters.

If there are any questions regarding interpretation of the rules or decisions on specific cases please contact me via email at wcsprelims2012us@gmail.com or through the Facebook message board.

Thank you and I’m looking forward to another year of amazing entries!

- Laura
WCS US Organizer