Japan Pop Show 2024 in Saint-Brieuc: what motivates cosplay enthusiasts [en images]

We came across some strange wildlife at the Saint-Brieuc exhibition park this Saturday, June 29. Laughing, colorful and disguised, for the Japan Pop Show. There was Luffy from the Japanese anime “One Piece”, buying a Pikachu plush toy; the not very conventional Charlie, red and white striped sweater, hat and dark glasses, wandering incognito; and characters from the video game “Minecraft” playing on the console.

This practice, known as cosplay, consists of embodying a character from a manga, animated film or video game. But what motivates them? We asked the question in the aisles of hall 3.

The crucial choice of character

The Lila angel, with her imposing 2.3 m wings, does not go unnoticed. “Can we take a photo with you?” », asks a mother, pushing her daughter, fascinated, in front of her. Her character, the young woman from Étables-sur-Mer, invented it from scratch. Literally, since it was necessary to cut out and then sew, one by one, the polystyrene feathers onto her dress. It took her four days, laughs the teenager, who takes advantage of her new skin to “do good” around her.

Interpretation is one of the pleasures of cosplayers. For those in the know, Louann and Sarah play the character of Harley Quinn, the anti-heroine of DC Comics’ Batman, and Sophie from Miyazaki’s “Howl’s Moving Castle”. “I feel an affinity with the characters I choose,” explains Sarah. “Sophie is sweet, shy… So I adopt her attitude. But tomorrow, I’ll be Makima, the demon of domination!” announces the thirty-year-old with a smile. Dressing up, “it allows you to break the daily routine,” explains the woman who also works as a quality controller in a company.

With family, friends or strangers

Even if it means dressing up, you might as well do it with several people. With family, for example. “It was our daughter who introduced us to this world, which has become a common passion,” explain Yves and Kristelle, in their fifties, Ewilan’s parents. He donned the golden armor of a Knight of the Zodiac that he had “custom-made”; she brandishes a samurai sword.

As for their daughter Ewilan, she wanted to embody a traditional samurai “because we don’t see many women fighters,” emphasizes the woman who practices sabre fencing, kendo.

Gwenola lives in Saint-Gilles-Pligeaux, a town of 200 souls in the countryside north of Corlay (22). “A bit isolated,” the young woman describes euphemistically. Before the convention, she launched a call for volunteers to slip into the shoes of the protagonists of the animated film “Hazbin Hotel.” Marie and Maxence, from Languidic (56), answered the call. “And here we are today,” smiles Gwenola.

Wendy, 16, and Salomé, also 19, met at a convention in March. Today, they came together… And matched their cosplay, respectively playing the roles of Buggy and Boa Hancock in “One Piece”. “Since I have been going to these kinds of events, I have lots of friends! », breathes Salomé, smiling from ear to ear.

Practical

The Japan Pop Show continues this Sunday, June 30, at the Palais des Congrès et des Expositions de Saint-Brieuc, in Saint-Brieuc. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (except VIP Pass from 9 a.m.). More information on the website: https://japanpopshow.eu/saint-brieuc-2