Dressed to thrill: why Hong Kong’s anime fans get kick out of cosplaying
- Thousands of cosplayers are attending Hong Kong’s annual Ani-Com and Games fair at the convention centre in Wan Chai
When anime fan Jayvee Alconaba first started cosplaying in 2017, he realised no one in Hong Kong was dressing up as Sonic the Hedgehog, a video game character he said was widely popular in other parts of the world.
“I was introduced to Sonic at a very young age and I immediately fell in love with the character. But I have never seen a single Sonic cosplay in Hong Kong and it’s kind of sad,” the 25-year-old said.
“I feel like I have to do something. My intention was to show Hong Kong that Sonic fans actually exist and there are Sonic cosplayers.”
The Filipino-Hongkonger eventually met fellow Sonic enthusiasts at various events and grew his cosplaying team from two members to seven, each portraying a different character from the video game.
Alconaba said that when he donned his costume, he could get into character immediately, walking with a spring in his step and swinging his arms like Sonic in the video game.
He said cosplaying was “one of the best highlights” of his life.
“It’s like a getaway from real life. Donning the suit, I get to be me, I get to go nuts, I get to enjoy life as a cosplayer without anyone questioning why I am dressed up like that,” he said.