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
03:59
Cosplaying in Hong Kong: the anime players behind the costume
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.
