OffKai Expo The VTuber Convention
June 20 – June 22, 2025 at San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California
Cosplay Contest
Show off your sewing, acting, and performance skills on our stage!
For the past three years, we have been amazed by all of the talented attendees who come to OffKai Expo in cosplay. This year, we are shifting the stage over to those who want to show off on stage and compete for a prize!
A new generation of OffKai Expo means a new redesign of Cosplay Showcase! This year’s event is evolving into a Cosplay Contest, meaning competition, judges, and prizes! That’s right, “prizes” with an ‘s’. For those of you who spend hours getting your wig just right, the Craftsmanship award will be for you. Those just looking to have fun might be more interested in the Showmanship award. Do a dance or collab with your friends for a skit to impress our judges and claim your prize! Due to time constraints there will be a participant limit, so if you are interested apply early! Each participant will receive a gift for being a part of the event in addition to the prizes for winners!
Ready for the spotlight? Check out the full rules and conditions below.
Signups are now closed, we look forward to seeing your cosplay!
Rules
- This is a cosplay contest with 2 judging portions: craftsmanship & showmanship.
- You must wear the same cosplay for each judging portion
- Anyone is allowed to enter the cosplay contest. Please note, however, that priority will be given to entries with selfmade cosplays.
- Participants will need a WEEKEND badge since craftsmanship judging and showmanship judging are on two different days.
- All cosplays and performances must adhere to the Attendee Code of Conduct, especially the COSPLAY & CONSENT and WEAPONS & PROPS policies.
- CRAFTSMANSHIP
- Participants will be scheduled to meet with our judges on Friday. Specific information will be provided closer to the event.
- Each entry (either solo or group) will have 5 minutes with the judges to talk about their cosplay and showcase their skills up close.
- Please mention to the judges any part of the cosplay you might not have done yourself.
- Failure to show up to this portion will disqualify the entry from any craftsmanship related awards.
- Quick tip: Talk about which piece you’re proud of and why, and don’t mention anything you aren’t happy with!
- SHOWMANSHIP
- Participants will meet with members of staff around 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. Specific information will be provided closer to the event.
- Each participant or group of participants will be given time (60 seconds maximum) on stage. This time allotment is subject to change depending on the number of entries.
- Participants may provide music to OKE staff for playback during their performance.
- AWARD CEREMONY
- Judges deliberation and award ceremony will happen at the end of the showmanship portion of the Cosplay Contest.
Meet the Judges!
Thecrazycyborggirl
Cy is a competitive craftsmanship and performance cosplayer with a passion for mixed-media cosplay.
Having over 15 years of dance and theater experience, they enjoy marrying craft with performance. When not onstage, they love sharing their process and tutorials via their blog, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cy’s mission is to demystify cosplay and encourage everyone to create, promoting confidence in the next generation of cosplayers.
CloverClub
Cloverclub has been cosplaying since 2011, starting off by learning entirely through YouTube tutorials, a DIY attitude, and lots of mistakes.
That love of creating eventually landed her in school for fashion design, which added more skills to her cosplay hobby. Clover fell down the rabbit hole in 2019, beginning her vtuber cosplay arc with Kaguya Luna and hasn’t crawled out since.
Clover continues to be inspired by the fun, cute, and sometimes bizarre designs of vtubers. Every new cosplay is an opportunity to show her love and admiration for the talents she cosplays.
She’s thrilled to be a judge for Offkai Expo’s inaugural cosplay contest and to meet more vtuber fans with the same passion for cosplay!
CraftySorceress
I’m a multi-award-winning master-level cosplayer, costume builder/designer, & professor, empowering you to craft, make and build, from handsewing, to electronics and everything in between!
My costumes have been awarded multiple awards including 1st place master rank, best cosplay/prop, best recreation, best in convention theme, and finalist in international costuming competitions. My 10+ years professional experience includes costume & prop-building/managing over 100+ pieces, including various theater productions.
I also served as a university-level maker professor, teaching anyone anything from machine stitching drafting, soldering, and programming, to 3D printing and anything in between!
Want more cosplay? Book me for consultations, workshops for corporate events, conventions, festivals and more!
FAQ
I’m new to cosplay/cosplay contests, should I enter? Cosplay Contest sounds scary…
First times are always stressful, but we want to make sure to showcase a variety of skill levels and experience on our stage, so please don’t be scared to enter even if you are new to all of this!
How much of the cosplay must be handmade in order to enter?
There is no requirement related to how much of a cosplay has to be handmade, as long as the participant(s) disclose what has been bought & what has been made by them. Please note that the more parts that are handmade, the higher chance there is to win an award.
I didn’t make my cosplay but I would still like to go on stage for the showmanship portion, can I still enter?
Participants that only want to be part of the showmanship portion can still register. Please note, however, that the priority will be given to handmade cosplays first.
Will there be divisions (novice, journeyman, artisan, master) in this cosplay contest?
While the cosplay contest will not have any divisions, there will be awards for every level of cosplayers; everyone is welcome no matter your skill level!
How much do I need to have prepared to sign up?
Make sure you at least have the name of everyone who will be participating in your group and the name of the cosplay you will be wearing.
What if I don’t finish my cosplay?
We get it, life happens! If you think you won’t be able to finish your cosplay in time, or if you need to modify your entry form (i.e you changed your cosplay) please email cosplay@offkaiexpo.com with your entry name as soon as possible so we can adjust on our side.
How big can my group be?
The maximum number of cosplayers per group is 6.
Can I play music/video during my performance?
You will be able to provide a backing music track and request a stage lighting color, but we will not be able to accept videos.
More questions? Please email cosplay@offkaiexpo.com!