Into the Realm of Cosplay / 走入角色扮演的異想世界
Into the Realm of Cosplay
◎English text by Hsin-Yi Peng
◎Photos by David Yan and Chung-Hui Pao
"Cosplay" is one of the hippest recreational activities in Taiwan these days. The term is actually a combination of the two words "Costume" and "Play". This trend was introduced to Taiwan about 10 years ago and is called "Role Play" in Chinese. Most players carry a strong Japanese influence and therefore the roles they play are mostly Japanese comic and animation characters.
When the "2009 Kaohsiung Comic and Animation Exhibition" opened, the entire auditorium was taken by storm by Ms. Shu-Ru Huang and the army of hand puppet characters she lead. Ms. Huang is well recognized as one of the most talented cosplay enthusiasts. Her costume, hair, and makeup resemble the character so much that it almost seemed she walked right out of the TV screen.
Very few players take up the challenge to dress up as a Taiwanese hand puppet show character. As a result, these living and walking Pili1 characters in the exhibition auditorium were especially eye-catching. Their choice of character presents an alternative interpretation of Taiwan's local culture.
Ms. Huang's involvement with cosplay began about 4 or 5 years ago and she became a passionate cosplayer very soon after. She approaches her craft with professional perfectionism, going to as many comic and animation exhibitions as she can, in character. She is an accountant by profession, but her true dedication begins after working hours. She has spent a lot of time exchanging information with fellow cosplay enthusiasts, preparing for the next event. Ms. Huang started watching hand puppetry shows when she was in elementary school. When she was in professional college, she met some friends who were equally as enchanted by the imaginary world created by the puppetry shows, and that's when she got into the realm of cosplay.
Ms. Huang says that in cosplay, first and foremost is to choose a character you like, because that makes it easier to immerse yourself in the situation and become like that character. Next is to pay attention to details. There are many workshops that accept special orders to make costumes. Still, Ms. Huang prefers to make her own because that's part of the fun, especially when you do it with friends. In her case, she researches the character from a certain Pili show, looking for screen captures, information from Pili's official website, as well as taking inspiration from related merchandise. The more pictures of the character she finds, the easier it is for her to conjure up a life-size copy of its costume. It usually takes her at least six months to create the costume but one time she spent a whole year on one costume.
Ms. Huang says that the most satisfying part in cosplay is the process of getting the costume and preparation. She spares no effort in the characters' hair pieces. In that regard, she suggests cosplayers find professional wig makers and communicate their specific needs with them. As for makeup, it is up to your own skills. Some Pili characters have special markings on their faces; one needs to take those details into consideration when dressing up as a Pili character. Depending on the demand of the character she plays, it takes between three and five hours to get into character. When she steps out in character, the oohs and ahhs from the audience make it all worthwhile.
She has met a lot of people who are also into cosplay, and together, they have become more organized and specialized in their cosplays. Because of their extraordinary professionalism and passion for this theme, they have begun to receive invitations from event organizers; they have even attended Pili's official press conferences. Ms. Huang hopes to take cosplay one step further and bring her characters into a real theater in the form of dance plays, to entertain a different group of audience.
Note: Pili is the most acclaimed hand puppetry in Taiwan. The shows have a period quality however the plot doesn't follow any real historical thread. Rather, it liberally employs different elements from martial art, Buddhism and Tao-ism practices, myth and legends. With loyal followers that have been with the show for decades, Pili enjoys a cult status in Taiwan's folk culture.
走入角色扮演的異想世界
◎文／凌卓民
◎照片提供／鮑忠暉．顏大衛
角色扮演(cosplay )是時下熱門的休閒娛樂。「2009高雄動漫展」開幕時，當cosplay高手黃淑如領軍的布袋戲人物扮演一出場，不論是服裝、髮型或化妝有如從螢幕走出來的戲偶，維妙維肖的程度令人嘆為觀止。
「COSPLAY」這個字其實是取自「COSTUME PLAY」，中文稱作「角色扮演」，台灣的角色扮演多半受到日本影響，台灣已發展約10年的時間，目前台灣COSPLAY同好多是以漫畫、動畫中的人物為主，以布袋戲角色為題材較少。也因此，在高雄動漫展會場這群栩栩如生的霹靂人偶格外受到關注，另類演繹了本土文化。
投入COSPLAY約4至5年的時間，黃淑如以專業和熱情，活躍在各個動漫展上，她白天的正職工作是會計，下班後與同好交流，為下一場演出做準備。從國小就愛看布袋戲的她，專科時在學校認識了同好，從此一頭栽入角色扮演的異想世界。
黃淑如說，角色扮演最重要的，就是先挑一位自己喜歡的人物角色，這樣才能由衷扮演並且融入在角色情境中。接下來就是外觀細節的打理，許多工作室承製角色扮演的服飾道具，但，黃淑如還是喜歡與朋友親手製作道具，以她自己為例，她會先找出與角色相關的霹靂劇集，其它如影片截圖、霹靂官網照片與周邊商品，搜集的角色圖片越多越清晰，就能做出更精細的作品，從收集圖片做功課到製作完成一套服裝最少也要半年，淑如還曾花過近一年的時間製作一套戲服。
淑如表示，從事角色扮演最大的成就感來自於親手打理的服裝造型，以及登場時觀眾的讚美，她也因此認識了許多同好，更加拓展角色扮演的專業。因為熱情與扮演的專業，她們的表演成為各地競相邀約的對象，甚至連霹靂布袋戲的官方記者會也請她們這一群人助陣。在髮型方面，淑如也費心鑽研，她建議，若想在髮型上更為精緻，還是要委託專業假髮店代勞。至於造型化妝，端視個人化妝功力了。有些霹靂角色臉上會有特殊印記，是化妝時必須注意的地方，在粉墨登場前因為角色的不同與精緻度的要求，從頭到腳裝扮完成，平均會花上三到五個小時不等。淑如和她的伙伴希望有朝一日，能將「角色扮演」的表演發揚光大，以舞蹈劇的方式，將角色扮演帶到劇場的殿堂，呈現給所有的觀眾。
2009高雄動漫展的角色扮演
Cosplay at 2009 Kaohsiung Comic and Animation Exhibition
淑如角色扮演劇照
Shu-Ru dressed up in costume