JUDGING AND COMPETITION RULES
■ Judging criteria
This page contains information for 2024. Please wait for a while as the 2025 participation rules will be revised in due course.
1. Costume Judging (100 points)
Points are awarded according to the following three criteria related to the production of the constituent elements that express the character (costumes, hand props, makeup, etc.):
* The differences of race, gender, or size of the cosplayers with respect to the original characters will not influence the judging of the degree of completeness of the costume proper.
1) Level of precision in the costumes (40 points)
The costumes are evaluated by comparing the actual costumes with the design of the costumes in the original work. If the actual costumes are completely identical to the costumes in the original work, the full points are awarded. If completely different, the lowest score of 0 points is given. In addition, in cases where there is an unknown part in a costume that appears in the original work, as long as the costume for judging is true to the spirit of the character and the atmosphere of the original work, design construction and choice of color are left up to the discretion of cosplayers, and differences between it and the image submitted of the costume in the original work will not affect scoring. (ie: In the black and white manga, it is not possible to know the correct color of costumes)
2) Costume Quality (40 points)
The costumes are evaluated according to multiple factors, such as how well the costume is combined, how well it suits the contestant, how beautifully it is painted/sewn, etc.
3) Technique (20 points)
Evaluation of costume-making skills. Costumes that have been made by utilizing a variety of challenging techniques are scored more highly than those using a few basic skills. These criteria look more at the level of quality rather than the number of techniques employed. If any special techniques or gimmicks to change the appearance or the structure of the costumes are employed,, the concepts will be evaluated here.
2. Stage Performance Judging (100 points)
Points are awarded for the on-stage performance according to the following four criteria:
1) Performance (50 points)
Evaluation of aspects such as the quality and degree of accomplishment of the performance, the manner in which the story is conveyed, the usage of props, the respect to the original work, or the overall entertainment value.
2) Acting・Stage proficiency (20 points)
Evaluation of the expressiveness on the stage, including aspects such as the degree of accomplishment of singing, dancing, or other active elements in the performance and how well-rehearsed they appear, the expressiveness of performers in scenes with simple or no action, or the delivery of dialogue.
3) Costume stage presence (20 points)
Evaluation of the impression caused by the costumes on the stage, such as the values that are first perceived when the costume appears on stage. Aspects such as the use of gimmicks to change the appearance or the structure of the costumes during the performance are also taken into consideration.
4) X Factor (10 points)
The additional evaluation of points that exceed expectations and results which are particularly moving or exciting, or of the realization of new ideas that had not been seen before in the competition.
■ About the Scoring
- The total score is on a scale of 200 points (total of 1. Costume Judging and 2. Stage Performance Judging).
- An average score is to be calculated from the score of the members of the jury, excluding the highest and the lowest scores, and the final classification is to be determined by the total combined score of Costume Judging and Stage Performance Judging.
- Should the final score for the Costume Judging and Stage Performance Judging result in a tie, the ranking will be determined at the discretion of the stage judges.
■ Judging Method
1. Costume Judging
1) In the Costume Judging, each judge evaluates the excellence of the representative cosplayer’s handmade costume creation technique, design, or overall atmosphere. The jury will assign a score based on half of the full score (50 points on a 100-point scale), with points added or subtracted.
2) All the costumes used by the representatives on stage with the elements composing the character are to be evaluated and judged.
The subject for judging is all the costumes (more than one is acceptable), make-up, wigs, and hand props.
3) Judging is to be carried out through a costume report, whose content must conform with the competition rules and be written in Japanese or English, as well as a presentation explaining the construction of the costumes with a maximum of 5 minutes. Additional video materials may be used in the presentation.
4) The jury for the costume judging shall consist of 10 members of the Rules Committee, consisting of organizers from six (6) countries/regions excluding the WCS Secretariat and four (4) organizers, either self-recommended or recommended by other organizers. The WCS Secretariat shall select the four organizers other than the members of the Rules Committee from among the candidates self-recommended or recommended by others. In doing so, care shall be taken to avoid regional bias as much as possible. Judging could be done by a third party designated by the organizer (preferably from a country/region in an area/country/region close to the organizer). Judging one’s own country/region will not be conducted. In addition, it is permitted to temporarily suspend the costume judging during the rehearsal time of the stage performance (for the own team only) when it is being held at the same time as the costume judging.
The Rules Committee members must be present at the costume judging site, even if the organizer assigns judging to a third party.
5) Judging will take place based on the costume report in presentation format as outlined below:
· Presentation by the participating team / 5 min.
While showing the actual costumes, together with costume report photos that show the production process, the team is to explain the features, quality, precision, and the techniques that have been applied to the costumes.
· Q & A with the organizers / 2 min.
The judges will have an opportunity to ask questions about the presentation or costume report
· Hands-on physical check by the organizers / 3 min.
The costumes will be examined by the judges at close proximity.
The above three steps will be carried out within a total of 10 minutes with each team.
* In the case of teams giving presentations or Q&A sessions in languages other than English, an additional +5 minutes will be added for consecutive interpretation, for a total of 15 minutes for costume judging.
6) The judging order will be decided before the contest begins. The order may be changed only with the approval of the judges and will only be allowed for reasons such as health or emergency circumstances.
7) In case that documents are received after the submission deadline, a 10% deduction of the score in Costume Judging will be applied for every 24 hours of delay in submission, and a score of 0 points will be awarded without judgment in case that the delay exceeds 120 hours. (delay exceeding 24 hours: 10%, delay exceeding 48 hours: 20%, and so on).
Additionally, in case the Executive Office requests the correction of documents determined to be defective, it is required to resend a corrected version of the documents addressing the defects indicated from the Executive Office within 24 hours from the communication of the request. In this case, as well, a 10% deduction of the score in Costume Judging will be applied for every 24 hours of delay, and a score of 0 points will be awarded without judgment in the case the delay exceeds 72 hours.
In case there is a delay in both the submission deadline and resubmission, the penalties are to be applied cumulatively (delay exceeding 24 hours from the submission deadline: 10% + delay exceeding 24 hours in resubmission: 10%, for a total deduction of 20% of the score in Costume Judging).
The point reduction caused by overdue will be applied by the WCS Executive Office.
2. Stage performance judging
1) In the stage judging, the judges evaluate the representative cosplayer’s staging, expressiveness, creativity, entertainment value, and other overarching impressions through an on-stage performance of a maximum of 2:30 minutes. The jury will assign a score based on half of the full score (50 points on a 100-point scale), with points added or subtracted. In the event that the performance exceeds the 2:30 minute time limit, 10% will be deducted from the score for performances that exceed the time limit by less than 10 seconds, and 25% will be deducted for those that exceed the limit by 10 seconds or more.
2) All the required items must be filled in on the performance sheet, which must
be submitted by the deadline before the judging, together with original photos of the costumes, audio files, and video materials.
3) While contestants are free to select the content of their performance, they should leave the stage promptly after the conclusion of their performance unless otherwise advised. Actions that have the potential to dirty the stage or leave any residue or marks behind are prohibited, and contestants should act in accordance with the competition rules.
The props left on the stage after the performance will be collected by the staff members, and neither the staff members or the WCS Executive Office shall be held liable for any damage caused to the props during collection.
4) The period of about 40 seconds before the start of each performance is treated as change-over time. Performances that have stage props will have the props set (pre-set) by staff during this interval.
5) All items required by the representatives or necessary for the performance will be put on standby to the left of the stage. If the representatives appear on the stage from stage right, they are to cross the stage and cooperate in setting the items during the 40-second change-over time.
6) It is not possible for anyone other than the two representatives to act as support during the performance.
7) The order of performances will be decided beforehand through a fair lottery with all teams. Once the order has been decided, it cannot be changed for any reason other than health reasons.
■ Contest Rules
Please make sure to check the National・Regional Representative Regulation (a separate document) in addition to these Judging and Competition rules.
1. Costume Judging
1) All the costumes used by the representatives on stage with the elements composing the character are to be evaluated and judged. The subject for judging is all the costumes (more than one is acceptable), make-up, wigs, and hand props.
All the elements deemed indispensable to portray the character are considered a part of the costume and can be subject to judging. Elements not worn by the cosplayers but placed on the stage (objects to be used as assistance for the performance) cannot be subject to costume judging.
2) All items that are judged should all be made by the 2 representatives themselves. A proportion of 75% or more of the items should be handmade, and the process and method of production shall be explained in the costume construction report. If friends or family members have assisted in the creation process, this should be clearly presented in the costume report. If it is determined that 25% or more of an item is not made by hand, the item will not be included in the judging.
3) Shop-purchased items (commercial articles) that are included or used will not be eligible for judging.
4) In case that details are changed with respect to the original work, such as when adding parts for gimmicks, this must be clearly explained in the costume report.
5) 3D Printing:
It is permitted to use fully automatic production tools that rely on data input, such as 3D printers or fabric printers. Aspects such as the modeling data, balance with the costume, finishing, paint, and coating or fitting/attachment to the representative are to be judged with the costume if it is part of the worn structure of a costume. Items which are hand props and not attached to the body of the representative will be judged separately as hand props.
Purchasing digital 3D models is allowed (like the purchasing of commercial sewing patterns) provided the original creator of the model is credited by the representatives. Representatives may utilize public places such as maker spaces and libraries for the use of 3D printers and are not required to own a 3D printer for their prints to be judged.
However, the items will only be judged on the steps the representatives themselves carry out. These steps are to be clearly outlined in the craftsmanship portfolio of the representatives and should clearly indicate which steps were taken to produce the final result. Items which have less process steps or are of low quality when they are finished will receive lower scores than items which follow multiple process steps and have high quality in their finishing.
Examples of these multiple steps include modeling/creation of the 3D print, printing/scaling and manipulation of materials used for the print, finishing, including connecting the seams of multiple printed pieces to create a larger piece, sanding, priming, painting, and the attachment of these items to the costume/body of the representative.
Cosplayers who create their own 3D files will need to show proof of their work (ie: a digital signature and/or screenshots of their process) and be able to explain their processes in their craftsmanship portfolio or in their craftsmanship presentation. Failure to acknowledge a purchased 3D print file or lying about the origin of 3D print files will be grounds to exclude the items from judging and they will receive no points.
Items which are purchased and printed/finished not by the representatives will be treated as ‘purchased’ items like pre-made swords or knives. There must be at least 50% alteration to a purchased item for it to be considered for craftsmanship judging. Items which are purchased and have little to no alteration work from the cosplayer will be excluded from craftsmanship judging entirely.
6) If an issue arises upon which it is difficult to make a decision regarding a representative’s costume, it will be discussed and judged by the Rules Committee.
2. Stage Performance Judging
1) Items including costumes that are necessary for the performance are to follow the rules below:
A) A maximum of 3 stage props are allowed. Each item should weigh under 10 kg and measure no more than 2,100 mm in height, 2,100 mm in width, and 900 mm in depth.
Furthermore, unique items that are used to hide the costumes or that include special features such as gimmicks or other mecanisms, must be clearly indicated in the performance sheet. Also, in case that stage props need to be connected, unfolded or manipulated likewise, such an adjustment must be carried out within the 2:30 minute limit for the stage judging.
・Should one of the stage props exceed 10 kg in weight, Costume Judging points will be deducted as follows:
·10.1 to 10.5 kg: 5 point deduction
·10.6 to 11.0 kg : 10 point deduction
·Over 11.0 kg: an additional 5 point deduction for each 0.5 kg of excess weight
·Should the stage prop exceed 15 kg, an unconditional score of 0 will apply to Costume Judging.
・Should the size of one of the stage props exceed the maximum allowed dimensions for height, width, or depth, character judging points will be deducted as follows:
·1 point deduction for every centimeter in excess of any of the maximum allowed dimensions for height, width or depth
·1 point deduction for each centimeter in excess of the combined figure for the height, width or depth
·For excess dimensions a total of 10 cm or more, an unconditional score of 0 will apply to Costume Judging
B) Items other than the stage props that need to be set on or at the side of the stage before the performance are to be set by the representatives. The setup should be possible within the stage changeover time (40 seconds), and the total weight of costumes and props should not exceed 40 kg.
C) The total weight of the costumes, wigs, and hand props used on stage is to be under 40 kg for the two representatives.
· Should the total weight exceed 40 kg, Costume judging points will be deducted as follows:
·40.1 – 41.0 kg: 5 point deduction
·41.1 – 42.0 kg: 10 point deduction
·For total weight over 42.0 kg: 10 point deduction for every kilogram in excess
·For an excess weight of 10kg or more, an automatic score of 0 will apply to Costume Judging
D) Weapons such as shop-purchased imitation swords, katana, or similar items are prohibited. If WCS considers an item to be dangerous, for such reasons as the possibility that it can be dropped and/or cause injury to the audience during the performance, its use may be prohibited.
E) The use of official illustrations or logos from WCS or official logos and images from other original works on items required for the performance is prohibited.
2) Rules for the use of background music and videos are as follows:
A) Music used in the video must be played or sequenced by the representatives if it is music that would otherwise be subject to rights management by JASRAC, or it must be copyright-free music and sound clips. Organizers should confirm that no sound sources used in the representative’s video incur copyright infringement.
B) Background videos may be projected on the screen set up on the stage. As the use of such videos is intended to assist with the stage and enhance the scope of the stage production, points will not be awarded for the quality of the background video.
C) It is allowed to use the mother tongue of the participants, whereas dubbing in unrecognizable Japanese will be rejected.
D) The use of background music or the words of voice actors from original works and the copying or tracing of scenes or images appearing in original works for use in the background videos is not permitted. In addition, the use of videos for which the copyright holder is someone other than the representative team is also prohibited.
E) In addition to the above points, background videos are to be produced in accordance with the following points:
· Standard backgrounds: backgrounds that augment the stage atmosphere. i.e.: landscapes, groups of buildings, interiors Permitted production methods: live-action video, drawn illustrations, computer graphics, dioramas, etc.
· Special effects: Explosion, energy, or light effects that coordinate with movements of the cosplayers on stage. Permitted production methods: live-action video, drawn illustrations, computer graphics, dioramas, etc.
F) The dialogues in the performance are to be displayed with subtitles in Japanese and English. The display of the subtitles is to be arranged on the WCS side, and therefore it is not required to include any subtitle in the video submission. It is recommended to use the mother tongue of the representatives for the dialogue, and only the contents that have been clearly indicated with an accurate timing in the script form, in either English or Japanese, will be included in the bilingual subtitles.
G) Sound: Full stereo at least 192 kbps Image: 1920×1080 pixels, Screen resolution 1080p, Aspect ratio 16:9 If using a background video, submit it as a video file mixed with the sound clip in one of the following file formats: MOV, MP4, AVI, or WMV.
3) Additional rules regarding special effects and further considerations:
A) Performing in the audience area or outside of the stage is prohibited.
B) Using the following materials is not allowed.
– Powder, small metallic confetti (lamé)
– Fire (Smoke)
– Water (Liquids)
– Paper confetti smaller than 2 cm (includes flower petals and feathers to scatter on stage)
* Paper confetti bigger than 2 cm can be used up to a total of 100 pieces.
– Crackers that use gunpowder
* Crackers that do not use gunpowder can be used. However, the paper confetti
expelled from the cracker must be larger than 2cm, as stipulated above.
C) WCS will stop the use of any material that it deems dangerous or a hindrance to further changeover of the stage. When planning any special stage effects please consult with WCS in advance. Only equipment that has been approved by WCS can be used for special effects. (i.e. items that produce a smell, make an explosive sound, emit strong light,etc.)
D) Please consult with the WCS in advance if you wish to use laser lights.
E) Performers are not allowed to use any other external power source, such as the plugs, at the venue. All power must come from built-in batteries only.
■ Other matters
Only two representatives of each country/region and their two designated organizers/interpreters/assistants are permitted to enter the backstage area of the Championship.
*The designated organizer/interpreter/assistants for each country/region must be appointed by the country or region’s head organizer by application to the WCS prior to the event.
*Family, friends, and related press will have seats provided for them and must remain in the audience.
The performance at the Championship can be the same as, or different from the performance given in the preliminary round. However, if it is the same, it should be enhanced to a level appropriate for the Championship.
Updated February 2024
The World Cosplay Summit Executive Office