Cosplay Craftsmanship Contest 2025

The CCC is interview-based and judged based on craftsmanship only; there is no performance component or audience.

Entrants can schedule an appointment for their interview to guarantee a space with minimal waiting, or walk-in during Contest Hours.
 
We offer an inclusive and laid-back Contest Experience, aimed at promoting and supporting Cosplay for Everyone.

We are NOT the Masquerade Workmanship judging.

How to Enter:

All Entrants must complete the ONLINE ENTRY FORM ahead of time or on arrival to the Contest.

Reserving an appointment guarantees a spot at that time.

Entrants are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to submit a "Build Book"; the Judges can reference it after your interview. (More detail in Judging Info).

2025 Contest Hours and Location:

NEW EXTENDED TIME - Friday May 23 6:00 PM - 7:30PM, Limited walk in space added.

Saturday May 24 10:00 AM - 12:00PM AND 1:00PM - 2:00PM (walk ins and appointments accepted!)

HALL H, North Building, Toronto Congress Centre, next to Cosplay Panels Room. There will be signage at the entrance. We will be near the main ballroom.

Questions?

Please try to give the information below a read-over first, then contact us at [email protected] for anything you need help with.
  • The interviews are confidential and there is no audience, but a few of your friends can hang out in the room.
  • Our Judging panel for 2025 includes: Melting Mirror, Chunky Chickadee and CERBERUS
  • Entrants can receive feedback from the Judges. Indicate if you want this on the Entry Form.

Build Book Details:

We highly encourage submitting a Build Book. It allows Judges to see details about your planning and crafting process that may not have been mentioned during the interview time. We do not like looking at images on electronic devices.

A "Build Book" is simply documentation of the crafting process from start to finish. It should include things like reference images, planning notes, patterning notes, photographs of the creation of the cosplay at various stages and materials samples.

All "books" must be clearly labelled with your real name and entry title and either stapled all together or placed in a folder, envelope or box.

Submitted Build Books are to be picked up Sunday at the start of the Awards Ceremony at our table. Items unclaimed by noon the Sunday of the convention are no longer our responsibility. If you are unable to make the Awards Ceremony and need your Build Book returned, please contact us to make arrangements ahead of time.

OUR 2025 JUDGING PANEL

CERBERUS

Originally starting cosplay in British Columbia, Cerberus began her cosplay journey almost 5 years ago. As she moved from bought and closet cosplay and began making her own, she has become a master sewer and foamsmith with specialties in hand embroidery, leatherwork, and metalcasting. Their favorite cosplay build was their Richter Belmont that won Best in Show at Vancouver Fan Expo in 2024. Loving nothing more than to talk with people about how they made their cosplays, Cerberus has on occasion stopped people on the con floor for one to two hours to ask about their builds.


Photographer: bokeh_by_brian 

CHUNKYCHICKADEE

Having been competing at Anime North for over 20 years, Chickadee has seen the hobby grow so much and has been trying to keep up with all the amazing young-ins today. With a specialty in fabric, traditional techniques, and leather working, she creates bespoke costumes for international competitions and stage. She is a WCS and NCC prelim runner up, and has also won a few best in shows. Her favorite part of competitions is talking to all the other people competing with her and sharing the knowledge she's gained over her two decades of experience. We can't learn without a teacher, so let's teach what we know!

Photo by Kevin Chan

MELTING MIRROR

Meltingmirror has been cosplaying for over 20 years and has been judging cosplay contests across Canada and the US for over 10 years. Her work has been featured in cosplay magazines and on websites such as Kotaku, and she has a passion for couture designs and sparkly things.

Photo by Michaëlle Cosplay Photo



  1. The contest directors reserve all right to decisions regarding awards, division placement and eligibility of an entry, at all times. Directors reserve the right to eliminate anyone from competition on the basis of taste, danger to staff or other contestants, or for any other reason deemed sufficient. 
  2. Safety of Staff and Entrants:
    Any abusive behaviour at any time towards our staff or other Entrants will result in a ban and disqualification.

    Dangerous Items are not permitted to be entered. No fire, live blades, illegal weapons, etc. All props must adhere to the Anime North Weapons and Large Props policy.
    https://www.animenorth.com/index.php/about/rules-policies
  3. Skill Division Requirements:
    Entrants should select the Skill Division according to their crafting level:
    Novice (quite new to cosplay crafting)
    Intermediate (has done one or more cosplays)
    Master (open competition level, significant experience and/or skill displayed).

    The Director may change your Skill Division at any time. They will tell you if it happens, but not necessarily at the time it happens.
  4. Build Books and other Contestant Property:
    We highly encourage submitting a Build Book.
    A "Build Book" is simply documentation of the crafting process from start to finish. It should include things like reference images, planning notes, patterning notes, photographs of the creation of the cosplay at various stages and materials samples.
    All "books" must be clearly labelled with your real name and entry title and either stapled all together or placed in a folder, envelope or box. We do not like looking at images on electronic devices.
    Submitted Build Books are to be picked up Sunday at the start of the Awards Ceremony at our table. Items unclaimed by noon the Sunday of the convention are no longer our responsibility. If you are unable to make the Awards Ceremony and need your Build Book returned, please contact us to make arrangements ahead of time.
  5. No Repeats:
    You cannot use the same costume in both the Anime North Masquerade and this contest. will be retroactively judged "out of competition". We will confer with the Masquerade judges to check before announcing awards. This contest is meant to be an alternative to the Masquerade
  6. Cosplay Requirements:
    1. One Entrant = One Person = One Entry = One Cosplay
    2. Cosplays must be recognisable as being a specific character or an OC/Fanart, that has appropriate references.
    3. Cosplays must be primarily wearable garments or armour and entirely supported by your own body.
    4. Only the parts of the cosplay created by the entrant from base materials will be eligible for any Construction awards.
  7. Commissioned, Premade, Purchased Cosplay Parts and/or Resources:
    We are Judging the planning work and results of crafting done by the Entrant only. The purpose of the Craftsmanship Contest is that entrants have crafted the majority of their costume. Entrants will disclose what parts of their cosplay process were not made by them so that these parts or resources can be excluded from awards consideration. Entering any items created by another person or purchased, without disclosure, will likely result in disqualification.
  8. Minors:
    Entrants not of the age of 18 must have someone over the age of 18 with them at the Contest who is either their legal guardian or authorised by them.
  9. Accessibility Requests for Entrants:
    Entrants who have accessibility requests can let us know ahead of time so we can make the appropriate arrangements for their full participation. There is a section for this on the entry form.
  10. By entering you acknowledge you have read, understood and accepted all terms, conditions and information related to this Contest, as stated above and at Masquerade Rules and on animenorth.com as part of purchasing your pass.
  1. How long is a Judging Interview?
    The time allotted is nine minutes from the time we call you until the time we stop. We suggest you make a list of the things you want to share.
  2. Will the appointments run exactly on time?
    We will do our best to keep appointments exactly on time! If things are running late, we do not keep an appointment waiting more than 10 minutes. 
  3. If I walk in, how long will I have to wait?
    We will tell walk-ins what the wait time is on arrival. Historically it has been 5-30 minutes.
  4. What if I need to make changes to my appointment?
    Contact us at [email protected] as you cannot make this change on the form.
  5. What if I need to change something in my entry form?
    The entry form saves your response and you can go back and edit it up to the time of the Contest.
  6. What if I need to cancel entering?
    Contact us at [email protected].
  7. What are the skill divisions?
    See Rule #3. Novice (for people new to cosplay crafting), Intermediate (somewhat experienced) and Master (Open-level). Only those entering in Master are eligible to win first place. The Director will make final decisions on Division Placement.
  8. What is a Build Book? 
    See Judging Info and Entry Rule #4.
  9. I bought/used/was given/ my friend made me/ I commissioned/I bought off Etsy/ I used a commercial pattern, etc...
    Please see Entry Rule 7.
  10. Who are the judges?
    Our judges are highly experienced former/current Anime North Masquerade Winners/Cosplay judges and/or Anime North Cosplay Guests. Judges are simply looking to give back to their community and see all the amazing and creative things cosplayers make.  Please see Judging Info for details.
  11. When will you announce the winners and awards?
    We will try to put the awards out on AN social media Saturday night so the winners can celebrate. Please see Judging Info for details.
  12. What awards do you give?
    We have a Best Cosplay (1st place) who wins a weekend pass to next Anime North. We also award a Best for each Division and various Excellence awards in categories such as Sewing, Patternmaking, 3D printing, Foamwork, etc. Further, we each Judge has discretion to award a Judge's Choice. Please see Judging Info for details.
  13. What if I can't pick up my award/certificate and/or Build Book on Sunday?
    We do not mail out awards but can save them for you to pick up next year.  
    If you are unable to make the Awards Ceremony and need your Build Book returned, please contact us to make arrangements ahead of time. We will not keep them until next year. See entry rule #4.
  14. What if I want feedback from the judges?
    Our judges are more than happy to provide constructive feedback and answer questions about your work, please indicate this on your Entry Form and they will write it out for you to pick up on Sunday.
  15. What if I don't agree with the Winners List?
    Please see Entry Rule #2. Please note that we are local volunteers we do not condone staff abuse or online cos-drama. Judges do offer feedback.  Contact us at [email protected] if you have questions.
  16. What is a BUILD BOOK?
    See Entry Rule #4.

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