Cosplay (コスプレ kosupure), short for "costume play", is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered on role play. Favorite sources include manga, anime, comic books, video games, and films.
The largest event for cosplayers outside Asia is the annual San Diego Comic-Con. The biggest event in the UK is the London MCM Expo, while the biggest event in all of Europe takes place in France at Japan Expo in Paris, with an attendance of over 200,000 in 2012.
In 2013, the Montreal Comic-Con and the Winter London Film and Comic Con were a great success. Watch these videos! They might help you decide your costume for Halloween!
