Cosplay Mania

Cosplay Mania is an annual cosplay-centered convention organized by Cosplay.ph.^[1] It is usually held in the fourth quarter of the year in the Philippines.^[2] The convention features various events related to cosplay, anime, and J-pop culture which features rookie and veteran cosplayers and cosplay enthusiasts.

Cosplay Mania
Genre	Cosplay
Venue	SM Megatrade Hall (2008–2009) SMX Convention Center (2010–present)
Location	Pasay
Country	Philippines
Inaugurated	2008
Most recent	2025
Attendance	About 23,000 (2013)
Organized by	Cosplay.ph
Website	http://www.cosplaymania.com/

Overview

Cosplay Mania is created and hosted by Cosplay.ph, a Philippine-based cosplay website and organization.^[1] It is the fourth of six annual related events held by Cosplay.ph, alongside Cosplay Carnival, Fanfes, Anime and Cosplay Expo (ACX), CosMeet, and Cosplay Matsuri.^[3]

Convention history

History

The first event was held at Megatrade Hall 3 in SM Megamall on October 12, 2008. It revolved around three main activities: Workshops, Costume Building Contest and the Cosplay competition for individuals and groups.^[4] Notable cosplayer Jin Joson and her group the Tux Team^[5] were invited to be part of the workshop tutorials as well as judge for the cosplay competition.^[6] It returned the following year to Megatrade Halls 2 and 3.^[7]

In 2010, Cosplay Mania moved to SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay and was made two days long.^[8] It introduced the first nationwide cosplay competition called the Cosplay Tournament of Champions (TORCH), where winners of tournament legs from SM Cagayan De Oro, SM Clark, SM Davao, SM Cebu, and SM Manila converge for the finals at SMX. The event also invited international cosplayer guests to be part of the celebration and become part of the judges panel for Project Cosplay and TORCH.^[9]

In 2011, tickets were pre-sold online and in SM Supermalls nationwide in response to the long lines that plagued past iterations when ticket sales were sold on the day itself.^[10] Starting that year, halls of SMX were divided into two areas: one Fiesta Area (later "Hall EX" or the "Exhibits Hall") with merchandise and activity booths, and a Stage Area (later "Hall S", "Hall SP", or the "Special Performance Hall") where the main cosplay contests, band performances, meet-and-greets, and cosplay workshops. Access to the Stage Area required a higher-tier ticket.^[11] It also hosted the Philippine Cosplay Appreciation Day, where cosplayers were invited to register upon entering one of the function rooms in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record of the number of video game cosplayers attending an event.^[12] Starting that year, the event partnered with Anime Festival Asia (AFA), with the winning pair of TORCH becoming the official Philippine representatives to join AFA's Regional Cosplay Competition, performing against other cosplay teams from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.^[13] The Philippine Team, represented by Amado Carl Hernandez and Zhel Guiral,^[14] later won the AFA competition.^[15] In 2012, Cosplay Mania again attempted to set the Guinness World Record they attempted in 2011.^[14] Notable supporters of the event include the Department of Foreign Affairs, The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines,^[16] All Nippon Airways, Toei Animation Philippines and SGCafe.

Cosplay Mania in 2013 introduced the application of Cosplay.ph's CRS, or Cosplay Ranking System, where cosplayers who will join the event's contests are required to apply. This system would help designate the beginner and veteran ranking as to improve fairness in Cosplay.ph held competitions.^[17] 2013's TORCH winners Rommil Donair Jr. and Krislyn Branzuela won first runner-up at AFA.^[18]

In 2014, Cosplay Mania introduced the Japanese Anime Music (JAM) concert, a multi-day concert that occurs in the night of the event, with different performers for each night. Another higher-tier ticket was introduced which provided access to the JAM concert. In addition, a specific ticket for meet-and-greet sessions was added.^[19]

Cosplay Mania in 2020 was originally scheduled to be held on October 3–4, 2020, but was eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[20] Instead, Cosplay.ph held a related virtual convention named Fanfes Online.^[21] During Cosplay Carnival in 2022, Cosplay.ph announced the return of Cosplay Mania in 2022, along with ACX.^[22]

Convention locations

Dates	Venue	Atten.	Guests	JAM concert guests
October 12, 2008	SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 3, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila	6,000[23]		N/A
September 13, 2009	SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 2 and 3, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
October 2–3, 2010	SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay, Metro Manila		Jesuke Jes, Clive Lee[9]
October 1–2, 2011			JiakiDarkness, Clive Lee, Pinky Lu Xun, YukiGodBless [24]
September 29–30, 2012		15,000[14]	Jesuke Jes, KANAME☆, Reika[14]
October 5–6, 2013			Shinji (Endless Illution [sic]), Jesuke Jes, KANAME☆, Pinky Lu Xun, Goldy Marg, Orochi X, Reika, Starpolaris Reiko, Vic, Viospace[25]
October 4–5, 2014			Aya Ikeda, Jesuke Jes, KANAME☆, Vic Kumiko, Linda Le (Vampy Bit Me), Pinky Lu Xun, Reika, Loverin Tamburin, Inui Tatsumi, Orochi X[26]	Aya Ikeda, KANAME☆, Moonspeak, Reika, LOVERIN TAMBURIN [ja], Ninja Tuna[26]
October 3–4, 2015		36,000[23]	Itsuki Akira, Hana and Baozi, Aya Ikeda, Jesuke Jes, KANAME☆, Ladybeard, Pile, Loverin Tamburin, Ying Tze[27]	Itsuki Akira, Aya Ikeda, Ladybeard, Pile, LOVERIN TAMBURIN [ja][27]
October 1–2, 2016			DD-Tenka, Tokyo Performance Domo, Baozi and Hana, Hiko, Riho Iida, Kanako Ito, KANAME☆, Kirisaki, Back On, Ruka, Rumi, Yukari Shimotsuki, Starmarie, Tomia[28]	Back-On, Tokyo Performance Domo, Riho Iida, Kanako Ito, Starmarie[28]
September 30–October 1, 2017			Angie, Eki, Wataru Hatano, Hikarin, Knitemaya, Kong, kradness, Koutaro Nishimiya, Elisa, Shiena Nishizawa, Fuuko Noda, Siutao, Konomi Suzuki, Sayo Yamamoto[29]	Elisa, kradness, Shiena Nishizawa, Konomi Suzuki[29]
September 29–30, 2018			AiRI, Astarohime, Emperor Cosplay, Kousuke Asuma, fhána, Hakken, Hiroki Ino, Hiroto Kurumasu, Megumi Nakajima, Ola Aphrodite, Chiharu Sawashiro, DJ SunaP, Shunsuke Takeuchi, Zwei[30]	AiRI, fhána, Megumi Nakajima, Zwei[30]
September 28–29, 2019			Mirai Akari, ASAKA, Kousuke Asuma, BoiledCurry, Hige Driver, VENaS Japan, Rea Kami, Allen Kohatsu, Motoko Kumai, Hiroto Kurumasu, May'n, Yasutaka Nakata, Rumi Okubo, Ichigo Rinahamu, MYTH & ROID[31]	ASAKA, May'n, Yasutaka Nakata, Ichigo Rinahamu, MYTH & ROID[31]
October 1–2, 2022			Moona Hoshinova, Hiroto Kuramasu, Thames Malerose, MindaRyn, Kureiji Ollie, Onnies, Pavolia Reine, Ayunda Risu, Nozomu Sasaki, Yosuke Sora[32]	Moona Hoshinova, MindaRyn, Pavolia Reine[32]
September 30–October 1, 2023		12,000[33]	Mizuno Aki, Ami Amami, BPM15Q, Daoko, Junna, Rita Kamishiro, Kobo Kanaeru, Knite, Kaela Kovalskia, Hiroto Kurumasu, Shiki Miyoshino, Phil Mizuno, Nano, Clarissa Punipun, Diane Sabandeja, Vestia Zeta[34]	BPM15Q, Daoko, Junna, Nano[34]
October 4–6, 2024		20,000[33]	Asca, BRADIO, Su Ling Chan, Chiai Fujikawa, sajou no hana, Hiroto Kurumasu, kz(livetune), Anya Melfissa, Octavio, Jurard T. Rexford, Nami Tamaki, Vestia Zeta, Lea, Taryn, Byoru[35]	Asca, BRADIO, Chiai Fujikawa, sajou no hana, kz(livetune), Nami Tamaki[35]
October 3–5, 2025			angela, Shouta Aoi, Holostars English ARMIS (Jurard T. Rexford, Goldbullet, Octavio, Crimzon Ruze), Kousuke Asuma, Stereo Dive Foundation, Le Josette, Kairi Miura, Sangatsu no Phantasia, Jacob Takanashi, Thames, TRUE, Unnämed[36]	angela, Shouta Aoi, Stereo Dive Foundation, Octavio, Sangatsu no Phantasia, TRUE, Unnämed[36]