Zenkaikon gives people in the city of Lancaster the chance to see some of their favorite characters from anime, TV shows, movies, and video games. How often can you say hello to Luigi on a Saturday afternoon?
People who dress up are cosplaying (short for dressing up).
Anyone can cosplay regardless of body type. For some basic information on cosplay, check out our previous coverage.
We spoke to eight cosplayers on Saturday afternoon at Zenkaikon.
This is what they say is the inspiration behind their costumes and why they came to Zenkaikon this year.
Melissa Shaw, 29, Hatboro, Pennsylvania.
Melissa Shaw from Hatboro is Keyleth from Critical Role at Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“Keyleth from ‘Critical Role,’ which is a D&D show with voice actors. It’s a lot to get into, but worth it.”
Tell me how the costume turned out.
“This used to be a Jack Frost cane from ‘Rise of the Guardians,’ but I was like, ‘Oh, I can make it pretty for her.’ I bought the dress, made the leaf cape. It’s supposed to have more leaves , but Amazon nerfed me. I got burned a bunch of times gluing all these (roses on her headband) here. I did half of it.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“It’s like my home scam so it’s one I’ve been going to for years. I’ve had staff for it. It just feels comfortable and cozy and homey unlike the bigger scams where some people are more intimidating” . . This one you can wear whatever you want and it’s just nice.”
Matthew Gonzalez, 24, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.
Matthew Gonzelez, from Boalsburg, is dressed as the Chainsaw Man during Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“I’m dressed as Chainsaw Man. His real name is Denji. He just has a chainsaw for his head and arms. He kills demons and stuff.”
Tell me how the costume turned out.
“I read the manga for this, and I thought, ‘Okay, I want to dress up like him.’ And I knew it was going to be very difficult. She had a template for it and was starting to build it. When I got to this process (gestures to the chainsaw’s head), it was tedious, it was long. It was like, I don’t want to do this anymore. But I was like, ‘no, trust the process, it’ll be great when it’s done.’ It was a week before the convention and I was like ugh, I have to finish this. I had a lot to do. It was fun, now that it’s done.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“It’s actually my first time here. One of my roommates recommended we go to this convention because it’s like two hours away, so it’s not the worst distance, and we like to go to conventions all the time.” … I like the place, like the stage.”
Adam Arena, 26, New Rochelle, New York.
Adam Arena, from New Rochelle, NY, is dressed as Spider-Man at Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
You’re obviously dressed as Spiderman; Tell me about the inspiration to dress like him.
“I always found him relatable as a character.” After Arena answered this question, someone asked her to pose with the other two Spiderman cosplayers in close proximity.
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“Actually, this is my first time here. My friend invited me, so I said ‘hey, why not?’ Usually, he jumped at the opportunity to cosplay anyway.”
Zach Thompson, 28, Ashburn, VA.
Zach Thompson, from Ashburn, Virginia, is Rina Tennoji from “Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club” during Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“Rina from Love Live!”
Tell me how the costume turned out.
“A lot of pain. It’s a 3D printed frame on the side, and I had to laser engrave the panel. There’s actually two-way glass on another layer, so you can’t see my face through it.”
But can you see through it?
“Something,” Thompson says with a smile. “In brighter areas I can do it, but then it gets difficult. And finally there’s the Arduino board and I have a control board in my hand here that I can use to change (the faces). I did all of this. I designed every part.”
How do you start a process like that?
“Um, COVID?” Thompson laughs. “But, more seriously, every time I watched the show, I was like, this is such a dumb thing, I think this is a challenge for someone to do. This is actually the second version I’ve done. The first one, I soldered individually like 100 LEDs together.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“I went here actually two years ago. I already had a ticket for COVID, so my ticket was postponed to next year and the year after, and I still wanted to go. My friend lives in Lancaster, so he gave me a good room and a couch to sleep on.
Chrissy Rose, 24, Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Chrissy Rose, from Norristown, is dressed as Sunnydrop, from Five Nights at Freddy’s, during Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“I’m dressed as Sun, a daycare assistant from ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.”
Tell me how the costume turned out.
“I’m not very good at sewing things myself, but I still like to put a personal touch (on costumes). I go in and buy pieces that I can customize. I found a pair of bloomers in a nice color, painted in the stripes myself.” .His little skirt piece is a long skirt that I cut and modified to look like the one he wears. The bell bracelets and the sun pieces, I completely customized them. I love to accessorize.”
I love that the sun piece rotates.
“Yeah, just put it in a fidget spinner and let it loose.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“So the last time I was at this convention was even before it moved to this location. It was my first convention, at the Oaks Convention Center (editor’s note: Zenkaikon was held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks in 2012. The convention moved to Lancaster in 2013). I have been very busy and have been going to other conventions with friends who introduced me to it. It made more sense to come back here. It’s already a great experience.”
Abi Renicky, 16, Manheim, Pennsylvania.
Manheim’s Abi Renicky is dressed in an original outfit during Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“Seen as my own original character. I commissioned it from one of my closest friends and they custom made it, just for me.”
Tell me how it came together.
“I funded it. Basically I just paid my friend to do all of this for me. We went through the fur together. They made a base and added more and more. I was like, yeah, that’s good.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“I just love it. It was my first convention and I was a little sad that it was canceled last year. But now that it’s back, I’m back too.”
Have you had a good time so far?
“Yeah, I love it. I’m here all three days. And I don’t just do furry costumes, I do cosplay too.”
Erik Baynard, 27, Exton, Pennsylvania.
Exton’s Erik Vaynarb is dressed as Demon Slayer’s Giyu Tomioka for Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Who are you dressed as?
“Giyu Tomioka from Demon Slayer.”
How did the costume come about?
“This was a last minute thing. I got it from Amazon in a day or two.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“This is my first time appearing here. My friend recommended it to me, so I thought, why not? I like anime, why not?”
Robin Betts, 39, Biglerville, Pennsylvania.
Biglerville’s Robin Betts is Luigi for Zenkaikon on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Of course, you are dressed as Luigi. Tell me a little about how the costume turned out.
“Luigi is a really easy costume. Basically, you just buy a jumpsuit, you get some Wolverine boots, a green shirt, some dress gloves, and a hat. Most of all, I like to do the props. This (the hammer) is a bit of rebar with a concrete pour pipe and some foam board and then just painted metallic black.”
Why are you in Zenkaikon?
“A friend comes over, he’s dressed like Mario. He came for his daughter, he doesn’t care too much about the Mario brothers. He dresses like Darth Vader, Chewbacca, some other ‘Star Wars’ characters. There’s a friend who’s local here, he dresses like our Darth Maul. He’s dressing up as Darth Maul today, so if you see him…”