THE final look may only be for a day or two, but the preparations start weeks before.
For cosplayers at the Nijigen Expo 2026, appearing in character meant paying for wigs, make-up, props, costumes, tickets, transport and − for those from outside Kuala Lumpur − accommodation or other travel costs.
Some arrived at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), Kuala Lumpur, with suitcases packed with outfits, spare clothes, water bottles and other essentials for hours of heat, crowds and camera flashes.
One cosplayer said her make-up alone cost about RM300, while another spent about RM400 on her Sailor Mars costume that included parts made using EVA foam.
For a cosplayer who only wanted to be known as Gira, who came as Logos from the game Arknights, the full outfit took about two months to assemble and cost an estimated RM700.
Others travelled from Melaka, Terengganu and Perak, turning the three-day anime, comics and gaming event into a commitment that went beyond dressing up.
For many, the cosplay was self-funded, with them deriving satisfaction whenever strangers recognised the characters they represented.
The gratification also came when strangers asked for a photo or stopped them for a brief moment of shared fandom.
ACG is commonly used to describe the “anime, comics and games” scene.
At the Nijigen Expo, the term stretched across stage performances, trading card games, artist booths, cosplay photography and merchandise hunting.
The event, held from May 30 to June 1 at Mitec, marked its 10th edition this year.
Visitors moved through the halls not only looking for merchandise, but also searching for characters they recognised from anime, games, webtoons and comics.
A familiar costume could stop a conversation, turn strangers into a photo group or send a cosplayer across the hall to catch a rare character before the moment disappeared.
That was what happened when Gira broke away briefly from an interview after spotting a Gilgamesh (from the Fate anime series) cosplayer nearby.
“He’s a very rare character,” said Gira when she returned to continue the interview.
She has been cosplaying since 2017, after being introduced to the scene through a small cosplay shop in Kuala Lumpur and a school event.
Her Logos costume combined ready-made pieces bought online with custom modifications, including altered parts for fit, magnets for easier wearing and 3D-printed accessories.
Gira said her background in 3D design helped her create some parts before sending them to a shop for printing.
She said larger ACG events gave cosplayers more reason to put in extra effort.
She attends ACG events almost every month when possible.
Gira estimated that she has spent up to RM1,000 a month on ACG-related activities, excluding food and drinks.
Her event partner, Aneyushi, came dressed as Kim Dokja from Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, a South Korean web novel later adapted into a webtoon.
Aneyushi’s costume combined bought, thrifted and self-made parts, including thrifted clothing and 3D-printed props made using open-source files.
A group of Spider-Man cosplayers posing inside the exhibition hall.
Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon are among the older anime characters represented at Nijigen Expo 2026.
Passionate ACG fans queue patiently for a chance to snap photos of their favourite cosplayers.
A visitor browsing through merchandise such as collectible action figures and DIY model kits sold at the expo.
Gira (left) as Logos and Aneyushi as Kim Dokja from Omniscient Reader’s ‘Viewpoint’.
Left: Japanese idol girl group Inuwasi captivating the crowd with an energetic stage performance.
A cosplayer dressed as Caine from ‘The Amazing Digital Circus’.
