Anime Expo is proud to present the World Cosplay Summit Team USA Alumni Retrospective!
Located in the Entertainment Hall, this exhibit features costumes created by WCS Team USA Cosplayers from 2005 to 2017 for the annual summit in Nagoya, Japan.
Each hand-crafted costume has been graciously loaned by Alumni all over the United States. Several of our Alumni will be at the exhibit to answer questions about the World Cosplay Summit, their experiences, and costumes.
We will also have guided tours through the exhibit for a more in-depth look at the amazing craftsmanship, as well as the history of the WCS event in the US and Japan.
Tour Schedule:
- Wednesday 7/4: 8 PM – 9 PM
- Thursday 7/5: 12 PM – 1 PM
- Friday 7/6: 2 PM to 3 PM, 6 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday 7/7: 12 PM – 1 PM , 4 PM – 5 PM
- Sunday 7/8: 12 PM – 1 PM, 3 PM – 4 PM
Join us for the AX 2018 Masquerade and World Cosplay Summit on Saturday, July 7 @ 8 – 11 PM in LACC / Main Events (Hall B)!
Introducing the WCS US 2018 Judges!
(From Left) Reika, WindoftheStars, Garnet Runestar, J.Hart, and Jenny Nobile will return to AX 2018 to judge the Masquerade and World Cosplay Summit USA. In addition, Reika will be holding autograph sessions in Kentia Hall on July 5 at 4:00 PM and July 6 at 3:30 PM
About the Judges:
Garnet Runestar is a Utah based cosplayer that hoards fabric like a Dragon, collects sushi earrings, wears to many sparkly bobbles at once and loves Zelda more than some people love their family. With over ten years of cosplay experience, she has earned twenty Best in Show awards; a part of Team USA 2014 for the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya Japan and Team USA 2017 for the Clara Cow Cosplay Cup in the Netherlands.
When she’s not making ball gowns, she works for a fashion brand which creates gowns aimed towards photography. Working to be an active voice for Cosplay Positivity, she aims to share her professional experiences musings, and techniques to ALL who are interested. Garnet loves meeting new people, learning new sewing techniques, and is an awkward llama 98% of the time.
Reika
I’m REIKA, a Japanese cosplayer based in Osaka. At present, I join events in Asia, Europe, the United States and South America. I’ve been cosplaying for 23 years, and have made more than 600 costumes. I also hold workshops on wig setting, makeup and costume making.
Jenny Nobile
Jenny Nobile is the owner of Pollard’s Sew Creative, a family owned business for 22 years where she teaches classes in sewing, software and embroidery. Some of Jenny’s work can be found in magazines such as Threads, Sew News and Machine Embroidery & Texture Art. Pollard’s is a proud sponsor and vendor of the Anime Expo and is committed to supporting the future sewers and cosplayers in their quest for sewing and embroidery knowledge.
J.Hart
Joshua Hart is the costume designer, fashion designer, model, and commissioner behind J.Hart Design, a brand which he created to showcase his award-winning work, as well as, to foster knowledge, creativity, and inspiration among the cosplay and fashion communities. With over ten years of sewing and cosplay experience, Joshua strives to produce works of art that showcase his love for unique silhouettes, impeccable fit, and intricate details. Graduating with a BFA in Fashion Design and currently working as an technical designer in New York City, Joshua’s goal is to provide access to industry knowledge through his various lectures, panels, and workshops at national and international conventions, through his Facebook page, and candidly in-person.
WindoftheStars
WindoftheStars, Mel Hoppe, is a veteran international known cosplayer based out of Northern Nevada. She has been cosplaying since 2004 and has made over 100 costumes inspired by video games, anime, comics and of her own creative design. Many of these costumes have won prestigious awards at cosplay competitions since 2007. Her costume works have been featured on TV as a judge on Call to Cosplay that aired on Crunchyroll and Myx TV, in print mostly notably in Cosmode, OtakuUSA and Mangabomb, and in several web publications such as CNET, Nerdist, TokyoPOP, and Kotaku. She has also worked with 2K Games, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, iLoveToCreate, IGG/I Got Games and more on promotional events, contests and costume collaborations. Aside from making costumes for herself, she has made and designed costumes for her local theater group and had the honor to make Game of Thrones costumes for George R. R. Martin. As a veteran in the cosplay community, she strives to spread the sense of community, helping her fellow cosplayers, and to promote the art of costume creation through her online presence and guest appearance at conventions both in the USA and internationally.