When the alarm goes off in the morning, most people reach into the wardrobe to pull out a suitable outfit for the day. But for some, the sound of the alarm is a bat signal welcoming a day when they can ditch sneakers for avant-garde knee-highs and change jackets for billowing capes.
This isn’t a holiday where kids dress up as their favorite princesses or superheroes and ask for candy—it’s the few days a year they can shed their everyday persona and become someone they love or want to emulate.
The art of dressing up as a character and evoking their physical characteristics and personalities known as cosplay has been around since the early 80s, but was not widely accepted at first. With a little help from the internet, the world of cosplay has entered the mainstream, especially in big cities like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.
Whether it’s small conventions held in San Antonio malls well past their prime, like Rolling Oaks Mall, or a massive geek takeover of the Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio’s devoted cosplay community is unlike any other.
Crista Burgett shows off Azula’s fearsome firebending from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Courtesy of Crista BurgettEverything is better in Texas
Josh Wilson recreates a fight against brothers from the anime Inuyasha.
Courtesy of Josh Wilson“People always talk about Southern hospitality, but I think it’s true. We are very talkative and very friendly, even if you don’t know who that person is cosplaying as or who they are. I got to meet a lot of friends here, Crista Burgett said.
Burgett, who is based out of San Antonio, has been cosplaying for about eight years after being introduced to it by a group of friends. Her first taste of cosplay was at a small convention at Our Lady of the Lake University where she went as one of the main characters from popular anime Black Butler.
“It was a little smaller than the big ones like San Japan, but it was a lot of fun,” Burgett said. “I remember getting my first cosplay done for it and getting all the pictures and seeing all the vendors…it was so cool.”
It wasn’t until Burgett attended San Japan—San Antonio’s biggest convention of the year—that she realized she was part of a community of people who share a love of styling themselves as their favorite characters.
“When I went to my first San Japan, I actually got to go to panels and meet large groups of fans at meetings,” Burgett said. “(I thought), ‘Oh, this is different.’ You get to meet (people) and become part of a larger community.”
The trip to San Japan was a turning point for the cosplayer, who has created over 40 unique cosplays, including Bumblebee from TransformersSteve Harrington from Stranger Thingsand Kyle from South Park — each strengthening their ties to the local cosplay community.
“It’s that sense of community — it’s like you’re not alone in the world,” she said. “When people say, ‘Hey, I liked that show and I liked this character,’ you’re like, ‘Hey, me too.’ We are not alone, and that is a feeling that makes me very happy.”
Burgett isn’t the only San Antonio cosplayer who feels at ease being a part of the cosplay community, Court Heinamaki, who made the trip to San Antonio in 2019, has noticed a difference in the way local cosplayers interact with each other.
Court Heinamaki portrays Jigsaw from the film Jigsaw.
Ashe Cosplay
Court Heinamaki as Himiko Toga i My Hero Academia.
Shining eternity
Court Heinamaki as Jigsaw (left), and Himiko Toga in “My Hero Academia.” Courtesy.
Part of your world
Heinamaki, who has moved on from playing a brooding dueling master Yu-Gi-Oh! — without a wig — to perform professional cosplay performances, recall one time trying to strike up a conversation with fellow cosplayers at an out-of-state convention.
“When I was walking around (a convention) trying to talk to someone Yu-Gi-Oh! cosplayers, they gave me weird looks like, ‘Why are you talking to us about Yu-Gi-Oh!? when I knew they knew what Yu-Gi-Oh! where?” Heinamaki said.
“(In San Antonio) you can be dressed like someone from Animal crossing and walks up to people cosplaying from Fire emblem, and they strike up a conversation because you’re just like, ‘Oh, I recognize what you’re cosplaying from. Do you play this game? Where are you in it?
Court Heinamaki cosplays as Bowsette.
Super Umai production
Court Heinamaki shows off his original cosplay as Seto Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh! compared to a newer one.
Courtesy of Court Heinamaki
Court Heinamaki cosplays as Bowsette, and original cosplay as Seto Kaiba from “Yu-Gi-Oh!”
Heinamaki feel most at home in cosplay, letting their true selves shine through the artificial hair and bright makeup in a community that accepts them for who they are.
“(Cosplay) gives me confidence and kind of allows me to put myself out there more in ways that I didn’t think I would ever be able to,” they said.
While some cosplayers prefer to be solely in the limelight, others keep an eye on costume play and the other on making the magic happen for others by starting their own conventions.
Josh Wilson shows off his Ron Stoppable next to his wife who takes the form of Kim Possible from Kim possible.
Courtesy of Josh WilsonLooking for a tribe in San Antonio
Cosplaying librarian turned convention producer Josh Wilson is the owner of Fandom Events, which now hosts ten conventions across Texas, including San Antonio, and surrounding states. Wilson is responsible for putting on Anime Lubbock, Anime Texas, and the nation’s only Genshin effect hell celebration.
Like many cosplayers, Wilson started out shy and introverted until he donned a costume and became someone other than himself.
“I put on this costume and suddenly I’m funny and engaging. I thought I was acting like that character, but then I realized, ‘Oh my God, no, this is me.’ I’m funny, I’m charismatic, I’m talkative. “I didn’t feel confident enough to be that person until I found my tribe,” Wilson said.
Even though Wilson is older, he still takes the time to put on a cape, but now with the mindset he’s helping to pave the way for the next generation of cosplayers by giving them a place to find their tribes.
Josh Wilson poses as Mirio Togata’s superhero persona, Lemillion, from My Hero Academia next to his wife cosplaying as Camie Utsushimi from the anime.
Courtesy of Josh WilsonHaving been on the local convention circuit for several years now, Wilson has seen all types of cosplay in just about every major city, and San Antonio cosplayers are a supportive and loyal bunch.
“They come out in droves for our event, and there are a lot of meets in San Antonio — you see them all the time in San Japan, and of course (ours) is up there, too,” Wilson said. “You” will see them on the River Walk. Every time there’s a con at the Henry B. González Convention Center, cosplayers are out there.”
The next time San Antonio will see the local cosplay community will walk the streets of downtown to get to the Henry B. González Convention Center (900 E. Market St., San Antonio, TX 78205) will be at the first ever Riverwalk Anime in April.
Running from Saturday, April 15 to Sunday, April 16, the anime-themed convention will host some of the biggest voice actors to grace the animated screen from shows such as My Hero Academia, One Pieceand Chainsawman. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster. Weekend passes are $51 each, Saturday passes are $31 each, and those interested in attending on Sunday can purchase them for $26 each.
