In the day, Dzafri Mohd Nor is a lorry driver. At night, he is a predator.
Not that anyone should panic. The 35-year-old is into cosplay despite his daily work with a courier company in Shah Alam. He and other enthusiasts put countless hours and loads of money into becoming their fictional characters and can be seen at every anime or comic convention in Malaysia.
Cosplay, which originated in Japan, is a combination of the words “costume” and “play” where participants called cosplayers wear costumes to represent a specific character whether it be from comics, manga, anime, or other various forms of media. Cosplay started actively in Malaysia when the first well-known anime event Comics Fiesta was organised in 2002.
“At first, my wife thought I was making an outfit. Later, when she saw the mask and knife, she realised I was making a costume” said Dazfri, who works on his samurai predator costume two hours every night. It took him four years to complete the costume.
Despite some sexy characters in cosplay, Muslim female cosplayers in Malaysia tend to settle on characters who do not wear tight or revealing outfits, even by donning hijab while being in character.
Misaqi, who became involved in cosplay since 2013, said she needs to improvise on her costume more than others for her to participate in a cosplay event.
“As a Muslim wife, firstly, I will ask permission and advice from my husband on my costume to represent a specific character without revealing my aurat (body parts required by Islam to be covered) “ said Misaqi, who is also married to a cosplayer.
The duo are among the rising number of costume enthusiasts spreading across Malaysia and who gather at a growing number of festivals to show off their elaborate hand-made creations, the products of hours of loving work, and enjoy their shared passion.
A cosplayer with a cat on the shoulder dressed as character 707 from ‘Mystic Messenger’ at the cosplay convention in Subang Jaya, Selangor. Cosplayers pay special attention, not only to the costume they wear, but also to a character’s signature pose or way of speaking for better role-play. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A cosplayer dressed up as character Hotarumaru from the Japanese video game ‘Touken Ranbu’ making her way to the cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Cosplayers dressed as Templar Assassin (right) and Omniknight from the video game ‘Dota 2’ at the cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. Cosplayers enthusiasts who put countless hours and loads of money into becoming their fictional character can be seen at every anime or comic convention around Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Cosplay enthusiasts chatting on the floor during the Anime Crossover Convention in Subang Jaya. With its growing community in Malaysia, cosplay activities provide the platform for cosplayers to show off their elaborate hand-made creations, and enjoy their shared passion. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A cosplayer is reflected in a mirror at a cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. Cosplayers claim to have undergone life-changing experience after involving themselves in cosplay which owes much to the change in their personality and level of self-confidence. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A woman dressed up as Hotarumaru from the Japanese video game 'Touken Ranbu' is pictured at the cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. Having successfully produced and improvised on something with their own effort will give most cosplayers a sense of satisfaction and motivation, especially those who enter cosplay competitions. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Cosplay enthusiasts cheering as they take part at the Anime Crossover Convention in Subang Jaya. The industry acknowledges the effectiveness of cosplay in attracting the crowds. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017. Nur Izzuan, 25, dressed as Gawain from the Japanese video game ‘Fate Extra’, posing for photographs at the cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. Izzuan who became interested in cosplay since he was 15 years old says, at first ,his family were unhappy with his cosplay when he wore make-up, elaborate wigs and accessories which contradict the Islamic teaching banning Muslim men from dressing or acting like women. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A cosplayer dressed up as Ken Kaneki from the Japanese manga series ‘Tokyo Ghoul’ is reflected on the glass at a cosplay event in Subang Jaya. Crossplay is a specific type of cosplay activity in which a person dresses up as a character from the opposite sex. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Muslim female cosplayers waiting backstage before performing during the ‘Hijab Cosplay’ event in Subang Jaya. On the sexy characters in cosplay, Muslim female cosplayers tend to settle on characters who do not wear tight or revealing outfits with some even donning hijab while in character. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Muslim cosplayers dressed up as Hatsune Miku from ‘Senbonzakura White Flame’ (right) and Serval Chan from ‘Kemono Friends’, posing for photographs during the ‘Hijab Cosplay’ event in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Dzafri Mohd Nor, a 35-year-old cosplayer, inspecting his costume collections at his home in Petaling Jaya. Dzafri, who works at a local courier service company in Selangor, says despite work and family, he manages to spend two hours daily on costume-making, with his samurai predator costume taking four years to complete. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A cosplayer dressed up as Honaka from 'Love Live' is pictured in front of various Japanese manga comics at a cosplay convention in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Young cosplayers waiting backstage before performing during the kids' cosplay competition in Petaling Jaya. In terms of age, people who engage in cosplay in Malaysia fall between ages of seven and 25. However, there a number of participants in their 40s. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.Cosplay enthusiasts making their way during a cosplay event at a mall in Subang Jaya. Some of the cosplayers claim they receive disapproving looks from the public who do not understand or find their appearance strange. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.A cosplayer dressed up as Kaori Miyazono from the Japanese manga series ‘Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso’ is pictured with her violin at a cosplay event in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, May 9, 2017.
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