During the last weekend of January, I travelled to a convention with my friends who were doing a group cosplay based on the characters of the game Team Fortress 2 (2007). To simply explain cosplaying, it is the practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction. Although the event we went to, Desucon Frostbite, is an event mainly focused on anime and manga, there still were lots of cosplayers who cosplayed as video game or cartoon characters for example.
The cosplay group’s preparations for the event started months ahead, with them needing to acquire, craft and carefully prepare their props, outfits, and cosmetics, from makeup to hair and even wigs. Cosplaying isn’t usually either cheap or easy. It may require some skills like sewing, crafting, makeup and especially patience. Some members of the group talked about how they start to plan and prepare their cosplays for the next convention immediately after the last convention, which is months away. They talked about how some preparations require lots of time and patience, and of course some blood, sweat and tears on the side. From this group, the most impressive props were on Pyro, who had built a flamethrower and a jetpack, accompanied by a gas mask and overalls. All of the props and cosplays looked super realistic, I can’t even begin to imagine how much work all of this required.
Pyro’s props were mainly made of cardboard, glue and paint, and they look great!
The getting ready and dressing up to go to the convention was such a fun part of their routine. You could sense the excitement in the room. Some were putting on their makeup and making sure that they can look as realistic as possible. Some were still doing some last-minute fixes for their outfits or props. They still sewed patches onto their outfits or glued elements of their props. Some of the props are extremely fragile and may need fixing during the day, so sewing kits, scissors, cable ties and glue are essential tools. It was lovely to see how the whole group worked as a team, offering their help, and asking for it when needed. Along with other music, the speaker was blasting Team Fortress 2’s soundtrack and they were dancing and singing while getting ready, what a blast!
While in cosplay, all of my friends were acting like the characters they were cosplaying as. I think it adds some realism and a fun flair into these cosplays. Sometimes when they interacted with each other, they were acting out familiar scenes and quotes of these loveable characters, almost in a roleplay-like manner. In some ways, it certainly was roleplaying at some points. It was fascinating to see how familiarized they were with these characters, to the point where it seemed like these characters were actually in the room with me.
Sniper, Scout and Miss Pauling being their true selves.
Right after entering the convention, almost every minute someone came up to the group and asked for pictures, fawned over the cosplays or hyped up the game in general. I could see how happy they were when someone complimented them and how quickly they went back in character when taking pictures, trying to be as similar to the characters’ characteristics and mannerisms as they could. The best part from this experience was to see how many Team Fortress 2 cosplayers there were. There were around twenty people dressed up as different characters of the game, adding their own flare into the cosplay. It was fun to see how almost all of the TF2 cosplayers flocked around each other, happily comparing their outfits and props, mimicking the characters and bonding over the game.
Despite coming out nearly 17 years ago, Team Fortress 2 is an iconic piece of not only gaming history, but internet culture as well. From the official “Meet the…” character introduction videos to whimsical fan-made movies, TF2 has spawned various gags, catchphrases, and scenes that are instantly recognizable even to those who have never touched the game itself. For seasoned players, seeing people still cosplay these cheeky characters is a real trip down memory lane. Whether it’s the infamous Ghastly Gibus, a torn top hat mockingly only used by “noobs”, or characters doing their taunting gestures after absolutely dominating you in a match, witnessing people bring these small things to life year after year is a true testament to the evergreen and fun-loving status of Team Fortress 2.
The group posing and having a good time
Cosplaying is a hobby that brings people together. Yearly cosplay conventions are a unique way for fans to connect with each other, no matter where you’re from or what you’re interested in. Cosplaying requires creativity, patience, and an eye for details but seeing the final product and others’ reactions to it truly makes it worth the effort.
Pictures: Props by Sofia Joutila, others by author
Obsessed with dystopian action-adventures, horror games and E-sports, and could talk about them hours on end, every chance she gets. Loves to relax by playing League with her cat on her lap.
Mikko likes long walks on beaches of Shadow Moses Island, bonfire-lit dinners in Lordran, and travelling around Johto region, hoping one day to catch ‘em all. Besides game design, he also nerds out about music, cooking, and random historical anecdotes.
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