Cosplay, short for 'costume play,' is a fashion style and performance art where participants dress up as specific characters from anime, manga, video games, movies, or other forms of media.
Cosplay originated in Japan in the 1980s, gaining popularity at anime and manga conventions. It spread globally in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming a significant part of pop culture and fan communities worldwide. Today, cosplay is a major element of many conventions and has evolved into a thriving industry and art form.