Cosplay at SacAnime

SacAnime loves cosplay, and we have designated special areas for your group photoshoots and gatherings, so you can get great shots without interruptions or photo-bombing from random attendees.

Feel like you’re ready to take it to the next level? Why not participate in our Cosplay Masquerade? This on-stage event takes place Saturday night, where cosplayers put their best costumes on display for chances at awards and prizes.

Cosplay Gatherings (All Weekend)
Cosplay Masquerade (Saturday Night Only)

Cosplay Gatherings Rules and Etiquette

Do you have a cosplay gathering you’d like to bring to SacAnime? Please complete the
Cosplay Gathering Registration Form.

Designated Gathering Locations
As part of our agreement with the Sacramento Convention Center, SacAnime has designated areas reserved for cosplay gatherings. This is to allow groups to safely organize their large photo shoots without interference, and helps keep traffic areas clear. Gatherings that schedule outside of these areas are at risk of being disbanded by convention security staff or law enforcement, so please keep your gathering within the designated areas.

At this time, the steps to the Performing Arts Center cannot be used for gatherings, but we are working with the Convention Center to add that area for future shows.

Avoid Scheduling Conflicts
Many cosplay gatherings organize through social media outside of SacAnime, making it difficult to coordinate between each other for time slots. That is why we ask you to use the registration form. This allows SacAnime to assist in avoiding schedule conflicts between groups. Please have three date/time options ready when you submit your gathering. We will do our best to accommodate your first choice, but spaces will be filled in the order they are received.

Keep Calm, and Costume On
Cosplay gatherings are always a fun experience, and are usually a great source of spontaneous creativity and roleplay opportunities with fellow fans. However, keep in mind that you only have the area for your designated timeslot, and that the only thing between your group and the rest of the convention is a giant glass wall or nothing at all. Gatherings that get too rowdy, spill out of the area, or otherwise interfere with the business of the partner events nearby will be asked to disband. Also, keep your poses PG-13. There will be kids circulating through the areas all weekend.

For questions or concerns, please contact: cosplaymasqueradecrew@gmail.com

Cosplay Masquerade

Masquerade Skit and Pre Judging Sign Ups are now closed! We will be reaching out to all the applicants via email before the New Year confirming acceptance! Thank you all for your entires and good luck!

Skits have returned on a limited basis!
Cosplay Masquerade participants must be an attendee of SacAnime with a Weekend OR Saturday Only badge. The on-stage portion of the contest takes place Saturday Night in Main Events.

How to Register :

Masquerade registration for walk-on only is on-site Friday and Saturday of the convention.
To enter the competition as a walk on entrant, you must register on-site by 3:30pm Saturday of the convention. (Table will be located on the 2nd floor of the convention center in front of the glass window/balcony by gatherings). We will not accept sign ups after 3:30pm.

ALL ENTRANTS REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY (SKIT, CRAFTSMANSHIP, OR WALK ON) MUST CHECK IN AT PREVIOUSLY STATED TABLE ASAP. FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP JUDGING YOU ARE TO CHECK IN AT SAID TABLE BEFORE 1:30PM SATURDAY

Competition Rules:

Walk-on entries AND skit entries are limited to 90 seconds.
Group entries are limited to 10 contestants, including entrant-supplied stage ninjas.
Contestants may only appear in one entry.
Nothing is allowed that would be banned in a PG-13-rated film. Actions, dress, or mannerisms that would not be allowed on a public street or thoroughfare must be avoided. Specifically, you must avoid the following: explicit sexual gestures, nudity, and explicit swearing. Violating these rules will disqualify you and possibly result in your being escorted off the stage.
IF ENTERING AS A SKIT/PERFORMANCE AND ARE SUBMITTING AUDIO. IT MUST BE “CLEAN” FAMILY FRIENDLY AUDIO FOR ALL AGES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DENY YOUR AUDIO OTHERWISE.

All entrants grant SacAnime rights to use their likeness in photo and/or video form for promotional purposes.

Costume & Prop Rules:

Costumes and props must adhere to SacAnime’s Policies.
All costumes must be homemade by the entrant(s)! Any costume purchased or rented from a costume shop, designer direct, eBay, Yahoo Auction, Yahoo Japan Auctions, Cospa, or any other costuming store, online resource, or any costume made for you by a designer or seamstress is prohibited from entering the Craftsmanship competition. Modified or enhanced costumes will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
It is possible to enter a costume that you’ve created but someone else is wearing. Both the model and designer/craftsman must be present during the contest and Craftsmanship Judging.
Entrants may wear costumes that were used in competition/won at other conventions, but we would urge you not to, especially if you’ve already won at an equal size or larger convention.
No live steel. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, or other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. Dull metal weapons are considered live steel, and therefore are not permitted.
No metal or wood bats, metal pipes, or long metal chains.
No firearms, airsoft weapons, or replicas of guns. No functional bows and arrows. Any prop guns must look like a prop from 50 feet away. This is for your safety and for the safety of our other members.
Don’t wear or use any substances that might ruin the costume of another entrant. If you are wearing body paint or make-up, make sure it will not come off in casual contact with others.
Costumes and set pieces must be self-contained. Connections to electrical sockets will not be available.
Costumes may not emit smoke. Vaping pens/e-cigarettes are prohibited.

Stage Rules:

Do not leave anything on the stage that cannot be picked up by the stage ninjas in a few seconds (e.g. no glitter, wet/sticky substances, confetti, etc).
No fire, flash powder, high power lasers, explosives or open flame of any kind will be allowed. Electronic flashes will be permitted, provided that you notify the Masquerade Director in advance, and it must be announced in your MC introduction to protect those who might be affected by the flashing lights.
No stage interaction with the MC, judges or audience is allowed.
No throwing things off of the stage or into the audience.
Jumping off the stage is not permitted.
You cannot enter or exit the stage from any area that has not been approved by the Masquerade director.
Practice proper backstage etiquette—don’t touch any equipment or items that aren’t yours. You may be liable for damages if you break a piece of equipment or deface any of the facilities.
SacAnime and the Costume contest staff reserve the right to cancel a group’s performance at any time for any reason.

Craftsmanship Divisions:

All entries need to register under one of the skill divisions below. Knowingly entering a lower division when a group ought to be higher is grounds for disqualification.

Groups will be placed at the skill level of the group’s highest placing member. For instance, if a group has 4 people and 3 are novices while 1 is a journeyman, the group would be bumped up to journeyman.

If one person in your group made all of the costumes for that group, only that person is eligible for craftsmanship awards. It is acceptable for group members to collaborate and help each other on costumes. If you have worn the same cosplay you are entering with and have not won a craftsmanship award in the past, you are eligible for craftsmanship. If you are making updates to a past cosplay that hasn’t won any awards, you are also eligible for entering.

Novice Division:

Professional costume makers, or those who run a business of commission-based cosplay, cannot enter the Novice Division.
If you have won “Novice” you may not enter in the Novice division.
If you have won any awards at a major regional, national or international competition, you cannot enter in the Novice Division.
If you have won more than 3 awards at prior SacAnime Masquerades or other regional conventions, you cannot enter in the Novice Division.Journeyman Division:
Professional costume makers, or those who run a business of commission-based cosplay, cannot enter the Journeyman Division.
If you have won a “Journeyman” at a major regional, national, or international competition, you cannot enter into the Journeyman Division.
If you have won any award in the Open or Master Division at any other major convention, you cannot enter in the Journeyman Division.Master Division:
Any competitor that has won Novice and or journeyman may enter in the Master division

Awards Categories:

All entries can be judged for craftsmanship if they have been created or pieces purchased to create a cosplay as this is primarily a costume contest. Walk-on entries are eligible for craftsmanship awards
Best in Show Best Presentation
Best Craftsmanship – Master
Best Craftsmanship – Journeyman Best Craftsmanship – Novice
Best Anime Judges Awards
Youth Award (13 and under)

Before the Convention, prepare your costumes well before the convention!

Things to bring during registering:
A printed (not written) description of your entry (which will be read introducing you to the stage).
Description should be 35 words or less
The names of who you are cosplaying will be announced and are not included in/as the description.
The description does not require the first names of all those participating in the entry.