Cosplayers and cosplay contests are a fixture and highlight at the many comic book and genre fan conventions around the world. These conventions provide an international stage for fans to showcase often spectacular handcrafted costumes and portray their favorite characters from sci-fi movies, video games, anime and more. In Syfy's new Heroes of Cosplay (formerly Cosworld), nine passionate fans put their imagination and skills to the test to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of cosplay.
The six-episode series debuts tonight, August 13 at 10:30 PM ET/PT following the special 90-minute Season 5 of Syfy's hit competition series, Face Off. It then moves to its regular time - 10 PM Tuesdays - starting August 20.
Heroes of Cosplay is a tantalizing docu-series that lifts the veil on the imaginative world of cosplay competition, because fans at the comic book conventions don't merely dress up as their favorite character; they also compete to see who's the best!
The series follows cosplayers of all levels, from legend Yaya Han, to rising stars and newbies, as they make a splash at comic book conventions around the country, diving deep into their lives, following their process as they create extravagant and visually arresting costumes each week. These personalities constantly defy odds and race against the clock to transform themselves into amazing fictional characters that push the boundaries between fantasy and reality, all in hopes of impressing the convention judges to win a cash prizes and take their cosplay stardom to new heights.
Heroes of Cosplay is produced by 51 Minds, an Endemol Company. Executive producers are Mark Cronin, Courtland Cox and Dave Caplan.
The
Heroes of Cosplay cast bring to life a variety of fictional characters but the pressure each one faces and the drama that ensues is very real. The cast includes:
Yaya Han - Yaya is one of the acknowledged legends of cosplay whose entrance at each convention - always in full costume - never fails to create a stir. A source of inspiration and intimidation to the contestants, Atlanta-based Yaya Han is often a judge at contests.
Riki LeCotey - Riki moved from rural Canada to the United States to follow her passion for cosplay. A special effects technician on sci-fi films, she is also the founder of Cosplay for a Cause, which has raised money for victims of the Japanese Tsunami.
Monika Lee - Monika is from Atlanta and a student at the Georgia Institute of technology, where she's majoring in industrial design. A cosplayer since the age of 13, competed in numerous craftsmanship contests winning several "Best in Shows" and various other awards.
Victoria Schmidt - Victoria is co-founder of the geek fashion and style blog settostunning.com. A passionate fan of cosplay since high school, she's especially proud of being Princess Leia on LucasFilm's Star Wars float in the 2007 Rose Parade.
Chloe Dykstra was almost fated to be in the cosplay community; her father is an F/X legend, having worked on the original Star Wars and Star Trek films. An actress and model, she hosts the Just Cos show on YouTube's Nerdist channel.
Jessica Merizan and Holly Conrad
Jessica has performed in regional theater in Southern California since she was five years old. Together, she and fellow cast member Holly Conrad co-founded a costume fabrication shop, cosplay community and new media entertainment company.
Holly was mentored by her very qualified grandfather, Dorse Lanpher, an F/X animator for Disney and others. She now works in the special effects business for several major studios, in addition to her business with Jessica.
Becky Young - Becky has created costumes since attending San Diego Comic-Con in 2006. A trained actress, she has voiced Video Game Nussie on Maxim Radio and was a judge on
CBS Sports' Guitar Hero Competiton show. She lives in Burbank.
Jesse Lagers - Jesse lives in Portland, Oregon, where he works as a software systems administrator. He hopes that success in cosplay competitions will lead to his own business creating costumes and props. Jesse is a stickler for realism and authenticity in all of the costumes he creates.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures),
Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes,
Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
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