LOS ANGELES – Cosplay Universe, a documentary that explores the evolution and rise of the global phenomenon known as cosplay, the art of dressing up as a character you love, has been released this October 2022, on global TVOD platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft/Xbox, Google Play, VUDU and many more. The film premiered globally with a screening at Anime Expo in July 2022, followed by an international theatrical release via distributor Abramorama.
Cosplay Universe will be featured on a panel at NY Comic Con this week on Thursday, October 6 at 2:15pm on the Cosplay Central Stage at the Javits Convention Center. The name of the panel is “When Cosplay Meets Runway: From Comic Con to the Met Gala.”
As part of the release, featured subject Yaya Han (@YayaHan) will be joining a Twitter watch party hosted by filmmakers Jordan Rennert and Jonathan McHugh on Friday, October 14th at 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET. Viewers are encouraged to press play at the same time, and live-tweet out their thoughts about the film. Many of the subjects of the film will be watching as well. Once the film ends we will head to Instagram Live to discuss the film with Yaya Han and take questions from the cosplay community about the film. More information will be shared via @CosplayFilm on Twitter as the premiere progresses.
“After screening the film theatrically this past summer, we learned that the film is a great tool for cosplayers to share with their friends and family so they can understand what cosplay is really about,” Co – Directors Jonathan McHugh & Jordan Rennert said. “We are inviting the whole cosplay community to join us for a watch party at home. We encourage them to bring their friends and family who aren’t cosplayers to watch the film with them and share a window into their world.”
The film highlights the globetrotting stories of legendary cosplayers including Yaya Han, Kamui Cosplay (Svetlana Quindt), Shema and Juan of Mexican Cosplay Team TWIIN Cosplay, World Cosplay Summit Organizer and academic Ed Hoff, Lauren of Castle Corsetry, Cynthia Tyler, Thomas De Petrillo and Qi Ma. In addition, the film is highlighted by one of the last interviews with the late legendary comic book figure Stan Lee. Cosplay Universe is the most comprehensive exploration of the cosplay world to date.
Celebrating the rise of the popular costuming sub-culture, Cosplay Universe explores the origin and evolution of cosplay as an art form and global community. Directed by Jonathan McHugh and Jordan Rennert, the film was shot over six years, pre-pandemic, at conventions around the U.S., including Anime Expo, San Diego’s Comic-Con International, Atlanta’s Dragon Con, Stan Lee’s last L.A. Comic Con and the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, Japan. The documentary dives deep into the world of cosplay and taps into the psychology behind this art of self-expression, demonstrating how cosplayers can transform and expand their confidence and perceptions of themselves. In the film, cosplay is seen as a supportive avenue for gender exploration, as well as a welcoming community for all, including neurodivergent and disabled people.
“As a cosplayer of more than 20 years, I can finally direct people to one film to fully explain what cosplay is truly about,” shares Yaya Han, one of the film’s featured stars. “Cosplay Universe is the first full-length documentary that tells the stories of many different types of cosplayers from around the world. It captures the spirit of cosplay, which blends fandom, creativity and lifestyle into a unique hobby that brings people together from all walks of life.”
Kamui Cosplay (Svetlana Quindt) added, “The Cosplay Universe movie is an amazing deep dive into the wonderful world of cosplay and its worldwide community. The documentary gives great insight on different aspects of the hobby, such as the creative crafting process, costume competitions or the fandom behind all of it. I was greatly honored to be part of it, and I can only hope that the movie will help more people to discover and explore this beautiful and incredibly passionate hobby!”
The film offers an overview of the World Cosplay Summit, where the film played this summer in Nagoya, Japan. It followed the twists and turns within the competition for the gold between the Italian and Mexican teams. The story also showcases the ever-evolving push for more comprehensive designs, as cosplayers push each other to make jaw-dropping engineering feats, such as the 9.5 foot-tall Hulkbuster costume by Extreme Costumes.
Cosplay Universe was directed by Jonathan McHugh and Jordan Rennert, and produced by Patrick Meaney and Jonathan Platt. McHugh is an independent filmmaker best known for his work on projects about some of music’s biggest stars, including Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, Janis Joplin’s highly regarded documentary, Janis: Little Girl Blue, Lionsgate’s Snoop Dogg’s Hood Of Horror, and Discovery’s Battle Ground Earth with Ludacris & Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee.
Rennert and Meaney are acclaimed for their work in the comic book documentary space, where they have covered legendary subjects such as Grant Morrison (Talking With Gods), Neil Gaiman (Dream Dangerously), and the origin story of Chris Claremont’s X-Men. They have received numerous awards for their work over the years in the comics community, including an acknowledgement for Best Documentary at the Comic-Con International Film Festival for She Makes Comics. They are also known for their indie films House of Demons and the upcoming musical romance The Brink Of.
For more information on the film, audiences can visit the website at www.cosplayuniversemovie.com or follow @cosplayuniversemovie on TikTok, @cosplayuniversefilm on Instagram, and @CosplayFilm on Twitter
Trailer
Cosplay Universe (2022) | OFFICIAL TRAILER
Theatrical Fan Reaction Video
https://vimeo.com/736754995/7593d971aa
About Abramorama
Abramorama is the preeminent global media distribution and marketing company for nonfiction and music films. An innovator in the focused, personalized form of film distribution, marketing, promotion, and live and event cinema, Abramorama provides customized services to filmmakers, networks, digital services, and IP owners, across all platforms and in all territories. In its over 20 years of operation, Abramorama has been the trusted film partner to many of the most respected global brands in entertainment, including The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, Laurie Anderson, Jimi Hendrix, Green Day, National Geographic, Discovery, AARP, MSNBC, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Hulu, Universal Music Group, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, Sony, Concord Music Group, and many others. Through a powerful global network of cinemas, digital media outlets, and affinity marketing partners, Abramorama strategically implements a unified distribution and audience activation plan for each title. For more info visit: www.abramorama.com
