From Wolverine to Game of Thrones, there were costumes from a wide array of fictional worlds walking around the CN Centre.
With Northern FanCon, now in its fifth year, Cosplayers from in and around the Northern Capital have the weekend to converge and express themselves.
It’s a community that has changed substantially according to Lauren from Thousand Faces Cosplay.
“It’s become more mainstream for sure,” she told MyPGNow. “I remember growing up — middle school, high school — I got made fun of for playing video games, for reading comic books, for being interested in things that are exceedingly popular today.”
With the fandom that goes along with recent blockbuster films such as the Avengers series, as well as popular television shows like Game of Thrones, the community and the demographics of people that goes along with it has changed dramatically.
Ethan from @1kFacesCosplay dressed as Krieg from the @Borderlands franchise.
Ethan, along with his wife Lauren, say their interest in #Cosplay stemmed from their passion towards the #GOT books and television series. pic.twitter.com/IeWEFZnzCa
— Ethan Ready (@EthanReady) May 4, 2019
“We’re not as invisible anymore, which has its drawbacks but also has its strengths, especially for kids who are growing up and seeing they can love their fandoms, can do their nerdy thing, they can love what they love without any analyzing.”
In the case of Lauren and her husband Ethan, cosplaying has impacted both of their lives. The pair originally met working on a renaissance festival and realized they shared a mutual passion for dressing up. The popular Game of Thrones books and television show soon followed, and as big fans of the series it kicked off their cosplaying endeavours.
As Lauren says, it provides them with a platform.
“I struggle with depression and anxiety, as do a lot of people in the community,” she said. “I use my platform as a way to bring awareness to that and normalize that, so it’s been really helpful for me as a person to feel more accepted for things that I can’t control.”
Lauren and Ethan form the cosplay duo known as Thousand Faces Cosplay. Their time in Prince George marks the first time the couple have been in Canada, originating from St Louis, Missouri in the United States.
The community also has the potential to intersect interests. Such is the case for Ethan, who combines his costumes with his passion for bodybuilding.
“He has crossed fitness and cosplay, and he talks all about it,” said Lauren. “The community has been receptive and involved in boosting him up in his endeavours. It’s been a really great place to feel like you belong.”
Northern FanCon wraps up at the CN Centre on Sunday, with doors opening at 10 a.m.
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