Metrocon Masquerade Winners Coming to NYAF

Laura Hale and Hannah McCue won the Masquerade at Metrocon in Tampa, FL earlier this month, and now they're headed to the New York Anime Festival! Metrocon -- Florida's largest anime convention -- held its 2009 event June 19-21 at the Tampa Convention Center, and Laura and Hannah took home the top prize in the con's Masquerade with their costumes inspired by the manga series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

As part of their prize, Laura Hale and Hannah McCue were presented with two tickets to NYAF along with a guaranteed place within NYAF's Masquerade. By taking part in NYAF's Masquerade, Laura and Hannah will be in the running for numerous prizes, chief among which being two tickets to Japan for the contest's winner.

For the uninitiated, cosplay is short for "costume play" and is one of the most vivid and creative aspects of anime fandom. At its center is the creation and wearing of costumes based on a fan's favorite anime or manga character. A Masquerade -- part talent show and part fashion show -- is an event where cosplayers perform often-elaborate skits in front of an audience.

For cosplayers wishing to join Laura and Hannah in NYAF's Masquerade, the show will be opening its Masquerade to general entrants in early July and further details about the contest and its various awards will be available at that time.

Laura Hale started cosplaying in late 2002 and enjoys the artistic process of making costumes. A few of her favorite anime and manga are Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, NANA, Paradise Kiss, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Fruits Basket, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Lupin III, and Hellsing. Her favorite games include the Legend of Zelda series, Katamari Damashii, Persona 3 and 4, Dance Dance Revolution, and most titles from Nintendo. For more information on Laura, visit her Cosplay.com page at www.cosplay.com/member/6474. She goes by the name Tranquility6487.

Hannah McCue has been cosplaying since 2004 and has been very dedicated to the hobby ever since. Some of her favorite anime and manga are Neon Genesis Evangelion, Paranoia Agent, NANA, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Azumanga Daioh, Cowboy Bebop, and FLCL. She loves the Shin Megami Tensei series, Chrono Trigger, Dance Dance Revolution, Beatmania, Soul Calibur, Street Fighter, the Metal Gear Solid saga, all varieties of strategy/tactical/puzzle games, and most video games from Nintendo. For more information on Hannah, visit her Cosplay.com page at www.cosplay.com/member/20208. She goes by the name Hanamaru.

Special thanks to and photos by Anna Fischer of Cosclips.com.