Cosplay US 01612

A t the time of typing this up, it has been one month since Anime St. Louis 2017, the event’s 12th year, occurred. It’s always surreal being a con runner. Organizers spend a year planning a big nerdy celebration, and then in what feels like the longest yet fastest weekend, it’s done. In my over 10 years of being involved in the convention circuit, it never fails to have my expectations of attendees be exceeded each year. Not just in support for our convention (of which, I am eternally touched and grateful for), but also in their creativity. Every event, I am blown away by attendees’ love for their favorite shows and characters, as well as how they convert that passion into their cosplay creations. The plethora of characters at the event as well as the materials used to bring their costume to life is always astounding. No matter one’s skill level, no matter whether the costume was creat- ed or bought, no matter anything, every cosplayer is at the convention having fun and being a part of the action. I hope you enjoy this small sampling of some of the cosplays we had this year at Anime St. Louis. Hopefully you can join us in 2018 on May 4-6 as we continue to gather in the Show Me State to show off our love for the characters that storeytellers and artists have provided us with over the years. Keep up the great cosplay work everyone! Anime St Louis 12 YEARS OF COS-FUN & COUNTING TEXT BY JEREMY JOHNSON / IMAGES BY TOM RICKS

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