Kara Dennison
October 14, 2020 
When you cosplay, it’s basically Halloween all year ’round. But what if you want to show off your anime fandom at Halloween in particular? As tempting as it is, your costume may seem out of place if you’re not partying in circles that share your taste in entertainment. If that doesn’t matter to you, that’s great — you’re a lot cooler than us! But if you’d like to sport something that’s both anime inspired and cool to a random bystander, here are a few tips to help you find something that works. We’ve also included an anime girl to cosplay that we think exemplifies each bit of advice.
Dark and Dramatic – Jeanne Alter
For a lot of people, it’s all about the aesthetic. It doesn’t matter who or what you’re meant to be, as long as you bring that haunted, dark look with you. Fortunately, there are plenty of anime characters you can cosplay along those lines. But for our money, the anime girl to cosplay is Jeanne d’Arc’s Avenger form from Fate/Grand Order. This “what if” iteration of the legendary heroine isn’t a holy knight so much as a vengeful witch, dead set on punishing the people who martyred her. Even if your fellow partiers have never heard of Fate, this look will absolutely impress.
Historically Inspired – Noir
Everyone’s got a soft spot for swashbucklers, thieves, cowboys, samurai, and other historical heroic types. The archetypes alone make for perfectly good costumes no matter how old you are. For a little extra flair, our favorite anime girl is Noir from Persona 5. Like her fellow Phantom Thieves, she and her Persona take inspiration from a literary source: specifically, Milady de Winter of The Three Musketeers. Her suave, historical look (complete with cool props) makes for great cosplay, and is unquestionably fun whether or not you know the source.
Beautiful and Elaborate – Ultimate Madoka
When all else fails, dress to impress! Nothing draws eyes like a straight-up beautiful costume with elaborate accessories. Our best magical girl Madoka Kaname is unquestionably a winner in this department, especially if we’re talking about her ultimate form. Anime fans will know this dress for sure (and probably have a lot of emotions attached to it). And those who don’t, won’t be able to deny it’s galactically gorgeous. Plus, it’s just fun to walk around in something with a train that majestic.
Feeling prepared to impress your friends this Halloween? Tell us what you’ll be wearing!
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