Three Reasons “Cosplay Melee” is the Show All Cosplayers Need

If you haven’t been tuning in to the new series Cosplay Melee on SyFy, you’ve been missing out on some serious cosplay talent. Cosplay Melee is a new “game show for cosplayers,” reminiscent of the popular series Face Off. In each episode, four contestants compete for a Ten Thousand dollar prize. The catch? They only have 40 hours to design and create an entire costume

I know what some of you are thinking, “Not another cosplay show! We don’t need another Heroes of Cosplay.” I know the feeling. I had my doubts when the show was announced, too. But now with the first few episodes aired, I firmly believe Cosplay Melee is the cosplay show we all need in the world. Let’s break it down and review three ways Cosplay Melee totally outshines  Heroes of Cosplay. Then we can erase the latter from our memories forever once again… hah.

Reason #1: It showcases cosplayer talent.

Plain and simple, Cosplay Melee puts the cosplayer’s raw talent front and center. It showcases their ability to design a custom character, stay “on theme,” choose the best materials for the job. Not to mention they still need to overcome the usual challenges we face as cosplayers. Keep in mind, the trick is whether they can do it on a time limit. And they rise up to meet the challenge! I’m absolutely blown away by the costumes that have come out of this competition so far.

The overall vibe of the show is very positive, and gets you excited about the craft. The judges focus on the positive aspects of each costume, while giving honest, helpful feedback. Even the contestants have regularly helped one another in tough spots, showing the community really isn’t as mean spirited as Heroes of Cosplay made it seem. Episode 1 winner, Xavier Conley of Ebony Warrior Studios, had this to say about the focus of the series:

“This show focuses on the pure joy of building, the bonds made within the cosplay community, and the techniques used to create masterpieces. No fabricated drama.”

– Xavier Conley

Reason #3: It gives new cosplayers insight.

Last but not least, Cosplay Melee films the actual creation of these forty-hour masterpieces. This means new cosplayers are exposed to techniques they may not have seen before. Instead of hiding the build of a costume like some “secret sauce” recipe, Cosplay Melee interviews the contestants during and after their builds. Every detail the contestants share gives the audience more insight in to the ingenious work-arounds cosplayers find with each and every build. The contestants are also given real-time feedback on their designs – another great insight for improving existing techniques.

Overall, I think Cosplay Melee really is the show the cosplay community needs. It showcases cosplayer talent, brings the positivity within the community to light, and introduces a new group of viewers to the hobby. I’m so stoked to tune in each week and see what they can think up. I hope you will be, too!