COSTUMERS:
It's Your Night!

The popular arts we celebrate and enjoy at WonderCon -- comics, movies, graphic novels, television shows, video games, Japanese anime, collectible toys, music and more—all utilize costuming to some degree. Costuming enhances these assorted artforms, but it's also an artform unto itself, with a long and rich history. Today costuming continues to offer fresh and unique designs, and innovative executions. There seems to be no limit to the clever and beautiful ways to clothe the human form. Who could have predicted a dozen years back that the genre of Steampunk—a melding of Victorian elegance with imaginative science fiction and fantasy elements—would arise and spread so fast?

In recognition of the importance and the fun of costuming, WonderCon again presents its Saturday night Masquerade costume competition. Not a dance or party as the name might imply, it is a show on a stage, featuring theater-style lighting, enhanced sound, and large video screens displaying great close-up views. Some costumes will be re-created from the genres listed above; others will be completely original designs from the clever imaginations of our attendees.

If you've crafted a costume, we encourage you to sign up and share your work on the stage and perhaps take home a trophy or other prize as well. Last year's audience numbered over 2,200 and lined up long before the doors opened to see the show's amazing and entertaining creations. 31 entries crossed the stage, totaling 78 costumes in all. This year's presentation will also include special movie previews and behind-the-scenes films, some shown for the first time anywhere.

Showtime will be 8:30 PM Saturday in the Esplanade Ballroom of Moscone Center South. The event is free to participate in or to attend (while space is available); only a WonderCon badge valid for Saturday or a 3-day badge is needed. Doors will open for audience seating at 8:00 PM, and the event will run approximately two hours.

Entries must not have been purchased or otherwise commercially obtained; they must be of original construction or show significant modification of preexisting materials. All genres are welcome, as are all levels of experience, from the novice to the seasoned convention costumer.

Complete information and rules can be downloaded by clicking here, or you can write to have a copy mailed to you. A limited number of contestant slots are available, so interested costumers should obtain the rules and sign up for a reserved spot in the show as soon as possible. The deadline for advance entry is March 16, 2011. Entries will also be accepted until 1:00 PM on the Saturday of the convention, unless all the contestant slots fill up before then.

The Master of Ceremonies will again be the very entertaining three-time Hugo Award-winning artist and writer Phil Foglio. For many years Phil and his wife Kaja have created, published, and contributed to a variety of comics, art, and games in the science fiction and fantasy genres through their company Studio Foglio, although they are best known for the Girl Genius series.

Special WonderCon trophies will be awarded in a variety of categories by a panel of guest judges, in categories of Best in Show, Judges' Choice, Best Re-Creation, Best Workmanship, Most Humorous, and Best Novice. In addition, the following companies will be presenting their own prizes to winners they select, and more companies may join this list as the convention approaches.

Company-Sponsored Prizes

Frank & Son Collectible Show of the City of Industry, California, "the first & last stop for all your collectible needs," will present a $500 cash prize for what they deem the audience favorite.

DC Comics will bestow a very special DC Direct collectible item to what they deem as the best re-creation of a DC Comics character or characters.

Lucasfilm Ltd. will present a special Star Wars prize selected from the Lucasfilm Licensing Archives, bestowed to what they choose as the best costume entry from the Star Wars universe.

Things From Another World, the world's premier retailer of comics, toys, collectibles, and pop-culture geek goodness, will be presenting a $250 gift certificate for their website, TFAW.com, to the Best Comic Book-Related Costume.