We celebrate our first-ever Cosplay event showcasing the costuming talents of our local Cosplay community. Congratulations to all those who rocked the day!

Presented in conjunction with the Gallery’s ‘Drawn to Screen: Graphic Novels, Comics and Serials‘ film program, GOMA celebrated the art of ‘costume play’ with an eruption of colourful costumes, gravity defying wigs, props and excited cosplayers of all ages.

Our contestants sashayed across the stage — stopping frequently to pose for a delighted audience — before sharing the secrets of their fantastic character recreations with host John Robertson. With an audience overflowing from inside the cinema into the Gallery foyer — GOMA celebrated Australia Day 2012 in pure Cosplay style.

With the help of Judges Jeremy Sue, Sabina Myers and Zimiel (Shona Gray) GOMA would like to congratulate the winners from the following categories.

Best Overall and Best Role-Playing/Performance (Solo) | Frances as Alexiel from the graphic novel Angel Sanctuary.

‘Alexiel is one of the key characters in the graphic novel Angel Sanctuary. An Organic Angel, Alexiel is sickened by the growing corruption of Heaven, she starts a rebellion and in doing so her soul is cursed to suffer tragic lifetimes as a human.’ (Frances)

Best Role-Playing/Performance (Group) | Andrew and Erin as Kamina and Yoko from anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

‘Kamina is the enigmatic leader of Dai Gurren in the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. His sheer tenacity to fight, survive and be manly has earned him the title of manliest man in all of mandom. Yoko is the girl in the picture. She supports Kamina in his shenanigans.’ (Andrew and Erin)

Best Costume (Technical Design – Solo) | Michael as Ezio Auditore Da Firenze from the video game Assassins Creed 2.

‘Ezio Auditore Da Firenze, an Italian assassin from the early Renaissance, and main character of the video game Assassins Creed 2, He’s a flamboyant but incredibly talented assassin who devoted his life to the war against the Templars.’ (Michael)

Best Costume (Technical Design – Group) | Matthew and Jessica as Atlas and P-body from the video game Portal 2.

‘Atlas and P-body are testing robots from the video game Portal 2, our cosplay is based on a humanoid version of the robots.’ (Matthew and Jessica)

Best first time Cosplayer | The Pyro from the video game Team Fortress 2.

‘A mumbling, suited psychopath of indeterminate origin, the Pyro has a burning fondness for fire and all things fire-related in the video game Team Fortress 2. (Joel)

Honourable Mention | Raniera as Commander Shepard from the video game Mass Effect Series.

‘Commander Shepard is the main character in the video game Mass Effect series. I am presenting myself in the default battle armour of Mass Effect 2 with a matching modified Nerf handgun.’ (Raniera)

So, who would your Cosplay character be?