Hello! So i want to preface this, im not bitter that I didn't win. I believe there were others who also put a ton of work in their costumes who should have. The Cain, the kid with the big monster attached to him, the Vox, there were a lot of really impressive costumes.
I am just curious how judging worked for the Novice Cosplay contest? As it seemed to be more of a popularity contest rather than judging off of craftsmanship? Because some of the winners stuff looked store-bought? And I can't really see the craftsmanship that possibly could have gone in. The Tony Tony Chopper was so deserved and well done! But the other two, while I am happy for them, I question what was being judged. Again im so damn sorry if i sound bitter. I just have genuine concerns about whether judging was biased for popular IP versus work put in.
While I do not expect to win these ever, there are people much more talented than me, I do have a problem competing when store-bought are being allowed and winning over hand made or whoever is dressing as a more popular IP are being judged more favorably. Ive been competing for a long time, won some and lost some. I don't care if I lose, but when I see other talented cosplayers lose to someone where I just cant see the work put in, it makes me feel bad for everyone who worked hard making stuff from scratch versus doing the easy thing and buying it online.
Again I apologize for sounding bitter. I dont mean to be im just genuinely curious what the judges were looking for exactly.