World Cosplay Summit 2008: Sightings and Winners

Last weekend was the sixth annual World Cosplay Summit, held in Nagoya this year. Reprising his role from previous years, Toru Furuya (Tuxedo Mask) was one of three guest commentators from the world of anime and manga this year. 14 groups, representing 13 countries, took part in the competition and Sailor Moon characters made a showing in nearly half of the participating countries.

Two countries took Sailor Moon cosplayers to the final round of the competition. Germany brought both Sailors Moon and Chibi Moon (and Chibi Moon was the taller of the two ;D), while Singapore went the royal route with Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion!

Before the final competition took place, other participants gathered for the parade in Osu and the moonies were not going to be left out. Sailors Saturn and Uranus in their Super form from Sailor Stars were represented from the Denmark delegation and from the US, Chibiusa and Elios made an appearance!

Others made their appearances in the preliminary rounds in each country. Japan's Osaka venue entertained Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, while Korea was a small convention in itself with one full set of nine Senshi, another group as the initial trio from the anime (Moon, Mercury and Mars) yet another lone Sailor Moon and even the Amazon Trio as a foil for the fully assembled team. And, while Mexico didn't have (or didn't supply pictures of) and Sailor Moon cosplayers, they did have an impressive display of figurines and toys, and front and center in this display was Odango herself!

The championship was held in front of 12,000 fans at Oasis 21 in Nagoya and here are the results:
Brazil took the top spot for the second time, having also won in 2006! Cosplayers Jessica Moreira Rocha Campos and Gabriel Niemietz Braz played Joe and Jango from "Angel's Adolescence".
Second place went to China and Zhao Chin and Zhang Li as Nouhime and Kasuga from "Sengoku Basara".
The "brother" prize went to Japan's Osaka venue competitors Yui and Mino as Lelouch Lamperouge and Kururugi Suzaku from "Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion".
Even though neither of the Sailor Moon groups won, we're sure they tried their best and we wish them luck in the future!

The photo galleries for all the participating countries can be found here.