Why just draw your favorite anime character when you can be it? Cosplay-short for "costume play"-is sweeping the anime con scene from coast to coast, and once again we're leading the way with a pair of books for both beginning and veteran cosplayers. Each volume features:</p>

<bu> transforming ordinary fabric and accessories into fabulous contest winners

<bu> creating genre-specific costumes from scratch

<bu> duplicating your favorite characters or inventing your very own

<bu> cosplaying both for competition and just for fun

<bu> accessories from shoes to makeup

<bu> finding hard-to-get and imported items

<bu> patterns, measurements, and sewing techniques

<bu> money-saving tips and how-tos for cosplay on a budget

<bu> pointers on the care and transportation of costumes

<bu> resource lists, websites, where to find character models, etc

. <bu> full-color photos, plans, and drawings.</p> <bu>

Volume 1 covers Catgirls, a favorite of fans from All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku-Nuku to Hyper Police and great for purring and prowling. Volume 2 is all about Schoolgirls (think "Sailor Moon") and how to make uniforms with just the right bouncy-skirt anime style.</p>

Gerry Poulos is a longtime anime reviewer, illustrator, and photographer. He lives in Ohio.</p>