There are 60 communities collaborating with Lucca Comics & Games, with over 80 events scheduled dedicated to the world of cosplay: gatherings, contests, parades, as well as games, concerts and awards; cosplayers will fill the streets and squares of Lucca, and Giardino degli Osservanti will once again serve as the headquarters this year.
THE STAGE IN THE GIARDINO DEGLI OSSERVANTI
The shows will once again be hosted on the stage of Giardino degli Osservanti, dedicated to the art of cosplay, where guests can perform, share their stories and, above all, meet the audience of fans and enthusiasts. Giardino degli Osservanti is the quintessential Community Village, where dozens of Italian exhibitors and associations gather, featuring musical performances and on-stage events organised by Italian cosplay communities. It is the place where music meets the communities, with themed shows, entertainment, games and diverse worlds, including cosplay, steampunk, theme tunes, K-pop and fusion genres. Letizia Cosplay will be hosting the on-stage programme.
At Giardino degli Osservanti, there will also be ‘meet & greet’ sessions to meet some of the most prominent international cosplayers and performers, such as Taryn Cosplay and Leon Chiro.
GATHERINGS AND PARADES TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS TOGETHER
Cosplay parades and gatherings through the streets of Lucca are eagerly awaited once again this year: from the Harry Potter-themed procession to the one dedicated to The Lord of the Rings, the ever-present Star Wars universe and the zombie walk organised by Umbrella Italian Division. To mark the reboot of *Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag*, the entire Italian community will organise a major themed event, which will include a large parade.
There will also be plenty of gatherings and parades dedicated to this year’s anniversaries starting on Friday 30 October with the big gathering to mark the 20th anniversary of Hiro Mashima’s Fairy Tail, and the Dragon Ball-themed gathering and parade to mark the 40th anniversary of the famous anime the following day, Saturday 31 October, followed by the Bink’s Family crew, who, as always, will engage fans and onlookers alike with their One Piece-themed parade; and finally, in honour of the arrival in Lucca of the legendary producer Yoshinori Kitase (a guest of Square Enix), and to celebrate Final Fantasy VII at Lucca Comics & Games, the Final Fantasy Italian Cosplayers will be holding a gathering. On Sunday 1 November, there will be a grand Avengers: Infinity War parade, joined by all the Marvel characters to celebrate together the release of Avengers: Doomsday, in Italian cinemas from December.
But could the cosplayers possibly not organise a special parade to mark the 60th anniversary of Lucca Comics & Games? The event takes place on Friday 30 October at 4.30 pm with a huge, absolutely massive parade involving all the Italian cosplay communities to bring colour to the streets of Lucca as we celebrate the Diamond Anniversary together!
There will be plenty of other events, such as the monster-themed ‘parade of nightmares’ to mark the 40th anniversary of Dylan Dog. Sergio Bonelli Editore, in collaboration with Lucca Comics & Games, is continuing the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Dylan Dog, the ‘Nightmare Investigator’ created by Tiziano Sclavi in 1986, with a grand parade of monsters and zombies. The march, open to the public, will set off from the Auditorium del Suffragio at the end of the 31 October panel dedicated to Dylan Dog, featuring Michele Masiero and Barbara Baraldi. After winding its way through the streets of Lucca, the parade will end in front of the PalaBonelli.
THE CONTESTS
Saturday 31 October is the day of ECG – Extreme Cosplay Gathering, the international cosplay contest dedicated to industry professionals, in collaboration with Japan Expo in Paris. The winners of the Italian qualifying round, held at Lucca Comics & Games, will fly to Paris for the grand final, where they will meet the winners from other countries around the world.
The art of cosplay takes centre stage in this contest, featuring original, handcrafted designs and strictly hand-made costumes; the event will take place once again this year at the Auditorium San Francesco, which will host the Lucca Cosplay Contest on Sunday 1 November. The competition, open to all, is set to begin. Since 1998, it has been a source of great fun for anyone wishing to try their hand at the art of cosplay. With a wide variety of categories and plenty of prizes; from the best-crafted costume to the most entertaining one, anyone can take part, from the most experienced to the least, and from adults to children.
LUCCA COSPLAY ACADEMY: CLASSES AND PANELS. COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT
The fantastic Lucca Cosplay Academy is back again this year, a proper school that allows its students to learn from the most experienced figures in the cosplay sector.
Gaia Giselle returns as Headmistress of this ‘Hogwarts for young cosplayers’ this year, and once again there will be lectures and workshops exploring the many facets of cosplay – from costume-making to the history of the cosplay world, materials and techniques, as well as interesting facts and news from the cosplay scene. Sessions with the tutors – some of Italy’s finest cosplay makers, including Ichigo Wigs Rancatore and Tetu Tetu for lessons on wig-making, Nives Sela, who will delve into the crucial aspect of make-up, and Ginny Fantasy Lab’s tailoring – will take place every morning inside Palazzo Guinigi, within the monastic complex of San Francesco.
There will also be panels dedicated to raising awareness of important issues, such as the ‘Cosplay is not consent’ panel: wearing a costume does not give anyone the right to touch, photograph or, let alone, harass anyone.
K-CONTEST: ALL STAR AT LUCCA COMICS & GAMES
The K-Contest: All Star returns to Lucca, Italy’s first national contest dedicated to South Korean music, now in its fifth year. This competition aims to recognise the passion and dedication of the Italian public towards Korean culture, from dance and singing to the arts in general. Four soloists and four crews, chosen by a panel of judges, will compete on Sunday 1 November: you can enter the selection process via the Google Form, which will be published in the stories and bio of the KST Instagram page once registration opens.
LUCCA PHOTO COSPLAY: THE PHOTO SHOOTS
Professional photo shoots are a must: Lucca Photo Cosplay, in collaboration with Fortezza del Cosplay, will take the most interesting costumes to exclusive locations, such as Lucca’s historic palaces, to capture unforgettable and unique photos.
