Hall Cosplay Rules -
Hall Cosplay is open to anyone who wishes to cosplay, walk around, pose for pictures and enjoy their time with fellow anime fans, inside or outside of the convention grounds. However, in order to preserve a safe and fun environment for everyone, certain rules must be followed according to guidelines set by the City of South Padre Island. All of these rules must be followed to the letter. Failure to do so may result in removal from the convention grounds and/or possible arrest. Please use common sense - we’d hate to see anyone not want to come back to our convention!
Weapons Policy

As enforced by the city of South Padre Island and the State of Texas, the following types of weapons are NOT allowed.

No live steel will be permitted within the premises of the Shimakon Convention. This includes: swords, knives, bayonets, star knives, shurikens, and/or other objects made of metal, which have an edge.

There will be NO GUNS of any kind permitted. This includes the following:

- Real guns
- Pellet guns
- Water guns
- Air Guns
- Paintball Guns
- Replicas of actual guns
- Mini or Pistol crossbows
- Stun guns
- Dart or Blowguns

The only exceptions to guns will be the following:

- Easily identifiable toy plastic guns with no moving parts and that have a clearly visible non-removable orange tip will be permitted.
- Resin models will be permitted as long as they are marked with clearly visible non-removable orange tip.
- The person carrying the pistol is a Texas law enforcement agent who is on duty.

Weapons bought at the dealers room MUST be kept in its package or bag and immediately locked up at your room or car.
Policy on Signs
- Signs of any type are not allowed at Shimakon unless it is part of a costume - to the point that it is not provocative, suggestive or otherwise offensive. We’re going to be very restrictive about signs, so please keep that “Will kiss for manga” sign at home. If you want to have your sign verified for use at the convention grounds, please check with the registration and cosplay departments on-site.

Costume Guidelines

Please be aware that this is a family-oriented convention. Please keep your costume at a PG-13 level, meaning NO nudity of any kind will be tolerated. However, because this IS a beach-oriented convention, we will allow swimsuit/bikini cosplay on the grounds. Please behave responsibly and use common sense to prevent any incidents that may cause us to remove this feature for future shows.

It is important to note that those of you entering the contest will be subject to costume check, and if you choose to wear a very revealing costume you may be asked to cover up if not completely removed from the contest.

We understand that South Padre Island is a very hot and sunny place, so please, for your safety and health, avoid using costumes that are heat-suffocating, too hot or too heavy. If you do decide to bring such a costume, please take precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and hazard to your health.

Please be mindful that your costume can be hazardous, even if it wasn’t meant to be. Accidents can happen, especially with over sized props, such as cardboard swords, long dresses and really big guns. Cosplay with caution!

Don’t carry any highly flammable or mess-making objects as part of your costume, such as gasoline, fireworks, torches, lighters, matches, cigarettes (that means you, Spike!), confetti, flash paper, rose petals, glitter, or any other object that involves fire or cleaning the floors.

Cosplay Show Guidelines
You do NOT have to register for the cosplay show if you just want to cosplay down the halls, however, we highly encourage you to do so! You must sign up to do either a skit or a walk-on for the cosplay show event. Space and time are limited, so please plan ahead before signing up on Saturday according to the following guidelines.
Eligibility requirements:

Your skit/walk on and cosplayers involved must abide to the rules described under the Hall Cosplay Rules of this convention. Absolutely No Vulgarities.

There are no age requirements to join, However If entrant is under 13 years of age, you must have your parent, relative of age( 18 or older ), or guardian’s permission to enroll and have them be present at the time of registration. In the case of small children under 6, they must be accompanied by their guardian on stage.

Your costume must relate in some form to Japanese anime, manga, videogames, or Asian pop culture. Because pop culture can be an ambiguous genre at times please contact us to make sure. Remember Cosplay is “dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands”(as taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay). Therefore in order to be eligible to enter the contest you must be cosplaying an existing character or person from/in Japanese anime, manga, video games, or japanese pop culture. Exceptions to this rule will be made on a case on case basis, however be aware that these will be made on a rare basis. For example, crossovers are fine as long as they’re part of a rule-abiding skit. If your costume’s reference is too obscure, please bring reference material that would help us identify and approve it.

You must have signed up prior to the event with Cosplay staff at the registration table. You will be asked to accurately describing your character and whether or not you will perform a skit. All Entrants will perform in some way, in order to convey the characters they are cosplaying. You may not deviate from your original, agreed-on plan and performance unless approved by a cosplay staff member.

Signing up

The contest will be divided into the three groups relative to age if possible. Please make sure to sign up within your appropriate age group. Age’s will be split up into the following groups : 0 - 12, 13 - 19, 20 and up.

Please do not lie about your age, doing so may and most probably will result in your disqualification.

Sign up for the cosplay event will take place on Saturday between the hours of 8am to 5pm. You will fill out a form, describing your character, provide(if possible) a reference for that character, and decide whether or not you will perform a skit. We will review and approve your skit, your costumes, and any props you chose to use on stage during orientation and prior to stage line-up.

Orientation is mandatory. Anyone who does not show up to Orientation, on time, will be cut from the cosplay contest.

Basic rules on stage performance - no contact fighting, no jumping, no running, no hard falls and absolutely no vulgar language or obscene/sexually orientated expressions, physical or vocal.

Cosplayer line up will take place in Video Room 1, as practiced during orientation on Saturday at 6:45pm-7:00pm. Roll call will be at 7:00. All absent upon roll call will be crossed off the list. If you don’t make it on time, you cannot participate.

Orientation for cosplay event performers (who lined up and got there on time) will take place in Video Room 1 from 7pm-8pm. Remember to line up once again in the back for Audience favorite and again to appear on stage for winners announcement and final pictures. Remember just because winners have been announced does not mean you can leave. Final pictures will be taken of the entire group by Staff.

The cosplay event will begin at 7pm.

Performance

Keep your performance at a PG-13 level. You will be shut down on the spot should you break this rule.

Cosplay event skits will be limited to only 2 minutes per group.

Only 2 extra people will be allowed on stage for skits. If you need more your reasons will be reviewed, this does not guarantee that you will be allowed more however.

Every cosplayer must perform a small action or the like that helps identify their character for the judges, which must be no longer than a minute long.

Judges will then ask you questions and you will respond, both respectfully and tactfully.

When the judges’ thank you, you will in turn bow and say thank you as well before leaving the stage to return to the cosplay line.