What is Kigurumi?

(Animegao) kigurumi is a type of masked cosplay that has its origins in the official stage shows of various Japanese anime but has also been adapted by hobbyists. In Japan, most performers refer to this kind of cosplay as ‘kigurumi’ (着ぐるみ) instead of ‘animegao’ (アニメ顔, meaning “anime face”), which has been used overseas in order to differentiate the cosplay from the onesies sharing the same name. The term ‘doller’ had also been used when referring to kigurumi cosplayers, but today mainly refers to BJD-styled masked cosplays. Although kigurumi remains a minor part of Japan’s cosplay scene, it began attracting overseas attention in North America and Europe around 2005.

For more information, visit the Animegao Kigurumi wikipedia article