LauraStar US

The overall best tutorial submitted, as decided by our judges. An example of an exemplary, wonderful tutorial, that goes above and beyond a standard tutorial and represents one of the pinnacles of cosplay education. This tutorial could be any format or length, so all entries are eligible for this award.

First Stop Cosplay

This is a tutorial that is specifically the creator’s first ever tutorial and is an incredible show of our three judging criteria. Only creators’ first ever created tutorial can qualify for this award. If you’ve never tried your hand at making instructional material, now is the perfect time!

This is a tutorial that is personally chosen by the founders of the contest, Knovice Cosplay and Lutavia Cosplay, as an example of an exemplary, wonderful tutorial, that goes above and beyond a standard tutorial and represents one of the pinnacles of cosplay education. This tutorial could be any format or length, so all entries are eligible for this award.

Previous Winners: Yae Miko weapon prop, Building a prop end to end

FanPoweredPress

These are text-heavy or text-based tutorials. This could include Instagram text carousels, blog posts, website write-ups, or anything with a focus on text explanations. Entire costume builds will be placed in the ‘Best Build Log’ category. Parts of costumes, such as a hat, dress, or a prop, are okay for this one.

Examples of these types of tutorials include the following: ‘Adding Oomph to Your Cosplay’, ‘Sewing Bias Binding’, and ‘Making Homestuck Horns’.

Previous winners: Making Heihei from Moana, painting elf ears

These are not “generic” tutorials for a technique but rather a catalog of quick, snapshot progress with brief explanations for an entire build, from head to toe. Your build log + costume must be complete to be submitted, and please do not submit competition build books. These could be Twitter/X threads or Instagram highlights, or a blog post if you have a personal blog website, as long as they are image heavy logs with brief write ups that catalog a build from top to bottom.

Examples of these types of tutorials include: Medicine Seller Build Thread on X, Brother Nier Log on IG Highlights, and a series of blog posts on Lulu.

Previous winners: Dodogama Kigurumi (MonHun), Ashei (Twilight Princess), Marcielle (Dungeon Meshi)

Zelouf Fabrics

This is a tutorial that is less than 2 minutes long, ideally the length of an Instagram reel or a much shorter Tiktok video.

Examples of these types of tutorials include this Reel on smooth ombre dyeing, how to re-style a damaged wig, and how to make pigtail shields!

Previous winners: Shoulders from fossshape, Hiding foam seams

This is a tutorial that is longer than 2 minutes, ideally the length of a longer Youtube video/too long for an Instagram reel.

Examples of these types of tutorials include how to create seamless trim, covering EVA foam in worbla, and how to create a wig stub or ponytail attachment.

Previous winners: Wig Styling for Beginners, How to Pattern Match

This is a tutorial that at its core, is accessible: no fancy tools, no wild materials, but instead a very creative use of an inexpensive thing, or an approach that can save you money in your build.

Previous winners: Making a fireball prop from hot glue, Making prop staffs

This is a tutorial that universally gives a “Wow, I had no idea you could do that!” response. This tutorial should showcase an exceptionally new or novel approach to a craftsmanship technique or a new technique altogether.

Previous Winners: Making cosplay-themed mobility aids

Primarily a textile arts or sewing focus – could be by hand or with machine or another textile art altogether, like dyework, crochet or knitting, beading, etc.

Previous winners: Full bust adjustments on princess seam bodices

Primarily an armor or prop focused material – material does not matter (foam, thermoplastic, 3D printing, etc).

Examples of these types of tutorials are painting a tarnished gold finish on props, creating a fake ribcage, or this virtual panel on armor detailing.

Each judge will get to showcase a tutorial of their choice. This is their personal favorite; why they choose it is up to them.

Previous winners: Creating tiny scallop hems, Upgrading premade costume straps, making hobbit feet