Anime Cosplay Ideas: 20 Classic Characters, Easy to Advanced

Anime and cosplay grew up together. The word "cosplay" itself was coined in Japan in the early 1980s by writer Nobuyuki Takahashi, and Japanese fans have dressed as their favorite characters for decades. If you are looking for anime cosplay ideas, the good news is that anime characters are designed to be recognized: bold color blocks, signature accessories and very distinctive hair. Below are 20 characters from long-running series and classic films, with the pieces that make each one work.

Before you choose: three anime-specific tips

• Hair is half the costume. Many anime characters are identified by hair color and shape. Budget time and money for the wig, or choose a character whose hair is close to your own.
• Match the color blocks. Anime outfits use flat, saturated colors. Getting the exact shade of orange or blue matters more than the fabric.
• Pick a version. Long series give characters many outfits. Choose one specific look and gather reference images from the front, side and back.

Easy: mostly everyday clothes

1. Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service): dark dress, large red hair bow, a broom and a black cat plush.
2. Chihiro (Spirited Away): green-and-white striped shirt, pink shorts, sneakers and a hair tie.
3. Ash Ketchum (Pokémon): cap, short-sleeved jacket or vest, fingerless gloves, a Pikachu plush.
4. Misty (Pokémon): yellow top, red suspenders, denim shorts, an orange side ponytail.
5. Bulma (Dragon Ball): pink dress with her name printed on it, a blue-green ponytail wig.
6. Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro): a gray hooded onesie with a white belly patch and ears. Great for kids.
7. No-Face (Spirited Away): a black hooded cloak and a white mask with simple painted markings.

Medium: some sewing or a styled wig

8. Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto): orange and blue tracksuit, a forehead protector, a spiky blond wig.
9. Sakura Haruno (Naruto): red sleeveless qipao-style top over dark shorts, pink wig, forehead protector.
10. Kakashi Hatake (Naruto): green vest, mask over the lower face, headband over one eye, spiky silver wig.
11. Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece): red short-sleeved shirt or vest, blue rolled-up shorts, sandals and the straw hat.
12. Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia): gray school blazer or green hero suit, red sneakers, curly green wig.
13. Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura): one of her many outfits, plus a sealing-wand prop.
14. Haku (Spirited Away): white wrap top, blue trousers, a straight dark bob wig.

Advanced: detailed costumes and wigs

15. Sailor Moon: sailor-collar leotard and skirt, red chest bow, tiara and the famous long pigtails with buns.
16. The Sailor Guardians: Mercury in blue, Mars in red, Jupiter in green and Venus in orange, perfect for a group.
17. Goku (Dragon Ball): orange and blue gi and a spiky black wig that needs serious styling.
18. Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist): red hooded coat, black outfit, white gloves, blond braid, a foam automail arm.
19. Inuyasha: red robe, long white wig with dog ears, a foam sword.
20. Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle): a simple dress, a straw hat and a gray or silver braid for her older look.

Spiky and gravity-defying styles take practice; our guide on how to style a cosplay wig walks through teasing, cutting and setting spikes.

Female anime cosplay ideas by style

If you like...	Try
Cute and simple	Kiki, Chihiro, Misty
Magical girl	Sailor Moon, Sakura Kinomoto
Action heroine	Sakura Haruno, a Sailor Guardian
Bright wig challenge	Bulma, Sakura Haruno
Comfortable all day	Totoro onesie, Chihiro

Any of these also works the other way around. Crossplay, cosplaying a character of a different gender, is a long-standing part of anime fandom.

Anime group ideas

• Team 7 from Naruto: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi.
• The Sailor Guardians: five friends, five colors.
• Pokémon trainers: Ash, Misty and Brock, plus a friend in a Pikachu hoodie.
• Studio films mash-up: Kiki, Chihiro, No-Face and Totoro.

More group and couple combinations are in our group cosplay ideas, and if you are new to the hobby, start with our easy cosplay ideas.