Cosplay is one of the most fundamental elements in the anime community. Whenever it is your first time going to an anime convention, you will notice how incredible the cosplay is from anyone you encounter. Thoughts would run in your head like: “How did they perfect the costume so perfectly?” or “It have must have taken hours to do that makeup!” There are cosplay that can require no effort, but it would be for fun and not professionally. Those that go out of their limits are rewarded in doing the characters justice while looking like the anime characters themselves. Anime characters can be incredibly easy to cosplay, but some are tediously impossible due to the amount of detail.

Anime is a completely different art form compared to cartoons from the west, and their designs are usually more complex. If you see a cosplay that looks like it must have taken hours, be sure to tell them that they look amazing, even if it is a small compliment. It will help them feel like they accomplished their craft while staying true to the character they are cosplaying. Sometimes fans would like to take a picture of the cosplay because of how good it is! Even if you feel that cosplaying is impossible, the pictures we have here will show you that anyone can do the impossible, and you can do it too.

Here are some anime characters that are impossible to cosplay, but these fans managed to pull it off wonderfully.

23 The Falcon Of Light

via: okageo.deviantart.com

Anime in the 90s are a goldmine for those who grew up during that decade. They would be introduced to the likes of Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and so much more. One big anime that is more adult that appeared alongside those iconic anime is Berserk. It has a very dark tone in a brutal European setting. One of the characters, Griffith, is one of the most subtle villains in anime. He doesn’t start off as one, but he was soft and gentle, while being a reliable ally to Guts. Being able to cosplay such a complex villain takes a lot of effort, but this cosplayer excelled.

Okageo certainly did the impossible with the cosplay.

He made Griffith look beautiful yet hides something far beneath his heavenly exterior. The armor is exceptionally detailed, the wig could easily fool us if it were his real hair, and the makeup is outstanding. Griffith has that unique charm no one else has in the series, and his appearance is one of the aspects. He might have been fiercely loyal to Guts at first, but he would later begin his own path that would eventually change the lives of everyone and take a dark turn. For someone that looks like an angel, that is the true definition of irony.

22 Breathtaking Deity

via: Ashitaro.deviantart.com

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is that one anime that changed the whole magical girl genre. It looked cutesy and a standard magical girl show until later on, and those that have watched it had their mouths hanged open when that moment happened. It gained critical acclaim due to its amazing writing, animation, and music. Out of the anime that came out in the 2010’s, this one is certainly one of the best. Madoka Kaname was just a normal girl whose life changed when she first encountered Kyubey. She took up the offer to become a magical girl and it was such a trip.

Ashitaro’s cosplay of Madoka is stellar and stunning. She, along with the background, embodies of what happens at the end of the anime. Once she has become a goddess, Madoka turned out to be beautiful and graceful. She became one to help save the world from an apocalypse and she definitely made the right choice, even if it wiped her existence out of everyone’s minds except for a dear friend she made. Those that have watched this show never knew what they were getting into, but most can agree that it is one of the best magical girl shows to date.

21 Powerful Member Of The Guild

via: facebook.com/miekonekocosplay

Shonen anime is very popular here in the west, and Fairy Tail is one of the well known shonen anime that is beloved all over the world. One of the reasons why Fairy Tail is cherished is due to the cast of characters. The fans love characters such as Natsu, Lucy, Juvia, Gray, and the one getting the spotlight, Erza. Erza Scarlet is extremely popular due to her backstory and interesting character arc. She has a tough exterior, but when she is vulnerable, we feel absolutely sorry for her. Just be sure that she is on your side so that you will have an advantage on the battlefield.

MeikoNeko’s breathtaking cosplay of Erza is just unbelievable.

Her cosplay, which is based around Heaven’s Wheel Armor, makes her look like a princess, but not a delicate one at that. Those that know Erza understand that she is not messing around when she has this armor on. With her angel-like wings, Erza has the ability to fly. She can also summon up to more than two-hundred swords, which is insane. This redheaded beauty is one of the strongest members of the Fairy Tail guild, and it shows with her amazing abilities and spells.

20 King Of Card Games

via: konohacosplay.deviantart.com

As far as kids anime go, Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of them for sure. However, if you grew up watching the Japanese version, it is far from kid-friendly. Regardless of localization, it is a popular anime and card game. Yami Yugi is one of the coolest protagonists in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, and arguably most popular. He’s got a design going for him, and we cannot forget that crazy hair. If you have crazy hair like Yami’s, then you are guaranteed to be the protagonist of the many spin-offs. Other than the outlandish character design, he is an honorable and fantastic companion to Yugi Moto.

Konoha’s cosplay of Yami Yugi is flashy, but great to look at. It must have taken her hours and hours to make the hair perfect. Or it could be a wig, but it would be an impressive feat if she perfected the hair. Even though we can’t see it from the angle of this photo, we believe that the Millennium Puzzle is accurate. Even though it is a well-known anime, there are surprisingly not a lot of cosplay from the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. At least thanks to Konoha, we are fortunate enough to see some great cosplay come out of it.

19 Bringing The Memes

via: AngelAngelyss.deviantart.com

This man has been taking the anime community into a frenzy with the memes. “It was me, Dio!” is not only hilarious, but iconic for the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures series. Dio Brando is one of the most stimulating villains in anime history due to his upbringing. To make things more interesting, he is even a vampire, which blows the sparkling ones out of the water. He has high ambition and even managed to do a lot of dastardly things in the series. The anime he appears in has been in a number of memes, and we are glad that Dio managed to become one.

The cosplay by AngelAngelyss, also known as Stephane Piers, excels in portraying the handsome yet dangerous vampire. The pose captures the character well and you can’t help but admire the cosplayer for being able to dress up as someone of the opposite gender. Dio is that type of villain you’d love to hate, and the way he is written shows that extremely well. His motives are downright evil and he enjoys every minute of it. Whenever you look at memes on the internet, you know that you will end up seeing Dio once in a while.

18 Obedient Servant

via: YuuGray.deviantart.com

Sometimes there are some anime that aren’t groundbreaking, but have cute stories revolving around romance. One of those anime is Inu X Boku SS. The plot centers around a girl named Ririchiyo who moves into an apartment complex where humans have demon ancestry. Once she moves in, she encounters her bodyguard Soushi, who is devoted to her greatly at first sight. He is the personification of a dog in a way, but he transforms into a fox demon, which can be confusing. However, they are funny characters and are one of the cutest couples due to their growing and emotional connection.

The cosplay displays Soushi, done by YuuGray. The costume is extremely detailed, especially on the fox tails. She has the look of Soushi’s gentleness, but willingness to take the lives of those who would hurt Ririchiyo. Some might view his dedication to his mistress a bit too far, but those that watched the anime know that he has been through so much. Like Ririchiyo, Soushi is also of mixed blood from humans and demons, but unlike the others, he is the most powerful. That should give an excuse as to why you should not mess with him or Ririchiyo.

17 Sly Wolf

via: Faid-Eyren.deviantart.com

Starting off as a light novel, Spice and Wolf is not only one of the best, but it made light novels become more known just as much as manga. It has gained critical acclaim for its ingenious story, amazing characters, and breathtaking settings. The titular character, Holo, is a joy to read and watch in whatever adaptation you are watching. Being a wolf deity, she ensures bountiful harvests in the town of Pasloe, but as the years went on, she started to become neglected. Thanks to Kraft Lawrence, she accompanies him to return to her homeland, which is called Yoitsu.

Just like the character herself, Faid-Eyren turns Holo into a true beauty.

Holo is very intelligent due to her many years of living and has a boundless love for apples. Despite having a lot of great qualities, she is shown to have human flaws, like being jealous when girls talk to Lawrence as soon as she grew closer to him. Speaking of Lawrence, their romance is one of the anime’s highlights. They compliment each other so well that listening to them talk sound so realistic, just like a compatible couple. Be sure to give this fantastic anime a watch and consider reading the light novels!

16 Rising Hero

via: talkotaku.com

The anime My Hero Academia takes an interesting turn in the superhero genre. Sometimes, heroes do not need to wear capes to become one, or be born with superpowers. Izuku Midoriya, or more knowingly, Deku, is a relatable protagonist who gets to become a superhero by going to school for one. It might seem generic enough since there are a lot of anime that have schools for whatever the protagonist is into, but My Hero Academia keeps the concept fresh and exciting. Let’s be real here, the process of Deku becoming a superhero is very strange, but somewhat harmless. If you don’t know it, then look it up, it’s kind of funny.

As for the cosplay, Kitsurie Yuki absolutely executes the look of Deku, even if he is a bit older from her adaptation of the superhero. The effects are also amazing, giving us what Deku can do when he is at the center stage of action. He idolizes All Might and credits him as his inspiration to become a hero. We can use more great role models like Deku, since he tells us that we can do what we want to do, even if it seems impossible at first.

15 Saitama's Disciple

via: facebook.com/lewhitephotography

One-Punch Man has all you can think of for an action show: an epic opening song, stellar animation, and comedy? Strangely enough, the comedy in this anime is brilliant! Saitama is an ironic character, but the circumstances of him getting bored of fighting makes sense since he can easily defeat his opponents with just one punch. Then we have his disciple Genos, who is vastly different from Saitama, but not because he is a cyborg who was formally human. He is steadfast and looks incredibly epic compared to Saitama, but the two together are like peas in a pod.

Just look at how amazing his cosplay is!

Done by the talented Hara Takumi, he makes Genos look like a real-life cyborg who can outclass the Terminator. The effects, makeup, and costume make us swoon with how good he looks while making us shiver at how threatening he can be with what he can do. He is one of the coolest sidekicks to ever grace our computer and TV screens whether we watched the show on streaming websites like Crunchyroll or Toonami. He also takes Saitama’s lessons to heart, and will not deal with anyone who talks bad about his teacher.

14 Strange Duo

via: keruuu.deviantart.com

This horror series started off as a manga in the 80s, and then in the 2010s, it finally got an anime that shows that older series can get an anime adaptation. It also got two live-action films to add to its name. Parasyte is that one anime that would require a person to have a strong stomach to get through just the first episode. Despite its genres which include body horror and science fiction, Parasyte is a gem that succeeded when the anime was released in 2014. It is a perfect example of waiting patiently and the manga you adore will eventually get its own anime.

The cosplay of Shinichi and Migi adapted by Keruuu, or Kelton, is unbelievable.

He does the usual pose of Shinichi in shock and awe from Migi entering his right hand and does a fantastic job in bringing them to life. In regards to Migi, the effects and makeup were done right to make sure it is accurate. He commented on how he did it by saying, “I lifecasted my fingers and sculpted over them in chavant clay. They were then molded in silicone, cast in polyfoam and blended onto my fingers with gelatin.” He excelled wonderfully indeed!

13 Awesome Cyborg

via: EdraLena.deviantart.com

Ghost in the Shell is a groundbreaking anime that took risks and made them work. It was first an anime film that was released in 1995, and then years later, the anime series Stand Alone Complex arrived for our viewing pleasure. Motoko Kusanagi is one of the most empowering female characters in anime and she might seem youthful and strong, but her mind is still human and mature. While she is fierce and aggressive on the battlefield, she is mellow and kind outside of battle.

Erda Lena’s cosplay of the Major is downright gorgeous. It is breathtaking and alluring to see an amazing portrayal of the main protagonist of Ghost in the Shell. Her looks could even rival Scarlett Johansson’s looks, and that is saying a lot for a cosplayer! The wig, the posture, and her expression makes us believe that Motoko is real. Cosplaying as a cyborg might seem intimidating, but as long as you capture the character, then there is nothing to worry about. Being able to cosplay as a well-designed and awesome character seems like a dream come true to those who hope to exceed their expectations, and if you want to get into cosplay, just keep doing it!

12 The Power Inside

via: lanmeimeia.deviantart.com

As much as we don’t like to admit it, Naruto will be one of the anime that non-anime fans will say if they were asked to name a title. Now that is not dissing the franchise or anything, since Naruto made its way to Toonami back in the day and brought a lot of fans in. The second part of the series, Naruto Shippuden, takes a darker turn and makes the story much better. One of the best moments in the second part of Naruto was whenever he turns into his Nine Tails form. Before he could get control, something had to trigger him to make him transform.

This cosplay made by lanmeimeia, or lan for short, brings us back to whether it is Orochimaru angering Naruto whenever he mentions Sasuke, or when Deidara of the Akatsuki taunts Naruto for taking our Gaara. The effects are incredible, reminiscing the anime’s special effects whenever the moment arrives. We knew that later on Naruto would be able to control the Nine Tails within him, but there were at times where it seemed nearly impossible to get his senses back. For example, when Hinata stepped in to distract Pain, Naruto really lost it. We are just glad that he pulled through and became stronger by forming a bond with Kurama.

11 Heavenly Angel

via: rolecosplay.com

Angel Beats! is heavily known to be one of the most tear-jerking anime of all time, and while some might have exaggerated, it is still a decent show. The character cast do not deserve to have their lives cut short as seen throughout the series, and when they accept what has happened, they are gone for good, at least until the end of the last episode. One of the mysterious characters, Angel, has looks that are deceiving, but for good reasons. Also at first, she seemed to be very distant, but when she gets closer to Otonashi, their relationship turns bittersweet.

When you look at this picture of Angel, doesn’t it make you want to cry?

This cosplay by Meter screams heavenly. The background and Meter herself look so beautiful that it melts away the stress and gives off a peaceful and calm vibe. The angel wings also blend well in the background, shadowing the fact that Angel is a pivotal character in the show. Like photoshoots for supermodels, cosplayers deserve to have this kind of treatment so that they can pay tribute to the character they are cosplaying. With that, we can get more mesmerizing photos like this.

10 Beautiful Elf

via: facebook.com/loveno1chihiro

Re:Zero is one of those anime that made people severely disappointed when they reach a certain point in the series. Best girl should have been with the main lead, but oh well. Even though we love Rem, we will have our focus on the female protagonist Emilia. She is half-elf and has one of the most elegant designs in the franchise. Even if you don’t prefer her, you can’t deny that she looks very pretty. As a character, she stands well on her own, being a kindhearted girl and taking care of others when needed. Her powers are also parallel to her character, being beautiful yet perilous.

Being able to cosplay her must be a reward since her design is elegant. The cosplayer Chihiro displays the gracefulness of Emilia while blending in from the scenery she is in. She looks gentle, but also has a somber stare. The overall aesthetic is just pleasant to the eyes and Chihiro does an excellent job in making Emilia come to life in this picture. This silver-haired half-elf is simply alluring to look at, but having her as an ally is your best bet if you happen to be teleported in her world like Subaru.

9 Consumed By Chaos

via: ivycosplay.deviantart.com

The final villainess in the Sailor Moon series, Sailor Galaxia was not messing around when she went all out to destroy the planet of Princess Kakyuu and the Sailor Starlights. Not to mention, she also was responsible for taking the life of Usagi’s beloved Mamoru. Galaxia, being consumed by Chaos from the battle that took place long ago, it corrupted her and she would become Sailor Moon’s greatest enemy. The final battle was incredible, giving Sailor Moon a very hard time from the very second Galaxia showed her Mamoru’s star seed. It was overall a perfect send off to the most iconic magical girl anime of all time.

Other characters from Sailor Moon need some love in the cosplay world.

Ivycosplay embraces the chaos in her character, and the cosplay itself looks stunning. They colored contacts are sharp and can pierce through your soul just by gazing at them. Nothing but a huge congrats for pulling off a Sailor Moon character that does not appear a lot in cosplay. It would be an interesting idea for her to cosplay Galaxia before she was defeated by Chaos, but we can only dream. This beautiful picture will just have to do for now.

8 A Lot Of Fluff

via: ceroart.deviantart.com

Inuyasha made its way into our hearts when Toonami was gone. Even though Adult Swim would air great anime like FLCL and Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha gave us a fantasy adventure that would make us call in sick because we were up all night watching it. It is a nostalgia trip that remains in the hearts of those who grew up in the 2000’s, and is still one of the best anime to this day. The character cast is stellar, and there are subtle characters like Sesshomaru, Inuyasha’s older half-brother. He was a cold and ruthless demon who cared for none but himself until he met a human girl named Rin and saved her life.

To this day, his intentions are still unknown why he saved her.

Cero Grey, the photographer for this gorgeous shot, made sure that the cosplayer for Sesshomaru, Skei, is shown in a perfectly timed frame. Due to the setting being in feudal Japan, it was the perfect background to have the picture taken. The costume, especially the “fluffy tail,” looks faithful to the original character’s design. Sesshomaru is one of the best anti-heroes in the series as well as overall in anime. Inuyasha might had his own character development, but Sesshomaru also changed in the process.

7 Best Espada

via: facebook.com/cosplayturkiye

Seeing this iconic character from Bleach again might have made us hurt a little inside. Ulquiorra Cifer is one of the characters that left too soon. He started off as a cold, callous, but loyal. We can all agree that when Orihime arrived, there was something between the two that made us actually want them to be together. In fact, it is one of the most popular pairings in Bleach, but pairings in this anime are not to be talked about for a number of reasons. Being an Espada, Ulquiorra is one of, if not, the most popular one.

Beiqi Houzhu blends in magnificently as the fourth Espada. The special effects, the makeup, just everything you see in this picture is the perfect depiction of Ulquiorra Cifer. How the cosplayer managed to perfect this character, our imaginations run wild. While there are other people who can cosplay as the Espada, Beiqi would have to be the best cosplayer for him. His design is truly unique and those that aren’t even familiar with Bleach can probably tell he is from the show. It is sad that we had to bid him farewell along with Orihime, but he will be one of the most recognizable villains in the franchise.

6 Of The Rebellion

via: koujialone.deviantart.com

Who is that character who is so charismatic and cunning that his ability can make anyone do what he commands by eye contact? It’s none other than Lelouch Lamprouge. Some see him as a hero, while some see him as a villain. In our eyes, he’s leaning towards being an anti-hero, since some of the actions he made were catastrophic, but he still has his humanity whenever he is with the ones he holds dear to his heart, such as his sister Nunnally and dear friend Shirley. Whenever he needs to, Lelouch is not afraid to use his Geass to get what he wants.

KoujiAlone makes our hearts pound from just looking at him as the exiled prince of Britannia.

His portrayal of Lelouch is not only handsome, but undeniably real. Just overall alluring and endearing to our eyes. He has cosplayed as him so many times that it is one of his most popular characters to cosplay. The more, the merrier we would say. It has been said, but Lelouch has been compared to another anime protagonist by the name of Light Yagami from Death Note. Both are very similar in terms of goals, but unlike Light, Lelouch still retained his sanity and fights for the sake of his sister’s future, while Light just wants to become a new god of the world.

5 The Beast Inside

via: GeshaPetrovish.deviantart.com

Studio Ghibli might be what got casual fans become intense fans of anime. The movies are visual eye candy while giving us beautiful animation and unforgettable characters. Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle is one of them, without a doubt. As a wizard, he can conjure up some unique spells. After all, he is incredibly talented! As the movie progresses, he slowly caves into his bird form, which is one of the most nail-biting moments in the movie. He still manages to be enchanting, but at the same time, it gets more difficult for him to turn back into a human.

This thoroughly complete cosplay made by the wonderful Gesha Petrovich blends in the scenery backdrop with the cosplay of Howl fully enveloped in his beast form. The more you look at this amazing photo, the more you are entranced by the insane amount of details that went into the cosplay. Gesha knows her craft, and she does her absolute best to make sure she stays accurate to Howl’s character. It is also no surprise that Howl is just charming and handsome. Seeing the chemistry between him and Sophie make us swoon and sigh, especially for helping her with her own curse.

4 Head Of The Phantomhive Household

via: Shinkan-Seto.deviantart.com

Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler is very arrogant and bratty, but also smart and cunning. He was raised in an upper-class family before they perished in the fire, but when Sebastian offers a contract with him, Ciel took it without hesitation. As the main protagonist, Ciel has a very cynical outlook in life, and who can blame him? He and Sebastian act as an interesting duo whenever they do favors for Queen Victoria, and they know how to do the detective work without boring us. Since the setting of Black Butler takes place in the Victorian era, you know that the outfits Ciel wears are so mesmerizing.

Since he is thirteen, he is cosplayed mostly by females.

This time around, this cosplayer is a male. This photo of Shinkan-Seto’s cosplay of Ciel is no joke, we tell you. The cosplay is topnotch, and the accessories just compliment the mood this picture brings. A lot of time and effort went into this cosplay, and the cosplay looks like he is having a swell time. He made Ciel look like he could fit in the real world and he would not have a problem blending in. Just as long as he has his butler Sebastian, he is able to achieve anything.