TechArt

Making A Name

Naziba Basher

Shadab, in his cosplay costume.

Cosplay, as many people do not know, is derived from the two words -- costume and play. In simple terms one has to dress up as any fictional character from movies, games, cartoons, etc and attend conventions or just take pictures to gain online recognition and fame. It is a culture quite popular in most western countries and especially in Japan, China and Korea.

Shadab Shayeree Ahmed, a 20-year-old student of Pharmacy from North South University, was the first cosplay player in the history of Bangladesh, who participated in the world's largest online cosplay competition held by Otaku House. Shadab spent a lot of money and time trying to perfect his cosplay. He cosplayed as Hidan-- a fictional character from the Anime (Japanese cartoon) Naruto Shippuden. His cosplay was so good that currently he has the highest vote score in his block. As the competition is divided into different blocks, there is a chance he will be going to the finals. Also an online magazine from New York, called “We Rise Mag” is going to feature him in their October issue. His cosplay has set a new trend in Bangladesh where maybe in the future more serious cosplayers will arise. Also it will let the world know that even Bangladeshi people can cosplay near to perfection.

The reason Shadab cosplays is because it is fun and also because he has been seeing many amazing cosplayers and he, too, wants to be able to catch up to them one day and make our country famous for cosplay. At the same time, he wants to inspire a new generation. It started after he attended the first Anime convention in Bangladesh called Mazecon 2011. Though it was a small event, it was fun and there he cosplayed for the first time.

Shadab's goal is to become one of the world's best cosplayers and get featured in cosplay magazines around the world as well as earning fame and recognition online. This will help inspire a new generation of cosplayers from our country. And if things get better, he wants to be able to bring the Anime Fair Asia to Bangladesh or even get sponsored to cosplay for different corporations.

Shadab mostly watches Anime. Cosplay is just one of his recent hobbies. Most of his hobbies are heavily influenced by the Japanese culture as well as other pop cultures around the world. He also makes some of his own cosplay accessories like rings, necklaces, etc. He makes most of these by melting lead and shaping metal.

To know more about cosplay and vote for Shadab log onto-http://cosplayidol.otakuhouse.com/2012/07/asia-pacific/shadab-shayeree-ahmed-hidan-from-naruto-shippuden/