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Costumed performer

A costumed performer or suit performer wears a costume that usually, (but not always) covers the performer's face, typically to represent a non-human character such as a mascot or cartoon character. These range from theme park "walk-around" or "meetable" characters, the mascots of corporations, schools, or sports teams to novelty act performers. Some costumes cover the performer's face especially those in theme parks.

Examples include sports mascots and performances as fantasy characters on children's television and in theme parks.[1] Problems in suit performance include intense physical exertion, claustrophobia and hyperthermia.[2]

In theme parks, international fairs, and festivals Edit

Costumed performers are a major feature of amusement parks like Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Universal Parks & Resorts, Sesame Place, Legoland, SeaWorld, Hershey Park, Six Flags, and Nickelodeon Universe, as well as many other large or small theme parks and fairs.

 
Seymore D. Fair - 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Character Mascot.

Costumed performers are intended to add to the fantasy experience by enabling visitors to encounter and interact with fictional characters, such as mascots for a company or organization. The characters are portrayed by employees in costume. Some of the costumes merely consist of clothing and makeup, while those for non-human characters generally conceal the performer entirely and include a full bodysuit, a head, and sometimes accessories or clothing on top of that. A longstanding policy in most well known theme parks is that the first category of characters, where the performer's face remains visible (usually "face" characters) are allowed to speak (usually on the basis of scripts carefully prepared in advance), while the second category of characters, where the face is covered (sometimes called "fur" characters) are not allowed to speak, although are allowed to make noises, and tend to communicate through pantomime.[3]: 343 

A common occurrence, often involving "fur" characters, is that young children can feel particularly intimidated by the size of the costume.[3]: 342–343  They can also be intimidated by the quick movements of more energetic characters, or by the character approaching them directly, so performers frequently slow down or kneel down when interacting with smaller children to let the child approach them.

For human characters based on a well-known media franchise that speak with visitors, theme park operators may prepare detailed scripts covering a variety of questions regularly asked by visitors, especially young children who have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy. Performers cast in those roles are required to memorize and rehearse those scripts as part of their training, so they can learn their characters' backstories by heart and consistently respond in character to visitors.

At theme parks, particularly at busier ones, popular costumed performers are usually accompanied by one or more assistants (also called "handlers" or "spotters") in regular park uniforms, who handle customer service, security, and crowd control. This minimizes the necessity for performers to break character to deal with those kinds of issues. When a performer needs a break, they simply give a prearranged signal, and their handler may then assure patrons the character will be back momentarily, before guiding them back to a lounge or rest area for them to recuperate.

All theme park operators that present costumed performers enforce strict character performance regulations so that performers are never seen out of character by visitors. In the case of more elaborate costumes, they are never seen "with their head off". A related rule is that performers costumed as the same character (often so that the character in question is never absent for too long) are supposed to avoid being seen side by side by the public.

In Japan Edit

The Japanese name for costumed performers is kigurumi (着ぐるみ). The name comes from the Japanese verb kiru (着る, to wear) and noun nuigurumi (ぬいぐるみ, stuffed toy). Japan's kawaii aesthetic means that mascots are commonly used for promotional purposes. These mascots are often constructed with an appearance that is more chibi than Western mascots, with a massive head that encompasses the performer's entire upper body and the arms low on the body. Other mascots more greatly resemble anime characters.

Animegao Edit

 
A "doller" at the 2008 Kyoto International Manga Summit

Animegao (アニメ顔, anime face) is a type of kigurumi used to portray anime or cartoon characters. The face of the performer is fully covered with a stylized mask, and clothing similar to the character's typical attire is used. Animegao costumes are used both in professional stage shows and by cosplayers, sometimes called "dollers", who make custom masks of various characters. It is still a very minor part of the cosplay scene in Japan, though throughout the mid-2000s, it began attracting attention in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and various European states.

On television Edit

Current shows featuring a costumed performer puppet include Big Bird of Sesame Street, Barney from Barney & Friends, and Bear of Bear in the Big Blue House. Less complicated costumed characters include Hip Hop Harry, Yo Gabba Gabba!, and Mack & Moxy.

Older examples include New Zoo Revue, H.R. Pufnstuf, Banana Splits, and British series Gophers!.

Unauthorized costume characters Edit

In recent years, amateur performers wearing unauthorized, counterfeit costumes of various pop-culture characters have appeared in popular tourist destinations such as Hollywood Boulevard and Times Square. They usually pose for photos and collect (or, often, extort) tips from tourists. The 2007 documentary film Confessions of a Superhero focuses on costumed "superheroes" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because they are not regulated or authorized, there have been many controversies and arrests involving costumed performers in Times Square.[4][5]

Industry Edit

The mascot industry is estimated at $5-million a year.[6] Toronto, Canada, is one of the hubs in the industry, with six major firms headquartered out of the city.[6] Knock-off costumes are commonly fabricated in Peru, where they're called botargas,[7] as well as other South American countries and certain East Asian countries.

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ "The Outing of Tinky Winky". Priceonomics. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  2. ^ "Men in Suits - Monster Suit Acting Documentary Excerpt - No Pain, No Performance". www.stanwinstonschool.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  3. ^ a b Bob Sehlinger; Len Testa (2014). The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014. Birmingham, AL: Keen Communications. ISBN 9781628090000.
  4. ^ Robbins, Christopher. "Are The Costumed Grifters Of Times Square Diluting Disney's Brand?" 2013-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, Gothamist (June 19, 2011).
  5. ^ Lysiak, Matt. "Sick, touchy Elmo returns to Times Square, back to old antics as he scares parents and kids," New York Daily News (October 24, 2010).
  6. ^ a b "Character builders". Maclean's. Toronto ON: Rogers Media. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  7. ^ Semple, Kirk. "Spider-Man Unmasked! Elmo and Minnie, Too: The Lives Behind Times Square Cartoon Characters," New York Times (AUG. 2, 2014).

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This article is about meetable or cartoon costumed performers For tokusatsu actors in costumes see suit actor A costumed performer or suit performer wears a costume that usually but not always covers the performer s face typically to represent a non human character such as a mascot or cartoon character These range from theme park walk around or meetable characters the mascots of corporations schools or sports teams to novelty act performers Some costumes cover the performer s face especially those in theme parks Examples include sports mascots and performances as fantasy characters on children s television and in theme parks 1 Problems in suit performance include intense physical exertion claustrophobia and hyperthermia 2 Contents 1 In theme parks international fairs and festivals 2 In Japan 2 1 Animegao 3 On television 4 Unauthorized costume characters 5 Industry 6 See also 7 ReferencesIn theme parks international fairs and festivals EditCostumed performers are a major feature of amusement parks like Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Universal Parks amp Resorts Sesame Place Legoland SeaWorld Hershey Park Six Flags and Nickelodeon Universe as well as many other large or small theme parks and fairs nbsp Seymore D Fair 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Character Mascot Costumed performers are intended to add to the fantasy experience by enabling visitors to encounter and interact with fictional characters such as mascots for a company or organization The characters are portrayed by employees in costume Some of the costumes merely consist of clothing and makeup while those for non human characters generally conceal the performer entirely and include a full bodysuit a head and sometimes accessories or clothing on top of that A longstanding policy in most well known theme parks is that the first category of characters where the performer s face remains visible usually face characters are allowed to speak usually on the basis of scripts carefully prepared in advance while the second category of characters where the face is covered sometimes called fur characters are not allowed to speak although are allowed to make noises and tend to communicate through pantomime 3 343 A common occurrence often involving fur characters is that young children can feel particularly intimidated by the size of the costume 3 342 343 They can also be intimidated by the quick movements of more energetic characters or by the character approaching them directly so performers frequently slow down or kneel down when interacting with smaller children to let the child approach them For human characters based on a well known media franchise that speak with visitors theme park operators may prepare detailed scripts covering a variety of questions regularly asked by visitors especially young children who have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy Performers cast in those roles are required to memorize and rehearse those scripts as part of their training so they can learn their characters backstories by heart and consistently respond in character to visitors At theme parks particularly at busier ones popular costumed performers are usually accompanied by one or more assistants also called handlers or spotters in regular park uniforms who handle customer service security and crowd control This minimizes the necessity for performers to break character to deal with those kinds of issues When a performer needs a break they simply give a prearranged signal and their handler may then assure patrons the character will be back momentarily before guiding them back to a lounge or rest area for them to recuperate All theme park operators that present costumed performers enforce strict character performance regulations so that performers are never seen out of character by visitors In the case of more elaborate costumes they are never seen with their head off A related rule is that performers costumed as the same character often so that the character in question is never absent for too long are supposed to avoid being seen side by side by the public In Japan EditThe Japanese name for costumed performers is kigurumi 着ぐるみ The name comes from the Japanese verb kiru 着る to wear and noun nuigurumi ぬいぐるみ stuffed toy Japan s kawaii aesthetic means that mascots are commonly used for promotional purposes These mascots are often constructed with an appearance that is more chibi than Western mascots with a massive head that encompasses the performer s entire upper body and the arms low on the body Other mascots more greatly resemble anime characters Animegao Edit nbsp A doller at the 2008 Kyoto International Manga SummitMain article Animegao kigurumi Animegao アニメ顔 anime face is a type of kigurumi used to portray anime or cartoon characters The face of the performer is fully covered with a stylized mask and clothing similar to the character s typical attire is used Animegao costumes are used both in professional stage shows and by cosplayers sometimes called dollers who make custom masks of various characters It is still a very minor part of the cosplay scene in Japan though throughout the mid 2000s it began attracting attention in other countries including the United States Canada and various European states On television EditCurrent shows featuring a costumed performer puppet include Big Bird of Sesame Street Barney from Barney amp Friends and Bear of Bear in the Big Blue House Less complicated costumed characters include Hip Hop Harry Yo Gabba Gabba and Mack amp Moxy Older examples include New Zoo Revue H R Pufnstuf Banana Splits and British series Gophers Unauthorized costume characters EditIn recent years amateur performers wearing unauthorized counterfeit costumes of various pop culture characters have appeared in popular tourist destinations such as Hollywood Boulevard and Times Square They usually pose for photos and collect or often extort tips from tourists The 2007 documentary film Confessions of a Superhero focuses on costumed superheroes on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Because they are not regulated or authorized there have been many controversies and arrests involving costumed performers in Times Square 4 5 Industry EditThe mascot industry is estimated at 5 million a year 6 Toronto Canada is one of the hubs in the industry with six major firms headquartered out of the city 6 Knock off costumes are commonly fabricated in Peru where they re called botargas 7 as well as other South American countries and certain East Asian countries See also EditCosplay Creature suit Fursuit MascotReferences Edit The Outing of Tinky Winky Priceonomics 6 October 2014 Retrieved 2021 07 21 Men in Suits Monster Suit Acting Documentary Excerpt No Pain No Performance www stanwinstonschool com Retrieved 2021 07 21 a b Bob Sehlinger Len Testa 2014 The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 Birmingham AL Keen Communications ISBN 9781628090000 Robbins Christopher Are The Costumed Grifters Of Times Square Diluting Disney s Brand Archived 2013 05 11 at the Wayback Machine Gothamist June 19 2011 Lysiak Matt Sick touchy Elmo returns to Times Square back to old antics as he scares parents and kids New York Daily News October 24 2010 a b Character builders Maclean s Toronto ON Rogers Media 28 July 2011 Retrieved 28 July 2011 Semple Kirk Spider Man Unmasked Elmo and Minnie Too The Lives Behind Times Square Cartoon Characters New York Times AUG 2 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Costumed performer amp oldid 1169375165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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