A masquerade is a non-professional costume competition featuring costumes from comic books, movies, Japanese animation or video games.
**THE 2025 PRE-REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON! Email us at masquerade@animeottawa.com for any other questions.
There are two different entry categories:
1) A skit is a short performance done alone or with a group. For groups of 1 to 3 participants, the time limit is forty-five seconds (45 seconds). For groups of 4 or more, the time limit is sixty seconds (60 seconds). If the skit exceeds the allocated time, the lights and sound will be cut, and the participants will be escorted off the stage.
2) During a Walk-On, the contestant or the group walks on the stage, strikes different poses to show their costumes’ every angle and walks out of the other side of the stage. Background music is permitted and strongly encouraged.
Here’s how to enter the masquerade:
1. Please read the Masquerade rules below (IMPORTANT).
2. This year’s edition includes advance registration and on-site registration.
3. Starting March 7, 2025, please follow this link to register (note that the number of online registrations is limited).
4. A limited number of entries will be available through online registration. This WILL GUARANTEE you a spot in the masquerade and you will not need to line-up for registration on Saturday.
5. IMPORTANT #1: NEW – ALL PRE-REGISTERED ENTRIES MUST SUBMIT their audio (MP3) files in advance so our sound technician can review and test them to ensure everything works properly before the main show. ONLY on-site registration audio (MP3) files will be accepted on the day of the masquerade. If you fail to submit your audio, your entry will be silent on stage.
6. IMPORTANT #2: A valid Anime Ottawa ticket is required to participate in the masquerade on the day of the event. Please be mindful when registering online and ensure you are committed to attending. If you register online to reserve a spot and don’t show up, you are taking the opportunity away from other participants who would have loved to compete but couldn’t because the show was fully booked.
7. If more online applications are received than there are available spots, you must email masquerade@animeottawa.com to be placed on a waiting list.
8. The remaining spots will be available for onsite registration on Saturday, April 19th, between 10 a.m. and noon, at the back of the Hall 2 at the Masquerade intake desk.
GREEN ROOM BY APPOINTMENT!
Book your timeslot in our calendar during online pre-registration or at the Masquerade Desk (Saturday) at the back of Hall 2 and show up at the scheduled time at the Green Room to have your costume judged, speak to the MC, sound technician, ninjas and have your picture taken. You’re then free to enjoy your day until final call time!
Register here!
Entries whose online registration form is blank or incomplete will be given 48 hours to adjust their entry, after which it will be cancelled, and their spot will be made available again. Make sure you verify your form before clicking ‘Submit’. Entries who fail to show up to their appointment will be disqualified.
Final call time will be one hour before the show. You must report to the Masquerade Desk at the back of Hall 2 to be brought into the Green Room by that time or you will be disqualified. Please note that you will not be able to leave the Green Room after that time. It is therefore strongly recommended that you wrap up anything you needed done prior.
Read the Masquerade Rules
1) Microphones will not be provided. Using a pre-recorded soundtrack is highly recommended. The Masquerade team does NOT have a music library for you to choose from. If you do not submit a soundtrack, your entry will be silent.
- IF YOU ARE A PRE-REGISTERED PARTICIPANT, you must submit your soundtrack during the online pre-registration period OR at least two weeks before the show so our sound technician can review the audio files. Only MP3 files will be accepted. You can email your audio file to masquerade@animeottawa.com.
- ONLY on-site registration audio (MP3) files on a USB stick will be accepted on the day of the masquerade.
- We still recommend bringing a USB stick with your audio (MP3) as a backup.
2) The maximum number of contestants in a group is twelve (12). No group over twelve people will be accepted.
3) If you are a participant that is minor (under 18 years of age) please read the following carefully:
- Participants aged 15 and younger MUST have a parent or guardian physically present during judging, photos, and onstage to be eligible to compete. Additionally, their consent form must be completed and submitted to masquerade@animeottawa.com. (The form will be sent after pre-registration.)
- Participants aged 16 and 17 must have a signed parental consent form submitted to masquerade@animeottawa.com to be eligible. (The form will be sent after pre-registration.)
4) No open flame, liquids, powders, smoke machines of any size or “flash” paper are allowed on stage. If you want to use an electronic flash or any other visual effect, you need to mention it on your application form so the host can warn the audience. No laser pointers are allowed. No loose glitter is allowed either on stage or in the Green Room.
5) No slippery or messy substances are allowed on stage. In doubt, ask the masquerade direction when you submit your form. The stage must be in the same condition before and after your number. If you have to leave anything on the stage, the objects need to be easy to pick up by the tech staff. Otherwise, you need to have your own ninja to pick it up.
6) No gratuitous nudity. The masquerade is rated PG-13 and can be seen only by people ages 13 and up. However, children 12 and under with an adult can watch the masquerade.
7) No real firearms, real firearm replicas or throwing weapons are allowed. No cold weapon, no metal blade, be it sharpened or not are allowed. If your costume needs a bow, the bowstring must be removed when not on stage. Any weapon used during the masquerade must follow the Anime Ottawa Large Props Rules and Regulations. Exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only.
8) Every contestant can only go up on stage once during the masquerade. However, anyone can present as many costumes he/she wants, but he/she can only wear one of them. The other costumes must be presented by other contestants (they can be in the same group or not).
9) Contestants must be in the Green Room at the required time. Ask the masquerade table for any details. If you are not present on time or you are not ready to go on stage when it is your turn, you will be disqualified. Any exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only.
10) The masquerade is a non-professional competition. Costumes bought online or rented are not eligible for any award, same as professional or theatrical costumes. However, these costumes can be presented on stage in the “Out of Competition” category. Please note that priority is given to costumes created by non- professional contestants. The “Out of Competition” applications will be allowed only if available slots remain after registration.
11) Commissioned costumes will be allowed IF AND ONLY IF the creator (the person who made the commissioned costume/prop) completes the application form themselves. They are not required to appear on stage, but their presence in the Green Room is MANDATORY.
12) The Masquerade Director reserves the right to remove anyone from the competition for any reason deemed sufficient, including but not limited to: falsifying registration, inappropriate, indecent, rude, racist, or sexist behavior. Threats and/or violence of any kind toward staff, attendees, or volunteers will not be tolerated and may result in immediate expulsion from the convention.
The decisions of the judges are final. Awards are based on workmanship, presentation, or a combination of both. Judges may choose not to give out a “Best in Show” or “Best in Division” award, or any award in a division, if they feel none of the entries are deserving of such recognition.
Standard Judging Division System
The Standard Division System exists to promote fairness and ensures both novices and experienced costumers have reasonably equal chances to win awards in masquerades using divisions based on skill and experience. Any participant can choose to enter a division higher than the one they belong to, if they feel that their experience is greater than that of their current division. For example, a contestant that has made more than a dozen costumes in the past but has never participated in a masquerade may enter at a higher level than novice, depending on the overall level of the competition he/she is looking to compete in. Keep in mind that if the contestant wins in that higher Division, they must compete in that Division in future competitions.
The Standard Division System, in accordance with the International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines, will be used as follows:
Junior Division
(Also known as the Young Fan Division)
Any contestant less than 12 years of age at the time of this competition may compete in the Junior Division. The Junior Division is divided into two subdivisions.
• Junior Self-Made: A Junior contestant who has largely or wholly constructed his/her own costume.
• Junior Adult-Made: A Junior contestant whose costume has been largely or wholly constructed by an adult.
Novice Division
A contestant who has not won a major award at a masquerade other than as a Junior costumer or has some awards but does not feel ready to register in a higher category. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Novice division is encouraged to enter in the Journeyman division.
Journeyman Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Novice division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Journeyman division is encouraged to enter in the Artisan division.
Artisan Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Journeyman division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division if they do not belong in a higher division in use in the competition. A contestant who has won numerous awards in the Artisan division is encouraged to enter in the Master division.
Master Division
A contestant who has won major awards in the Artisan division at Masquerades and wishes to challenge themselves or who wishes to enter this division.
Out of Competition Division
The masquerade is an amateur competition. Purchased or rented costumes are not eligible to compete for awards but may be showcased on stage in the Out of Competition Division. Costumes made for business purposes, theatrical productions, or professional events are also not eligible for awards but may be presented in this Division. Additionally, anyone who wishes to showcase their costume in this Division may do so. Please note that priority will be given to costumes created by non-professional contestants first, and participation is subject to available spots.
Workmanship Judging
Judging for Workmanship Awards will take place prior to the start of the masquerade. These awards, for excellence in construction, will be given out in addition to the masquerade awards. You can be judged on your costume or on a specific piece or prop. Workmanship judging is mandatory for Artisan and Masters only. It is optional for all other divisions (except for the Out of Competition Division), but highly recommended. Quality is quality, no matter the Division, and a beautiful job deserves recognition. Our Workmanship Judge(s) will look for technical skill displays, tailoring, execution, finishes, fit, fabric and materials manipulation and much more! The judges need to know what parts of the costume were constructed by you and what parts (if any) were purchased.
Documentation
It is strongly recommended that you provide documentation for re-creation costume entries if you feel the judges may not be familiar with a particular reference. Documentation can include any pictorial representation of your costume. Provide copies only; do not bring originals.
Last update: February 12, 2025
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