Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an age requirement to enter?
The Odyssey is open to competitors 16 years and older. If you are under the age of 18 you will require a parent or guardian’s consent to enter. Should someone under the age of 18 win the grand prize, it must be a parent or guardian that accompanies you to Dragon Con.

Why isn’t there a live, staged final?
As with all new things, this competition is exploring new ideas and figuring out what works best – and we welcome your feedback on that! Live finals are wonderful, exciting things and we’re definitely looking at options for future years, but for the first year it wasn’t plausible.

Will there still be the Supanova Cosplay Competition (presented by Lumin’s Workshop) on the Sunday?
On the Sunday of each Supanova, the Odyssey will be followed by an exciting new mini-event for cosplayers – Cosplay Dash. If you’ve always found the usual competition to be a tad too intimidating, this is the perfect option for you! You’ll still get a great audience, but you can register on the day – no need to plan ahead, just get in quickly Sunday morning. There will be more details on this event to follow.

On the other hand, if your preference for the Supanova Cosplay Competition (for example, if you really love doing skits!) we highly recommend registering for Saturday.

Gold Coast doesn’t have a Sunday event – What does this mean for the Odyssey?
Due to the nature of the 2020 Supanova Gold Coast event, the Odyssey will instead be held on the Saturday of the event. This is a once-off change.

I don’t live in Australia/New Zealand. Can I enter?
Welcome, it’s great to hear from you! Unfortunately at this stage The Odyssey is only open to Australian and New Zealand competitors who are able to attend a Supanova event in Australia.

Why aren’t you including skits?
The focus for The Odyssey is on craftsmanship and the cosplayer’s journey, which means no skits for now. This is also in line with the Friday Night Costuming Contest at Dragon Con, which our Odyssey Hero will have the opportunity to enter. That said, we always welcome feedback, so if you’re passionate about it, let us know!

I’m professionally employed as a costumer. Can I enter?
Cosplay competitions have traditionally been for non-professional cosplayers. The Odyssey will allow entries from those with previous training (for example, completed courses in sewing) or who are self-employed as professional cosplayers. However if you are currently employed purely for costume-related duties by a third party, you will not be eligible to enter.

Can I enter a costume based on my OC/fan art?
Costumes entered into The Odyssey must be of an existing character depicted in pop culture. Because accuracy is an important part of the judging criteria, original characters or designs are not permitted. Interpretations of a character are permitted so long as they are designed by someone other than the entrant and not for the purposes of the competition.

What criteria are entrants judged against?
The judging criteria for the Odyssey entrants is as follows:

• 30% Craftsmanship. This criterion refers to the level of skill displayed in the execution of the costume.
• 30% Accuracy: The judges will assess how faithfully the costume replicates its original source material. This includes attention to detail, the ability to problem solve and the difficulty level of the costume in question.
• 20% Diversity of Skill: Costumes that display a range of skills (e.g. sewing, wig-styling, make up, prop building, painting, armour work) may boost a performer’s score.
• 20% Stage Presence: Although the Odyssey does not require skits, judges will consider the entrant’s ability to move and pose in character while on stage.