Cosplay

I don’t know when it was exactly, but suddenly cons got hot. From DragonCon to PotterCon, I wasn’t the only one I knew who was obsessed with the opportunity to meet my favorite comic book writers, shake hands with my favorite Stargate Atlantis actors and get to sit in on a panel for an upcoming movie I’d been dying to see.

Now with Halloween behind me, I’ve got an opportunity to plan my best cosplays and join my daughter in doing so! Whether it’s a superhero or an anime character, these are my top picks for 2017.

Harry Potter Patronus

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With “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” premiering in November, it’s a hot time to get back into the magical world of Harry Potter, and this is one costume that isn’t just your average robe. Dress as Harry’s stag or Hermione’s otter; it’s a cool way to utilize the universe in a new costume twist.

Star Wars

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Is there anything hotter than Star Wars right now? You can go new generation with Finn or Rey (or Kylo, it’s always great to be the bad guy), but it’s never old to go as Han or Leia (or a well-timed Chewie). Dress up and speed off to Tatooine or guide yourself on a journey to find Rey’s parents. It’ll be a hit either way.

Sailor Moon

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Serena Tsukino is always a popular pic. How much better can you get than Sailor Moon? It’s one of those great group costumes as well, so a whole friend group can don the blue skirt, white shirt, and red neck scarf to go full Sailor Soldier on everyone. Round up your Sailors Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Rini and Tuxedo Mask to complete the crew! Need a refresher on the squad style? Hulu is now streaming videos of Sailor Moon dubs, including the original 90’s English version.

The Legend of Korra

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While many girls may not want to dress up as Aang (though many have!), they can always dress up as Korra and her motley crew for a girl-centric take on The Last Airbender. Korra’s not only more recent, but she’s also super relevant right now, as girls (myself included) like to trade the princess costume for something a little more action-oriented. Just make sure you take along Naga to complete the look!

Wonder Woman

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With Gal Gadot’s debut as Wonder Woman premiering in 2017, it’s time to get your Lasso of Truth and star-spangled hot pants, because Wonder Woman is the all-girl, all-star, power player to be. She was also very popular at Comic-Con this year–but that’s to be expected, she’s always been a great tough-girl superhero to look up to!

Pikachu

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With Pokémon sweeping back into everyone’s life with Pokémon Go, it’s a no-brainer that a well-timed Pikachu is totally warranted. Plus, what’s cuter than going all yellow and getting a lightning rod tail? The costume ideas on Pinterest are limitless, and you can even get a friend to be Squirtle!

Kiki’s Delivery Service – Kiki

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Miyazaki is always a favorite of the cosplay community because of his bevy of internationally loved characters, and Kiki the Witch is always a great costume. Grab a broom, a plum dress and a red bow, and you’re all set!

From little witches to full on power-up Pikachus, it’s never been a better year for great costumes for all ages. Just grab your creativity and let your love for anime, superheroes, wizards and space heroes take center stage!

About the Author: Cassie Phillips is a lover of Comic-Con and always has a hard time just picking one costume to choose from. She’s dressed up as a Quidditch player this year. She hopes you enjoy this list!