Get your swords and elf ears ready – it’s time to fight! Well not exactly fight, it’s more like playing, cosplaying to be exact. Yep it’s that time of the year again as Madman and Supanova present the sophomore year of the Madman National Cosplay Championship this weekend in Melbourne.

Not sure what Cosplay is exactly? Well, it’s a form of perfomance art where the participants frock up with costumes and accessories that are from anime, manga or a Japanese video game. A skit or short performance of the character is also usually involved.

Contestants from all over Australia will compete throughout the year to win a trip to Tokyo, Japan – the home of Cosplay – as well as all the glory that comes with being Australia’s best Cosplayer.

For more information and to check out last year’s finalists, head to madman.com.au/cosplay