Easy Characters to Cosplay: Quick Costume Ideas for Your First Convention

Your own closet might have everything you need for an easy cosplay character. The choices are endless with thousands of anime shows, video games, and movie franchises. You can create a simple costume without spending much money or getting too complicated. This makes it perfect for first-time convention goers or anyone who needs a quick costume.

Mario Bros has stood the test of time. Even after 35 years, it's still a great choice for cosplayers at any skill level. Star Wars and Marvel universes give you plenty of cool characters that work well for beginners. Women looking to cosplay can easily pull off characters like Harley Quinn, Lara Croft, and Wanda Maximoff without much hassle. Anime's rising popularity worldwide has made characters like Nezuko Kamado and Mikasa Ackerman more common choices too.

Let me show you some of the easiest and most recognizable characters you can cosplay. You'll learn how to put together an awesome costume that's totally doable for your next convention.

Video Game Characters That Are Easy to Recreate

Beginners can easily create amazing cosplay outfits based on video game characters. These iconic figures come with simple outfits and recognizable accessories that let you become your favorite gaming hero without spending too much time or money.

Mario and Luigi

These famous plumber brothers make perfect cosplay choices that are easy to spot and budget-friendly. A basic Mario or Luigi costume needs just blue overalls, a colored shirt (red for Mario, green for Luigi), matching flat caps, and a fake mustache. White gloves and brown boots complete the look.

Making your own costume is easy. A hot glue gun helps attach large yellow buttons to the overalls. You can also find many accessory packs online that come with the hat, buttons, gloves, and mustache options.

The costumes work great for siblings, friends, or couples. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has made these classic characters even more popular today.

Lara Croft and Nathan Drake

The Tomb Raider and Uncharted franchises' adventurous heroes let you create eye-catching costumes without much hassle.

Lara Croft's costume offers several options from different games. The simplest version needs a white or blue tank top with spaghetti straps, dark khaki pants or shorts, and sturdy hiking boots. Tattered rags wrapped around your arms and legs add authenticity to Lara's bandages. A climbing ax and a makeshift bow and arrow can boost the look.

Nathan Drake's rugged style comes together with everyday clothes. His signature look uses a Henley shirt (white or blue), worn jeans or cargo pants, a blue neckerchief, and boots. Drake's ring on a necklace stands out as the key accessory. Some strategic dirt smudges can make the costume look more realistic.

Steve from Minecraft

Steve from Minecraft lets you choose between simple and detailed approaches. The basic version pairs a cyan t-shirt with blue jeans and a toy pickaxe or sword.

Creative cosplayers might prefer the full cardboard box costume for that pixelated look. You'll need:

1. Cardboard boxes in various sizes for the head, torso, arms, and legs
2. Paint (blue for pants, teal for shirt, flesh tones for face/arms)
3. Brads with washers to connect movable arms

The right proportions make a Minecraft costume stand out. Paint the face using an 8x8 grid pattern to match the game's pixelated style. Joint cutouts and good head visibility help you move around easily.

These video game characters give you instant recognition at conventions without needing professional costume skills. Their straightforward designs make excellent first-time cosplay choices.

TV and Movie Characters with Simple Outfits

TV and movie characters often wear simple outfits that make great cosplay choices. First-time convention goers will find these familiar characters easy to recreate without needing advanced crafting skills. The results still look amazing.

Velma and Daphne from Scooby-Doo

These mystery-solving friends are some of the best starter cosplay options you'll find. Velma's look needs just an orange sweater, red A-line skirt, orange knee-high socks, and black thick-rimmed glasses. A pair of brown or black flats and a magnifying glass will finish the outfit perfectly.

Daphne's classic look comes together with a dark purple dress, light purple headband, and lime green scarf or neckerchief. Purple heels complete her signature style. The makeup stays simple - Velma needs foundation, light eye shadow, and orange-nude lipstick. Daphne's look features purple eyeshadow, winged liner, and bright pink lip gloss.

A wig works great if you don't have Daphne's red hair. The same goes for Velma's brunette bob with bangs - an affordable wig does the trick if your hair doesn't match.

Wednesday Addams and Coraline

Wednesday Addams might be the most budget-friendly option for brunettes. You'll need a black dress (with a white Peter Pan collar), black tights or pantyhose, and black shoes. Her middle-parted braided pigtails make the look instantly recognizable. The Netflix series offers another option with her Nevermore Academy uniform - just pair a dark plaid skirt with a black shirt.

Coraline's yellow raincoat stands out right away. Put together her look with a bright yellow jacket, jeans, and boots. Her blue bob haircut pulls everything together - try temporary dye or a wig to get it right. Button-eye glasses make a great prop that nods to the film's "Other World".

Princess Leia and Rey

Princess Leia's white robe looks complicated but comes together easily. A white queen or king-sized bedsheet transforms into her classic outfit without any sewing. Cut a neck hole and shape the sheet into a robe with armholes. Add a silver ribbon or belt at the waist and style those signature hair buns.

Rey from the newer Star Wars movies gives you another simple option. Her scavenger outfit needs just a gray or tan short-sleeve shirt, capri-length sweatpants, and two strips of off-white fabric crossed over the body. A brown belt slightly tilted to one side, black boots, and a brown leather cuff bracelet complete the look. Add a blue lightsaber or staff as your prop.

These character cosplays show how you can recreate famous looks with everyday items. You don't need expert crafting skills or a big budget to make an awesome costume that everyone will recognize.

Easy Anime Characters to Cosplay for Beginners

Anime cosplays are now a huge hit at conventions. They give newcomers some of the most familiar and doable costume options. New cosplayers love anime characters because their outfits stand out and don't need complex crafting skills.

Nezuko Kamado and Mikasa Ackerman

Demon Slayer's Nezuko Kamado is a fantastic choice that mixes simple design with eye-catching style. Start with a soft pink kimono and add a black shawl. Her bamboo mouthpiece really makes the character stand out. Princess Pinky Devilish Demon Eye Pink contact lenses and a brown-red bottom long wavy wig will complete your look perfectly.

Attack on Titan's Mikasa Ackerman lets you work with clothes you might already have. You'll need a white button-up shirt, black pants, and her signature red scarf that shows her bond with Eren. Many cosplay guides show how to turn regular clothes into a Scout Regiment uniform with some clever tweaks. Your hair should be styled in her sharp, clean-cut black bob, or you can use a wig that matches her look.

Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service

This young Studio Ghibli witch has one of the most wallet-friendly costumes around. Kiki wears a simple navy or dark purple dress that's loose-fitting with T-shirt to 3/4 length sleeves. Her bright red bow headband really makes the outfit pop - you can make it from a wide ribbon or buy one ready-made.

The beauty of this cosplay lies in its simplicity. You'll only need a few things beyond the dress and bow: a broomstick (your household broom works fine), red flats, and maybe a small Jiji black cat plushie. Short brown bob wigs are easy to find if your natural hair doesn't match Kiki's style.

L from Death Note

Death Note's L might be the simplest anime cosplay ever. This quirky detective's outfit needs just two things: a plain white t-shirt and light blue jeans. His unique character comes from how he acts rather than what he wears.

The real magic happens when you copy L's behavior. Slouch a lot, keep your eyes wide while talking, and hold things (especially your phone) between your thumb and index finger. A bit of eye makeup can create his trademark under-eye bags, and messy black hair completes the look.

These anime characters show how you can create amazing cosplays without advanced sewing skills or expensive materials. Their straightforward designs work great for convention first-timers or last-minute costume needs.

Quick Cosplay Ideas for Last-Minute Conventions

Your heart races as the convention approaches and you still don't have a costume. The good news? You don't need to be a master craftsperson to create a last-minute cosplay. A quick look through your wardrobe and some creative thinking can help you put together a character-worthy outfit.

What to look for in your closet

Start by spotting versatile clothing pieces that are the foundations for multiple characters. A white button-down shirt in your closet can become part of at least five different costumes, from Trelawney to Jessica Jones. Your wardrobe likely has these simple yet valuable pieces:

• Overalls (perfect for Mario, Chucky, or farmers)
• Little black dresses (ideal for Wednesday Addams or Breakfast at Tiffany's)
• White or colored t-shirts (foundation for multiple character looks)

Characters with simple, recognizable clothing make better choices than those with complex costumes. Jessica Jones needs just leather jacket and jeans, which makes her an excellent last-minute option. Before buying anything new, think over how existing items might work. That red hoodie in your closet could become Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service with a few tweaks.

Using accessories to complete the look

The right accessories can raise your outfit from "random clothes" to "recognizable character." A well-chosen prop makes all the difference, even without perfect costume pieces. A frying pan turns a simple dress into Rapunzel, while a straw hat creates an instant Luffy costume.

These character-specific items create immediate recognition:

• Wands for Harry Potter characters
• Signature jewelry (like Luna's radish earrings)
• Character-specific headwear (Waldo's striped hat)

A small repair kit with safety pins, fashion tape, and mini sewing supplies helps in emergencies. These tools let you adjust ill-fitting thrift store finds or secure loose costume elements throughout the day.

Simple makeup tricks that work fast

Makeup can transform you into a character quickly without complex costume pieces. Simple techniques like bold eyeliner create anime-style eyes, and contouring helps achieve distinctive character features.

Quick character transformations focus on:

1. Signature facial features (Naruto's whisker marks using eyeliner)
2. Character-specific colors (matching eyeshadow to character's scheme)
3. Simple face art (hearts or stars on cheeks for magical girl characters)

Colored contact lenses are a great way to get an instant transformation, especially for anime characters with distinctive eye colors. The right eye color makes your character recognizable immediately, even with simplified costume elements.

Convention lighting is different from home lighting. Your makeup should be slightly more dramatic to ensure features stay visible in dimly lit convention spaces.

Group and Duo Cosplay Ideas That Are Fun and Easy

Group cosplay lifts the convention experience and makes costume creation less scary for newcomers. Working with friends splits up the work and creates great photo opportunities during the event.

The Scooby-Doo gang

Mystery Inc. team costumes need minimal materials but get maximum recognition. Velma's look comes together with an orange turtleneck, red skirt, and orange knee-high socks. Daphne rocks a purple dress with a lime green scarf. Fred's style needs a white polo with a blue collar, orange ascot, and blue jeans. Shaggy keeps it simple with a baggy green shirt and brown pants.

This group costume shines because of its adaptability. You can put together each character's look from thrift store finds or clothes you already own. Yes, it is common to hear cosplayers say their Scooby-Doo group costumes get enthusiastic reactions even without perfect execution.

Mario Bros. and Princess Peach

This gaming trio gives you an instantly recognizable option without needing complex crafting skills. Mario and Luigi need overalls, colored shirts (red/green respectively), matching caps, and fake mustaches. Princess Peach's signature look comes alive with a pink satiny dress and puff sleeves.

The best part about this group is its flexibility—you can add characters like Bowser or Toad based on your group size. These costumes work great for family cosplays where different heights can actually add authenticity.

Star Wars duos like Leia and Luke

Luke and Leia Skywalker make an iconic duo that needs minimal crafting. You can create Leia's white dress from a bedsheet with strategic cuts and a silver belt. Luke's outfit needs beige/tan clothing with a makeshift lightsaber.

Other easy Star Wars pairs include:

• Han Solo and Chewbacca (brown vest/pants versus brown furry outfit)
• Rey and Finn (wrapped desert clothes versus brown jacket)
• C-3PO and R2-D2 (gold outfit versus white/blue cylindrical costume)

These group cosplays show how teamwork with friends can turn simple individual costumes into something spectacular.

Conclusion

You don't need deep pockets or pro-level crafting skills to pull off great cosplay. This piece shows you many characters that can make your first convention amazing without too much prep work. Video game icons like Mario and Lara Croft or fan favorites like Nezuko and Kiki are just a few options that won't take tons of effort.

The right accessories can turn regular clothes into a character everyone knows. A simple prop like a wand, that special necklace, or a unique hairstyle can lift your whole look. Smart makeup tricks are a great way to improve character accuracy when your costume isn't quite perfect.

Your closet probably has the building blocks for several cosplays right now. Take a good look at what you own before buying new stuff. Simple items like button-down shirts, colored t-shirts, and jeans are the foundations of many character looks with just a few tweaks.

Getting together with friends for group cosplay is a fantastic way to start. You can split up the work and get amazing photos throughout the convention. The Scooby-Doo gang, Mario Bros universe, or Star Wars duos are instantly recognizable options that work well whatever your skill level.

Most importantly, cosplay should be fun and a celebration of characters you love. Start small, build your confidence, and you might find yourself taking on bigger projects at future conventions. For now, these simple options will help you blend right in at your first event while feeling comfortable and confident in what you've created.