Cosplay and weapon rules

What would action and fantasy cosplays be without their weapons? Unfortunately, some cosplay weapons pose safety risks to other visitors at events. The same applies to certain clothing accessories, especially on the ice rink. So that you can plan your cosplay perfectly for Anime on Ice, we’ve put together some guidelines. If you have any questions, just write to us. We look forward to your messages!

Cosplay on ice: safety first

Skating in cosplay is explicitly welcome at Anime on Ice! On the ice, however, safety comes first, for you and everyone else on the rink. The following cosplays and accessories are not suitable for the ice and must stay off the rink:

• long skirts, dresses, trains or capes that you could get tangled in or that could catch on the blades
• pointed or sharp-edged studs, spikes and protruding attachments
• masks, helmets or wigs that severely restrict your view
• cosplay weapons, props and large wings

General information for cosplayers

At Anime on Ice we love seeing you in cosplay. We don’t set any rules on which genre your character should come from. You can wear whatever you like. Well, almost everything, because there are a few things we need to point out so that the event is enjoyable for everyone. There are cosplay changing rooms on site.

• Costumes must not have any sharp corners or edges. Spikes on wristbands or chokers must not exceed 5 cm in length and must be blunt.
• Please make sure that protruding parts of your costume never injure anyone or damage objects. A good guideline for wing-like attachments is a span of 1 m (rigid) or 2 m (flexible) per wing, measured from the middle of your back. Skirts should have a maximum diameter of 2 m. Trains should not extend more than 1 m beyond your feet.
• Loose chains and metal armour parts must be inspected at the weapon check. We therefore recommend attaching them firmly to your costume.
• Make-up and costume paint must not rub off.
• Please note that wearing realistic uniforms and using certain symbols is prohibited in Germany. Further information: misuse of titles and professional designations and use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations.
• Cosplays must not be too revealing: the chest, intimate areas and buttocks must be adequately covered. This applies to all genders.
• You are personally responsible for cleaning up any dirt or repairing any damage caused by your cosplay.

Weapon rules

Prohibited weapons and accessories

Prohibited weapons (and certain accessories) may not be carried anywhere on the Anime on Ice premises, without exception. If we notice violations, we will have to exclude you from the event. If you have even violated the German Weapons Act, we will also call the police. Prohibited weapons include, for example:

• real firearms, whether loaded, unloaded or rendered unusable
• airsoft guns and gas pistols, whether loaded, unloaded or rendered unusable
• real ammunition or anything that could be mistaken for it, e.g. cartridges, hand grenades
• cutting and stabbing weapons with sharp or blunt metal blades or with points, such as katanas, swords, shuriken, sabres, machetes, axes, morning stars, etc.
• knives of any kind, e.g. switchblades (except pocket knives)
• throwing weapons such as throwing stars, throwing knives, etc.
• pyrotechnics and explosives such as firecrackers, rockets, etc.
• knuckle-dusters, coshes, steel batons
• strangling weapons, e.g. nunchakus
• deceptively realistic imitations of firearms

Restricted weapons

There will be a “weapon check” throughout the event. It checks whether your weapons can be carried inside Metropolis Halle without concern. If any of your weapons could cause problems in the building, you can store them with us in the meantime. Please note that we accept no liability for damage or loss and that you must collect your weapons in good time before closing. If you are repeatedly found with restricted weapons in the building, you will be excluded from the event. Restricted weapons include:

• weapon replicas made mostly of metal or wood/metal
• weapon replicas longer than 1.5 m
• loose solid metal chains
• cutting and stabbing weapons with blade replacements made of wood, plastic, etc. (e.g. katanas, swords, sabres, machetes, axes, knives of any kind except pocket knives)
• staffs or pipes made of hard materials such as metal, wood or hard plastic
• riding crops over 1 m long, hand whips with a lash over 1.5 m, stick whips with a stick over 1 m and a lash over 1.5 m long

If you need a restricted weapon for the cosplay contest, please let us know. We will bring the weapon to the stage for you. Prohibited weapons are, of course, excluded from this.

Allowed weapons

Taking the points above into account, the following weapon replicas may be carried on the Anime on Ice premises without concern, but not on the ice:

• weapon replicas made of foam, rubber, cardboard, soft plastic, wood (max. 3 cm thick) and thermoplastics that are no longer than 1.5 m in total
• LARP weapons (“live action role play”, usually foam or latex replicas with a stabilising core)
• throwing weapons, if they have no hard core and are made of soft, flexible materials
• blunted replicas of cutting and thrusting weapons
• shields not made entirely of metal, up to a diameter of 80 cm
• bows without a real string, up to 1.5 m long
• flexible and blunted spears or arrows