10 Great AC Articles on Cartoon & Anime Halloween Costumes

One of my most memorable things to do for Halloween was dress up as my favorite cartoon character for trick or treating. Perhaps this childish ordeal of being able to escape the monotony of reality in exchange for taking the persona of the character whose costume I was wearing while getting free candy out of the whole deal is what inspired me to take costuming as a hobby during my adult years. Now Halloween approaches and presents an opportunity for children and children at heart to dress up as various cartoon characters. With Japanese animated programs (aka anime) being a huge hit on American shores, anime costumes are also a viable cartoon costume choice. I've noticed a severe lack of guides for doing specific anime costumes on Associated Content and am working to fix that problem. Until I get my anime costumes published, here are my ten favorite cartoon and anime costumes on Associated Content in no particular order.

#1: Printable Star Wars Masks for Halloween or Dress Up by Pam Gaulin
Not everyone has the time, materials, or skill to construct a full costume. For those who want a simple costume or disguise, these Star Wars masks are easy to print out and convert into a wearable mask. Since Star Wars was a cartoon at one point in time and now The Clone Wars saga IS an animated series, Star Wars qualifies as a cartoon costume.

#2: How to Make a Pikachu Halloween Costume with a Sweat Suit by sandra overstreet
Despite or because of the seizure scandal the show was involved in, Pokemon is one of the most cartoons associated with anime and its mascot Pikachu is an iconic character that even graces the Thanksgiving Day parade. This article tells how to make a Pikachu costume using a sweat suit, something children should have anyway for the fall and winter season. This costume may also be used in the current Pokemon costuming fad of gijinka: wearing clothing designed in the style of specific Pokemon creatures. The author also has an article of the many costumes one can do with sweat suits.

#3: How to Make a Purple Joker Jacket for Halloween Simply by Using RIT by 3lilangels
The Dark Knight and Tim Burton's Batman made The Joker into a movie screen legendary villain. But remember that both Jokers are based off the original comic book and several cartoons were also based on this comic book. So in any way that you paint your face white; turn your hair green; and hold that silly grin, having a purple coat will really make your Joker costume shine.

#4: Where to Get the Best Cosplay Costumes Online by Lain Cosplay
Due to the lack of articles for specific anime costumes, this article will suffice for a list of online sites able to produce an anime costume for Halloween of the next anime convention. Order early.

#5: Kung Fu Panda Halloween Costume by Javaman Making
This guide shows how to do human versions of the Kung Fu Panda costumes. So there is no longer a need to invest in a fur suit or mascot costume.

#6: More Female Cartoon Character Halloween Costume Ideas by Regret
This has a list of several costume ideas for females and how to execute them.

#7: How to Make a Frosty the Snowman Costume for Halloween by Amber Loiler
And now for something completely different this Halloween. Get a jump on the Christmas season for Halloween with this costume. Fool your friends. Throw off your neighbors. Send the retail stores into an even quicker panic as they strive to force the Christmas shopping bug on consumers even earlier in the year.

#8: Cheap As Heck Costuming by KValentine
I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, but at the very least I'd like people to know that I have a trumpet. Included int he guide is how I executed a Miroku costume from Inuyasha out of (among other things) black fabric, purple fabric, safety pins, staples, duct tape, and chewing gum.

#9: How to Make Your Own Speed Racer Halloween Costume Race On by 3lilangels
Whether you watched the cartoon or the movie, Speed Racer makes for a stylish Halloween costume. Included in the guide is a list of items needed for the costume. I like using lists when costume shopping because it lessens the chance of forgetting a key detail.

#10: Wall-E Halloween Costume by R.Allen
WALL-E is currently my favorite cartoon of the year and this box costume would be fun for children and adults alike. Best of all this guide includes reference pictures to aid in construction of the plucky garbage robot with the strange fascination with "Hello Dolly!"

No matter what costume you choose for your child or yourself, have fun with it.