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Kigurumi

Kigurumi is a collective term for life-sized costumed figures that completely cover a person's body, including monsters as well as beings from fictional worlds such as humans or anthropomorphic animals. In mainland China, the word Kigurumi specifically refers to bishoujo Kigurumi, abbreviated as Kig, which means cosplaying manga or anime characters in real life by wearing a mask and the character's costume.

Kigurumi players are called Kiger, and the Kigurumi form portrayed by a player is colloquially shortened to “娃” (pronounced wa, literally “doll”). The process of a player changing from a normal human state into the doll form is known as “变娃” (“transforming into a doll”). Kigurumi masks are called “头壳” (toukui, literally “head shell”) or simply “heads”. The flesh-toned zentai suits used for Kigurumi are referred to as “皮” (“skins”).

Concepts and Explanations

Kigurumi

Kigurumi is a general term for life-sized stuffed costumes that fully cover the body, including monsters, fictional beings, humans, and anthropomorphized animals.

Kigurumi performances aimed at children are common in amusement parks, theme parks, and corporate character or product showcases, often involving photo opportunities and giving away gifts or small merchandise. Examples familiar to audiences in China include Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and the Snow King mascot of Mixue Bingcheng. In Japan, the Kigurumi Show format is especially well known thanks to the Pretty Cure series.

The word Kigurumi is the romanization of the Japanese term 「着ぐるみ」, a shorthand for 「人体着用ぬいぐるみ」 meaning “plush costume worn by a person.” Etymologically it contains two main ideas: the costume can be worn by a human, and it is a doll-like figure sewn from cloth, cotton, plush, and filler. Beginning in the late 1980s in Japan, the term appeared in the following contexts:

  1. Costumes in kabuki or other performances that imitate animals or objects.
  2. Mascot suits made of cloth, plush, plastic, and similar materials that can be worn at various exhibitions.
  3. Special-effects productions represented by Toho’s Godzilla series, where monsters, robots, aliens, and other non-human beings are portrayed by actors wearing heavy latex suits. The word increasingly came to denote such suits on set.

In a broad sense, Kigurumi encompasses commercial performances, exhibitions, and film productions where people wear mascot suits, licensed characters, or specially designed creatures, as well as hobbyist portrayals of bishoujo characters, anthro animals, or other beings, and even wearing face-out animal pajamas.

In a narrow sense—especially in mainland China—the term mostly refers to bishoujo Kigurumi within cosplay that depicts anime or manga characters. This definition extends only to masks styled after anime heroines or to BJD-inspired masks. Activities like crossdressing with silicone masks, wearing fursuits, or commercial mascot work are not typically called Kigurumi.

Bishoujo Kigurumi and Animegao {#美少女-kigurumi-和-animegao}

Bishoujo Kigurumi refers to portraying manga or anime characters in real life by wearing a mask and the character’s costume.

In Japanese character shows, the performer recreates the character by crafting a mask that reproduces the head, preparing the costume, and wearing a full-body suit that conceals human skin. Because most characters are two-dimensional bishoujo heroines, the practice came to be called bishoujo Kigurumi. The most widely recognized examples in Japan and China are the Pretty Cure stage shows hosted by Toei and Flying Ship.

Noncommercial bishoujo Kigurumi activities have existed in Japan since the early 2000s. A pioneering hub was the website founded by SKA (now closed; the X/Twitter account is 島はじめ🎨), which helped numerous players and creators emerge.

Starting in 2005, bishoujo Kigurumi became known in the West as “Animegao-Kigurumi” 「アニメ顔着ぐるみ」, literally “anime face Kigurumi,” and the shorthand “Animegao” became popular.

In mainland China, bishoujo Kigurumi activity began in 2012. Because there was no direct Chinese equivalent, the term Kigurumi was adopted directly as the shorthand.

Head Shells (Kigurumi Masks)

The biggest distinction between bishoujo Kigurumi and conventional cosplay is the Kigurumi mask, or head shell. Production techniques, in terms of molding and modeling, fall into the following categories:

  • Cast heads: The earliest method. Using plaster or other malleable materials, the sculptor carves the desired head shape by hand, applies a release layer, and then makes an outer mold with plaster or similar media. After it dries, the shell is split and removed. A mixture of fiberglass and resin is poured into the shell, and once cured it forms the core. The mask is demolded, sanded, polished, and sprayed with flesh-toned paint, eye and mouth openings are cut before or after shaping, and the mask is finished with makeup and styling. Fiberglass structures are extremely durable, and cast heads made this way can last for decades, so many Japanese makers still rely on the technique.
  • 3D-printed heads: With the wider adoption of consumer 3D printing in the 2010s, many creators switched to additive manufacturing. The workflow begins with building the model in 3D software such as Blender, ZBrush, or Maya, then printing it at a service bureau or on a personal printer. Materials include PLA, ABS-like plastics, or photopolymer resins for stereolithography. Some makers print the front and back shells in different materials. After printing, the mask is sanded and painted before makeup and styling. Compared to casting, this method lowers production and iteration costs and has become the mainstream for custom heads.

Structurally, if you roughly divide the head into quarters along the ear-to-forehead plane, head shells can be categorized as follows:

  • Half head (half mask): Split vertically from the crown to behind the ears. Common for small head circumferences and BJD-style masks. Because the mask cannot secure itself, elastic straps are used around the back of the wearer’s head. Wigs are usually made in detachable sections for easy wear.
  • Three-quarter head: Cut horizontally across roughly half of the back of the head to behind the ears. This is the most common and practical structure. With internal foam padding it can sit securely without extra hardware, though some hairstyles leave the lower back of the head looking hollow. Ponytails may require zippers hidden in the wig.
  • Full head: Encloses the entire back of the head and is typically split into a front face and rear shell for donning and removal. This newer structure varies between makers and production runs. Usually the front and back are connected by hinges and secured with side clasps or locks. The rear shell often has numerous vents. Fasteners may be hidden under the wig or left exposed. Resin shells can warp over time, making the halves harder to align. Even so, full heads have grown in popularity because they offer better silhouette continuity and satisfy players who prefer the fully enclosed feel, gradually displacing three-quarter heads.

Eye production techniques include:

  • Flat-printed eyes: The most common method. The artwork is printed on glossy or flocked paper, or on PVC sheets, and trimmed to shape. The eye panels are affixed inside the mask using double-sided tape, hook-and-loop, or magnets.
  • Follow-me eyes: A misnomer for “follow-you eyes.” The eye panel and socket are designed with a deliberate depth differential, creating the illusion that the eyes track the viewer from any angle. Because this can trigger the uncanny valley, it is only used in limited scenarios.
  • Spherical eyes: Resin or other transparent material is domed or cast into spherical forms and mounted in the openings. This style is common for BJD masks.
  • Hand-painted eyes: Artists paint the eyes directly onto the head with acrylics or other media. This requires substantial skill and was more common in early handmade masks, but is rare today.

As face-covering masks, Kigurumi heads must provide vision ports, which vary by purpose and craft level:

  • Eye-makeup windows: Holes are cut along the double eyelid crease, upper lash line, or even beneath the eyebrow. When positioned accurately they offer excellent visibility and are nearly invisible from outside, making them the most popular choice today.
  • Mesh windows: The upper half or entire sclera is removed and replaced with mesh. The porous structure adapts to different interpupillary distances while improving airflow.
  • Pupil windows: Because many anime characters have dark pupils and upper irises, a hole can be opened in that area, leaving it empty or backing it with tinted lenses. This solution is common on cast heads that cannot accommodate eye-makeup windows.
  • Auxiliary vision systems: Tiny cameras embedded near the eyes or other areas feed a display inside the mask. These setups are expensive and introduce latency, so only a few custom projects employ them.

Makeup (finishing) techniques include:

  • EVA: EVA foam, widely used for cosplay props, is cut with scissors, knives, or laser cutters into shapes for eyebrows and eyelashes and glued in place. It is low cost and yields clean, bold lines. Colored pencils and other media may supplement fine details.
  • Water-slide decals or stickers: Designs are printed on flat media, trimmed, and applied to the appropriate areas. The approach is simple and makes swapping designs easy.
  • Printed lashes: Since eyelashes are not smooth curves, some makers 3D-print relief lashes, paint them black or dark, and mount them with joints along the eye rim. This achieves striking results for characters with prominent lashes.
  • Hand-painted makeup: Lines and colors are drawn directly on the mask with pencils, colored pencils, acrylics, or human cosmetics. This requires high aesthetic judgment and drawing ability, but enables very delicate, natural lines and offers the highest ceiling for quality.

Wig (hair styling) techniques include:

  • Detachable wigs: Because a Kigurumi head circumference is much larger than a human’s (typically 75–85 cm), oversized wigs must be custom-made. They are usually fastened with hook-and-loop. Factories can produce them to order or players can sew them, but long lead times historically slowed production.
  • Fixed wigs: Segmented wig wefts are glued directly onto the head using adhesives such as UHU or hot glue. This is labor-intensive and removal damages the wig, but materials are easy to source and it supports unconventional styling, making it the current mainstream.
  • Hard front bangs: Invented by Fantasy Land Studio (幻境乐园), this method uses a 3D-printed structure as the base for the frontal fringe, which is then covered with hair fibers. The result has strong volume and resists deformation, though it is cumbersome to wear and transport, so it is usually limited to the front fringe.
  • Hard sculpted wigs: Unlike the hard front, entire hairstyles or sections are produced as 3D-printed pieces, painted, and connected to the head shell. They deliver a sculptural figure-like look but work best for short hair. Long hairstyles typically combine other methods with sectional hard pieces. Large, irregular prints are fragile, restrict movement, and are costly, so this is not mainstream.
  • Soft sculpted wigs: Hair is formed from fabric, plush, plastic, or soft printed materials. The technique is immature, suits only a handful of characters, and is seldom seen.

Full-Body Zentai {#全包紧身衣-zentai}

The term “Zentai” comes from the Japanese abbreviation 「ゼンタイ」 for 「全身タイツ」, literally “full-body tights,” and refers to all-in-one suits that cover the entire human body.

These suits are typically made from nylon-spandex blends, though coated fabrics and latex are also used. Lycra is a trademarked spandex fiber brand, and even unlicensed fabrics are often generically called Lycra.

The zentai suits used for bishoujo Kigurumi are colloquially called “skins.” They are usually flesh-toned or peach-colored and often have an opening for the face, so they are not strictly “full coverage.” To perfect the appearance, the toes are often left exposed, and false nails can be attached to the fingers and toes to mimic manicures.

Methods of putting on the suit include:

  • Back entry: The most common type. The wearer opens a zipper along the back, slips in arms and legs, zips up to the neck, pulls the hood over the head, and closes the remaining zipper.
  • Leg entry: Zippers run along the inner thighs from mid-calf to the crotch. This requires flexibility: after opening the zipper, the wearer enters from the head, adjusts the arms and torso, curls up to guide the legs into the opening, positions the feet, then closes the zipper and refines the fit.
  • Crotch entry: The zipper runs from the waistline through the perineum to the lower back. The process resembles the leg entry but demands even greater flexibility and strength.
  • Face entry: Only the face opening is retained. Lycra cannot stretch enough for this, so it is mostly seen in latex suits. The wearer applies lubricant or baby powder over the body to reduce friction, then feeds the body through the face opening from the feet upward. This requires extremely high material quality and physical conditioning; otherwise the suit may tear. It is rare and expensive.

For convenience, suits can be produced in separate pieces: tops and bottoms, gloves, and hoods. Practical considerations include leaving toes covered or exposing only the big toe.

Flesh-toned suits for bishoujo Kigurumi often incorporate a “cleavage line” and breast forms to create feminine contours. The cleavage effect was pioneered by SKA, and current designs usually involve a seam between the bust cups to create the line, plus a breathable inner camisole that supports the inserts. The inserts are typically solid silicone hemispheres or teardrop shapes. Sponge fillers offer a lighter alternative at the cost of realistic movement.

BJD and BJD Head Shells

BJD (Ball-jointed Doll) refers to finely crafted articulated dolls with ball joints.

BJD-style head shells, or simply BJD heads, are another branch of bishoujo Kigurumi masks. Because masks alone cannot replicate ball-jointed articulation, BJD heads mainly denote facial styling inspired by traditional BJD dolls. Some players wear printed zentai suits with articulated joint patterns to emphasize the doll motif, but these garments are difficult to manufacture, so there is no strict requirement.

Compared with two-dimensional anime-style heads, BJD heads differ primarily in structure and makeup. Most BJD players are women with smaller head circumferences, so the masks can be built as half masks and worn with human-sized wigs. Elastic bands are typically used for fastening. Makeup mimics traditional BJD dolls, aiming for realistic, layered eyelashes, eyebrows, and lips, and the eyes are often transparent globes. Vision windows are commonly cut near the eyebrows.

BJD heads cost far less to produce than anime-style heads, and players accept mass-produced bases with personalized makeup. As a result, the market price for BJD heads is comparatively lower.

Player Community

In-Community Terminology

In mainland China, Kigurumi commonly refers to bishoujo Kigurumi and is often shortened to Kig.

Analogous to cosplay players being called Cosplayer or Coser, Kigurumi players are referred to as Kiger.

As the player base grew and interactions became more frequent, the Kigurumi form portrayed by a player came to be nicknamed “娃”. The process of dressing up and transforming from an ordinary human state into the doll form is called “变娃”. Kigurumi masks are known as “头壳” or simply “heads”. Face-out or full-body zentai suits are called “皮”, latex bodysuits are “胶衣” or “胶”, and breast inserts made from silicone or sponge are “奶子”.

When someone other than the mask owner wears a head with the owner’s permission, the act is called “入替”. Private or semi-public gatherings of several Kigurumi players are known as “娃聚”.

“D Block” refers to Building D at 1000 Xinguang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, near Pazhou Station on Guangzhou Metro Line 8. Because large-scale conventions are often held nearby, this serviced apartment complex became the most convenient lodging for attending events, and more and more Kigers choose to stay there during conventions, elevating it to a “holy site” within the community.

References