In Alabama, Snow is a big freaking deal. Since we never usually get it, the fact that we've had snow covered grounds TWICE in the past 2 months is completely unheard of. And this time around, Snowpocalypse 2011, we got a solid layer of ice which has not even begun to think about melting....which is also unheard of. In 'Bama if it takes the time to snow, it's usually back to dirt and grass within hours. But since this time around has given us a lovely blanket of white, I can't stop thinking of it as a perfect cosplay background!
Since I didn't prepare myself with any costumes specific to snow/ice, I just tossed on a kimono and went outside.
Partly because I didn't have anything else prepared, but also because kimono was really the only idea in my head. I tried to google ice/snow characters, or characters that live in icy climates, and the answers were so sparse that I just sort of gave up. That's why this blog post is going to consist of a semi-long list of characters that one can cosplay in snowy situations. If you are like me, and want to brave the elements for good photos, this list should be of interest to you.
First I will start with the obvious ones, then I'll go into some anime/manga/game/movie/comic characters that I found by scouring google and picking the brains of friends.
Katara and Sokka
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Both characters live in the South Pole. Sokka cannot manipulate the ice, but Katara is the only waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe. She can bend water and snow as she so pleases - Making these two perfect candidates for a snowy backdrop.
Princess Yue
Avatar the Last Airbender
Another airbender character that looks amazing in snowy climate is the princess of the Northern Water Tribe. She's the daughter of the chief, and Sokka thinks she's a hottie. Her hair is snowy white, thanks to the fact that the moon spirit granted her it's power when she was born nearly dead. Thanks moon spirit, you rock for that.
Mr Freeze
Batman
A DC Comics Supervillian, and enemy of Batman, I think he'd be one of the most obviousl snow cosplay characters. Freeze is a scientist who must wear a cryogenic suit in order to survive, and bases his crimes around a "cold" or "ice" theme, complete with a "cold gun" that freezes its targets solid.
Toshiro Hitsugaya
Bleach
Hitsugaya's thing is ice. Hyōrinmaru is the strongest of all ice/snow Zanpaku-tō in the Soul Society.
Hyōrinmaru's spirit is a winged Chinese dragon made of ice. The dragon flies at opponents and instantly freezes anything it touches. The chain-blade also freezes anything Hitsugaya traps with it.
Rukia Kuchiki
Bleach
Rukia has an ice attack as well, the Sode no Shirayuki. Each "dance" the blade performs produces a different ice based attack. In its released state the blade becomes completely white and a ribbon forms from the pommel, earning it the recognition as the most beautiful Zanpakuto in Soul Society.
Or, you can cosplay Sode No Shirayuki herself, since she's super gorgeous.
Oren Ishii
Kill Bill
Speaking of pretty Asian ladies wearing white kimono in the snow, how about cosplaying Oren Ishii? The Entire final battle between Beatrix Kiddo and Oren Ishii was outside in the snow.
Ur and Gray Fullbuster
Fairy Tail
Either character would be appropriate for snow, since they are Ice Mages. Ice Make Master is a form of alchemy magic that creates shapes or objects out of ice. In Gray's case, he uses Static ice magic, meaning he can shape his ice into weapons or attacks. Ur was Gray's teacher in the magic of the Ice arts.
And Cosplaying Gray is easy because he practically never wears clothing.
Lyon Bastia
Fairy Tail
Like Gray, Lyon practices the ice magic, Ice Make. Which allows him to form any type of object from ice. Unlike Gray whose version is static (which allows him to create weapons), Lyon´s Ice Make is Living (aka Dynamic), which means most of his creations are animal familiars made from ice.
Cygnus Saint - Hyoga
Saint Seiya / Knights of the Zodiac
As a Saint born under the Cygnus constellation, Hyoga is able to control and manipulate ice and snow as he pleases. By increasing his Cosmo, Hyoga can freeze objects and people. Hyoga is another perfect character for an icy photoshoot.
Crystal Saint
Saint Seiya / Knights of the Zodiac
The Crystal Saint is Hyoga's master in the anime adaptation. His Cloth resembles a snowflake when not being worn. His home is Siberia, and his constellation is Corona Borealis.
Haku
Naruto
He was a villager from the Land of Water and a member of the Yuki Clan. He later became a Ninja after meeting
Zabuza. Haku's most noticeable power was the utilization of water and wind chakra to create ice. His power over ice granted him special techniques, like the Demonic Ice Crystal Mirrors and Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death.
One could probably also cosplay Zabuza in the snow, even though he focuses on Water techniques. Since he's always with Haku, I would still say he'd be a good one to consider having a snowy backdrop
Evangeline
Negima
As a dark mage and vampire, Evangeline specializes in ice-based spells and dark magic, and is shown to be incredibly powerful once in her full capacities. she is still a very skilled fighter and can effortlessly take down a man twice her size, largely due to her mastery of the Japanese martial art Aikido.
Nobara Ibaragi
Gakuen Alice
Nobara is a middle school student in Gakuen Alice. She is in the Dangerous Ability class, and the only known female member. She appears only in the manga, possesses the Ice Alice and has multiple personalities. Complimenting her Alice, her appearance somewhat relates to the depiction of "Yuki Onna" (lit. Snow Woman).
HoroHoro
Shaman King
His guardian ghost is Kororo (losely meaning Ice) Horohoro mainly uses his oversoul to freeze water vapor into ice and use it to attack his opponents.
November 11 / Jack Simon
Darker Than Black
MI6's top agent, and a field leader whose civilian alias is Jack Simon. November's ability enables him to freeze liquids, including blood. He is able to shape water into projectiles by freezing it and subsequently hurl them with lethal precision. He can also create protective shields out of frozen water.
Aidou Hanabusa
Vampire Knight
Aidou is known among the Night Class as "Kaname-sama's right hand" and has a fierce admiration for Kaname that borders on jealousness. Aidou is a noble-class vampire and possesses the ability to freeze matter.
Sailor Mercury
Sailor Moon
In Japanese, the name for the planet Mercury is Suisei (水星), the first kanji meaning 'water' and the second indicating a celestial object. Sailor Mercury's abilities are water-based due to this aspect of Japanese mythology. As she grows stronger, Sailor Mercury gains additional powers - mostly improving their strength with the addition of "Freezing" or "Snow"
Vexen
Kingdom Hearts
Vexen is the nobody of Even and is Rank IV within Organization XIII. He controls ice and uses it to command storms and blizzards, freezing his opponents solid, while defending himself with his massive shield.
Kula Diamond
King of Fighters
Kula has an impressive control over ice. When using her powers, Kula's hair becomes blue. As the Anti-K', her fighting style is primarily based on K's, but adapted to her ice-based powers. She also fights using her ice skates.
Mizore Shirayuki
Rosario + Vampire
Shirayuki Mizore is a Yuki-Onna. Keeping in line with Japanese mythological monster, she has the ability to control the element of ice at will, and can form clones composed of said element.
Sub Zero
Mortal Kombat
When he first appeared in the first Mortal Kombat, Sub-Zero featured only two special moves: his ice blast and sliding kick. These moves have become Sub-Zero's trademark since then, being featured in every game he has appeared in.
Olivier Mira Armstrong
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong is Alex Louis Armstrong's older sister. She is in charge of Briggs, the northern military border. Due to the extreme cold at the Drachma border, Olivier Milla Armstrong and her men appear in heavy coats with shoulder pads to denote their respective ranks. Armstrong's men have done extensive research into designing new equipment that will work in the subzero tempetures. She is called "Ice Queen"
Iceman
X-men
Iceman possesses the power to radically decrease the temperature of ambient
water vapor in his immediate environment, thereby freezing it into ice. In this manner he is able to quickly form a great variety of ice structures, including projectiles, shields, ladders, baseball bats, etc.
Have fun figuring out how to cosplay this guy.
Ice Master Card
Yu Gi Oh!
Although it's less of a character and more of a trading card, you can't deny the cool costume this could be.
Snow
M.A.R.
The only princess heir to the crown of Lestava. She is a user of ice-themed ÄRMs, and later water-themed.
Fai D. Flourite
Tsubasa
Fai is a powerful magician from the country of Seresu. Fai appears to be happy-go-lucky and good-natured, and acts very carefree. He is very often (nearly always) depicted with Ice and Snow covered scenery.
Although I'm sure there are TONS of characters I didn't cover, I feel like I got the most important ones. I'll probably come back to this list often to add to it, because I'm sure later I'll be like..."ZOMG So-And-So TOTES BELONGS ON THIS LIST" So check back for updates :)
In the meantime, go brave the ice and snow and get those amazing cosplay shots you dream about.