Cosplay ideas by body type!
FIRST AND FOREMOST. I always say that no matter your physical body size, you can cosplay whoever you like. So if you’re short and want to cosplay a tall character like All Might from My Hero Academia, then by all means go for it!
With that said, I know there’s a good amount of you out there that want to cosplay a character that’s similar to your body type. When I say body type, I’m not necessarily referring to your size or weight. I’m talking other aspects too, such as your height, your body shape and even your muscle tone. I feel like a lot of you want someone who looks more like you. And that’s totally okay!
In this post, I’ll go through 25 cosplay ideas by body type. I will have these categories:
- Small and chibi
- Shorter than average
- Tall and lanky
- Muscular and jacked
- Plus size
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: I have some affiliate links in this article if you’re looking to wear any of these cosplays. If you’re buying from these sites, you’re also supporting me and my hobby so I appreciate it!
With that said, let’s get started with the cosplay ideas by body type!
Small and chibi
If you’re a small and chibi cosplayer, then you have plenty of options in terms of characters. Many of them are definitely SMOL like you are! When I say small, I think of under 5′ feet tall. So if your height is less than 5 feet, then you fit in this category! Let’s go through some characters, shall we?
1. Klee from Genshin Impact
Klee is a cute little girl from Genshin Impact. She’s just a young kid, so of course she would be chibi. Klee has a knack for bombs and destructions. So while she might be adorable, she’s also very powerful and crazy with explosive devices! Definitely consider cosplaying Klee, as she loved by many Genshin Impact cosplayers!
2. Xiao from Genshin Impact
Xiao is probably one of the shortest characters in Genshin Impact! Xiao is actually an “adeptibeast”, a demi god race of Liyue. He lost his friends and had to murder numerous enemies throughout his life, hence his pain and “emo” demeanor. Nonetheless, Xiao is still a Husbando to many Genshin players, so he’s a great cosplay choice. Bring a staff with you as he likes to plunge into his enemies!
3. Rukia from Bleach
Who can forget Rukia? She’s one of the main characters of Bleach and a fan favorite. If you’re willing to live some nostalgia, then Rukia is your girl.
4. Bernadetta from Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Cosplayer: ninjae_cosplay.
For those who don’t know, Bernadetta is a playable characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. She’s a shy girl who would rather hide in her house than come to socialize. She is so adorable! And of course, she’s chibi-sized.
5. Robin from DC Comics
I was surprised by this, by the fact that Robin is actually short! He’s less than 5 feet surprisingly. So if you’re a chibi, then cosplaying Robin works well for your body type.
6. Froppy from My Hero Academia
Our favorite frog girl from My Hero Academia! Froppy is actually really short in the series, hence the reason why I put her in the Chibi category. Froppy is a sweet girl from the academy with frog-like powers, with the ability to stick onto surfaces. Unfortunately, she’s also prone to a frog’s weaknesses, including getting cold really fast. If you want to cosplay as Froppy, you can go for her UA student uniform, or her frog jumpsuit.
If you’re looking for more small characters, here are some more ideas:
- Yui from K-On!
- Yuffie from Final Fantasy VII
Shorter than average
I decided to make this category because there are characters and people in real life who are just shorter than average. I know average is a subjective term, and that’s okay! So in Senpai’s humble opinion, shorter than average is between 5 feet and 5’5. And there are quite a few characters who fight this category. So here we go.
7. Ayaka from Genshin Impact
Ayaka is just a beautiful character altogether! Her personality and design is the reason why everyone was hyped for her release when she first came out. Like the region she comes out, Ayaka’s outfit is inspired by Japanese influence. So if that’s your taste in cosplay, then consider cosplaying as Ayaka.
8. Kanna from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Kanna is such a cute character from Dragon Maid! She’s perfect if you’re looking for a shorter-than-average character. 🙂
9. Hinata from Naruto
Everyone’s favorite heroine from Naruto! Hinata is a staple Anime character that’s well-known. Although she was pretty shy in the beginning of the series, she turns out to be a strong fighter and the perfect wife for Naruto.
To be fair, Hinata is actually less than 5 feet in the beginning of Naruto. But later in the series and after the time skip, she’s around 5’2, so she qualifies on this part of the body type list.
10. Wolverine from X-Men
Another short comic book character! Wolverine is also around 5’2. So if you’re a dude around that height, you might want to consider cosplaying as the beloved hero from X-Men.
11. Ciel from Black Butler
Ciel Phantomhive is one of our favorite characters from Black Butler! In exchange for his soul, he has protection and service from Sebastian Michaelis. With his shorter stature, Ciel is perfect if you want to cosplay someone so surprisingly stylish.
Here are some other cosplay ideas if you’re sort of vertically challenged:
- Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z
- Max Caulfield from Life is Strange
Tall and lanky
Ok on the opposite end here, we have tall lanky characters! I actually did an entire list of tall characters here. But I have more characters to include here as well:
12. Sailor Jupiter from Sailor Moon
We all know about Sailor Moon, one of the classic series out there, and one of the first to make Anime popular in the Western World. Almost all the Sailor Scouts are pretty tall. But Sailor Jupiter is by far the tallest one. To cosplay Sailor Jupiter, you’ll need a white top, green skirt, pink chest bowtie, a brown wig, and green boots!
13. Eli from Love Live!
Eli is from the now ubiquitous series, Love Live! I included her in this because she definitely fits the category of being tall and lanky. If you want a more casual cosplay on your own, then go for Eli. With that said, Love Live! cosplays always work better when you’re with a group. So bring Nico Nico and the gang with you!
14. Marth from Fire Emblem
The Prince of Altea. Marth in my opinion is the most well-known character from Fire Emblem, because he (along with Roy) were first to appear in Super Smash Bros. As a tall guy and someone who has frequently cosplayed Marth, he is a great character to cosplay. I feel as noble and honored as he does. And while Marth’s cosplay isn’t the easiest to make on your own, it doesn’t take too much to put on his costume, based on my experience.
15. Ningguang from Genshin Impact
If you have a tall and lanky body, then I feel like Ningguang would fit perfect for you! Aka the Geo Mommy, Ningguang is a woman with a taste for money. She’s in charge of running the Liyue region. Not only is Ningguang intelligent, but she’s also beautiful as well. You’ll love her elegant outfit and long white hair!
16. Jojo from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Jojo is the main character of his namesake show. The nice thing about cosplaying him is that he’s got plenty of outfits you can do. Whether that’s his wonderful suit, or his more revealing stuff!
Here are some more tall and lanky characters for you if you’re looking for one:
- Aerith from Final Fantasy VII
- Nidalee from League of Legends
Muscular and jacked
If you’re someone who is built or jacked, this section is for you! We got lots of characters of all genders that fit this category.
17. Mikasa from Attack in Titan
Mikasa Ackerman is basically the poster girl for fit, muscular girls! If you don’t know, she’s from the popular series Attack on Titan. You can opt for an easy cosplay option by just wearing the typical uniform. But since you are looking for a muscular character, why not flex those muscles with Mikasa? You can still wear the white pants, but instead of the jacket, you can wear a black tank top to show off your ripped body!
18. Zabuza from Naruto
For me, Zabuza from Naruto was one of the first ripped characters I got to see in Anime! And even though he’s been long gone for a while, people still remember and talk about him. Maybe it’s cause his character design is so cool. Zabuza is all muscle, carrying a big ass sword with him.
19. Alex or Olivier Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist
I decided to include both these characters because they’re both technically strong and muscular! Alex Louis Armstrong is a member of the State Military in Fullmetal Alchemist. He is a big guy with a huge frame, and of course he’s ripped.
His sister, Olivier Armstrong is the same. Although in the series we don’t actually to get to see their physically fit body for show, it is presumed that she’s physically strong too. But I’m sure you can modify her cosplay in a way to show off your muscles
20. Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen
Sukuna is the main villain of Jujutsu Kaisen. And while most of the time he’s living inside the main character of Yuji. But when Sukuna is released, he is a scary bad guy who is ripped and muscular! Jujutsu Kaisen is a Shonen series that will probably be around for a while, so investing in a Sukuna cosplay is not such a bad idea!
21. Mirko from My Hero Academia
Mirko is a strong, athletic bunny girl from My Hero Academia! Not only can you flex your muscles while cosplaying as Mirko, but her outfit is just simply fabulous as well. If you want to cosplay a fun, muscular female character, then Mirko is definitely a great choice.
Here are some other muscular cosplay ideas for you:
- Yukina from Iron Fortress
- Nappa from Dragonball Z
- She-Ra!
- Maki Oze from Fire Force
- Kale from Dragon Ball Super
- Reuk from Death Note
- All Might from My Hero Academia
- Mt Lady from My Hero Academia
Plus size
Last but definitely not least in terms of cosplay ideas by body type, we have plus size cosplays. Now again, I want to emphasize that plus size cosplayers can do any character they want, and that no one should be limited to their physical attributes. And these are only suggestions if you’re looking for a character similar to your physical attributes, not a rule.
With that out of the way, here are a few ideas:
22. Qiyana from League of Legends
Forget KDA; it’s all about True Damage! While Pop Stars gets all the attention, Qiyana is another character from LoL worth cosplaying from. She’s got a wonderful jacket and pants that would look amazing on you. And of course, she is a plus size character that can totally fit you if that’s what you’re looking for.
If you prefer to do a relatively new League of Legends cosplay that isn’t the usual Akali or Kai’Sa, then consider doing Qiyana. Her look is badass! Since True Damage is a popular cosplay, you’ll find plenty of plus size cosplay costumes online!
23. Mad Moxxi from Borderlands
Does anyone remember Borderlands? If not, then it’s time to remind people what this wonderful series is all about…by cosplaying Mad Moxxi! The character designs are still awesome to this day. Mad Moxxi is a badass girl and has a taste for some violence! She’s a perfect fit for someone looking for a plus size cosplay.
24. Power Girl from DC Comics
Power Girl is one of the most popular characters from the DC Universe! She’s a big girl with big powers. Like many DC characters, Power Girl has got a great outfit you can wear. Definitely consider Power Girl as a cosplay option if you want a plus sized character.
25. Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro
Who doesn’t love Studio Ghibli films? Totoro is one of the most recognizable characters at cosplay conventions (oh how I miss them). It’s such an adorable cosplay and whether you’re plus size or not, anyone can cosplay Totoro. You can opt for the entire suit, or go for a casual version like this photo.
Here are some more plus size cosplay ideas:
- Nozomi Tojo from Love Live!
- Gragas from League of Legends
- Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia
- Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
- Peter Griffin from Family Guy
Summary
To summarize, here are all the characters we discussed on this list about cosplay ideas by body type, categorized for you:
- Klee from Genshin Impact
- Xiao from Genshin Impact
- Rukia from Bleach
- Bernadetta from Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Robin from DC Comics
- Froppy from My Hero Academia
- Ayaka from Genshin Impact
- Kanna from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
- Hinata from Naruto
- Wolverine from X-Men
- Max Caulfield from Life is Strange
- Sailor Jupiter from Sailor Moon
- Eli from Love Live!
- Marth from Fire Emblem
- Ningguang from Genshin Impact
- Jojo from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Mikasa from Attack in Titan
- Zabuza from Naruto
- Alex or Olivier Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist
- Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen
- Mirko from My Hero Academia
- Qiyana from League of Legends
- Mad Moxxi from Borderlands
- Power Girl from DC Comics
- Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro
And there you have it; 25 cosplay ideas by body type!
I hope you find this post useful and you found what you’re looking for. Which cosplay ideas by body type will you do? Let me know in the comments!
My name is Roger Senpai. I’m a cosplayer that’s been in the community for well over a decade now. I’ve traveled all over the world to Anime and Comic conventions and hosted my own cosplay events. Now I’m writing articles for new and experienced cosplayers like you to help inspire, save you money and improve your cosplays!