We’re joined by Dr Emerald King and PhD candidate Ashley Reminga from the University of Tasmania to explore the world of cosplay. We cover the upcoming events including the cosplay competition at the video game event, Level Up Tasmania, and then some of the bigger questions around how cosplay functions as performance, identity, play and fan expression. And we tackle the biggest question: why are cat ears everywhere? From Nekomimi to global cosplay trends, we explore how a simple accessory became a powerful symbol of play, identity, and pop culture.

This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 26 March 2026.
For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/ and https://www.edgeradio.org.au/. Video episode available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/sisvi_z2_Ng

LINKS:

gender bending anime survey: https://surveys2.utas.edu.au/index.php/151748?lang=en

LevelUp Tasmania event: https://www.screen.tas.gov.au/leveluptasmania/program

and cosplay competition https://www.emeraldlking.com/levelupcosplay

We&rsquo;re joined by Dr Emerald King and PhD candidate Ashley Reminga from the University of Tasmania to explore the world of cosplay. We cover the upcoming events including the cosplay competition at the video game event, Level Up Tasmania, and then some of the bigger questions around how cosplay functions as performance, identity, play and fan expression. And we tackle the biggest question: why are cat ears everywhere? From Nekomimi to global cosplay trends, we explore how a simple accessory became a powerful symbol of play, identity, and pop culture.
This episode was recorded live at Edge Radio 99.3FM studios in Hobart Tasmania, and first aired on 26 March 2026. For more info on Media Mothership go to https://mediamothership.au/ and https://www.edgeradio.org.au/. Video episode available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/sisvi_z2_Ng
LINKS:
gender bending anime survey:&nbsp;<a href="https://surveys2.utas.edu.au/index.php/151748?lang=en">https://surveys2.utas.edu.au/index.php/151748?lang=en</a>
LevelUp Tasmania event: <a href="https://www.screen.tas.gov.au/leveluptasmania/program">https://www.screen.tas.gov.au/leveluptasmania/program</a>
and cosplay competition <a href="https://www.emeraldlking.com/levelupcosplay">https://www.emeraldlking.com/levelupcosplay</a>

Media Mothership explores how media can shape our understanding of the world around us through interviews and discussions with content makers, critical thinkers and forensic fans of movies, TV shows, video games etc. Host Dr Craig Norris discusses the latest news, absurdities and trends of modern media and culture.
We broadcast live out of Edge Radio studios, Hobart, Tasmania every Friday 4-5pm (AEST).

Listen live on 99.3FM (Hobart), or streaming/on-demand at YouTube, Twitch, and Edge Radio. Or via your podcast service of choice.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Discord, ResearchGate, Twitter.

Find out more here: www.mediamothership.au

<a href="https://mediamothership.au⁠⁠">Media Mothership</a> explores how media can shape our understanding of the world around us through interviews and discussions with content makers, critical thinkers and forensic fans of movies, TV shows, video games etc. Host Dr Craig Norris discusses the latest news, absurdities and trends of modern media and culture. We broadcast live out of <a href="https://www.edgeradio.org.au/shows/media-mothership/⁠⁠⁠">Edge Radio studios</a>, Hobart, Tasmania every Friday 4-5pm (AEST).
Listen live on 99.3FM (Hobart), or streaming/on-demand at <a href="⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFpGvogfExOx1HN4F4fZDoQ⁠⁠⁠">YouTube</a>, <a href="⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/mediamothership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠%20Facebook%20⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fb.me/MediaTackle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠">Twitch,</a> and <a href="https://www.edgeradio.org.au/shows/media-mothership/⁠⁠⁠">Edge Radio</a>. Or via your podcast service of choice.
Follow us on <a href="⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/media_mothership/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://fb.me/MediaTackle">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mediamothership?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">TikTok</a>, <a href="⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/QvdT39EDMV⁠⁠⁠">Discord</a>, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig-Norris">ResearchGate</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigJNorris">Twitter</a>.
Find out more <a href="https://mediamothership.au⁠⁠">here: www.mediamothership.au</a>

Media Mothership EDGE

Media Mothership explores how media can shape our understanding of the world through interviews and discussions with content makers, critical thinkers and forensic fans of movies, TV shows, video games, etc. Host Dr Craig Norris discusses the latest news, absurdities and trends in modern media and culture.

Media Mothership explores how media can shape our understanding of the world through interviews and discussions with content makers, critical thinkers and forensic fans of movies, TV shows, video games, etc. Host Dr Craig Norris discusses the latest news, absurdities and trends in modern media and culture.