In China, you can now hire someone to bring your favorite anime character to life for a day. This is "cosplay commissioning," a new industry where fantasy meets transaction. But is this a utopian way to find comfort, or a dystopian commodification of human connection? Join hosts Aileen and Bella as they dive into the world of professional cosplay with Ruihan, a coser with over 100,000 followers. They unpack the physical sacrifices cosers make, the joy and anxiety of creating a new identity, and the complex reality of selling a dream. Is this fleeting happiness a form of self-deception, or a valid way to cope with modern life?

Written, produced and presented by: Aili Zhang and Mao Weining

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.