Dio Brando, or DIO, has held a place in the public eye since his introduction in JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure Phantom Blood. Instantly recognizable by his power-hungry attitude and ambition, DIO has had an influence on the Jojo series up through part six.
Having been an adopted child, a vampire, and an incredibly powerful stand user, DIO has made a name for himself with the fans of the series. Because he has been serving up quality looks since 1987, DIO fans have had a lot of content to work with to cosplay the character. Here are 10 DIO cosplays that could have come straight from the anime, or been slightly adapted from it.
10 Classic DIO
This classic DIO as cosplayed by Instagram user @whitenerdy is exactly what you would imagine a live-action DIO to look like. Their stance indicates the perfect amount of beauty and power that has been seen across all of the JoJo characters. The red lighting in the background really drives the evil of DIO home.
In addition to making a great DIO cosplay, @whitenerdy has made a tutorial on how to make the bracers for the cosplay using cheap bracers, gold fabric, and lots of glue, plus a lot of turning things inside out. While their DIO is top quality, they have also cosplayed Giorno, keeping it in the family.
9 Fem-DIO
Russian cosplayer Christin McCoy pulls no punches in this gender-bent DIO cosplay. The costume has been shifted from being a vest, jacket, and pair of unzipped pants to being a tactically stylized ensemble with a golden jacket, leather leotard and belt attached pant legs.
The look is drawn together by the impressive props used by @christinvonmccoy. The highlight is her 6-12 street sign, which has become a popular identifiable weapon for DIO cosplayers. This is the look of a fem-DIO that, had JoJo creator Hirohiko Araki had the chance, would almost certainly be canon. We’d be interested to see if her stand changes with her.
8 DIO and Muhammad Avdol
This entry is one of a few twofers, but they are too good to not shout out. Cosplayer and artist @hello_chingu portrays Dio Brando from Part 1, complete with a replica stone mask. Joining them is @nike.a.go.go as Muhammad Avdol, the fiery stand user from Stardust Crusaders.
Jessie (hello_chingu) has a certain DIO air about them as they inhabit what the role is all about, power. Their energy is seamless and the fact that they seem natural with the vampire fangs makes the cosplay look realistic. It was so good it won second place at Portland’s Fandom PDX 2020, so clearly something is right here.
7 Kill La DIO
A veteran JoJo cosplayer, @blueclarice has cosplayed as several characters from the series, including Diavolo, Bruno Bucciarati, and obviously DIO. Blue’s version of DIO is also gender-bent. The biggest change to DIO’s costume is that the pants become part-skirt and part-suspended leggings.
Additionally, this is a crossover cosplay as this DIO is wielding a Kill La Kill based scissor blade that has been redesigned into DIO’s color scheme. Blue’s DIO also includes a pair of shoulder guards that are the same color and style as DIO’s costume. Even being a crossover cosplay, this version of DIO would fit right in with the rest of DIO’s looks in the series.
6 DIO/Pucci
Another double cosplay, this time being DIO, as portrayed by Adam Hernandez (@slushy_cosplay) and DIO’s loyal follower Enrico Pucci (@cocovll), who plays a crucial role in Stone Ocean, taking on DIO’s plan to achieve heaven. The two cosplayers are together, making the pairing of Dio/Pucci as close to canon as possible.
This version of DIO is extremely stylized, including the drawn lines that one would find in an anime. Rather than using a cumbersome sign, @slushy_cosplay wields a 6-12 sign that is easily carryable around a con. The two won a cosplay contest for their efforts, which makes sense. That’s a type of power DIO would love.
5 Drawn Into Being
Going for extremely anime accurate, professional cosplayer, Leon Chiro (@leonchiro) pulls off that exactly with his drawn into real-life DIO. The attention to meticulous details is what drives this cosplay over the edge into being a top-tier costume.
There are a few photos of Leon doing the signature DIO knees bent pose which shock and amaze those who see it. He seems to be defying gravity. Leon might be more well-known for some of his other cosplays, but his dedication to DIO is unsurpassed. If there were a live-action version of JoJo that featured DIO, this is how we would want him to look.
4 Father and Son
Portraying the father and son duo at HeroFest, @greenlipsi as DIO and @sternentee as Giorno Giovanna serve up the same absolute looks that both Brandos do in the series. This version of DIO is classic with a twist. Rather than being in a leotard, the costume is a black vest with golden pants, and a collar. The pants seem to be one single piece, rather than just an open thigh area.
Not only is this a different take, but in certain climates, this is the best option as that breeze could get harsh for DIO cosplayers. The makeup is on point as well with this cosplay, including the colored eyes and facial structure lines.
3 Bent Knees
This DIO cosplay certainly encapsulates the cockiness of the character in the best ways. Cosplayer @trash_can_cosplay holds nothing back, not even gravity, in portraying this villain. Where this cosplay really stands out is the use of metallic gold on the shoes and bracers, tying the whole costume together with pointed glamor.
In addition to this cosplay, @trash_can_cosplay also has done an adapted DIO wearing a cone on his head, a nod to a piece of fan art, which is both interesting and comedic. We all know that DIO has many powers that allow him to do wild things, but @trash_can_cosplay must have some kind of power to hold this stance so well.
2 DIO's World
The last duo, this pair makes perfect sense since there can’t be one without the other. DIO, cosplayed by @lady_knight_cosplay, and DIO’s Stand The World, cosplayed by @projectedriel, make a perfect live-action adaption pulled straight from the anime. Just like the anime, the color scheme of both are perfectly in sync.
Every accessory between the two is perfectly cut and molded around the original design. This DIO’s shoes take a more modern spin, more a casual shoe than the typical lengthy boots. This is definitely what DIO is wearing around the house when he isn’t busy planning revenge on the various JoJos.
1 Muda Muda Muda
This cosplay by @a_wild_raggy exudes the power and control that can only come from the true DIO over a crowd of fans at the Dutch Comic Con. Alongside Pet Shop, a Stand using falcon and guardian of DIO’s mansion in the series, this cosplay absolutely killed it for the audience, though they didn’t kill the audience because they aren’t DIO enough for that.
This red-eyed wonder also features several differences from other DIO cosplayers, such as the intricately designed headband. Rather than being a pure green band and heart, this cosplay has a steampunk-like design. They also use a blood-red cloak that accents the golds and greens used throughout.