Cody Maverick Costume
Ride the big waves as the world's most determined Rockhopper penguin.
Cody Maverick is the passionate, surfing-obsessed Rockhopper penguin from the animated mockumentary Surf's Up. This costume is a favorite for animation fans and surfers alike, capturing Cody's laid-back beach attitude. The look centers around his unique yellow-crested penguin features and his prized whale-bone necklace.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Cody Maverick
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Cody Maverick costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Cody Maverick costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Black and White Penguin Onesie
A soft, zip-up plush penguin pajama onesie to form the base of the penguin body.
DIY: Wear a black hoodie over a white t-shirt, paired with black sweatpants.
Yellow Feather Eyebrows
Bright yellow feather boas or stiff yellow felt cut into long, spiky crests to mimic Rockhopper penguin feathers.
DIY: Cut long, jagged eyebrow shapes out of yellow craft felt and attach them to a headband or the hood of your onesie.
Whale-Bone Pendant Necklace
A carved white fishhook or spiral-shaped pendant on a simple black cord.
DIY: Cut the hook shape out of thick white cardboard or polymer clay, bake it, and string it onto a black shoelace.
Orange Penguin Feet Slippers
Plush, webbed orange slipper boots to complete the penguin anatomy.
DIY: Cut webbed foot shapes out of orange felt and secure them over your regular sneakers.
Inflatable or Foam Surfboard
A lightweight toy surfboard prop, preferably with a wooden grain texture or a simple tribal design.
DIY: Cut a surfboard shape out of a large cardboard box and paint it with a wood grain pattern.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Cody Maverick costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black and white penguin onesie and zip it up comfortably.
- 2
Secure the yellow feather eyebrows to the sides of the hood or wear them on a headband positioned just above your eyes.
- 3
Hang the whale-bone style fishhook necklace around your neck so it sits prominently on the white chest section of the onesie.
- 4
Slip on the orange webbed penguin feet slippers over your socks or shoes.
- 5
Carry your foam or cardboard surfboard under your arm to complete the professional surfer look.
Makeup & hair
No complex makeup is needed, but you can apply orange face paint to your nose to mimic a beak if your hood doesn't have one. Keep your hair tucked back under the hood to let the yellow spiky eyebrows stand out.
Cody Maverick for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Chicken Joe wearing a chicken costume and holding a tropical drink.
- group
- Add Lani Aliikai in a lifeguard outfit and Big Z in a vintage lei and weathered surfboard.
- kids
- Use a kids' penguin zip-up hoodie, a felt hook necklace, and a mini foam bodyboard.
- Plus size
- A loose-fitting, unisex penguin onesie provides a comfortable and highly flexible fit for all body types.
Tips
- Onesies can get warm indoors, so wear lightweight shorts and a t-shirt underneath.
- If using a real surfboard for photos, stick to a lightweight foam soft-top board to make carrying it around easy.
- Ensure your yellow eyebrows are secured tightly with safety pins or fabric glue so they don't flop down over your eyes.
Cody Maverick costume FAQ
- What kind of penguin is Cody Maverick?
- Cody Maverick is a Rockhopper penguin, which is famous for its spiky, bright yellow crests above the eyes.
- How do I make Cody's necklace?
- You can easily make his signature whale-bone necklace using white polymer clay molded into a traditional Maori fishhook shape, baking it, and threading it onto a black cord.
- Is this costume suitable for warm weather?
- Plush onesies can be hot. For warm weather, swap the onesie for a black tank top, white shorts, and yellow face paint.
Did you know? Surf's Up was shot in a unique mockumentary style, utilizing hand-held camera physics and simulated camera operators to make the animated penguin surf contest feel like a real sports documentary.