AnimeFest 2017 (Day 1) - the 25th Anniversary a.k.a. Yuri on Ice Con

It's been three years since I last went to a convention for its entirety. AnimeFest 2017 was the biggest and, probably, one of the greatest convention adventures I will ever have. With every event, there will always be ups and downs. It's what you do with your time that makes it the best it can be because there is never enough time to do everything that is listed in that schedule.

I mentioned that AnimeFest was also known as Yuri on Ice Con. That is because, in December after the series had become such a huge phenomenon, they invited the biggest names of Yuri on Ice as Guests of Honor: Mitsurou Kubo, Sayo Yamamoto, and Tadashi Hiramatsu. Being a huge fan of Yuri on Ice myself, I had to get my badge the moment they were announced back in December. For the coming months after that, I spent time getting mentally prepared as to how crazy this weekend was going to be, from the cosplays that I was doing to getting autograph materials to bringing rations for the time I'm on the con floor. Little did I know, it was much crazier than anticipated.

Day 1 (Thursday) felt like it was the first time I had gone to A-Kon 21. It was in territory that I hadn't been back to since A-Kon 23 a.k.a. the Sheraton Dallas in Downtown Dallas. Everything felt new to me. After picking up my badge goodie bag and putting my badge together, I decided to do a little exploring while lugging my luggage around. I was dressed as Sochi GPF Yuri Katsuki, so it was like I had just got there from the airport. lol 

(Me as Sochi GPF Yuri Katsuki)

While downstairs in the Artist Alley, I noticed an empty area over to the back side with a bunch of chairs in front. At first, I had an inkling it was the autograph area but then decided against the idea because I was just tired and a bit clueless as to what was going on. (It was still early in the day.) It wasn't until later that the area I was sitting in was actually the line for the line for the Japanese autographs. Hearing that, I didn't leave my seat. ^^; This is also where I found out the goodie bags were supposed to come with Yuri on Ice merchandise in them. I didn't get one, so I went back up to the Mailed Badges booth near Registration to see what's up. They were nice to help me double check, and I got the right bag. :) (Still jealous of the guy that got the Victor Nikiforov Flower set with clear file, keychain, and can badge. The lucky duck. X3)

(The line for the line for the Japanese Autographs by chance)

This is where I met my very first new friend, Karen, who turned out to be my long, lost otaku twin from Georgia. XD We practically chatted the time away because the 2.5 hours I was sitting passed by faster than I could have imagined. Yuri on Ice, figure skating, everything! If it wasn't for her, my weekend might not have been as great as it could have been. By the way, she better let me know about her competitions because she just gained a new fan. X3

(In line for Japanese Autographs)

Autographs ended up taking over an hour and a half, but it was totally worth it. I met Arina Tanemura, mangaka of Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne! She autographed my one volume of KKJ, which I've had for about 10 years, and even drew a picture of Jeanne on one of my autograph boards! My high school self is proud of finally meeting her. TvT Of course, they put the biggest guests at the end of the line, the creators of Yuri on Ice. Words could not describe what was going on in our minds by the time Karen and I got up to them. I was able to give Kubo, Yamamoto, and Hiramatsu my handmade YoI keychains, and they, gladly, accepted them. <3 As for the autographs, they each drew a drawing, too! I got mine on message boards while Karen got her jacket signed and drawn on!

(Thank you, gods of good fortune!)

Couldn't get into the first Yuri on Ice panel with the creators that night due to reaching capacity of the panel room super fast. (Such a small space!) Instead, Karen and I went to the Dealers Room to check out what all was there. One of the best con moments happened at a vendor who sold rare art books and other old findings. Almost every time we both found something we liked (mostly CLAMP Tsubasa pencil boards), we would have the exact same reaction at the exact same time. It entertained us, and it sure definitely entertained the vendor for a good while. XD I don't think I have ever been that in sync with anyone, especially since we had just met not just a few hours earlier. lol

Early on, I had planned and went to see Josh Grelle, the voice of Armin from AoT and Yuri Katsuki from YoI, at his panel. It was a Q&A to get to know him on a personal level, which was a joy to participate in. I knew Simul-dubbing was a quick process, but I didn't know it was a pick-and-choose-who-would-best-fit kind of a process. Based off of previous works, that's how the voice actors are asked to portray the characters they are given. Pretty interesting. None of the actors know how the series would turn out because they are going at almost the same speed as each episode is released, so they find out what happens as everyone else is finding out. Hearing him recite Armin's speech was just absolutely mind-blowing. The passion and emotions put into that dialogue took my breath away, so to speak. At the end, I waited around to properly give my thanks for the works he's done and asked for a selfie with him. He is such a kind person. Even thought my Yuri Katsuki cosplay was cute and gave me a very sweet hug. X3 It was, definitely, a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet him.

(Me with Josh Grelle. Double the Yuri Katsuki. X3)

Opening Ceremonies was a blast. Held at the Majestic Theatre, it's the time where AnimeFest got its kick-off celebration. Info about the con, introducing all of the guests that were there that weekend, it was like living in a dream, which is how I felt about the weekend. One of four convention weekends that have had a huge impact on me. It got the party started, officially. The Majestic Theatre, itself, is a beautiful piece of architecture in and of itself. It reminded me of the kind of theatre that Buster Moon ("Sing") ran. Nothing short of amazing. 

(The creators of The Napping Princess)

It was off to dinner afterward for Karen and me. Walked a bit around Downtown until we spoke with a stranger about a recommendation nearby called Zenna, a Thai & Japanese cuisine restaurant. (I immediately thought of Phichit and Yuri, of course. XD) If you're on a budget to eat, bring a friend to this place because it's worth every penny for the portion size you get. Split a plate of Chicken Thai Lo Mein between the two of us, and we were full off of it. (^^)d Found it funny we were having difficulty splitting the check. Most likely because of the tiredness slowly setting in on us. LOL

Nothing like stopping by a Seven-Eleven on the way back for ice cream for dessert. What happened next was just fantastic. Karen and I were walking right behind the Japanese guests on the way back to the Sheraton! I was like, "Is that Tsutchie and Tanaka-san?" Apparently, they heard me because they turned around and waved, so I waved right back at them. I swear it was a repeat of what happened at Oni-Con in 2011 when I saw Earthbound Papas walk right past me a few feet away. XD We, literally, tailed behind the guests all the way back to the hotel after that moment, trying to keep our excited voices down a bit! Still so cool, though. :D

What's a convention without some karaoke? I didn't get up to the front to sing, but I would have did "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka had I had a turn. Typical of me, right? lol However, I did sing along with the people that did go up front to sing. Of course, what's a karaoke session without "Bohemian Rhapsody"? ;D A night full of fun-filled singing and shenanigans. Stayed there until it ended at 1:00 AM Friday morning.

And so ends Day 1 of AnimeFest 2017. Full of excitement and adventure, and the weekend had barely even started.

New Fandom for Me - Doctor Who

It's been a long time since I last posted on this blog. Well, since then, I've recently become a fan of Doctor Who.

I'm sure there are a lot of Whovians out there, so pleased to meet you all. :) Although I haven't seen much except for the new Doctors (Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith), this is one fandom that will get me to branch out into the world of Science Fiction. I've gotten into the classic Firefly and just started watching Torchwood recently.

Almost four months now, and I love Doctor Who so much that I've cosplayed as the Tenth Doctor. :P

(Photo by Geddoe K. Ford)

Books. What can I say? It has been a long time since I have read an actual book instead of just graphic novels or manga. This series got me back into reading, and I am slowly getting back into it by reading Doctor Who books. I, recently, came across the Torchwood book series, so I cannot wait to dive in and read it. x3 A few words from me: Reading is something everyone should do. It opens a world of imagination beyond your normal ways of thinking and expands your knowledge of the real world.

Edit: It's been several years since I last typed this post. Not sure why it wasn't posted back then, but the words are still true to this day. :)

Managing a Cosplay Page

A lot of cosplayers, nowadays, have cosplay pages to manage their progress, costumes, and the like, whether it be on Facebook, DeviantART, or somewhere else. It also serves as a communication bridge between other cosplayers. How does one go about managing a page?

1. Make a page

Just start an account somewhere. If you have a Facebook account, it's simple to make a cosplay page. Start by going to https://www.facebook.com/pages/create/. Here, you will choose a category and name for your page. From there, you follow the simple instructions to help you get set up. Another way is to create an account on DeviantART. A lot of the cosplayers I know have one. Great place to display your artwork and communicate with others of the same interest, especially by joining groups.

2. Adding content

Now that your page/account has been created, it's time to add stuff to it. Put up future cosplay plans to keep an organized idea of which characters you'd like to bring to life. Keep Work-in-Progress photos in albums to let yourself and others know how you are keeping track of the construction of your costumes. Another thing is to put up photo shoot pictures of your cosplays, an important part to show your ability to portray a certain character. There are a lot of photographers out there, willing to help you do so. Some will charge, some will not. It all depends. Also, be sure to share tutorials or tips to help other cosplayers should they have any trouble on how to make particular parts of their costumes. Lots of prop and makeup tutorials are available as well.

3. Keeping it updated

Keep your page updated every so often, if not every day. Reason being is you will lose audience members if there is a lack of information, whatever that may be according to the person managing the page. Post memes, tutorials, tips, progress photos, etc. in order to keep your audience interested and engaged.

There are three tips on how to manage a page. You can visit mine at Platinum Angel Cosplay and Photography on Facebook as an example.

That's it for this segment. Should I continue writing? Comment your opinion. x3

Good Things Come to an End...

Anime Matsuri Pt. 3

Sunday
Alas, all good things must come to an end, but first... Let's cover the WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT! A competition where cosplayers, in teams of two, compete for a chance to be the best in the world all while building community, breaking barriers, and making new friends.

All of the teams that participated in the Qualifiers were simply amazing. Everyone had to operate their own props with no outside help, so you can only imagine how tough it can be if things don't go right the first time around. Reason why? It's because you only have one shot to make it. These cosplayers spent months upon months getting ready to compete. The lucky winning team from the US competition gets to go to Japan and compete against the rest of the world.

The Qualifiers and Finals skits were just spectacular. It's one of those events where it's just better to see it in person because of all the technicality that goes into each performance. Here is the winning team and representing Team USA, Cupcake Cosplay!

I wish them both the best of luck in this year's competition, and may they make friendships that will last a lifetime.


That's it for Anime Matsuri 2013! See you next time for more cosplay insight! =D

The Fun Continues

Anime Matsuri 2013 Pt. 2

(Source: Anime Matsuri)

On to Saturday!

Saturday

Craziest day out of ANY convention weekend. Lots of people everywhere, things to do, panels to see, and stuff to shop for. For me, it was a big day because I was entering my Rapidash cosplay into the AM Cosplay Contest later that evening. However, panic ensued when a friend of mine took my badge instead of her own. Luckily, another friend let me borrow his badge, so I can gain entrance into the hotel and make it on time to my pre-judging appointment. He sacrificed a panel that he really wanted to go to for me to have a chance to compete. ;w; To this day, I really appreciate what he did for me.

(Source: Platinum Angel Cosplay and Photography)

My day was spent on my Rapidash cosplay, pretty much. Did my craftsmanship pre-judging first thing in the morning. The judges, especially Catherine Jones, had a fun time analyzing my costume. XD They were all up in it, looking very closely at the tiny details. Why were they doing this? I had told them my costume was, completely, sewn by hand. Just needle and thread. No machine. Everything you see in the photo above, taken by Ger Tysk, was all done by hand. After the judging was complete and I got my original badge back, I just wandered around the con, for the most part. Had somewhat of a late lunch, but I was able to eat it and make it to my photo shoot with Ger.

I had a great time working with Ger. She's traveling across the country going to conventions while working on her book, Breaking All the Rules: Cosplay and the Art of Self-Expression. Through Southern Cospitality, it allowed me to get the chance to work with an amazing photographer such as herself. She's also a cosplayer at heart, and her costumes are great. Very sweet person and very passionate about photography. So passionate that I started talking photography stuff with her. =P

Immediately, I headed straight for the dressing room next to the Main Events hall to make the call time. Had I not, I'd have been cut from the contest. Snuck my friend, Alethea, in with me as my "helper." She had so much fun seeing the many contestants and their awesome costumes. This is the worst part of it all, having to wait for hours backstage while things are being set up on the main stage. As with every convention, everything starts late. With AM, it's about the technical aspect, like getting the sound system to work, livestream, and such. Not only that the SyFy network was there to film the entire contest for a show, airing in the summer. No pressure, right?

Eventually, it got to be my turn on stage. I didn't practice any poses or anything, and I was nervous, being the first time I'm actually competing for something. What else to do than to improvise? XD 

(Source:Youtube)

Afterwards, I was interviewed by Becky Young to talk about my character a little bit. Boy, did I let my mind go. I had no idea what I was talking about! LOL

Went to go have a seat near the back of the hall but ound Alethea by the wall close to the exit, so I stood with her, instead, and watched the rest of the cosplayers strut their stuff and perform their skits from there. Great job to all! (For the other cosplay videos from the contest, just follow the link and search up "ACParadise.") Found Alethea by the wall close to the exit and stood with her. Halftime show consisted of Waveya, a Korean dance team, doing a few dances while in cosplay. Alethea and I were dancing T-ara's Roly-Poly with them in the back while sitting down.

Wait time is over, and the judges came back with the results. First, they did the People's Choice Award, with their live voting system, and the Bioshock team won. So many talented cosplayers won various awards, including me. ^^ I got the Judge's Award from Catherine for my Rapidash, since she was so amazed at the work I put in to it. My very first cosplay award EVER! Thank you so much, Catherine! =D

So that was it for my Saturday. Nothing but cosplay contest stuff. XD Sunday will be pretty short but still eventful. Why, you ask? I'm covering the World Cosplay Summit next! Stay tuned!

Convention Review!

Anime Matsuri 2013 Pt. 1

Overall, I had fun throughout the convention this past weekend. I cosplayed to my heart's content, was filmed and interviewed for a TV show premiering in the summer, bumped into friends, and much more. Let's get down to the details, shall we?

Friday

Work hard, play harder. That was my whole day, pretty much. First thing in the morning, there was class time. Working on assignments and learning new material was what needed to be done before having fun. Class was soon let out, and I went to my room to finish packing and prepping for an awesome weekend. 

(Source: Anime no Kai on Facebook)

First cosplay of the weekend was Reisi Munakata from K. With the amount of people there (about 10,000 people or so), it wasn't too much fun walking around in layers because of all that generated body heat. Enough about my cosplay, let's move on to the con.

Got to the Hyatt Regency around 3:00PM. To me, it's fairly late since everything, including panels and Dealers Room, started around 12:00PM. I, personally, did not attend too many panels, but I did have fun looking around the Dealers Room, preparing to shop on Sunday. For once, I caught the Opening Ceremonies. Many of the special guests, in addition to the con chairs, introduced themselves and told the audience of their hopes of the convention; Janet Varney (voice of Korra), Matthew Mercer, Erin Fitzgerald, Carli Mosier (UH graduate), and many more.

As a cosplayer, I had a couple of photo shoots, working with a photographer to bring my character to life. So much fun being able to use my sword and be captain-y during that time. There were parts where I pretended I was on the hunt for the criminal and was able to chase him down. XD

Later that night, I attended the formal dance. In my opinion, I have more fun at that than Club AM. Classy dancing, like the waltz and swing, can be seen here. My friends and I had a blast, dancing and listening to the music. While listening to the music, we would try to guess where the song came from, be it from a video game, anime, or movie. Here's a picture of me, doing a jig and having a good old time. :)

(Source: ANIME MATSURI 2013)

Despite the crowd and the hard-to-walk-through corridors, it was not too bad for a first day. Lots more to come in the next segment.

Wait... You're a Girl?!

(Source: CosMemes)

It's typical to see girls dressed as girls and guys dressed as guys. What if girls were to dress as guys and vice versa?


Let's get into the topic of Cross-Play!


We'll focus on the process girls have to go through when they want to cosplay as male characters. I might go into how guys cross-play, but I'm not sure how that will work from my perspective. ^^;


1. Chest binding

As girls, it's not exactly easy to go from girl to guy unless you're naturally flat-chested. This is why we bind our chests to be as flat as possible to pull off the guy's body type. Although not recommended due to health reasons (namely breathing problems), using an sports bandage to wrap around the chest or duct tape to lift the breasts to the sides are two ways to go about making the chest flatter. This is the cheaper way. If you're willing to invest some money, there are good-quality chest binders that one can buy online or wherever they are sold, and those are actually better for you. They look like tank tops, essentially, but there is a material that will compress the breasts to give the look of a flat chest.

2. Make-up
Make-up can do wondrous transformations when done correctly. I don't know much since I hardly use anything but the general foundation, light blush, eye liner, and mascara, but there are tutorials everywhere to help you get the right look. Still don't know what to do? Go ask a friend with experience to help, even if he or she is not a cosplayer. The most important part is to make your cheeks more defined. The way to go about it is to use a bronzer to outline the cheek bones of the face to create depth. How defined the cheeks need to be depends on the character you are dressing as.

3. Posture
This depends on the characters themselves. If the character has one of those chill, laid-back personalities, you would probably slouch more. A character of high stature, royalty, or authority of any type would call for straight backs like a proper gentleman. These are just a couple of ideas to keep in mind.

There you have it, "how to make a man out of you" ... literally. Click here to view SaucyNoodleCosplay's crossplay video, and you can learn the basic tips of cross-play through a parody of Mulan's "I'll Make a Man Out of You." Get a good laugh out of it, too. :P


Big news! Anime Matsuri 2013 is THIS WEEKEND! Expect a convention review next time! =D