April 4th, 2009
I’m not really a fan nor am I really interested in the whole Haruhi Suzumiya franchise. With fans going boohoo over the whole bad marketing fiasco I do hope that they’re happy with the new season announcement. I’m more happy with something else that Kadokawa has recently been releasing *pause* for free *pause* on youtube instead.
For the past month or so Kadokawa has been producing short 5 min webisodes on youtube based on the Haruhi franchise called ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya’. Using more chibified characters with a comedic story each episode(ala 4koma) that has no connection whatsoever to the main show. Voiced by the same original voice actors there’s a certain amount of quality that you can expect. Heck, its even subbed in english.
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February 9th, 2009
If you’re part of a group of people who work hard on costumes, photoshoots are rewarding as you then have something to take away with you. Some people are inspired by the more serious efforts at costumes and go off to make their own, which is flattering for the designer as well as those taking the photographs.
If you take a look through you’ll see a wide variety of people, though it’d be interesting to see people’s reactions to these costumes in a non-con environment – playing online bingo, for example, or just sitting around in MacDonalds. The shoot didn’t take too long, and it was enjoyable to work with people whose passions for costume design were at a similar level to my own.
Though I didn’t stay all the way through the photoshoot due to rushing to my sister’s birthday party I did had a good haul if I can say so myself. It was unfortunate that we can’t use the rooftop location as we had planned thanks to the stupid bowling alley having a party over there. The bastards.
Here’s a few samples of what I have taken the other day. Hmm…this is giving me an idea.
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February 7th, 2009
It was the holidays and I have to admit that it really had been quite a boring one indeed. I have never been bored this much during my holidays before. Before this there was work, studies, etc and when its finally here…its total BOREDOM!!!!! So, I have taken up the liberty of learning at least 2 new skills or ’stuff’ to kill time and to put my mind and time to proper and more productive usage other than just moping around aimlessly.
I’ve always wanted to try my hands on fansubbing. I was always curious on how it was actually done for a long time(actual hands on process). So recently when Silencers asked me to join and help out EMiNA Fansubs (Yea,its technically part of a University Club) I was like “….ok”.
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January 1st, 2009
I really should have posted this before January 1st but due to a very hectic and unforgiving schedule its only possible for me to post this up now. So without further ado here it is.
P/s: “this year” = year 2008 and not 2009. Remember, I cannot read the future nor take pictures of things that may come. XD
Comic Fiesta this year was held at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Center which was a massive venue if you compared it to the last one held at Time Square in 2007. This year I volunteered as one of Comic Fiesta’s photographer and damn it was fun. The Comic Fiesta committee this time around manage to get all 3 halls of the convention center which in all sense cost a bomb and it includes multiple arms, legs, and first born too i guess.The ticket price however was higher than last year with a 50% increase from RM10 to RM15 but I understand it is to cover up the cost lah.
There was about 80 doujin booths opened this time, 20 more than last year. The sponsor booth were many but some smaller sponsors were hidden away in the sides making it difficult to spot them. However it can be seen that the biggest sponsor was HP which obviously had the biggest booth there.
The quality of cosplayers this time was superb. Influence by Singaporean cosplayers? Well, it doesn’t really matter as this time there were many Singaporeans who came up to participate in this event. That goes to show how big this event had become after so many years. I was not there for most of day 2 of the event so I couldn’t see how the cosplay competition proceeded but I heard that the ‘cosplay battle chess’ method was removed entirely to the relieve of both cosplayers and visitors alike.
Due to legality I cannot post most of my event pictures up yet so you’ll have to be satisfy with some cosplay pictures instead. Look out for the last picture in the end. Its my best picture of the year and my favorite in more ways than one.
Pon Pon Patapon!!!
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December 18th, 2008
After being whipped asked by Akiko multiple times to finish writing about AFA I’ve finally got around to complete it. Finally indeed. Now I just need to finish my 14 shows, deal with my assignment, complete 2 presentations, juggle with a midterm paper and then finish the semester with a final paper. Sigh…and I haven’t even prepared for Christmas yet. (TT_TT)
Day 2 of AFA was remarkably better than the day before in terms of numbers of both guest and cosplayers. Maybe it was because the cosplay competition was held on day 2 or that May’N’s concert was gonna be held that evening. Well to me it didn’t matter though although I did regret not buying a certain hand figurine much earlier.
Cosplayers were everywhere to be seen not to mention the quality of most costumes were really really good. Its either some of them are ridiculously talented in making costumes or some of them are so bloody rich they could afford to import cosplay items and accessories such as Zero’s (of the Code Geass series) mask/helmet. Though I like to say the first but then again after having a close look at some of their costumes and props I do have to admit some of this Singaporean(?) cosplayers are really really loaded. Suddenly I now feel abit tad sad living in Malaysia.
I bet you 10 bucks its a guy in there.
As though it didn’t get any better I met some friends from MMU’s Emina Melaka such as Lisa, Loo Mun, Hsia Liang just to name a few. 
Haven’t seen them since GACC earlier this year. I so missed the time we started GACC together…that was such a blast.
Though I didn’t manage to catch Aniki’s mini concert on Day 1(heh…) I did however catch a glimpse of his special performance on day 2 although it was nearing the end.
Anyways, I saw the most perfect Ranka Lee cosplayer evar!!! She fits the character so perfectly I was literally stunned for a few seconds.
I have to admit that there were particularly a large number of Hatsune Miku cosplayers and also those from Vocaloid.
Wut? A manga kissa? In Singapore? No way….but seriously its not that surprising. I haven’t been to their actual shop but I figure it must feel like its our local (chinese translated) manga rental shops but with more zest and more equipment like massage chairs and Japanese books.
I have to admit. I had my ass handed back to me from playing Tekken 6 against Nikki but only because I had not played Tekken for a long time okay?!!! As expected, the graphics and gameplay was good. Its really amazing that they manage to bring in the arcade machine as its currently only available in Japan. This goes the same for the new Street Fighter game as well though I did not manage to give it a try.
Fancy meeting Reno there as well. I first meet him while I was judging the Animax cosplay competition a few months back but I didn’t get a chance to talk to him until now.
Finally, a complementary picture of my overlord and master Akiko.(unfanged version cause I promised that I won’t put it up)
Then last but not least, the time that everyone has been waiting for…MAY’N!!!!!!!!!!!!! The amazing thing about being in Singapore is that not only that they have a reliable transport system that comes on time but their event schedule too starts on the clock unlike their bigger neighbor up north(unfortunately…). All I can say about the concert was that the sound system sucked so much it did not give her voice the justice it deserved, the crowd was so big I had to view the concert from a balcony 150m++ away with a 75-300mm zoom lens in which not only hurts my eye while sniping taking pictures of May’N it was also the only means in which I could get a good view from up close in which you can see from the pictures below.
The crowd went wild just as she appeared on stage and as you can see from the pics some rich otakus fans were even seen waiving glow sticks.
This was seen during all of the six songs she performed. I think its from the Diamond VIP ticket holders. Dammit.
But at the end of the day, all they got was a pre-signed piece of autograph on a square card at the meet and greet session. Disappointing to say the least.
Her last song that she performed which was ‘Iteza Gogo Kuji Don’t be late’ was so bloody EPIC I actually shed tears. You can asked any of the Emina members that went. They can vouch for me. Remember on my earlier post that I will do a Kira post at every ACG event I attend this year? Well to no further a do. Here it is…
Yes…I do know that I look like I was going to consume her soul from this picture but you can blame Nikki for this using my Sony Alpha. Its ok Nikki I know Sony is not your thing I prefer Nikon myself if I got a choice.
Oh, by the way I didn’t actually cry while May’N was singing ‘Iteza Gogo Kuji Don’t be late’ taking the long range shots through the viewfinder just took a strain on my eyes and tears just flowed.
