Like Bim, I felt apprehensive to approach CosPlayers during the recently concluded 2008 ToyCon primarily because I won’t be using a DSLR camera. If it was me wearing a costume and some random stranger wants to take my photo with a camphone, I’d feel paranoid, too. But being the hoe that I am, I’d probably be paranoid for only about 2 seconds tops.
Since Sunday was the last ToyCon day, I decided to put my Paparazzi-cum-stalker powers to a test. Seeing that several DSLR wielding people inside the venue looked more like child-pron-talent-scouts glorified with brand name cameras and little known talent, I let my ego feed on the idea that I am way better than most of them when we take the following into consideration: (1) I looked like a rockstar, as always; (2) I’m a brilliant point and shoot photographer, refer my “about” page for the ratified self-proclamation; (3) I have newly-acquired Photoshop skillz, validated several times by DSLR wielding peers (huzzah!); and most importantly (4) cosplayers “may” trust me because of my dead ringer of an anime-like hairdo.
There’s one small problem, though: there are only a few CosPlayers left in the venue since it’s already the last hour of the last day of the event. Bummer.
I had already given up, only idly walking around and getting seriously bored, when I chanced upon a group who went as characters in the anime series closest to my heart of late, Bleach. Now, this group, IMHO, tops all other CosPlay teams I’ve seen during the entire two days in that they looked their part and they had all sorts of detail going on with each of their costumes: hair, weapons, ornaments, you name it. They all look good, too. I mean, come on, we’ve all seen really bad looking cosplayers (bad hair, oversized/badly done costume, bad body paint/makeup, awkward movements, and uneasy poses. Also dirty costume. Here’s a tip for wannabes: unless you are trying to impersonate an acne-faced character, leave your acne-filled face at home if you have one. Better yet, hide behind a mask. Thank you very much) and this group looked far from being one.
The bad news is, since I got a bit shy during this entire operation, I never got any of their details like what school they’re from, who made the costume, what their names are, etc.
I first came up to the guy with a whole lot of Abarai Renji going on, asked his permission for a shot, and the rest of his team followed. What’s amazing with this collection is they did awesome poses for me (operative word being “ME”). And for the other people who just clicked on their useless cameras when it was I who mustered the courage to ask these guys politely to pose, screw you! Yes, I’m looking at you, guy beside me on my left who bumped my hand while I was composing my shot. Asshole.
Anyway, I gave two of their members my business card and I hope they do drop by to see the little justice I came up with to celebrate their great effort.
After that long-ass intro, I finally present to you, Bleach.
Twitter Updates
16 June 2008 at 4:12 am
You should have told them cosplayers to look FIERCE!
16 June 2008 at 4:18 am
“Look fierce for the camphone!” Parang mali. LOL I would have if I knew them personally. Schiffer can’t look fierce. It’s not his character to lookit. Hinamori is as jolly as her character. Renji almost looked the part but it took me two shots and the first one did not fire. Next time, I’ll bring a DSLR. I promise :D
16 June 2008 at 4:35 am
Still no Hard Gay, I see. You suck.
^_^
16 June 2008 at 4:58 am
Kaya pala di mo nakita yung first comment mo sa previous post, na-mark ng akismet as spam LOL. Wala na si Hard Gay kanina eh. Meron, though, Edward Elric na kala ko at first si Goldilocks. Si Aerith andun. Then, syempre, si Alodia. Di ko sya kinunan. Snooty ako eh. LOL
16 June 2008 at 10:14 am
Wow! You have mad skillz step dad!
16 June 2008 at 10:18 am
To get people to pose for me you mean? LOL Thanks, step-son.
16 June 2008 at 4:55 pm
Nyahahaha! Yay for snooty rockstar omaritay-ing photographers!
16 June 2008 at 5:58 pm
I just remembered something I’ve read before. There’s this telltale existence of unique individuals who can draw out the best from their subjects by their mere presence. Some argue that it’s the muse. Some say it’s the artist himself. Some argue further that it happens when the muse and the artist, for a moment, unites. It has been said that these unique beings are not limited by a medium they are most comfortable with.
Siguro naalala ko dahil may kilala akong ganitong ganito ang traits. Malakas kutob ko na sya na yun. LOL
16 June 2008 at 6:43 pm
When you showed me those pics last night I was like “whoa!”
16 June 2008 at 7:41 pm
I dunno though if they won. Also, I’ve seen shots of this group from other cameras from elsewhere in the net and it’s funny that they did not look as convincing. Is it just me? (nuh-uh, that ain’t a question LOL)
16 June 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hi sir! This is Jill – the girl who cosplayed as Hinamori Momo.
Thank you so much for complimenting our BLEACH group!
I hope you won’t mind if I grab the photos or, um, if I simply copy the link to this site to post in one of my blogs.
16 June 2008 at 8:49 pm
W00t! You came! You may get all six, they have my name and URL anyway. Would a link love to this post be too much to ask? LOL Thanks for dropping by.
16 June 2008 at 9:16 pm
Oh thank you so much!
Oh and um, the guy with the Kon plushie isn’t really cosplaying as anyone. Well, he is per se, but not part of the group. ^^;
16 June 2008 at 9:21 pm
LOLOLOLOLOLOL no wonder he didn’t have a Shinigami pose! He owes me because I had a hard time deciphering who he went as. Also, please tell your posse to drop by. I didn’t get to congratulate your group much. At least this post could. Thanks.
16 June 2008 at 10:00 pm
I so envy you cosplayers. I’ve been dreaming of spending thousands to cosplay Cloud Strife or Kogure but… aaaack!
This is the 11th cosplay event I got invited tapos hindi naman ako naka-attend. The last time was coincidental–kasabay ng i-Witness Docufest. And so I was able to enter the premises without being detected. Yun nga lang, everyone was looking at me wearing a black shirt with a big i-Witness logo printed all over so I hidez from ze enemiez.
17 June 2008 at 1:01 pm
Fritz could have pulled off a better Ichigo. I mean, just look at his do! Parang walang ka-effort effort diba?
17 June 2008 at 1:09 pm
Secret natin, wag mo pagsasabi sa iba, ha, Neil. Promisemo muna! Sige, here goes: Japanese talaga ako. shhhhh! Sikreto sabi eh! Baka marinig ng iba.
17 June 2008 at 1:11 pm
Ang effort, nasa pag-tanggal ng nasa buhok pagsapit ng gabi. Wag mo na masyado ulit-ulitin na magkabuhok kami ni Ichi, malapit na talaga akong maniwala!
26 June 2008 at 1:16 am
Hi Sir Fritz! We’re the Bleach Group from ToyCon and we would just like to say thank you very much for your review of our cosplay. It’s only been our third time at it and to hear such awesome feedback really makes us very happy. You’d be glad to know too that there are actually 9 people in our group and that we would all be happy to pose for you. Oh and don’t get shy around us, we love getting to meet new people and making new friends in events such as these. Hope to see you on the next con and again thank you very much!
27 June 2008 at 10:05 am
Awww. Drop me a message with your next sched and we’ll see what we can come up with :D Thanks guys! You rock!
5 October 2008 at 11:52 pm
cool I love international cosplayers (I’m from Brazil) and here, too we have a lot of cosplayers, I’m from a Bleach group here in Brazil, and like I said, I’m Kisuke Urahara of my group