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Extremely Belated Con Reviews
6 min read
So, in the time since I last made a journal (I know, I've been terrible), I've actually been to three cons: London MCM, Japan Expo and Alcon. I'm not gonna ramble too much about MCM and Alcon, because although they were really good cons, I've been to both of them before, but I will say a bit about each of them.
London MCM Comic Con
I went for all three days of this con in May. I wore Haruhi Fujioka on Friday, Lloyd Irving on Saturday and a half-finished Martel Yggdrasill on Sunday. Crystaldemy9 was my wonderful Mithos on Saturday and I met with a lot of friends and talked to a lot of new people.
Friday was mostly meeting people and chilling. It wasn't a busy day inside the hall and a lot of stuff was looked at and conversations had.
On Saturday, I went to the Tales panel, although Crystaldemy9 and I were late to it and couldn't participate in the contest to win the PS3 and lunch with Hideo Baba. Still, we weren't too disappointed on account of the fact that the moment we stepped into the hall, Hideo Baba stopped what he was doing, pointed and waved at us, having recognised our cosplays. We then went to his signing, met and talked to him. Whereupon a gaggle of Tales cosplayers formed just by his stand and just sort of... stayed there, attracting more and more people until a Namco Bandai official came to talk to us.
I remember thinking we were about to be moved on for blocking the Xillia demos. But no. Hideo Baba had sent this person to ask us if we would mind hanging around a bit longer until the end of the signing so that he could get a photo with us.
On Sunday, I went with my boyfriend to get his copy of Tales of the Abyss signed and so spoke with Hideo Baba yet again. Although the day was again spent meeting and lolling around with friends while looking at some brilliant stuff.
You might be thinking, there was a lot of Tales in that weekend. Well yes, there was and I thought that would be a once in a lifetime experience, meeting Hideo Baba, seeing so much Tales. That's why I haven't focussed on much else for what was actually a pretty packed con.
But I was wrong because:
Japan Expo
My wonderful boyfriend took us both to Japan Expo, which he later announced was for my birthday. The biggest convention in Europe was an absolutely amazing experience. I met so many brilliant people from all different countries. You know who you are. It was really great to spent time with you all.
I arrived at the con on Thursday, when I'd planned to enter the Tales of Ambassador Contest with a friend. I wore a finished Martel Yggdrasill cosplay and I performed a skit on stage for the very first time. It didn't go amazingly up there, but I'm very glad I did it because it was a great experience to have. And once again, I met some brilliant people and saw some perfect cosplays and skits backstage. I can't emphasise enough how much fun this day was. Backstage we were visited by the judges, who included Katsuyuki Konishi and Hideo Baba. And I may have had a conversation with Mutsumi Inomata, one of the Tales character Designers, in which I praised the character designs without actually knowing that this was who I was talking to until afterwards.
The days have all blurred into one from here on out. But I know that much melon bread was eaten, many things bought, and a lot seen and done. I went to certain talks. And saw Katsuyuki Konishi (VA for Lloyd Irving) dub a scene of the ToS: OVA. And I was also standing in the crowd (and maybe shrieking a little) when ToX2 was announced as well as the dual audio on ToS Chronicles.
I won't keep rambling on about details - there was SO much to see. There were huge models of things, like Alphonse Elric, and walls covered in animation stills from Puella Magi Madoka Magica. You name it, it was there, pretty much. I will just say a final shout out to the lovely German and French people I met and spent time with. You guys made the con so much better.
Alcon
Short review for this! Alcon is one of those conventions that focuses more on chilling and hanging out with people. There is a gigantic slide nearby and a lot of fun was had on that playground, both late a night when the children were gone and again in the day.
I didn't cosplay Thursday, just met people I hadn't seen in a long while and enjoyed food and the entertainments of the night.
Friday was Yuan day. I wore Yuan for the penultimate time and had a photoshoot with friends, who were all cosplaying different series, but for my boyfriend, who wore his in-progress Kratos cosplay that we spent the morning attempting to rescue the wig for. Photos were taken, panels attended and food eaten. Much derping was done.
Saturday was Lloyd Irving day and saw yet more derping, panels and photos, although I had lost my suspenders (braces) so I hadn't planned on getting any. The best thing probably to happen on this day was that I was chatting to a person on the door outside the panel and somebody leaned over and said something like, "Great Lloyd cosplay - I really love your wig. Lloyd is my favourite Symphonia character."
It was Twinfools, one of my cosplay idols. The guy who got me into wig styling. I don't think I've recovered from the feelings that came with that moment. My convention was made.
Sunday was predominantly panels, dealers hall, meeting people and yet more derping as Haruhi Fujioka this time.
And now this very long, rambling and probably boring account of my summer is completed.
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Japan Expo!
1 min read
I just realised I never actually reviewed London MCM. That's how busy I was. It's safe to say it was awesome but I will review it properly when I get back from France.
France!
My wonderful boyfriend is taking me to France for Japan Expo! A full review will be written but for now, here are my plans:
Thursday: I will be entering the Tales of Xillia Ambassador Contest, dressed as Martel Yggdrasill from Tales of Symphonia.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be one of these costumes depending on the weather. I'm so unorganised.
Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran High School Host Club
Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia
Female Zelos Wilder - Tales of Symphonia.
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London MCM Plans
2 min read
First, I can't believe they've changed it from London MCM Expo to London MCM Comic Con. Comics are already the 'C' in MCM. And I think I might be stuck calling it Expo after 4 years of it...
Anyway, I'm kinda in a huge rush to make a cosplay with 7 days. This is day 5 so yeah... panic stations! But it's okay because I have a plan. That plan is here:
Friday: Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran High School Host Club. Status: Ah darn it, I forgot to replace my too small shirt. -.-; Complete-ish
Saturday: Martel Yggdrasill (not Mana, so dress version) - Tales of Symphonia. Status: So much left to do... If it doesn't come together in time, I will be in this:
Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia. Status: Why, in 3 years, have I not managed to complete a single pair of boot covers? Complete enough.
Sunday: Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia. Status: See above. If I end up wearing this on Saturday instead of Martel then it'll be:
Yuan Ka-Fai - Tales of Symphonia. Status: Requires safety pins to make fit properly. Wig needs cutting. Complete enough to be wearable.
If it turns out to be really warm, Zelos may get a look in on Sunday. But that cosplay isn't finished either and I don't have the resources to do it.
Yes, all of the Tales. Hideo Baba will be there; I have an excuse this time.
Anyway, I'm kinda in a huge rush to make a cosplay with 7 days. This is day 5 so yeah... panic stations! But it's okay because I have a plan. That plan is here:
Friday: Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran High School Host Club. Status: Ah darn it, I forgot to replace my too small shirt. -.-; Complete-ish
Saturday: Martel Yggdrasill (not Mana, so dress version) - Tales of Symphonia. Status: So much left to do... If it doesn't come together in time, I will be in this:
Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia. Status: Why, in 3 years, have I not managed to complete a single pair of boot covers? Complete enough.
Sunday: Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia. Status: See above. If I end up wearing this on Saturday instead of Martel then it'll be:
Yuan Ka-Fai - Tales of Symphonia. Status: Requires safety pins to make fit properly. Wig needs cutting. Complete enough to be wearable.
If it turns out to be really warm, Zelos may get a look in on Sunday. But that cosplay isn't finished either and I don't have the resources to do it.
Yes, all of the Tales. Hideo Baba will be there; I have an excuse this time.
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Obligatory GemuCon Ramble
2 min read
First, I'd like to point out this was over a month ago. But I got back and had a deadline, then an exam, by which time, I'd totally forgotten about updating my journal. Though to be honest, I don't really remember much about the con.
On the first day, there wasn't a dealers' hall. So we arrived, ate a free cupcake. Oh gosh the cupcakes ended up EVERYWHERE. Some numbskull decided it was a good idea to smear them on banisters. Not fun for cosplayers. Not fun. And a huge waste of food. After spotting a couple of awesome cosplayers, we changed into our cosplays and came back to the con. I wore Yuan Ka-Fai from the first Tales of Symphonia game, though at some point, I procured a pirate hat from my friend dressed as Moretsu Space Pirates' Marika and much derping occured. We went to a cosplay panel, and TomSka's and then came the opening ceremony, in which we were told, 'No Gemu Babies'.
...Thanks to that guy, in 9 months time, there is bound to be one.
Day two was Saturday. I wore my half finished Zelos Wilder. I remember hitting the dealers' hall, having McDonalds, playing a lot of Taiko, Brawl and retro games, seeing some stuff on the main stage, eating at Yo Sushi, braiding the Zelos wig and spending the night hanging out in a hotel room.
Sunday, I completed my Tales weekend (they're the only game cosplays I own; don't judge) by wearing Lloyd. We played yet more Taiko, Brawl and retro games, got a free drink and made the journey back to Norwich.
As you can probably tell, it was a good time for a first year con but it wasn't amazing. The dealers hall wasn't the biggest, the parties were kinda dead and my friend spent most of her time comparing it to better cons she'd been to and wanting to sleep. But I am very much looking forward to London MCM Expo. And I'll post a journal of my plans soon.
On the first day, there wasn't a dealers' hall. So we arrived, ate a free cupcake. Oh gosh the cupcakes ended up EVERYWHERE. Some numbskull decided it was a good idea to smear them on banisters. Not fun for cosplayers. Not fun. And a huge waste of food. After spotting a couple of awesome cosplayers, we changed into our cosplays and came back to the con. I wore Yuan Ka-Fai from the first Tales of Symphonia game, though at some point, I procured a pirate hat from my friend dressed as Moretsu Space Pirates' Marika and much derping occured. We went to a cosplay panel, and TomSka's and then came the opening ceremony, in which we were told, 'No Gemu Babies'.
...Thanks to that guy, in 9 months time, there is bound to be one.
Day two was Saturday. I wore my half finished Zelos Wilder. I remember hitting the dealers' hall, having McDonalds, playing a lot of Taiko, Brawl and retro games, seeing some stuff on the main stage, eating at Yo Sushi, braiding the Zelos wig and spending the night hanging out in a hotel room.
Sunday, I completed my Tales weekend (they're the only game cosplays I own; don't judge) by wearing Lloyd. We played yet more Taiko, Brawl and retro games, got a free drink and made the journey back to Norwich.
As you can probably tell, it was a good time for a first year con but it wasn't amazing. The dealers hall wasn't the biggest, the parties were kinda dead and my friend spent most of her time comparing it to better cons she'd been to and wanting to sleep. But I am very much looking forward to London MCM Expo. And I'll post a journal of my plans soon.
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GemuCon! (And LAC..)
2 min read
Wow, I haven't updated in 3 months... I'm still alive; I've just been busy with uni stuff. But now I have a good reason for an update: this Friday, I should be getting on a train to GemuCon, which will be running until Sunday. I've only been to London MCM, Alcon and London Anime Con so far so I'm looking forward to seeing what this one's like.
Oh, that's right, I never mentioned London Anime Con. It was a last minute choice to go and to be perfectly honest, it wasn't really worth the amount of money I spent on it... The dealer's hall was better than expected, and it wasn't a bad con. It was just that London was expensive and if you weren't taking part in events it was a lot of money to spend on hanging out with people you'll see soon again anyway. That said, I may go again in July if I'm really that bored by then and someone's willing to share accommodation with me.
But anyway! Back to GemuCon!
Since it's a gaming convention, I was originally going to take Lloyd Irving, Yuan Ka-Fai and Skyward Sword Zelda. But... I didn't find a good Zelda wig and order it quickly enough. So that clearly wasn't going to happen. Now I could just have worn Lloyd or Yuan twice, or picked on non-gaming Cosplay like Haruhi Fujioka, Ciel Phantomhive or Lathenia. But no, that would have been too simple. Instead I went with the pimp plan and commenced Operation: 0 to Sexy in 10 Days.
I've made a female Zelos Wilder cosplay. 7 days into this challenge and I've just got the fastenings to go on the coat, the Cruxis Crystal, Lloyd's Exsphere, and white trousers to fine before it's all wearable. I'd also like to get Yuan's armour altered but I doubt I've got the time or the courage for that yet.
Here's the line-up as it looks right now:
Friday 5th April: Female Zelos Wilder
Saturday 6th April: Lloyd Irving.
Sunday 7th April: Yuan Ka-Fai (and the Swallow, weather permitting)
Exciting stuff!
Oh, that's right, I never mentioned London Anime Con. It was a last minute choice to go and to be perfectly honest, it wasn't really worth the amount of money I spent on it... The dealer's hall was better than expected, and it wasn't a bad con. It was just that London was expensive and if you weren't taking part in events it was a lot of money to spend on hanging out with people you'll see soon again anyway. That said, I may go again in July if I'm really that bored by then and someone's willing to share accommodation with me.
But anyway! Back to GemuCon!
Since it's a gaming convention, I was originally going to take Lloyd Irving, Yuan Ka-Fai and Skyward Sword Zelda. But... I didn't find a good Zelda wig and order it quickly enough. So that clearly wasn't going to happen. Now I could just have worn Lloyd or Yuan twice, or picked on non-gaming Cosplay like Haruhi Fujioka, Ciel Phantomhive or Lathenia. But no, that would have been too simple. Instead I went with the pimp plan and commenced Operation: 0 to Sexy in 10 Days.
I've made a female Zelos Wilder cosplay. 7 days into this challenge and I've just got the fastenings to go on the coat, the Cruxis Crystal, Lloyd's Exsphere, and white trousers to fine before it's all wearable. I'd also like to get Yuan's armour altered but I doubt I've got the time or the courage for that yet.
Here's the line-up as it looks right now:
Friday 5th April: Female Zelos Wilder
Saturday 6th April: Lloyd Irving.
Sunday 7th April: Yuan Ka-Fai (and the Swallow, weather permitting)
Exciting stuff!
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