Monday, March 28, 2011

A Cosplay interview with Meiko (Vocaloid)

And i finally have this video up! The Cosplayer in topic today is our ever kawaii and cool Reiko! Yes, she’s the nameless boyfriend in our Just be Friends Cosplay PV.
She wowed us all at afa last year with her impressive and sizzling hot Meiko cosplay. She was so popular the photography requests kept coming in.

As with my usual custom when i interview a cosplayer, i also do a short write up. But this has got to be the most difficult one. It seems like the closer you are with the interviewee the lesser questions you can cook up! And Reiko has got to be one of the most experienced cosplayer to be interviewed by far. Truth be told, she's been in the community longer than me! So that makes her my senpai ahaaahaha!

Ok jokes aside, her meiko cosplay really wowed everyone. Personally, I think the best thing about her cosplays is her ability to bring life to the character.
Some people wear a costume and call it cosplay. Some people slap some colours on their face and call it make up. But cosplay on her is a form of art that displays craftsmanship, styling abilities and character portrayal at its pinnacle. It's not always easy to juggle all that and get the right blend of everything in the end. But she did it anyway =)
I also love how flexible she is in portraying characters from both gender convincingly. JBF nameless BF and Meiko yeay yeay??
According to Reiko, the wig alone cost 4800yen and the microphone was 4000yen. I feel the pinch >.<||| And yes, Cosplay can be expensive T_T. The loveliest part of this cosplay is how the entire costume was constructed entirely by her. Go watch the video and see her explain every detail if you haven’t yet.
Photo credits to: Songster69
But there's a down side to being so gorgeous and sexy though. At events you become the target of hentai jiji or random event goers who are just there for the free candy.
She's a pretty girl in pretty costume and receives countless photo taking request. But a few of those who took photos with her somehow had the impression that cosplayers were alright with being touched and tried to place their hands on her waist =.=|||  a little too intimate with someone you don't know right?
  Photo credits to: Songster69

I'm not trying to imply that all event goers are bad and perverted. But I would like to remind everyone, that despite her highly urbanized society, Singapore is still largely a conservative Asian country. You don't place your hand around the uncle sitting beside you on the train so you shouldn't try that with a cosplayer you just saw at an event either! If you really want to (and god knows why you so desperately wants to !) , at least ASK for permission before doing it.
I’m sorry if I got off tangle here.I just felt the need to talk about it after reading Reiko’s comment on my previous entry about photographers.
Finally, to end this entry off, I would like to thank my dearest and cutest Reiko for accepting the interview and sharing so much!
Photo credits to: Zell

 



She’s too cute. So I couldn’t help showcasing all the Meiko photos on her gallery. Go visit her at her DA now!

Amaterase Cosplay Team in korea

Someone recently pimped me a cosplay performance on youtube. It was so cool I went to check out the uploader’s channel and discovered that it features performance video by this group of Korean Cosplay team called Amaterase.
I can’t seem to find more information about them on english google. But from the video description it seems like the group comprised of fourteen members, three of them were World Cosplay Summit representatives for Korea.
Which led me to think, they are the same bunch of people who this this epic D Gray Man Cosplay in 2007.

 
Rurouni Kenshin will forever have an important place in my heart =) I especially love 2:10 where soujirou turned and some sparks flew! HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!?!!
 
Did you see the amount of awesome fight stunts in there? I just wish I could understand what they are talking =\
Love their body language and really really agile moves! You’d think they are the game characters themselves! The mostest awesomest thing you can do when cosplaying a fighting character is to be able to FIGHT! A lot of armor cosplay falls short in this area and is too bulky to even move. But Amaterase’s team did a pretty good job making sure nothing falls out from their costume while they execute their fantastic gymnastic/stunt moves xD
Check the videos out!! I think they really bring cosplay performance and character portrayal to greater heights. Something I hope Singapore can match up soon.

らき☆すた 実写版  (LUCKY STAR -TRUE MAN SHOW)


HAhahahhaa..... has anyone seen this before xD?

Morning Musume - Maji Desuka Ska!

Hmm, I don't know what to think of auto-tune generation. Riho is a great dancer but her singing is bad, Kanon has personality but her mole is distracting, Mizuki didn't even make it to S/mileage so I don't know what she's doing in MM, and Erina is a weird choice (even for Tsunku) to say the least. I guess I'll give it a couple more singles.

Alodia Commenters of the Week feat. Abundouche

Someone's really mad now...

Random Picture of the Day

White knight commander rebels

Alodia's Early April Fools' Joke

Nice try, I guess.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Top 5 Martial Arts To Try Out This Summer

I know what you're thinking: thanks to the valiant efforts of GT and company, you're beginning to realize just how pathetic you are for being a cosplayer. You're a good-for-nothing, parasitic piece-o-shit and you know it. Well, I have good news for you. It's not too late to change your heinous ways. There is still hope. You can still do good for yourself and the entire human race.

That is, to train in martial arts and become a better person.

This summer, a lot of programs are opening up in their attempt to cash in on the millions of kids who will be on vacation. You won't run out of options, but there's no point in joining some fancy pants taekwondo or gay "sensei is touching my private parts!" aikido. Here's a list of the best martial arts disciplines for real men and kick-ass ladies (theoretically, of course, because they serve better as outlets of relief for the summer heat).

==========================

MMA. Mixed martial arts in the sense of "BJJ with a bit of everything else" has already established solid ground in the Philippines, with competitions such as URCC to showcase the top talents (sort of) of Pinoy MMA. MMA is good for starters because, contrary to popular belief, it's actually easy to get into MMA without prior martial arts background.

MMA has reached a point where there can be a standard to speak of - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mixed with kickboxing/Muay Thai and/or some other striking base. You don't need experience in these mentioned styles, because MMA is a system in and of itself where you can start learning the basics and hone your skills from there. Also, grappling arguably takes less skill to pull off effectively, making it ideal as a quick self-defense fix.

Boxing. Fanatics would argue that boxing is nothing more of a ring sport, but it's the kind of sport where you'll learn how to break people's skulls. Conditioning training for boxing also benefits everyone. Should you choose not to take the career of a boxer, the training will still make you fitter and stronger all around. It's like going to the gym with an added bonus of learning how to throw a punch and move in a fight.

Muay Thai. This tenacious martial art is revered by many to be the best ever for good reason. Muay Thai is a no nonsense fighting style where you are trained to turn every limb of your body into a weapon. Hit with your elbow a thousand times, elbow becomes tougher. It's that simple.

Unfortunately, authentic Muay Thai is so harsh its fighters retire as early as in their mid-20s, and local Muay Thai clubs are often watered down imitations. If you're lucky enough to find a real Muay Thai instructor (perhaps a former champion), however, the style can really turn you into a beast with insanely powerful and quick elbow and knee strikes.

Kyokushin karate. There was a time when Muay Thai ruled the planet, the Gracies were still developing BJJ, and karate practitioners could only shake their heads when offered a challenge by Muay Thai fighters. Mas Oyama changed all that by introducing the world to the strongest karate, Kyokushin. Kyokushin karateka not only trained to hit as hard as the greatest Muay Thai warriors, they also conditioned themselves to take punishment.

As with other "imported" martial arts, the problem here is finding the right club to train in. The biggest Kyokushin organization in the country is Kyokushinkaikan (extension of IKO1 in Japan), but unless you're training directly under its leader Steven Foo, I wouldn't suggest it. From what I've seen, students outside their main dojo in San Juan don't have the heart and ability you'd expect from a Kyokushin karateka. They're aspiring sportsmen more than anything. I could be wrong, but I don't think they even know how to meditate.

I prefer the Kyokushin-kan group (IKO6) in Makati. It's a smaller, tightly-knit group intent on preserving Kyokushin for what it was. I've met a couple of their guys and they were serious motherfuckers you wouldn't wanna mess with.

FMA. Sadly little known among Filipino people but legendary elsewhere is Filipino martial arts, which encompasses a variety of disciplines all made to kill. I say FMA as a consolidated system because you can't really go wrong with any FMA style, be it arnis, eskrima, kali, yawyan, or whatever you want to call it.

The names are somewhat confusing, so it's better to just understand that a reputable FMA system will probably have all you need, both weapon-based and empty hand. FMA will teach you to be as effective with a heavy yantok as you are with a butter knife. Train for a while, and you'd be able to beat any slugger easy and handle an armed opponent with ease.

Here I would suggest Grandmaster Henry Espera who founded Rapido Realismo Kali, or instructors of Kali Ilustrisimo who trained directly under the godly Tatang Ilustrisimo himself. Of course there are other respected groups, with Doce Pares ringing the most bells, but these two I can personally vouch for. Train with GM Henry and you'll even get the prestigious chance to be on the same ground as me.

==========================

Some of you may say, "Hey GT, you do Jeet Kune Do but it's not in the list. How come?" The answer is the same you'd give to a question of poverty: politics. Recognized JKD in the Philippines is so ill-ridden with politics, it's not worth it. Joey Perico's camp has been claiming it has the sole right to teach JKD locally, while Joel Ramos has been literally trolling Perico for ages.

Both, as far as I can tell, aren't even good. Perico's TKD background shows in his club, leading to too much flashy kicks in their system. Ramos isn't even fit to do half the things he teaches. If you somehow come across a serious JKD instructor (a good sign would be he'd still be training despite his old age, and has both great speed and power), then JKD is the way to go.

I, Bishie



MARK ROMULO TUMBAGAHAN
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Plurking
Dislikes: Bankruptcy

I, Kodona



STEVEN VIVERO
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Fans
Dislikes: Stalkers

I, Lolita



ELEREM BACHOCO
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Wigs
Dislikes: Wig Borrowers

I, Kyuubi



VON FRITZ EVANGELISTA
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Nudeplay
Dislikes: Facebook Photo Upload Ban

I, Nichan



VENCH JOSEPH MAGALONA
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Moe
Dislikes: Childish Brats

I, Decora



MA. METUZELLAH EVANGELISTA
Status: Hitsuzen Core
Likes: Anything Korean
Dislikes: Rush Costumes

I, Moe



EDWARD PAUL ANGELO AMPARADO
Status: Hitsuzen Kizuna
Likes: Fans
Dislikes: Haters

I, Vampire



JHAME KEVIN TRAYFALGAR
Status: Hitsuzen Kizuna
Likes: Hitsuzen Inc
Dislikes: Dead Hamsters

I, Ningyo



JENSEY JANE AYENDE
Status: Hitsuzen Kizuna
Likes: Sewing
Dislikes: Curfews

I, Samurai



PAOLO ROBERT FLORES
Status: Hitsuzen Kizuna
Likes: Dragons
Dislikes: Liars

I, Ganguro



JOSALIE SOLIS
Status: Hitsuzen Kizuna
Likes: Kuroshitsuji
Dislikes: Unpaid Debts

Erskine Pic of the Day

Foreskine gets OWNED in his own game

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Beatrix: Lining & Belt



It's such a pain in the ass this lining thing. The trick is to make the lining an exact copy of the coat, but a little bit bigger. I've left a big part undone to have the chance to play around with the size. I think I have to make it a little bit smaller to make it move nicely.


My motivation for the coat fell like newtons apple. So I've begun to work with the belt instead. I found it in a second hand store, it's such a perfect match in shape but not in colour. To solve this colour problem, I found some shoe cream, and I'm currentely working with this right now.

Reina Tanaka Shoujo S Cover

Ok, this is one of the coolest idol-related videos I've seen without the presence of Airi.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Erskine Pic of the Day

Because some whores you can buy with soft drinks

Random Picture of the Day

All you girls want some of this

Horny Boy Toy: S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Double CycloneJokerXtreme

Kamen Rider W was one of the more unique entries in the Heisei-era line of Kamen Rider shows based solely on the fact that the titular Rider was made up of two guys in one body. The fact that they look like girly men (though this seems to be the recurring trend in tokusatsu shows in recent memory) doesn't help in quelling the yaoi-undertones but both leads turn-out to be badasses in their own right despite their questionable fashion sense (hair clips?) and half-boiled (I sure hope it ain't the balls) decision making. However, once you go past all of those eccentricities, Kamen Rider W is in my opinion, one of the best Heisei-era series (and Riders) ever made.

Kamen Rider Double CycloneJokerXtreme

The S.H.Figuarts toy line has already been a staple (cash cow) when it comes to Rider merchandise and W is no exception with all his different forms accessed through USB-like devices called Gaia Memories. Kamen Rider Double CycloneJokerXtreme (CJX for short) is Double's ultimate form (in the TV series since a Gold version pops out in two movies) acquired through the use of the Xtreme Memory which attaches itself to the Double Driver. The Xtreme Memory allows Philip's (clip boy) and Shotaro's (half-boiled boy) bodies to merge into one (I can almost hear the fan girls scream).

"XTREMEEE!!!"

As for the toy itself, one thing to note about the SHF CJX is that it's... skinny, at least compared to the CJX on the show which was quite bulky. It's obvious Bandai has been reusing the SHF molds for their W line-up and while the bodies themselves have excellent articulation and build quality (especially when compared to the OOO ones), not all forms of Double (or even the other characters) go well with them. Nonetheless, articulation-wise, CJX is quite poseable and all of the signature moves in the show are easily replicated.

"Prism Bicker!"

CJX comes with his signature weapon, the Prism Bicker which is kinda' like a shield with a sword that's not quite as long as a sword. There's nothing special about the Prism Bicker accessory and a better paint job on the inserted Gaia Memories on the shield would've been nice, but at a scale this small, it's understandable.

Design-wise, CJX is a hit-or-miss for most, considering he's not exactly the coolest looking Rider out there. The head looks like a rip-off of NEW Den-O's Vega Form and the X and W motif is a bit distracting and off-putting for most people. The silver banding (supposedly with glitters but the toy doesn't have those so -1 for accuracy) down the middle is called the Crystal Server and is a link that connects Double to the Earth's knowledge bank (or whatever that's called), but apparently the suit designers weren't using their own knowledge banks when they slapped it right on the middle of Double.

The ankle joints are much much better than that of the OOO line (yeah, blame the shit economy for cost cutting), particularly since they didn't use ball-joints for Double. In fact, pre-OOO, the ankles of the S.H.Figuarts toy line were one of the best, if not the best, ones in the articulated figure world since they offered greater mobility and stability than the usual joints found in other competing products. It's quite hard to explain the complex mechanism of the ankles but it's easy to say that the mix of die-cast materials and the ingenious design allow for unmatched flexibility while retaining a solid feel.

"Bicker Charge Break!"

"Double Prism Xtreme!!!"

So is CJX a worth it buy? Personally, I'd recommend getting the basic CycloneJoker version if you're not into the design of CJX. The proportions of CJX are also less accurate because of the lack of bulk, but other than that, you're still getting a quality toy with excellent poseability and play value. Being Double's perfect form, it's also a good investment if you're planning on recreating some of the defining scenes of the show (e.g epic final battle against Utopia Dopant). Overall, CJX, despite its numerous flaws, is still a nice, if unspectacular, figure to have (it also helps that it's going for a relatively cheaper price compared to other SHFs).

"Saa, omae no tsumi o kazoero!"

Thursday, March 24, 2011

PinoyCosplay Presents: Youngest Professional Cosplayer

What is a professional cosplayer?
-Something that doesn't exist.
But how come we have one right now?
-It is because there are many druggies out there who took so much drugs and now they are having delusions of non-existent beings.

And today, we shall feature one of these non-existent beings. Youngest Professional Cosplayer.

Youngest Professional Cosplayer, is known for being a professional. Meaning she works at a very young age. Seriously... I'm not shitting you guys! But what idiot would accept minors? Wouldn't that make the employer go to jail? Why the fuck am I asking myself all these questions? Let's just move on...

It all started when a little girl had a dream of becoming the next Idol.

Youngest Professional Cosplayer started out by performing at bars, like how most celebrities start.

But sadly, that was not enough to boost her fame and career. After she heard of the Cosplay Goddess' success story, Youngest Professional Cosplayer ventured into the world of cosplaying and showed the world what is underneath her skirt.

And so, that got the attention of them pedophiles.
(photo was taken by a creepy old stalker named Mike)

And with the help of the pedophiles, her career started to move forward, she would do anything for her career. (according to Captain CS, the pic below is a cosplay pic of Sawako from K-ON!!!)

After months of cosplaying, she met a certain pedophile who gave her a chance to shine.

How was she given a chance to shine? Of course, a private performance to the pedophile of a very very hard dance, that took the Goddess all her life to master. But for Youngest Professional Cosplayer, having a background in performing in bars, she did very well in this really really really hard dance.

After her successful dance peformance, she was recommended by Pedophile Steamed Bun Pussy to Cosplay Legend Mike (his Sensui cosplay is epic). Because Mike is so legendary, he gave the title Youngest Professional Cosplayer to Youngest Professional Cosplayer.

Even after being known as the youngest Professional Cosplayer, she still feels empty. In fact, cosplay is so far from her desired lifestyle.

And so she stopped cosplaying and started doing other jobs. Like modelling

But wait... What do we have here? What am I seeing backstage?
What is she trying to do? Why is she posing like a whore in the parking lot?

I see some squatters coming and they gave her a coat.

And now she is all over the squatter! Bad Youngest Professional Cosplayer! Little girls shouldn't be doing...

And now we have another pedophile. We can relax now...

Turns out the Mr.Pedophile is just there for another job offer to Youngest Professional Cosplayer.
Off to another job related activity.

And there you have it... For someone so young to be a professional, you'll need help from lots of Pedophiles.

Tune in to this blog to see how Youngest Professional Cosplayer's career progress. That is all the time I have... I still have to sleep early, going to go get myself a pet lizard. You guys can also here order if you want. Now... Stay away from drugs you guys, you don't want non existent beings appearing in your heads.

Random Picture of the Day

Monster kill upskirt shot