Showing posts with label Cosplays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosplays. Show all posts
Sunday, October 10, 2010

J's Chimes: A Successful Presentation...


    It was nerve-wrecking when the lecturer finally announced the results of our presentation and gave feedback for it. And when it was finally our turn, surprisingly our presentation was the second best in Day 1 of the 3 day presentation period. After all the hard work that we had put in, our efforts are finally paid off. Everyone in our group had really done a seriously great job in the role-playing of our presentation. It is somewhat unfortunate that we did not record it though... In any case, here's the complete introduction video of our topic titled 'An Introduction To Otaku Culture' which was break down to 4 main sections mainly manga, anime, cosplay and video games... A really big thank you to those who had made it all possibleSource URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

J's Chimes: New Kids On The Blog


    Have finally manage to finish the translation and here it is as promised. Special thanks to my friend YY for recording and timing the subtitles into this programme. This documentary series that was aired last Wednesday on Channel U in Singapore talks about Cosplays in our country and how it has become a growing trend here. Had trouble subbing it because the narrator really talks a lot within this 12 minute video. Well in any case, watch it and be inspired... Please note that if captions does not appear, you can activate it manually from the icon on the bottom right and select 'CC' to turn it on. And fullscreen it for a much better view...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Saturday, September 11, 2010

J's Chimes Special: An Insight To Making A Gundam Cosplay


    It was a wonderful experience for me yesterday when I was told by my friends that there was a Gundam display event being held at West Coast Plaza Singapore. Though it's quite a bite size event, what interest me was the making of the cosplay parts that resembles a section of the armor. My cosplay suit went to a halt because I can't find the right materials for the armor of my Zaku Gundam suit. So after these event, I may now need to source for the appropriate materials for it and hopefully able to build my own soon...


    Speaking of which, let's move on to the construction part. What he's doing now is cutting out a sketch that resembles a wrist armor. Then after the template of it will be drawn out onto a soft spongy material. This material will act as the costume to be worn by the cosplay and as it's make of soft material, it fits on easily and to move and work with.


    This spongy material is being brushed with a industrial Adhesive type of glue to get that sticky surface. The material is set to dry first before using the cut out template to outline the shape of the armor before cutting it out. The Adhesive is used later on to stick a shiny material as the surface for the sponge to give that armor look finish.


    This is theoretically how the armor for the wrist armor looks like after wrapping the spony material up with a shiny material known as Vinyl or preferably known as PVC in Singapore. I heard you could find them in Art Shops or Clothing Stores but I guess I should check them out too to find out more... And of course to hold the shape into place to fit your wrist, rivets and pins are used.


    A typical finished product of the hand armor should look like this and it looks pretty cool as it fits nicely to the entire hand. because it's made of sponge and PVC, it is easily adjustable and to move. Watching this really inspired me a lot to make my very own... I guess I should go and try it out myself sometime...


    But... these are all for cosplaying only. What about Gundam? Well seriously they are actually make of the same material as you've seen above. Believe it or not, the entire gundam cosplay is actually made of sponge and PVC with a couple of hardboard here and there...


    Upon further inspection, you can actually see that the parts are all joined together using Velcro and clips, zippers, etc so that the cosplayer is able to don it on easily. Seriously it takes a lot of time, hard work, patience and measurements to get it right... Really impressive.


    And in order to make the height of the Gundam feet, canvas shoes are glues onto hard boards and covered up with the Gundam legs as seen on the above picture.


    By far the hardest part to make would definitely be the helmet and believe me, these are also made from the exact same materials you've seen above. Except that they are bended and shaped like this with many layers to make it sturdy.


    A example is shown as above where many of these spongy and PVC layers are pasted together in the form of a circular shape to look like a helmet. This is seriously a complex task and unless you are so experienced with it, I heard that they could do it within a day...


    And finally would be the weapons and props... Yes and again, Vinyl and Sponge are used with a couple of cupboards, etc. This is really a big learning experience for me and now after so many examples and such, am once again inspired and eager to do it asap... Exams are around the corner though so may have to wait till 2 months time or so though... Anyway, this event will last till next weekend so ya might wanna drop by West Coast Plaza to take a closer look at how it is done and learn more tips about making your very own cosplay armor.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Thursday, September 9, 2010

J's Chimes: Topic On Cosplay


    A television programme titled 'New Kids On The Block' that was shown on Channel U in Singapore just this Wednesday talks about Cosplays and Events that are increasingly becoming popular in our local youth trend. Due to the fact that it is in mandarin, J's Chimes took the liberty to translate it into English and am currently still subtitling it even as we speak. Hopefully we'll get this done next week so that fans would get to watch it and understand a little bit more about CosplaySource URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

J's Chimes: Presentation Success...


    Astoundingly, the presentation held today was a success with many good reviews and comments from our audiences. Was pretty happy with how it actually flows and the awed look in the audiences faces. Lol... Unfortunately am unable to show you the presentation but you can view the introduction video by clicking here to roughly have an idea of what we are presenting. It's been a long and tedious process creating the script and preparation from scratch and I do wanna thank everyone who's involved in this presentation. And finally I have a bit more time to blog stuff now lol...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Monday, August 30, 2010

J's Chimes: Presentation Now...


    Today's finally the day for our presentation on the Otaku Culture in school and I seriously can't wait for it to come and be over with it asap. After many days of preparation, heated battles and work, the day has finally arrived. Hopefully it goes smoothly for the presentation so that we can rest easy and blog once again...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Monday, August 9, 2010

J's Chimes: Presenting Otaku Culture


    Something amazing happen which took us by storm in my final semester. It seems that one of my modules required us to make a presentation about anything we wanted to. One of my friends suggested that we'd introduce the Otaku Culture for our presentation. Was in favor with the suggestions cause I'd actually knew a lot about such being somewhat an Otaku myself. It is the most interesting assignment that I would hardly wait to start thinking and scripting our presentation. I guess it is really a given because there's really a lot of things to share and talk about in regards to our hobby. Makes my day and lots of motivation to do this assignment... Hopefully would be able to come up with something that could awe the audiences...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Sunday, August 8, 2010

J's Chimes: Public Cosplaying...


    A seemingly unusual sight for Gin to purchase something at a local supermarket... However due to the fact it is known that there's a cosplay event in the shopping center, much of the people knew that there would be cosplayers around to serve. Which comes to the point that would you as a cosplayer dress up and walk around town in a normal day? Other than the glaring eyes, some people would be surprised or excited to see something weird in places they'd never thought of. An example would be this hilarious video below...


    It sure makes my day having to watch this video over and over...Perhaps we should try this in Singapore and post it up in Youtube for many to see? Then it would be the first...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Saturday, July 17, 2010

J's Chimes: Cosplay Horrors


    Cosplay is fun but at times can have devastating effects when done wrongly in public view. Sure...ya may see surprised looks and awes from the public but all eyes would be on you if something is amiss. Take the toilets for example, should you use the men's toilet if ya do crossdressing for some cosplay event? Maybe the urinal isn't such a good idea after all....


    Don't want to let people see you buying an adult magazine or something bad? How about dressing up in armor in public? What would you do if ya saw an armor wearing person in a bookstore? I guess the most obvious thing people would do is taking out their phones and start snapping away... Then next thing you know it, it becomes a rant on a forum or some flaming website...


    Seriously if ya gonna crossdress or cosplay as a girl, make sure you'd act like one... else this is absolutely nerve-wrecking and bad for one's heart. Try doing that in Singapore and you'd really be driven to the ground and marked as a pervert in all available networks and communications that technology has to offer...


    Found a little shop which sells clothes and Star Wars face mask? How about a little makeover by someone whose so extremely bored that he or she decided to spice up the store's mannequins by donning them with the masks and a provocative post just for laughs? Cosplay materials are great ain't they?Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Sunday, July 4, 2010

J's Chimes: Cosfest Event Photographs


    Cosfest has finally come to a closure yesterday and had finally uploaded the photographs for all to see. Somehow there seems to be a lot more cosplayers around this year pretty much thanks to the cosplay culture that is slowly but surely spreading to Singapore. In any case, this has been an eventful day for me as taking photographs from morning till the evening without rest is truly an experience I would not want to talk much about... However, there are plenty of good cosplayers around this year so it's a good sign though. Anyway, stay i tune with J's Chimes for more posts on the Cosfest 2010. To view the photos for the event, you can click on the link on the right taskbar or simply click to view them here.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Saturday, July 3, 2010

J's Chimes: Youth Parade Cosmo 2010


    The Youth Parade Cosmo 2010 in the Shine Youth Festival had finally concluded today with a couple of cosplayers here and there. I would probably believe that most cosplayers have gone to the Cosfest at downtown East instead as it's a bigger scale event than this. But in any case, there are a number of interesting things happening around Orchard Road with this event that brought about many onlookers trying to figure out why there is a sudden wave of cosplayers parading around Orchard Road... A small bazaar selling anime goodies and stuff are also setup below the new SCAPE Mall in Orchard Road.


    What comes as a surprise for this event is the appearance of popular cosplayers Alodia & Ashley from the Philippines. This is probably the 3rd time I see them in Singapore after AFA 2009 and the cosplay competition. Indeed they are so popular that a bunch of photographers kept chasing them to take pictures.


    The second surprise visit would be Gundam Exia by 00 Emotions. Once again, they are the most sought after for photos and stuff... The cosplayers later parade the streets of Orchard Road with plenty of curious onlookers. With such, that concludes my day at the festival because a downpour is coming the way. In addition, tomorrow will be any busy day at the Cosfest 2010 in Downtown East. For more photos of the Shine Youth Festival Cosplays and Events, please click on the link at the right taskbar or simply click here.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Thursday, July 1, 2010

J's Chimes: Cosfest 2010


    Yup... Once again Cosfest is back this coming weekend that will be taking place in D'Marquee at Downtown East. Programmes include Anime Karaoke Competition, World Cosplay Summit Singapore Finals, Graffiti Wall and Booths. There will also be a Cosplay Compettion and Cosplay Meet. Due to the fact it collides with the Shine Youth Festival this coming Saturday, it gets pretty annoying... In any case, this will be another big event of the year so powerup your cameras and ready your cards as phototaking will surely be a must in such events...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

J's Chimes: Shine Youth Festival 2010


    The Singapore Shine Youth Festival 2010 is coming up once again this coming Saturday at the New SCAPE Shopping Center located at Orchard Road. The main events takes place on the 3rd of July next month with plenty of performances, songs and of course.... Cosplays! However, it collides with the Cosfest 2010 which is happening this coming Saturday and Sunday too so you might wanna consider... Anyway, will be going to Shine first on Saturday and then Cosfest on Sunday (Since most of the best events would happen on Sunday...). More details on Cosfest on next post. Anyway, the Shine Youth Festival is of some priority first... Gonna do some photo taking then... For more details please click here.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

J's Chimes: Not Your Everyday Advert...


    Even a simple advertisement for an indoor pesticide is given a Kamen Rider look a like makeover and battling an evil cockroach that invades the houses in Japan. A rather exaggerated advertisement with a unique and interesting twist that such series could also blend into our everyday live necessities. Kinda reminds me of Power Rangers too... In any case, watch this to brighten up your day!Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Monday, June 21, 2010

J's Chimes: Scape Cosplay


    Beside the Streetfest event held at Plaza Singapura, another cosplay event was held nearby last Saturday. The new Scape Shopping Center which was located near somerset beside Cineleisure held a grand opening event with lots of performances and a cosplay gathering area. Then again had missed out this event due to my computer problems... In any case, click on here to view the photos as taken by Heart's Workshop. Or simply view them from the link via the taskbar on the right. Being missing out a couple of events ever since the holidays, hopefully I could spare time for both cosplay events coming up next month...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Sunday, June 20, 2010

J's Chimes: Streetfest Awes


    I didn't think the streetfest is gonna be good until I've seen the photos posted by people online yesterday... And I've really missed out a lot all thanks to Father's Day. Well, it is still an important day but somehow it irks me to have missed out such an event... Somehow this cosplay of the dark rider from the anime Durarara! gets to me... For better or for worse, my computer had to break down this week... Well, I guess we would have to wait for upcoming bigger event known as Cosfest this coming July... To view all of these photos, click here view them or simply click on the given link on the right task bar.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Friday, June 11, 2010

J's Chimes: Singapore Street Festival


    The Singapore Street Festival will be held starting yesterday till this coming Sunday and next week with youth performances and also most probably Cosplays too... Held at the Plaza Singapura Shopping Center, you'd probably wanna check this out when at town so you wouldn't missed anything nice. And if such still doesn't excite you much, how about heading down to Suntec City Singapore for a PC show held at the convention halls at level 4 to 6. Bought a couple of games there to accompany me during my holidays...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Thursday, May 13, 2010

J's Chimes: What Constitutes A Good Cosplay


    I love cosplay. To me, it is a creative way of expressing yourself and your hobby for others to appreciate. However, there are still not many people adopting this new trend yet in Singapore and often thinks that these things are childish and naive. The fact is that people cosplay to pay tribute to their favourite animes and are fans of it too. Cosplay is something I'd wanted to try and will attempt to participate at least once in my lifetime. What constitutes a good cosplay? Here are the 10 tips that I've came out with that are somewhat critical if you are aiming to please your audience.


    1. Your Appearance And Looks
    Whatever the case, your looks are still one of the most important factors to think about when cosplaying as your favourite character. This includes your physique and your face, whether you'd be suitable to cosplay as the character you wanted. It would be awkward of you to cosplay as a character that doesn't suit you both in looks and appearance in particular and you'd might ended up as a lost sheep in the middle of the crowd. Choose one that suits you best or work towards it by pumping lead to get the physique you wanted so as to impress the audiences.


    2. Your Makeup
    In many cases, cosplayers in Singapore do not really use makeups as much as those in Japan. Makeup is considered one of the most important preparatory tools in cosplaying. It is especially so to cosplayers dressing up as their favourite female anime characters because makeup gives not only the confidence to be on the runway, but also covers up spots or marks that might affect your cosplay in some ways. Makeup also helps you attain the features or looks that the anime character has that you wanted.


    3. Making, Wearing And Displaying Your Costume
    Probably the reason why you wanna cosplay. Making the costumes can be hard but rewarding once it is done. Some considered renting them from stores or bought it online. However the case, anyone who spent their time making them, buying the items needed for their costumes, planning, etc... are the ones that are truly admirable. Rushing to complete your costume is a bad option as you might missed out on certain problems or details that might affect your cosplay.


    4. Passion And Creativity
    It is not easy to make your own costumes. Or rather, you'd need lots of creativity and passion to have the momentum, mood and morale to start making them from scratch. That goes without saying the planning stage, measurements, trial and errors, editing and authoring, testings and correctings and lastly, the making of the costume. If you are passionate about such stuff, it drives you finish it asap. Without such an empowerment, one will give up in the midst or might even be demoralize by the sheer problems encountered when making your costumes.


    5. Your Budget
    One of the issues that might hinder your cosplay would be the cost of purchasing the materials needed for your costumes. It will often exceed the budget you'd set aside for your costume because of the minor details that you might have missed out in the process of making your costume. If you are on a tight budget, one suggestion is to go looking around for other alternatives of the things you may need for your costumes. For example if you could make a glove instead of buying it, it would cost much lesser. Alternatively, you could buy substitutes or cheaper materials for your costume that is similar to the ones you'd need.


    6. Your Cosplay Pose
    Cosplayers often neglect coming up with poses that they should make beforehand. In my opinion, cosplayers should think of poses and practice it in front of their mirrors so that they would know what is good and what's not. This is often true because most cosplayers just come up with an awkward that ruins the mood. Your pose is dependent on the character you gonna cosplay as. Take for example Final Fantasy, you gonna pose a look that says 'Cool' instead of a normal gesture with no emotions whatsoever. Come out with something great, and then the photographers will swarm to you.


    7. Your Attitude Towards Cosplay
    One of the important basic elements of being a cosplayer. A positive attitude towards cosplay sets the mood for the audiences and you. Cosplay is suppose to be a happy and wonderful event where people take photographs and appreciating the works of cosplayers. I've met a seemingly selfish cosplayer who scolds photographers for not asking permissions before taking their photos. Hello?! If that's the case, why are you here then? Must you expect a swarm of photographers to each ask you permission to take your photos in a cosplay event? That girl was quickly condemned then...


    8. Your Love For Anime And Stuff
    Wouldn't you know it? Almost all cosplayers love animes, else why did they dressed themselves up as characters they love and admire? It all boils down to one thing, it is a hobby. It is a hobby fast expanding from ages 16 to 24 now in Singapore as animes are becoming popular as of late. However am at the generation whereby few of my friends love anime so it's a sad thing and not only they do not understand it, but condemn and criticize it as a childish thing to do. Well, the truth is almost all adults think it that way. Such generations are not expose much to this anime culture and thus the difference between us and them. Your love of anime must be strong to remain adamant that anime is actually a nice hobby, and thus cosplay to offer tribute to it.


    9. Take Critism And Move On
    Perhaps one of the most crucial thing to think off before turning up in any cosplay event. Is my costume good? How do I look? Am I going to be flame in the forums? Will I be condemned? Seriously I believe that even though a good cosplay constitutes all the aspects am talking about now, one very important trait that cosplayers should have is to be courageous. I envy those doing it because they came to cosplay to enjoy themselves and show all their fruits of labor for the public to appreciate. It doesn't matter if you did badly, so long as you believed in yourself that you did your best and that you have nothing to be afraid of. After all, you are here to enjoy and be yourself. Though criticisms may hurt, move on and do better next time round.


    10. Learn And Improve
    Finally, after or even before a cosplay event, you'd definitely learn new skills, insights, experience and stuff in the midst of making and displaying your creation. Learn and improve for your next character cosplay. That way, you'd become better as time goes on. Whether it'd be a mistake, problem and stuff, this entire process is a good learning experience. Do things that you can do in your youth before it's too late and regretting it when you are old. After all, you only live life once.

    I hope that these 10 tips could help anyone in pursue for becoming better at cosplaying. And for those who don't, you might wanna give it a try and gain a new perspective of it. Hopefully there are many more events coming up in Singapore so that such events could help enlightened people about what cosplay is about.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Sunday, May 9, 2010

J's Chimes: Snack With A Cosplay Twist


    One of the weirdest commercials I've ever seen... Probably a commercial shown in Taiwan and such about a snack known as 'Guai Guai' (Normally referred to in mandarin as good boy or girl...) with a little cosplay twist. You are not a good boy or a good girl if you are not in a cosplay outfit, whether in school or facing your parents...


    There are 2 versions of such being aired on television and the first was about a girl scolded by her Mum for her awkwardly abnormal dress code... Of course the twist is that the normal dress code in this world is vice versa and such... And her Mum is wearing a Hatsune Miku cosplay... Darn.. if that's your Mum in this getup, it sure sucks big time...


    The second version is a boy attending his class in a not so normal school once again... With a teacher who thinks a school uniform is inappropriate in class... haha (And points her sword to him...) Seriously if such a world exists, I wanna go too! Doing something good and yet branded as a bad guy is seriously...umm... screwed...Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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Monday, April 12, 2010

J's Chimes: Fantasy Comes Alive


    Titled Fantasy Comes Alive, this video games and anime concert will be held on the 30th April and 1st May 2010 at the University Cultural Hall. With special guest Hitoshi Sakimoto, the composer for the Final Fantasy XII and Valkyria Chronicles music, tickets are currently on sale at sistic from $20 to $50. It also includes a mini cosplay event or competition where you can dress as your favourite character while watching the concert... (Kinda weird...) Well in any case, you can visit their website at www.fantasycomesalive.com for more details. Somehow or rather it clashes with my exam dates so can't go even if I want to. If you do like music from games and anime then maybe ya wanna check this out.Source URL: https://maryelizabeth-winstead.blogspot.com/search/label/Cosplays
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