it was a rainy day but we were lucky to get some pictures inside.
Hanami, Freya and I had soo much fun!

Pictures can be found in the section Photoshoot => Freya

A new small Cosplay competition was organised in Brussels.

Pro:
- close to where I live
- easy connection with the train and bus to get there
- website was easy to understand and user friendly
- it was not too crowdy so cosplayers had to change to chat with each other
- seperate changing rooms with food and drinke (! this on a 1rst edition)
- free entrance (once in a while it is nice!)
- the Dutch presentation (one of the 1rst times) and it went smoother/quicker than the French one

Con:
- variation food
- we had to badge each time to get to the changing rooms (you had to find someone who had a badge but understandble for safety reasons)
- the inside temperature was quite high on some moments
- again MP3 issues with Vista

I did not expect to win due to the MP3 issue and the fact that my parasol was stuck behind to cables (caused me to lose time during my act).

Conclusion: it was very good start for a first Belgian cosplay competition!

-> wishlist, planned an finished sections have been updated
-> a page of Kanaria is created but the photos will be added later on
-> the Dokomi convention changed from dates, this has been altered in the conventions list

-> Freya’s photos will be added on later
-> The feedback of Anima 2009 will be given tomorrow

(NOTE: feedback of the previous edition can be found here)

This time we bought pre-sale tickets at the Belgian Fnac-stores and went again to the next edition of PM.

Apparently the PM6 had a good influence: more visitors were spotted and because of this the dealer corners were sometimes too small.
The same effect with the Cosplay contest. All the participation places were in less than 3 days full and the cosplayteam was obliged to create a attending list for the first time. Not one conventions in France ever had this before!

I was already glad that I was able to put me on the attending list.
(11th of 16 attendees).
Eventually I could join the competition even tough I thought that it was impossible so I was very glad. At the end I even won a price
(2nd place out of 38 participants ) although I had the feeling that it was impossible this time.

I spoke with some of “the best” or “better” French cosplayers and I was asked twice for a Sailor Moon group! Such an honor and it surprised me a lot.
But it seems that I have to cancel the invitations because being in a group and not having the opportunity of practicing the act, makes me a little uncertain. Sad because it have would been a great opportunity.

Despite of unexpectedly large crowd, the organization tried to spread the people as well as possible. In a brand-new, extra space J-music fans were enjoying DVD-shows taken from live performances of J-pop and J-rock groups.

In another place there stood a make-up stand. These artists created zombies and super heroes, as well as fairy and Gothic influences.

Also with the cosplayers it was clear to see that this convention started to become a fixed value. The most known hypes such as Bleach, Naruto, Death Note and One Piece were of course there, as well as the rising Cosplay hypes: Vampire Knight and Soul Eater.

But overall more often less-seen cosplays among some real beauties: Alf, Two-face, The Riddler, Batman and Robin, complete small children in professional Maiko- and samurai- outfits but also Card Captor Sakura, Saint Seiya and Galaxia of Sailor Moon,…
These costumes worked magic and thus created a smile on all faces.
The level had clearly increased compared with the sixth edition.

What obtained several visitors then from that blissful feeling, were the famous free hugs-signs and several types of ears: cats and bear ears in all kinds of colors and measurements. They were even made on the spot by request.
Is it sweet or hype to fear? The answer remains in the middle.

In spite of the success the prices for drinks and food remained expensive. Even at a local hamburger you get more for your money. There were clearly not enough eating places foreseen. During the previous edition the visitors went outside to side on the large staircase but with the chilly, rainy weather this was not an option.

At the dealer space you could retrieve some items from your wish list. The offer of goodies was certainly wider than at Epitanime. The colored gadget, manga, DVD boxes and other items seduced clearly a lot of visitors.

One last positive observation: the Japanese anime projections were subtitled in French. Apparently the notion grows that the original language is an important factor! A notion where a lot of French and Belgian conventions can learn something from this.

This convention seems to become a strong player. Cosplayers and visitors turned home wards with a satisfied feeling. It is a rightly two-day event that makes the travel more than worth.

Once again I had a memorable day. A little child was overwhelmed by my cosplay, I received compliments and requests and finally I went home
(without really hoping for it) with a new diploma!

- I am still waiting for the Freya photos, I contaced here for this
- Zebraman’s RE photos will be added later
- Aztek-TV – Francis section has been updated

I’m currently working for the Anima cosplay and the planned Made in Asia cosplay. Busy, busy, busy…

Anyway, I updated the Princess Kakyuu page and I put the photoshoot of Zebraman’s photos online.
Comments of Paris Manga 7 will be added soon!

the dates are finally known.
I have updated the calender (see conventions section).
It looks like FACTS will be even bigger as we will move to a new location!

Planned costumes section has been updated.

I went to Leuven yesterday to buy some things for my existing cosplay.
When I left Elfenatelier I bumped into Mie and Thibault.
We agreed to meet afterwards to talk because it has been a little while since we saw each other. (Asianim 3).
Later on we agreed to do a new cosplay duo for 2010!
Yes I know, we are JUST 2009 but we can have dreams and hopes, no?

BTW Aztek-TV made some beautiful shots again from my Sumomo.
I have uploaded my favorite ones on my cosplay.com site but here are they too: