[Amane] Funan Anime Matsuri Weekend

Konnyanssu this is Amane~

Last week it was Anime Matsuri at Funan IT Mall, and I went to the event to watch the workshops held by guest cosplayers. I also cosplayed on Sunday!

The event ran for the whole week, from 9 ~ 15 June 2014,  it was packed with showcases and screenings on the weekdays and workshops and performances on the weekend! Some of the workshops by the guest cosplayers were on make up, sewing, and prop-making. Japanese indie band ITOWOKASHI was also invited! ITOWOKASHI~~~ I really love Ito Kashitaro's voice and singing! His songs always lift my spirits; I particularly like "Pierrot", "Hide-and-Seek" and "The Boy and the Magical Robot". Naru and I are both fans of ITOWOKASHI, although I'd have to say that Naru-chan is more of a fan than I am ehe ^^;;

On the first day, I arrived during Hana's makeup workshop. After the workshop I queued up for Akatsuki Tsukasa's (紅月司) meet-and-greet~ She's so slim, and her costume that day was so pretty! She was cosplaying Sheryl Nome from Macross Frontier, wedding gown version. I also really liked the Taiwanese Chinese accent.

Photo credits to KeiCho Photography (didn't realise he was there LOL until he told me he took a photo) 

After the meet-and-greet it was her sewing workshop, where she showed us how to make a lolita head dress, something like the one Celestia wore in Dangan Ronpa.

The next workshop was by Sakuya (朔夜) from Japan! She had a meet-and-greet session as well but I didn't queue for it because it was limited to people who bought her merchandise, due to time constraints. I managed to pass her a last-minute written letter though! Her workshop was on wig-styling and she demonstrated how to style a wig for Sebastian from Kuroshitsuji.

Also met up with Yuki and Spica at the event on Sat, and hung out together although they went to look at the booths on the 5th floor while I was watching the workshops. We had to leave early because of prior commitments so we couldn't stay the whole day.

With Yuki!

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On Sunday, I cosplayed as Grell Sutcliff from Kuroshitsuji! I did the trainee version which appeared in the OVA "The Story of Will the Grim Reaper". I made the death scythe but....it...broke....on the way there... *looks away* So, never ever do last-minute props because they will break on you. TTuTT

Because the previous day I saw someone with the Aitori from Daiyaku, and Yuki and Spica also bought one each, I decided to acquire one for myself on Sun! It's really cute! *rubs face*

Aitori-chan~

The crowd was really crazy on Sunday as well, and I think tension was high with the security guards trying to maintain the crowd.
To be honest, I wasn't very confident of my Grell cosplay that day and was just feeling "okay" with it (instead of proud or happy) but many people asked for photos and I was really really touched and happy that people liked it! *cries happy tears* One of my friends who likes Grell too praised it and for me it was just "omg let me cry you said it's niceeee *bawls*" (Pardon me, I'm not exactly adept at being eloquent) Sorry if this sounds like I'm showing off (?) but it was really important to me because I really really did not think much of my portrayal of Grell especially after my costest on Saturday evening!

Alright, enough on that. On Sunday I managed to catch ITOWOKASHI's performance, and yes they sounded absolutely divine live. So glad that I could finally catch them in Singapore. I missed them at AFA last year because I could only go for a few hours.

Here's one of the songs he sang: Karakuri Pierrot (embedded video is a recorded cover, not the live ver on that day itself)


ITOWOKASHI also walked past me (twice), to get to the maid cafe. I cannot even begin to explain how I felt when I realised that ITOWOKASHI walked past me. I knew they were ITOWOKASHI and I wanted so badly to say something but I didn't know what to say so I just kept quiet but oh my gosh after they entered the maid cafe I just lost it. Fangirled and legs went weak, literally.
And the same thing happened again later!! During Sakuya's makeup workshop they walked past me to get backstage and the same thing happened: I had no idea what to say (really, I was thinking should I call them out individually or say ITOWOKASHI). I was really starstruck, if you would.

Anyway, Sakuya's workshop on Sunday was on how to do the make up for Undertaker from Kuroshitsuji. She has a unique procedure on how she puts on make up. On Sunday I also had a chance to take photo with Sakuya and speak with her for a while (didn't really know what to say though)

There was a cosplay competition as well, and the participants were chosen by the guest cosplayers on the spot! I totally missed it because I was running an errand for a friend though. *buay song* *ohwell*

After the competition it was Baozi's prop-making workshop, and they made the goldfish plant from Hoozuki no Reitetsu! That thing is adorable! After they made it, they gave it to one of the Hoozuki cosplayers that day. There were two, and they had to play jankenpon to decide who gets it www (Okou-san won~)

Goldfish plant (金魚草) from Hoozuki no Reitetsu ISN'T IT JUST ADORABLE?!

The whole day was wrapped up with a performance by Valerie from Asian Pop Collection and it was the end of the event.
It was a fulfilling 2 days and I really had fun!

Sitting on the stage after the event ww

Did anyone else go to Anime Matsuri too? Please share any interesting experience or comments as well!

でわでわ
Amane でした~ See you in my next entry!

[Suzume] The Kidz Academy 2014!

ヤホーイ！すずめです~

Over the weekends, Natsumi, Mirei, Nanami and I were helping The Cosplay Skool at The Kidz Academy 2014!

The event was held at Suntec Convention Hall from 6th-8th June 2014. It was our first time helping out at a children's event so we didn't know what to expect!

Our duties included giving out flyers and promoting The Cosplay Skool's June Holiday Programmes. The Cosplay Skool provides training on costume making, prop making and also make up! They also provide commission services so you can go check them out at their Facebook page~ It's not only for children!

The Cosplay Skool: www.facebook.com/thecosplayskool

The event was held next to a food fair which was both a blessing as well as a curse to us. XD Being food-lovers, we couldn't resist visiting the food fair during our breaks! We initially thought that we could lose weight from a tiring 3 day event, but actually... I think we gained more than we lost. Orz

We also had performance slots on Friday and Saturday. We chose cuter/kiddy-ish songs to suit the event, which was quite an experience. ^^" Despite it being a children's event, we were still very nervous as we do not know how children would react to our dances! Thankfully the performances went smoothly and a few children danced along with us too! It was fun looking at them from the stage. XD Watch what we performed! Enjoy~

There was a Taekwondo booth near where we were and they were kind enough to let us try out! Don't worry, we were wearing safety shorts. ww Enjoy the hilarious video. XD

Overall we had fun~ Although it was tiring to work for 3 whole days, interacting with the kids, trying out different activities at the event like kids ourselves (oops), redeeming free ice cream... it was fun! ^_^

Now it's time to focus on Pika☆Pika Party! See you there!!

PS.
Nanami: It was my very first time performing on stage so I was sort of experiencing stage fright OTL and YES. WE GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT. SO MUCH FOR DIETING. I normally lose weight if I am working during an event but some genius just had to made food easily accessible HMPH. 

I didn't dare to try out the Taekwondo booth at first because there were many kids around and I look like a giant next to them all. WHAT IF I MISS!!!! Super embarrassing T_T but Mirei agreed to go with me (Did you agree or did I imagine it o.o), so yes, I just decided to YOLO it. It was actually really fun!! Except for the part where I missed D: The other girls as well as some kiddos were laughing at me. Somehow I just got the courage to just brush it off, stop being embarrassed and just laugh along with them in the end. 

Mirai's attempt was really funny~ she kept looking at the camera HAHAHAH while during my attempt, I refused to look at it. I realised how much of an idiot I was making myself out to be after watching the video LOL. WHY I SO WEIRD. BUT ITS OKAY. WEIRD MEANS UNIQUE. UNIQUE MEANS COOL. /Nanami logic/ Btw, did you see my Maru Maru Mori Mori move? xD If you didn't, watch the Taekwondo video again~ I look so silly!! xD

[Mirei] Senbonzakura + Love Live shoot!

Hi everyone! This is Mirei here~

When I first heard of the idea of a shared blog with the other pika girls, I was pretty excited! That's because although I have a blog, I get somewhat lazy to update it often and I feel guilty when my readers ask me for new updates .__.

(Somehow, having a shared blog diffuses that responsibility by a bit, you know? :'D /shifty eyes )

Anyway, for my first blog post, I'll be blogging about my busy weekend! \o/

I finally had a cosplay shoot for my Senbonzakura Miku! (For those who know the dance, Natsumi, Suzume and I actually performed the fan version during our Pika Matsuri at *scape last year! Who knows, we might be performing it again? :3 ) 

I believe more people would know about the original Senbonzakura Miku - the purple/plum uniform as opposed to the white version I'm cosplaying here - but somehow I like the white version more? I have the uniform for the other version but I think this color is slightly more refreshing! :3

Reference pic:

For the photoshoot, Nanami and Amane were also cosplaying as well!

With Amane as Meiko! 

Nanami as Luka~

We actually cosplayed this last year for Comic Fiesta (Malaysia) but we have yet to have a photoshoot until recently~ >o<

Also, we didn't have a Rin and Len then - but now we do!

With the other humans present~ 

(I think there's a potato mixed up in there though.)

Anthony helped us with taking pictures of our shoot~ He is the same photographer who took the group picture you see in our blog header and facebook cover! 

It was a pretty hot day. After 2 hours of taking pictures under the midday sun, we were practically dead. D8 

However, I saw that there were a few promising shots ... so I guess the suffering was worth it? Anyway I can't wait to see the pictures! 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

After the Senbonzakura shoot, I had a Love Live shoot the day after~ It's based on the SR zoo series cards from the game!

I cosplayed Maki for the photoshoot~

I was trying to pull off her tsundere expression and ended up awkwardly sulking the whole shoot. I think I may have looked a little too fierce too... D:

I took selfies with all the other teammates except Nico! Somehow I think I was in a hurry to go off and missed her. (Typical Nico joke, but I feel kinda guilty towards my teammate now) T__T 

Rin was busy so she didn't make it down for the shoot! >__< 

Ironically, although I've been playing Love Live for almost a year now, I have yet to get any cards from the zoo series! (In the first place, SR cards are pretty hard to get I suppose. I doubt I'll be able to get one, much less 2 of the same card to transform it... :< )

I had to leave in a hurry, so not much other pictures! It was a pretty pleasant shoot (despite being somewhat rushed) - our leader was really efficient and good at organizing the shoot! I think I might do a reshoot for this because I felt that I've been slacking off my exercise and my tummy is showing in some of the shots. (T__T;;;

Anyway, some of the girls from Pika have been hooked on Love Live through the anime (and pretty costume designs of the SR/UR cards) - so perhaps you might just see some of us cosplay Love Live characters together in the future? 8D

Oh well~ that's the end of my first post - it was a little longer than expected!

See you next time!


PS.
Nanami: I hate my eye bags and I really want to cosplay the Love Live animal series too >o< maybe I'll join Mirei in her next photoshoot~