June - the Month of Anime Conventions!

First of all, I would like to apologise for the lack of updates for the past few weeks or so. There's been much going on, with the 28th SEA Games and RL catching up. But here we are, anyway.

Wow! What an event-full month June has been! In just 3 weeks, there has been not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR anime events! Singapore is blessed that since it is a small country, everyone in the country can visit any event that happens anywhere in Singapore as it takes no more than 2 hours to travel from one end of the country to another by public transport. So like the crazy Closet Otaku I am, I visited every anime convention that has happened in the past few weeks. Kazane-chan was also with me as we visited these places

The following are the Schedule and Locations:

6 June: Minnacon @ NTU Nanyang Auditorium
6-7 June: Cosplay Cup @ DBS Marina Regatta
8 - 14 June: Funan Anime Matsuri @ Funan Digitalife Mall
20 - 21 June: CharaExpo @ Singapore Expo, Hall 7

Lets run through these one by one shall we?


MINNACON - NTU Nanyang Auditorium

Held on the 6 June, Minnacon was an event from the collaboration of the NTU Visual Arts Society and the NUS Japanese Studies Society. To be honest, it was a very small event with only a few exhibitors, mainly doujin groups and fan-artists. There was also a couple of guest cosplayers, and a couple of game booths and supposedly a Pokemon competition. Of course there was also a stage and a cosplay competition and some performances, but that was mainly it, That said, it was fun enough and all anime events have to start somewhere, right?

Yeah! Melty Blood Competition!

Would you believe these are created just by paper?

Check out the detail! Paper, no less!

Guest Cosplayers (sorry for poor quality)

Yeah, very few people this time

Spectators watching the matches.

COSPLAY CUP - DBS Marina Regatta

Happening the exact same time as the Dragonboat qualifiers, the cosplay event at Marina Regatta was even smaller than Minnacon, but it has another cosplay competition, and enormous prizes (by cosplay standards) to be given out, with a whopping total of $3000! Sadly, only 8 participants took part. The first day had more events, but Minnacon was also held on that day and so I only attended on the second day. And I attended only after the events had more or less ended... so sorry for the lack of pictures!

FUNAN ANIME MASTURI - Funan Digitalife Mall

Funan Anime Matsuri is an annual event held at the Funan Digitalife Mall, right at the heart of Singapore. For an entire week from the 8 - 14 June, fans of Japanese anime, manga and cosplay were treated to a exciting experiences. The Funan Anime Matsuri cannot be considered to be a big event, but it has many big name guest cosplayers such as Baozi and Hana, DD Tenka, Angie, Ying Tze, Shimo and Neneko present to grace the event. They even managed to invite bless4 to perform live at the event, and also had a couple of celebrated anime illustrators and cosplay photographers to showcase their works. There were also many workshops conducted by these guests, ranging from a make-up and costume making workshop to a photography and drawing workshop. All the celebrities and guests also had an autograph session - and you wouldn't believe the lines. There was also a cosplay competition, with the entrants selected by the guest cosplayers, and it had one of the highest entries I have ever seen (20+)! I only went for the weekend from 13 and 14 June, because RL is unforgiving, but luckily the weekend had the most number of activities. Given a chance, I would go next year again.

Ying Tze teaching us how to create awesome cosplays

Yes, Ikkyuu is a chibi artist

When am I EVER going to see the 9 Muse members together?!

Cosplay competition, starto!

My favourite cosplay

Shame it only got 3rd place

And this bird...

Got 2nd...

The Champion cosplay!

A shot of all the cosplayers

bless4 LIVE!

CHARAEXPO 2015 - Singapore Expo, Hall 7

Held for the first time in Singapore is the CharaExpo 2015! With well over 50 exhibitors, including big names such as TV Tokyo, Animation International, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Goodsmile Company, Bushiroad, Visual Arts Key, Frontwing and Dentsu, among others, CharaExpo is definitely the biggest anime event in June for Singapore, with the number of exhibitors rivalling even Anime Festival Asia (AFA). With a Pro-Wrestling Ring, a Card Game Arena, a Entertainment Stage for Live Performances and Panels and a Mini-Stage for Live Drawings and Autograph sessions, there's no lack of things to do there. There is merchandise galore with almost every exhibitor peddling their wares. There's even a dedicated creator's corner where doujin groups, fan-artists and other creators showcase their creations. They also managed to get Mashiro Ayano (the singer of massively popular anime Fate/Stay Night [Unlimited Blade Works] opening theme 'ideal white'), Maon Kurosaki (singer of both Grisaia no Kajitsu and Grisaia no Rakuen opening theme) and Ayaka Kitazawa (singer of Little Busters and Little Busters Refrain opening theme) to perform live - no mean feat. USAGI, the winner of AFA Anisong Auditions (AAA) 2014 also made a surprise appearance to perform during the cosplay competitions. The cosplay competition was also filled with some of the better cosplays I've seen, with the winner winning the opportunity to compete in Tokyo Game Show 2015 Cosplay Night with all travel and lodging expenses paid for. With card game tournaments, movie screenings, and live shows, along with much shopping for merchandise (and some Kaji), CharaExpo is certainly a welcome addition to the Singapore Anime scene, and seeing as its about to be an annual event, I'll certainly be coming back next year!

Miku Merchandise

Love Live Nendroids ;)

Aniplex stuff

Love Live! aagain

More Love Live!

Even more Love Live!

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica hasn't died yet

Sword Art Online needs some love

Saber - Fate/Zero version

See what I mean?

Entrance to CharaExpo

Inside of CharaExpo

Oh what do you know... yet more Love Live! Are you playing SIF yet?

   

In case you're wondering, the mascot for CharaExpo is indeed Shiyoko, Bushiroad's mascot.But this Shiyoko, drawn also by the same artist of the original, Asuka Nishi, is wearing a Merlion costume, giving it a very Singaporean twist.

So what's next? The calendar shows that the next event in Singapore is Cosfest XIV, held on the 11th and 12th of July, less than 3 weeks away. You can bet I'll be there to catch the action, and I hope I see you there too!

P.S. Sorry for the poor quality photos. I took it with my handphone camera because I'm cheapskate like that.