While the change of the event’s venue for this year’s EOY from Singapore Expo to the National Library has certainly made improved the accessibility, it compressed the event area. It’s common for cosplay events to be packed with many cosplayers and even more photographers, but this time round, it felt unbearably packed. There were times when I wanted to snap a shot, but due to the cramped area around the cosplayer, even waiting behind the wall of photographers for a turn to snap a shot would be out of the point.
There were 2 main areas where the cosplayers would be; The official area requiring an entry on the 3rd floor, and the sheltered ground just outside on the 1st floor. As such, if you wanted to snap as many cosplayers at the event, or if you were just looking for a certain cosplayer, you would have to make multiple trips between the 2 areas. Not exactly the most fun thing to do at a cosplay event, even if there were escalators from the 1st to 3rd floor.
One thing I’ve noted at EOY ‘09 is the number of real guitars used as accessories. It could only mean a couple of things. One, the number of cosplayer who are guitarists or have guitarist friends have increased. Two, cosplayers are getting richer.
It would be cool if a cosplayer with a guitar suddenly starts strumming some tunes on the spot while photographers ignite their flashes and snap away.
One of my favourite cosplays of the event. If only she had a Tachikoma together with her…
One thing I was interested in was the stage performance, but the drama theatre was packed to the brim. Even though it was stated that the 2nd and 3rd row of seats would be reserved for media passes, I suppose they eventually gave that idea up. I wouldn’t know though, since I couldn’t even step a foot in.
Speaking of media passes, there was no authentication for the collection of it. When I collected mine, I asked if there was a need to check against a list or something, but I was told that it was alright. I wonder if the media pass system was abused.
As usual, “俺はガンダム” was at the event.
He was at the first floor for quite a while, setting up. Just before the event ended, he went up to the 3rd floor and barely made it through the entrance. I was wondering how he could fit in the lift.
This year’s EOY gave a much more commercial feel, with changes such as the venue and additions such as Makino Yui as the guest. Is it only me, or is EOY trying to head down the same path as AFA? Commercialised events are a double-edged sword, depending on what you’re looking for. We’ll just have to wait and see, I guess.
I followed the trend in American conventions, and the thing about them, is that community-driven events – run by only sheer volunteer force – tend to attract less people than commercially-driven ones.
Singapore has passed its plethora of community-driven events (except SOY’B, which I wager, will still live on, only because it has a supportive school environment to host it), and now, it requires financial backing of small/medium enterprises to support them. Unfortunately, the majority of the anime fan community/blogosphere have already shunned Odex – which has begun selling merchandises in the recently concluded Mini Anime Fair at Takashimaya & DVDs out of Singapore – so the bulk of the corporate support are through Animax and a couple of anime fan-related companies.
I forsee a burnout of sorts for anime fandom here. A creeping realization of the over-commercialization of the industry – seeing as after 2007, the subjective quality of anime productions have been grudgingly towards the lower common denominator, with the shutdown of several anime production houses and studios - will wake some players up. The hope is that once the crass commercialization phase has passed, anime as a hobby will be revitalized. As it is now, it is a bad time to indulge into anime fandom.
Agree with TP here. Won’t add much except for the fact I won’t be attending events much as a photographer, but as a spectator.
That aside, crowds plus one-upping of photographic equipment (there were 3 mini-studios set-up at least) meant a one sided affair. Sure, one could work hard to wait/isolate a cosplayer, but I’m too lazy. Instead, I experiment with a few settings/angles that I could implement in future photoshoots.
And yeah, the Major was my favourite as well. Too bad she went on stealth mode before I could get a shot of her. Heh.
I’m getting lesser and lesser photos with each passing event. I’m either getting selective, lazy, or both.
Many real good cosplayers in EOY09
The people at the door probably know who double is so that is why they didn’t ask you to prove your identity. After all there is only one double in Singapore no?
“One thing I’ve noted at EOY ‘09 is the number of real guitars used as accessories. It could only mean a couple of things. One, the number of cosplayer who are guitarists or have guitarist friends have increased. Two, cosplayers are getting richer.”
for me I always wanted the Burny and since I got itit would make a great prop for cosplay
Squee > You need to practice more with that guitar lol. Utilise it fully, both as a prop and a guitar.