Manifest ‘08, Saturday
This was my first time ever to an anime convention, so I was pretty hyped up about it that I could barely get any sleep the previous night. I tried to wake up early for this special event the next morning, but slept in an extra hour and got ready by 8 am before gathering at the station. I went with 7 freaks (no midnightrose—-only if I could show you a picture of her) to Melbourne University, and because we had no idea where we were really going, we stalked a couple of cosplayers dressed as a fox and a duck.
Basically …
I was a bit disappointed about Manifest, but I suppose that was because I had a very limited time to hang around since it was my friend’s birthday, so we kind of had to do her thing, which involves no anime whatsoever. I didn’t attend any of the special events or watch any previews—-Australia’s probably the only country that receives the latest things last. Hopefully I’ll be able to venture around Manifest more next year and actually bring some cash along. I saw a few people cosplaying as Naruto, but couldn’t really tell if they were Narutards. No one asked them for a photo—-not that I saw anyway—-so I didn’t either. I have a reputation to protect. Sadly, I didn’t see any bloggers. I mean, I wouldn’t want to meet with me either, unless I’m desperate enough to want a neck pain for the rest of the day from looking down for too long (ha-ha). I’m not actually in any of the photos because in possibly every photo I’ve been in, I’ve either blinked, my eyes are half-open, I’m looking elsewhere, or I’m smiling in this freakish way.
10:00-11:30
We arrived at 10 am and got lost for about twenty minutes. We tried reading a map, but we couldn’t figure out what all the numbers meant. At last we found the never-ending line but then this guy just came up and randomly decided to hug my friend, who was dressed as Mario. There were thousands of really good cosplayers so it made some of us, who weren’t cosplaying, look like the outcasts instead. When we finally found our guardian, who clearly had no interest in anime (he found refuge in his phone for the whole day), we did what anyone else would have done: we cut in the line. Even so, for one hour and another bloody half we waited in a long queue while some of us wandered off to take photos. Only a few minutes had passed and I was already faced with an issue: my nerves got to me. You know, with me being short and all, I don’t really have a loud voice so I tried sign-language: I just stared at a particular cosplayer from a distance until they took notice in me. That continued for a while until my friend started asking for me, which was probably really strange because I was the one holding the camera.
11:30-2:15
Okay, so we had to ask someone for directions for where we should go next until we found ourselves in this really cramped room where you get to buy … stuff. I didn’t have any money on me except 10 dollars so I brought a small Nagato figurine for 8 bucks and saved the rest for charity. I saw loads of adorable plushies and wanted a few, especially the Yoshi and colourful mushrooms, but I decided to screw it, go home and make my own (which I never got around to doing, by the way). When it was my second time around the area, someone kept poking me on the shoulder, and I was certain that the suspect knew me, but when I saw the back of his head, I couldn’t tell who it was. After shopping for a bit more, we went outside again and took heaps more photos. I only wanted to take pictures of the professional cosplayers, so that’s exactly what I did. I stumbled across midnightrose a few times, who was wearing a kimono or yukata (is there a difference?) on that day. Very pretty indeed, but she’ll kick me to death if I upload an image of her. Anyway, my friend wanted to meet some guy from the JPOP radio show in Melbourne, and when she did, believe me was the silence really awkward. Man, I live for these moments.
2:15-5:00
I had to get home before 5 or else I was in deep shit. Anyway, the guy who had been poking me turned out to be a family friend. Although the day doesn’t sound really thrilling, it was fun and I saw a lot of people who I thought would never be interested in anime. The costumes were really good, but my favourite one is the two guys dressed as characters from Final Fantasy. Everyone seemed nice, but my friend said people were calling her the slutty version of Mario for the entire day. My other friend got pissed because she unintentionally bough three Ulquiorra keyrings when she wanted an Ichigo one (she gambled with one of those toy machines). She also lost her ID card, so that just made everything worse. Eventually, she got over it, except the guy in charge of organising the cosplaying competition was really pissed and kept shouting at people. Sometimes when we asked for a photo, the cosplayers looked reluctant. Sigh. Maybe we were just too cool for them?
Apologies for not linking these images to a larger size, but I was too lazy to.
That sounds like loads of fun. Next time bring MOAR MUNNY! YOO NEED 2 BAI STUF!
Btw, you can box up that cute Mario girl and ship her my way, cause I am totally captivated.
Also, I demand a picture of blinking blizzy and potential murderer midnightrose
nice photos
couldn’t come to manifest. thank you for sharing the photos
any loot?
ron~s last blog post..Japan Loot Part 2
There’s stuff like this in Australia?!Thats news to me
I’ll try to get some pictures of overweight narutos when I go to Anime Expo next year…err maybe
Makotos last blog post..Megaman(& me) lives on:心の歌
the pictures are awesome.
also the new look is great. i’m so glad you guys are back in operation… no sudden disappearances again, ok? XD
biankitas last blog post..Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 25 ~Re:~ (END)
The cosplayers looked much better than the ones I saw at NYAF. I guess it also helped that the weather looked so damn gorgeous. (It was a drizzling sickness in NY.)
On the other hand, we had Rie Tanaka. Show you envy. kekeke…
bakanekos last blog post..Bilrer=Kawamori, it was all for Minmay—macross frontier 25 end
I’ve been to two anime conventions myself and the facade of some super awesome event with lots of cool stuff to see faded rather quickly.
Bah, you complain too much blissmo!! At least i see that there are better looking cosplayers there. But you know, you shouldn’t hope for too much at local events, that will only result in disappointment. Hope for less and be happy if you get more.
I’ll be sure to check it out next year, I hope they will have some cool live-music next year.
@JLeeson: Maybe next year lols
@ron~: I’ve no idea what you’re talking about
@Makoto: Melbourne lacks anime fans
@bianktia: Can’t promise you that
@bakeneko: lols, who the hell is that? Anyway, it’s only cos I took pictures of good cosplayers
@Nagato: Fun doesn’t last very long
@Setsuna-san: I’ll remember that: hope for less
@TokiDoki: But the music has to be good
Reminds me of the Neil Gaiman cosplay there was when I saw Neil Gaiman in Sydney to get books signed. From what I’ve seen in these pictures, people put in the effort.
I’ve always wanted to cosplay as Osamu Tezuka, but I don’t have the right clothes or a beret…
newgeekphilosophers last blog post..Double Arts Cancelled: You Don’t Really Think I’ll Do A Write Up For The Final Chapters, Do You?
WOOOT Looked like fun. The last event that I went to that came close to an anime convention sucked. It was in Christchurch, New Zealand so the few people that did cosplay sucked. *sigh*
mellow_bunnys last blog post..Planning | It is not for the foolish.
that C.C is not so C.C lol
Would it be possible to add e-mail contacts to About page? Currently it’s impossible to report problems with the blog (such as missing Author tag — surprising for a team blog).
I’m with Setsuna on this, if you’re not in Area 11, it’s best to have low expectations from the beginning so that if you do get something good, it’ll feel that way. Having said that, the ones at your event look pretty neat.
Shins last blog post..Where In The World Is Lelouch vi Britannia?
I’d really like to attend a convention. >.< I would also REALLY like to dress up just for the fun of it. Mehe.
Btw, starting on banner.
Humanes last blog post..Sekirei Wallpaper – Kuu-Chan
@Author thanks for pointing it out, the original creator chose not to place an author tag in the single post meta so I didn’t realize it wasn’t there. I’ll mention your suggestion about putting up contact details, its always good to hear bug reports/opinions from readers.
Thanks a lot, creator is visible now (it always was present in the site feed, but not on the site itself).
Saturday sucked so bad for me, I waited FIVE HOURS in line!! I got a weekend pass so at least I was able to enjoy Sunday.
So you’ve had your con virginity taken too, then! (o_o) oooo, Love the Knight of Rounds uniform that Suzaku cosplayer did.
Hoshis last blog post..Toradora
actually looks like a lot of decent cosplays. btw, how do you make a mario costume slutty?
@Punktaku: Hey, I could’ve seen you lols XP
@otou-san: I dunnoes, but apparently that’s what she looked like. See the Mario JLeeson was fantasizing about—-at least I think it’s that one. She’s next to the image of Kirby lol
BWOAHHAHAHA guess who?
and yes, id murder you if you uploaded that HIDEOUS photo of me.
daaw pity you didnt get enough time there. i had TOO much fun: i was there for like, 9 hours. and bought lots of merchandise as well @_@
I think there’s a ghost in the first image under 10:00-11:30, might just be a reflection though
@TokiDoki: LOL! It’s just a reflection haha
The cosplay event looked to be very good. Kind of wish you’d linked to bigger images, as I want to see how some of the costumes were made.
Some of them are quite complex, wonder if they bought the costumes or made it themselves?
Will definitely have to pop down to Melbourne next year to check it out.
The Sydney events don’t seem to be quite as lively.
the one titled black and white, is actually from the manga/ova Angel Sanctuary… more so the manga… and the girl is Organic Angel Alexial, and the male is Belial one of the 7 satans…
if you wanted to know idk…
That sounds like loads of fun. Next time bring MOAR MUNNY! YOO NEED 2 BAI STUF! the one titled black and white, is actually from the manga/ova Angel Sanctuary… more so the manga… and the girl is Organic Angel Alexial, and the male is Belial one of the 7 satans…
when will be the next cosplay event? Those animes are gorgeous!
Cool fun animation look a like.. great blog!
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