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I got up real early in the morning, even missing my breakfast of my bed and breakfast to get to the MTCC to make sure I got a ticket this year for the masquerade. I stopped briefly at the Theatre to see IF that would be the place for the line up for tickets. All I found was rendant of Fireman convention that happened last weekend.
When I got to the line-up there was several. Obviously I started in
the wrong line up for tickets. If I hadn't been walk from my spot in line
to take photos I would have never found out and possible loss another chance
to record the masquerade this year.
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This year at Fan Expo Canada it seemed I was meeting everyone I previously taken pictures of. For the two on the right, I had taken their picture practically 4 years ago at CN Anime 2003. It was good to hear that they were impressed or even remembered that I took their picture. Still it shows that this family still cosplays together. Thanks for encouraging words, and I hope to see you in years to come.
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I finally found the line-up for masquerade tickets and once again was at the end of the line... again. I moved from my spot to capture more cosplay pictures. Finally the clock struck 10 am and the line moved. with my ticket finally in hand, noticed a THIRD line-up. This one was people registering for being IN the masquerade. So I manage to get some quick peeks of that evening's entertainers.
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I would grab several other pictures of the crowd in all the line-ups before hunger beset me. No Snicker bar was going to handle this. :)
Finally getting my ticket and starving... no breakie. It was after 11 am so I headed a few blocks to Swiss Chalet. I wolfed down my meal. It was much needed as a photographer can't live on chip wagon hot dogs alone.
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I returned to catch the new line-up (number four?) f people just buying
their tickets for the day. Fresh blood!
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What really impressed me the most about Fan Expo Canada was that the French Canadian fans came out in force. It makes me wish I had paid attention in French class in high school after meeting this and other cosplay groups from Montreal and area. I mean impressive that two groups had large casts in the Masquerade.
The Otakuthon's group was cosplaying Tsubasa Chronicles while another group from the day before was cosplaying Inu Yashu. I now wished that I had gone to Otakuthon but I couldn't. I seriously thinking of attending next year after seeing this pair of energetic cosplay groups. If I do, I'll definitely will have to brush up on my French. |
An actual mobile suit Gundam
My friend has a joke about mecha cosplayers... IMmobile Suit Gundam. He has seen his share of mecha suits living in Japan. Most of which are beautifully made yet lack one thing ... the ability to move. What is impressive about this suit is it is mobile to a reasonable degree. He won't be doing the macorana (sp?) dance but at least he can walk. One thing I think is the shoulder pads are way too large and the feet are one piece which means he shuffles along . If the toe of the feet were hinged at the arch of the foot, it would allow better leg movement. Still an impressive work.
Once again, back to another line-up. The one I originally was in to
the dealer's room.
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One of my now favourite cosplayers and no doubt the most enthusiastic was the 'Girl who loves Candy'. Well, that is her name on the Dragon Mango forum. Not only she cosplay as her all time favourite character Candy. Mark, the gentleman behind her, put her as a secret player in his own two player fighter game with live character and real backgrounds. 'Girl who loves Candy' jumped with glee at being included in this game. I must admit it was impressive. I now know what Mark does in his spare time when he isn't drawing Dragon Mango and now another sci-fi online comic.
The artist alley wasn't just art but clothes as well. While a company that embroidery might be out of place, I have been thinking of getting custom patches for a costume that I wanted to wear one day.
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Photo Ops all day long
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No matter where you went there was opportunities to take pictures of any movie or anime. Upstairs there were planned photo shoots for many different animes. I only caught a brief glimpse of the Naruto Photo shoot. It was difficult to find a place in line but I got the photo of the photographers all in a horseshoe at the one end of the con floor upstairs.
Once again I headed to the chip wagon for some pop for the long line ahead. This one being for getting into the masquerade itself. I was, of course, greeted by, you guessed it, another line-up.
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The long walk back was rewarded with cosplay pictures along the way
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I've met allot of cosplayers over the years. Some even have their own website and their own business cards like myself. Not many with their own collectable trading card like this fan, Gilberto Guemes Jr. dressed like Jek Porkins, Red 6. Not only the card was high quality but signed. No doubt you have heard of those cosplayers who are infamous for dressing in wrong costume like 'ManFay'. Yet this guys costume was detailed and so perfect that if it wasn't for the fact, the first Star Wars movie was SO long ago, I would mistake him for the actual actor who played Jek Porkins. Having met several of the original Star Wars cast that are still around, Gilberto's tribute to this character a touching tribute to the lasting appeal of Star Wars. Oh, by the way, the URL is... www.rebellegion.com
should you wish to check out the site.
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Return Performance
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Every year the expert cosplayers come out to Fan Expo. By their own merits, they are beyond the master class system of the masquerade level. The level of detail goes beyond the pale as I tried to capture the scale and detail of the entire costume. massive and articulate as it is.
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