Just Be Friends Cosplay PV ( ranked 1st?!?!?)

Oh. My. God.

Suddenly, god decides to be super nice to me(and the entire team) and granted us such an amazing gift of appreciation and accomplishment.

Yes, according to NicoNico, our JBF Cosplay video is now ranked the top most watched Vocaloid related video on NicoNico. I have no idea how this ranking is assessed, if anyone knows, leave me a comment and let me know hokays?

Last night it was ranked 4th. Was super happy when we realize it had jumped dramatically from 11th to 4th. But I thought that was going to be the end and the best it’d ever get. But now…. it has jumped straight to the top T_T

 

BANZAI \o/!!!!

Its a pretty amazing ride and it definitely didn’t occur to us that we’d make it that far. Especially not when the haters starting flooding the video with comments about how ugly our faces were. Yes, at some point of time, the hate comments started to dominate. It was really annoying because people started complaining about us NOT being Caucasians and things like our frontal closeup looking horrible etc etc. Pointless stuffs that’s not related,if you get what I mean.

But anyway, *coughs* I gotta get a hold of myself and not let this happiness get to me >////< U. Ultimately, I'd have to face the fact that this rank will drop. But for now, I’ll allow myself some celebration T_T

Pimping the original upload at Youtube again in case you have not seen it before ^_^ ;;;

 

Making of the PV

Lastly, another thanks and pimp to the rest of the cast below.

Megurine Luka: Kaika
Luka’s ex BF: Reiko

Photographers (alphabetically arranged) :
Adrian
Peggy
Maria
Shiroin

Video editing: Kaika
Special Thanks : Decadence, Ying and Xrystal for lending us their gakurans and wig xD

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Just Be Friends Cosplay PV on Nico!

LINK: Feature on Vocaloid Blog
LINK: Video on niconico

OMG…. I can’t believe it. Someone actually liked our cosplay PV enough to post it back onto Niconico (its like japanese youtube). Honestly, I think its a damn big deal and a damn big compliment.

And the general comments on it were pretty positive. Very Gandongs lei T_T

Ps: Those red words on the screen of the videos are other user’s comments

This Vocaloid Site also did a short feature entry on the video. Am so grateful they bothered to link the original Youtube Video along with the Behind the Scenes video.

 

According to reiko, the video is ranked the 11th most watched Vocaloid Video on NicoNicoDouga. I don’t understand Japanese so, feel free to let me/us know if we’re wrong >//// < ;;;;

Hahaha, and someone on Niconico actually made a comparision video !!! Watch out for 1:08, magic will appear =X. Though the comparison video made me kinda conscious about all the shortfalls oTL

And at the end of the video, some blue advertisement thingy appeared. I found the words a little different from the usual “BANDAI” or “KAO” so I asked Reiko what it meant.

And apparently, NicoNico has this very fun feature on their site. The feature allows you to use niconico points you earned/purchased from the site to pimp videos you feel is good.

That means some kind soul actually spent/used 300points to pimp our video . SO OMG GANDONGS/TOUCHED CAN???????!!!!!!

All along, I’ve been satisfied with what Youtube have been providing but after experiencing this. Niconico is starting to appeal to me. But damn I can’t read japanese T_T!!!!!!!!!

When we first did the PV, our brains were so busy with all the ( SUPER ) rushed planning and insecurities, we really didn’t have much room to anticipate such hearty acceptance. SO much thanks to all that liked out hard work. Thank you thank you and thank youuuuuuuu T___T

Much loves and thanks to Akane for informing me about this. Otherwise, with my limited knowledge, I’d never find out X_X

Another thanks and pimp to the rest of the cast below.

Megurine Luka: Kaika
Luka’s ex BF: Reiko

Photographers (alphabetically arranged) :
Adrian
Peggy
Maria
Shiroin

Video editing: Kaika
Special Thanks : Decadence, Ying and Xrystal for lending us their gakurans and wig xD

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Cosplay video project !

Another epic is in the making ~~

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Cosplay PV shoot!

Yo peeps~

This is Kaika blogging twitter style! Okay, twitter has no piccies. But you get the point lah...

Anyway, was involved in yet another exciting Cosplay PV so am excited to share this sneak peek with everyone.

Not telling more about this project though hehe. Its a busy weekend with a line up of shoots !!

Hope the video will turn out great. And no, I can't disclose the cast either. But feel free to comment with your guesses xD

tata!!

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Random Cosplay Videos!

Yo~~~ Just thought I’d pimp here because some of you might not follow my lousy Youtube Channel. Was browsing my cosplay photo & video archives recently and realise I have A LOT of random videos slashed away so I decided to share some.

Kaoru: Reiko  (http://gk-reiko.deviantart.com)
Hikaru:  Decadence  (http://koshinaka.deviantart.com)
Haruhi: Kaika (http://elpheal.deviantart.com)
Video: Decadence

One of the very random videos we took during our very fun Ouran host Club shoot last September. I seriously think my Hitachin twins were damn gorgeous!!!!

And, I wasn’t deliberately trying to look so pissed in the video. I was trying to act like how Haruhi ought to (kinda zoned out and bored maybe? ) but I accidentally rolled my eyes and it got recorded ahahhaa. But reiko and Decadence were so cute lahh~~~

Should I upload the videos we took at Mac Donalds? Hitachin twins nomming on Macs xDDD

 

 

Luneth: Kaika  (http://elpheal.deviantart.com)
Arc: Cvy  (http://cvy.deviantart.com)
Ingus: Decadence (http://koshinaka.deviantart.com)
Refia: Reiko  (http://gk-reiko.deviantart.com)
Video : Reiko
Edit: Kaika

Hahaha Reiko helped us took this video last last year (2008) when we went for our Cameron Highland Cosplay cum Holiday trip. I can’t remember how it started but….I think we were trying to take pictures of us flying kick in mid air. But failed desperately, so we moved on to video for better capturing ahhaaa.

I was a little bored when I did this video as can be seen from the very negotiable quality. Had wanted to add the Caramel Dansen song to it but figured it wouldn’t work, so yeah.

 

Anyone wanna see Shana bully Yuji’s shoe xD?

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Cosplay Photo of the day: the shocking!

Hi peeps~ Things have been a little slow again recently because I was busy watching Lovely Complex doing freelance work :D

But I’m back again because I iz haz lovely photos to pimp :D!!!!!

Noctis Lucis Caelum (storm) from Final Fantasy versus XIII by AmenoKitarou

Love the play/usage of water in the first picture. Cosplayer did an awesome job posing and slashing the water circle 57834233082 times and the photographer did an awesome job capturing it. I like how, despite the fast motion, nothing is blurred. Good use of shutter speed ?

I think the Storm cosplayer looked awesome too! Love his costume and sword *_*

Location is love T_T

 

Hetalia cosplay team. Photo by MelinaCOsplay

I really like how much motion is captured here. Especially the swinging of the flags! Makes you feel like its some international patriotic day and I can almost hear the trumpets blowing! Make you feel the love and pride of each flag wielder with their animated swinging :D

 

Haku from NARUTO. Cosplay by Mileyx

Found this picture really amazing because like what I commented on her DA. I’m really amazed at how well both the cosplayer and photographer performed in that kind ( underwater omfg?! ) situations. I can never keep my eyes open underwater much less pose in it. Nuff said.

 

Shadow Beast from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Cosplay by negativedreamers

OMG, love mascotish cosplays. The intricateness of the costume is so beautifully portrayed here with the sun shining on the lycra like costume and the texture of the headgear so nicely embossed *_*

Also love the dynamic angle! I think the photographer might have used some sort of wide lens :D

 

Mio Akiyama from K-ON by H.A.Z.Y. Photo by Adoboramen

I like the slight yellowish treatment in the colour and most importantly how the expression and eyes of the cosplayer seems to pull me into her world. >//////<;;; *Hentai jiji mode*

Sometimes, cosplaying normal clothes character can be the most difficult. But the cosplayer did a great job using her body language and guitar to bring an added punch to the photo

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Snowtrooper: First step

Snowtrooper is definitely the hardest costume I have ever done. Not only did I have to learn things I didn't even know existed, I also had to work long hours and bounce between three or four process steps at a time. Planning a schedule became day to day habit. I knew it was crucial to plan ahead, because there where things I needed to do before I could do something else. For example, I had to finish the abdomen piece of the armour before I could go out and find a right width of belt strap, so that I could sew the belt loops on the coat. If I happened to miss a step or I didn't have enough time to do it as planned or I didn't find the right materials, the progress stopped. It happened few times and I think Yoki didn’t find those moments pleasing. In addition, neither did I.

Also working with new materials got over-whelming time to time. Plastic and vacuum forming, or more precisely failing with them made me want to rip the hair out of my head. But it was only a passing feeling, along with numerous times I thought my veins would burst from high blood pressure. Like with everything not too familiar, mistakes are inevitable. It takes some effort to pull yourself up numerous times and keep pushing on. For me at least, but it really builds a character.

I thought I would open the process of making the costume. The information I include in this series of posts is quite costume based, but you can always adapt it. I'll start with a step you always should do with care and patience. It pays off in the end, when you don't have to go and Google in the middle of chaulking, sewing or cutting off your finger. It's just plain frustrating.

1st Step: References

We were starting a costume based on movies and not on any movies, but on Star Wars. After some research and finding the right channels of information, it was really easy to stock up a nice collection of reference pictures. And there can never be too many references. More the merrier. The best source, which led to many other convenient sites were the 501st Legion’s homepage.

501st is a world-wide costuming organization which is specialised in the folk of the Dark Side. Dressed up as villains, they still have a good cause. Showing up in birthdays, weddings or game shops or being ordered in conventions doesn’t fill up their purses. All the profits are directed to charity work and fundraising. All the members of 501st are volunteers and constructs their costumes themselves. More information can be found at the homepage of 501st Legion: Vader’s Fist. I recommend you check the origin of the name, their mission and the testimonials and endorsements.

Thanks to well organized and helpful fandom it was really easy to find tons of reference pictures. I read throughout two forums, which I think were the most beneficial for me: Blizzard Force, a detachment specialised on cold climate troopers and Nordic Garrison, branch formed from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

Reference pictures in use

As references we used costume exhibit photos provided by snortooperrefrence on Photobucket, screen captures from Star Wars: Empire strikes back from various sources and process pictures from people who have constructed the costume. The Definitive How To: Snowtrooper proved to live up to it’s name. They have step by step tutorial, designs for the armour and a whole much more on their sites reference pictures and links included.

For us it was natural to find different sources for the references. When you are making a costume based on animated character the process is little different, but alternatives still exist. You can strictly follow animated design or choose more detailed comic version, possibly both if you know how to combine then and if you can stand behind your decision. Digging up original art from the artist might also prove helpful. If the character is wearing something what is recognisably a piece of clothing like kimono, finding pictures from real ones isn’t a bad idea.

Me and protective gear made by Yoki - Mission: Find ref-pics

Always see the effort to search information about your costume! Many questions have already been answered and many costumers have been helped out. You can learn a lot without participating and find sites and tutorials just by reading and clicking. Cosplay.com forums are a good source, but more specific help you can find on specialized sites. Not only references, but also recommendable materials and techniques are explained. You can also learn a lot from posts, where people ask for critique on their costumes. Usually the answers are really pin-pointed and possibly you haven’t even thought about some matters by yourself.

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