Huddersfield Majikkon 2015

Huddersfield Majikkon. It's fair to say I was extremely looking forward to this event because I loved it last year. Sadly more bad luck struck this year as my father fell ill from a bug going around at work, passing it onto my brother and some onto me. The day came and I was unsure what would happen, if I was to take the bus and if I should go in cosplay also if I would feel more worse. Alas he did take us in the end so I could go in cosplay. Everything was going swell, wasn't rushed and got everything done. Then soon as got out of the car for the event, the beard for my Aku Aku mask fell of and we couldn't go inside early like last year so was left queueing in the freezing windy cold! Brrrrrr!  I put the mask in my bag only to discover the eyebrow fell of later aswell. Waiting outside, a queue did sort of form eventually  and we had the most annoying people infront of us. One male had so much room infront of himself yet kept backing up into my brother who was more ill. Rude much? (I did keep moving on the spot but made sure it was in the side ways direction not in anyones way to bug them.) So that started the day of badly and some girl in his friend group I think kept walking into everyone and nearly crushing my bag when I was trying to sort something out. But you do get some ignorant people at times anywhere you go. It was so freezing queueing but this is what gotta do for other conventions and it made sure we was right near the front.



I met up with various friends throughout the day which consisted of Jodie, Shaunie, Michelle and Tim. Who also brought some of their friends along and mainly stayed with Shaunie and Tim throughout the day but met with the others whenever saw them.

I met up with my friend Jellie Bee first and enjoyed spending some time speaking to her which I normally can't do cause the hustle and bustle and wanting to get out of people's way. But I managed to do two lengthy conversations throughout the day with her. (Doctor who *whispers*) But yes I got two sticker packs of her; zelda and game control stickers, pikachu badge and a studio ghibli zodiac poster. I also bought some more badges from another stall and I would of bought more before I told myself not to, since I'm a serious badge collector.. But I do nothing with them! I also bought a beautiful flower crown from a lolita stall.

(Jellie Bee)

The sumo wrestling idea was brilliant and hilarious, got Tim and Josh fighting on camera and will hopefully be making a funny video of that at some point to put here. I didn't get to go the maid cafe but apparantly we couldn't take photos anyways... So nothing much missed there. I sadly forgot all about the gaming room and noticed they had tekken tournaments which I regretted. When finally remembered, it was far too crowded to get into to.

It wouldn't be a convention without my wig and something going wrong. Which although I spent a good hour facepainting my face, a bald spot at the top shown on the pictures and my wig kept falling to the side. I had never had this problem on test runs so fair to say I was disapointed but luckily I know the clone stamp on photoshop and have been using it to correct errors on my photos. I also had to use it for cosplayers at times cause of the wind. So it's a handy tool to have. Fair to say I was gutted that my prop started to fall apart cause it was literally something I was very much proud of cause I'm not good at making things. But these things happen and everyone was lovely about it and still made me feel good. Which enabled me to turn it into a joke in the end.

I didn't expect the amount of photographers to ask me for a photo, last year it was mainly the photography volunteers, didn't see many of them this year around except for the morning sadly. But wow. I also had a professional photoshoot with forecast and A shot in the dark (which I won along with a harley quinn cushion and on the day got a charmanda one too yay!) Other photographers I met on the day were food and cosplay (which I love his photos so I felt really happy about that) and Starwind photography (who I also knew!) also Tim Brockley (who attends meets and who I know from previous conventions). As you can imagine, I was pleased photographers I knew about were coming to me and made me feel a little better about being there in cosplay. I also had a few people take photos who was volunteers and convention goers like me. (Will upload some of the photos of me as I recieve them.)

Funnily enough the most photos I got was of my friend who was Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul and the fact I got a photoshoot with another person next week cosplaying the same, amuses me. But also frightens me to make sure to get the photos even better. Which will be a challenge considering one of my photos I took is my favourite to date. Did some meme shots with Sherlock (who I met in the first year of the convention) and some more new people who came with my friends. Regret not getting more pictures inside but my flash wasn't working inside the convention like I got it for.

 (Ken Kaneki, Tokyo Ghoul)

 (Harley & Sherlock, Batman and Sherlock BBC)

Finally, I am really gutted I was not my usual hyper self for the day, but I guess it made me more tame with everyone. I loved the new layout for the main convention room but I found the stage area to be too loud, I personally thought it might of just been me because I was ill but found out some stall holders were leaving cause the noise to calm their head and also some stall holders had their hands on their ears. Maybe it could be quieter next year like the previous year? Or maybe move the stage to another room. I don't know, maybe bad idea but the noise kept me from staying in that hall for too long and spent much time outside. I will be hoping to attend next year cause it's one of my favourite conventions especially for cosplaying. I definately think it's a conventions you can go to with lots of friend's and manage to see them all, unlike other conventions. Everyone works so hard to put this convention together *takes hat of to them* and I hope their convention continues to grow.

 (Goku, Dragon ball Z)

  (Chi chi (with Gohan cut out prop), Dragon ball Z)

Japan Day 25.08.14

 Japan Society North West's "Japan Day" is held in the Midlands hotel (right opposite manchester central where Manchester comic con is), it is free entry and  featured displays and demonstrations of Japanese crafts and activities including Ikebana, Ningyo (Japanese dolls), embroidery, Koto and Shamisen playing, Taiko drumming, the lovely “Awa Odori” dance, Shodo (the art of Japanese calligraphy) and also, for the first time at Japan Day, two authentic performances of the art of Tea Ceremony. For something more active they had martial arts displays from a number of different groups, and people could also have the chance to dress up in a kimono with their kimono-dressers. And, for the first time in Manchester, they had a cosplay competition. They also had a large number of stalls featuring the amazing variety of Japanese-culture societies in north west England.

 (Awa Odori dance)

(Kimono dressing)

Here's a recording of the Awa Odori dance she did (one out of two).

We managed to get inside from the early hours of it opening for this event as we always like to.Their wasn't many stalls but the entertainment was good,  that it didn't really matter. I particularly liked the awa odori dance and the finishing act Taiko drumming which they were all so enthusiastic. It took us some time to find the third room; trafford suite and when we got there it was way too crowded around the stage to see the martial acts properly so we never really ventured into it. The Japanese food room smelled so delicious, the aroma filling the room was simply mouth watering and hearing the Japanese greetings made it even more awesome.

 (Japanese food stalls)

(Taiko drumming)

The hotel was stunning and very big, easy to get around eventually aswell. Which I made sure to check afterwards what the star rating for it was a 4 star. Very fitting. Plus the fact it was opposite Manchester central had us all pulling some gags about being late/too early for MCM.

 Sadly every photographer/camera person was having a issue with the camera because of the lighting in the hotel. And the fact my camera is slow didn't help, by the end it did sort itself out and get a few cosplay photos but this is the reason why not much. We missed the cosplay competition as we took a wrong turn, ended up slightly lost then went for food but oh well! My favourite artist was there which I ended up buying alot of her as usual and got some things from afflecks in Manchester

 (Jellie Bee stall)

 (Studio Ghibli and playstation merch from Jellie Bee)

(Afflecks patches and badges)

Really awesome vibe, met up with many of my friends and it was a really great experience as you had japanese terms thrown at you at stalls and food stalls. It's not back till 2016 but I reccomend to everyone for a day out to enjoy Japanese culture. Now for some cosplay photography I took on the day!

 (Shaunie, my companion for the day)

 (Kiki, Kiki's Delivery Service)

 (Furries!)

 (Princess Hatsune Miku, Vocaloid)

 (Totoro, My Neighbor Totoro)

 Midland Hotel was well served by public transport (St Peters Square tram stop is two minutes walk away, Oxford Road railway station 10 minutes, and there are frequent buses running past or near to the hotel). There are also several large car parks nearby as well as a range of small ones.I got there by 83 (which had several other buses stop in the same place) which stops near piccadilly gardens and then it's a few minutes walk straight down to the place.

Manchester MCM Comic Con 2014

First of; this took a lot longer than planned to do this post. I attended Manchester comic con for the third time this year and I was glad I went again. The queuing system was much better and they let us in earlier than the first year just to wait inside - but it got us out the rain for weekend/day early entry ticket holders. They even chucked freebies which I managed to obtain a pair of green sunglasses!

 Adventure Time, Fionna

Final Fantasy, Rikku

 I must admit the first day I really didn't enjoy that much, the day dragged and my Joker outfit had a malfunction which resulted to horrible feelings and also like many others I only got a few hours sleep (mainly to being ill and the thunder storm) The wig wouldn't stay down and my makeup wouldn't stay on. However my friend's outfits were amazing,(Helena and Fionna are the main buddies for the day I hung out with). Most the day was also spent in the cafe just sitting on the chairs before we could go outside as the rain wasn't so bad.

Lollipop Chainsaw, Juliet Starling

 Orphan Black, Helena

Orphan Black, Clone club

Orphan Black, Cosima (left), Helena (right)

Batman, Harley Quinn, Joker

I finally met Chello-Chan who I adore, her cosplay was amazing! *Insert fangirling*. I then came across my favourite Scorpion cosplayer and we had a nice chat in the rain! We did end up leaving slightly early on Saturday (me and my brother) so could rest at home, but it was so I could be prepared the next day (my brother decided not to go on the Sunday with me.)

Adventure time, Marshall Law (Left) Prince Gumball (right)

Mortal Kombat, Scorpion

Orphan Black, Helena

Day two was much better, I had enough sleep and everything was going to plan. It was a weird feeling though going to a convention on a Sunday, maybe it was because I was so used to mcm being just on a Saturday or because I've only been conventions where they last one day. Regardless, Saturday had felt the same as it was usually every year very hot as I have stressed before! I went just a hour before the convention and was allowed to go straight in with my wristband on and wait, which was alot more fun and I didn't mind cause I was in a cheery mood from going straight in. I went in casual clothing this time as I needed a break - once again friends looked amazing.

The Little Mermaid, Ariel

Pokemon, Umbreon, N Harmonia

Pokemon, Jessie, N

Pokemon, N

 Doctor Who, Eleventh and Tenth doctor

Disney Princesses, Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, Ariel

The weather was much better on the Sunday and I met some amazing cosplayers.We only went to the theatre once this year - as previously it was always in the same hall but this time it was a bit away and that was to see Vic Mignogna's (Voice actor; Dragon ball Z, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Fullmetal Alchemist) talk, which had hilarious moments 'were you surprised...' (inside joke) but also at one point he did a really heartfelt speech about doing what you enjoy and I really welled up hearing it, he is an amazing guy and if you ever get the chance to go to one of his talks. Do it. Even if people don't know who he is, he is genuinely a awesome, sweet, friendly guy.

Jessie (Toy Story), Beast (Xmen)

The Young Ones, Rik

Batman, Bane, Joker

Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku

I also met Vic Mignogna for the second time, which I got a photoshoot with him and a autograph - which sadly when I got it I was so tired I forgot to ask for a hug! Don't even know how that's possible but I somehow managed it, oh well I'm sure he'll visit again soon and I'll be there to see him all over again. The only down side is the photo-shoot prices are already steep (£20) and the fact mcm was charging for autographs - £10 (which usually was free for something bringing to them) was a little sad. Which explained the lack of queues for once at MCM. In the past they would go all around the hall, Saturday I can't judge on as never went to this room but on Sunday it wasn't a huge queue as used to be. Which means MCM may need to look at what they do for next year.

Ariel, Vic and me

 Merch I got

I must stay I think I will be attending this again if I had the time and no problems.The only thing that concerns me is, would it be so fun still even when it's very hot as the crowds were still evident. I do advise people to get weekend/early entry day tickets because me and the others who did always met up within a few minutes.

Oh look it's me!

And finally here's a video I made of the two day event- all handheld because problems with a flycam I had and the rain. Look out for yourselves in it!