Sunday 30 December 2007

Impossible backlog~@_@

Just realised that images due for the galleries have been piling up as I've got no time to create a gallery for all those shoots I took. The upcoming one should be the Gothic Lolita Angel but I'm having too much fun (to be honest) in this new year season to find some time to sit down and design web pages and images and buttons....etc.

Now I kinda get, why many kigurumi cosplayers on the internet doesn't actually use the "gallery" system. Not all, but more and more nowadays I find just post their picture on their main pages or a small column with very few images. Writing in my blog frequently isn't a problem, but making galleries can take hours from start to end with checks and all.

But still I really like the gallery style so that I can somehow archive my pictures online. In an average shoot, I try to take about 100+ images and then pick half of the nicer ones to be posted. I can't just post 50+ images on my main page, so I guess galleries are still necessary (and fun to use). I used to try and make full galleries consisting a video and omake in the past, but I think I'll just make image galleries from now on. And when I'm free I'll add videos if I have any. Phew~ the videos takes the longest time in the gallery update process... well not like ages kinda long... but its long. I take an average video length of about 4-5 minutes and then cut away the pose shifting scenes, the hair brushing and limping(from aching toes in heels >_<) scenes and then join the better parts from end to end to make 2-3 minutes. Then rendering and then followed by Youtube commenting and uploading... hehe. Almost feels like a uni assignment. Anyway I'll find time to open up the Gothic Lolita Angel gallery soon. Do stay tuned and please remember to write in the forums~^_^

Happy new year everyone, have you made your new year resolutions yet?
May all your new year wishes come true~<3

Saturday 29 December 2007

Anata Baka~!??! >_<

I think there must be many anime lovers today who started watching anime during the craze which Evangelion brought about more than 10 years ago. I still remember that even though I've seen anime series often then, Evangelion was the first one which I've been really keen and serious about. Its story and theme was truely ahead of its time, and I think many find its religious setting extremely captivating. I still remember that the internet was overflowing with debates and theory discussions on the Evangelion TV series.

During that time, anime isn't as readily available, especially for translated subtitled ones. The titles are extremely limited and releases takes a long time to arrive. I still recall that I bought the Evangelion episodes on VCD, one episode at a time, in carboard wrapped CD jewel cases. Some episodes took soo long to get released and the standards vary very often. And yes Evangelion was the first anime title which I actually spent dollars and cents acquiring. I really treasured them, and I remembered watching each episode on the VCDs many times over.

Amusingly, the first episode disc I got wasn't episode 1 as it wasn't available then. I got disc 9, as I still recall was the fight between EVA-01 and EVA-03 (13th Angel Bardiel). If you've watched that episode, imagine thats the first serious genre anime title you're ever watched and the gore when EVA-01 tore up EVA-03 was... overwhelming, mind boggling even... for a 16 year old kid that I was then. The impact was so great, I had an urge of puking then when I saw(for the first time) gore of those levels in anime(for the first time remember, imagine the impact). Thereafter, the impression on Evangelion was "intense", "serious stuff"... like none other(in those lines). Like I said, Evangelion was way ahead of its time. That episode captivated me and made me an Evangelion fan eversince. Those were my secondary school days, it was almost as if I studied Evangelion for my exams. Hehe... no worries I still did outstandingly in my proper studies~

One of the things that attracted me to Evangelion was the design of the plug suits worn by Rei and Asuka. They were one of the first few "semi-naked" anime girls I've seen... in the mid 90s, anime hasn't got much of "scenery" like these. I did wonder then how I would love to get a pair of their plug suits. But its a far-fetched dream since cosplay isn't that well known those days and costumes like that were unheard of. Not to mentioned kigurumi cosplays.

10 years later today, in a short and rapid chain of events, I've done dozens of kigurumi cosplay. One after another, getting my dreams come true to cosplay as some of my favourite anime characters(and actually looking like them~^_^). Its by kigurumi cosplay that I'm able to cosplay one my oldest favourite characters in one of the most infamous costumes known. Well, those are the words which came to my mind upon finally completing the cosplay. Here I present you, my Soryu Asuka Langley... Anata Baka~!?!? I'm the best EVA pilot in the world~^_^

Friday 28 December 2007

Equipments up & ready~










Finally, all of Soryu Asuka Langley's equipments are in place and good to go ~^o^
The above you see are the plugsuit's life support backpack and the suit interface wrist cuffs.
All that done, it will ensure optimum synchonisation with the eva unit inside the entry plug.
There is no way she'll lose out to baka Shinji and baka Rei now ~^_^
I wonder when the next mission for her will be~

Tuesday 25 December 2007

Christmas gallery is up~^_^

Today is the 25th December 2007, Merry Christmas everyone~Hurray!!!
The Christmas'07 mode gallery is open, do drop in to take a look.
It is also the debut of Asuka, in red and white santa girl outfit.
More will be added into the gallery shortly I guess, but for now, it is open to mark this festive day~
Once again, have a wonderful Christmas day and an amazing New Year in a few more days~
Have fun~^_^

Monday 24 December 2007

Merry Christmas all my dear friends~^_^


Yu, Meer, Santa girl>_< and Asuka will like to say to everyone, "Merry Christmas and a wonderfil and happy new year~!!!" Wishing all your Christmas wishes come true~^_^

I'll be updating the gallery soon with Christmas related pics soon, do keep a lookout and remember to write~^_^~<3

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Camera expert please reveal yourself~

I've been offered amazing deals for CANON digital cameras and I was wondering if there are any offers worth making me upgrade from my Canon Powershot S3 1S into another. Just wondering if there is anyone familiar with Canon digital cameras to analyse and advise me on which CANON digital camera I would like.

Here are some features which I definitely need for kigurumi phototaking:
-Long timer or intervalometer, for times when I take solo photoshoots. Preferably intervalometer since it automatic takes shots within fixed intervals.
-Rotatable LCD panel.

Thats about it... and the other specs/features have to definitely be better than my current CANON S3 1S otherwise there is no point for me to upgrade. It wouldn't even be an upgrade. Oh yeah... and I need to state if I will take the offer by this Wed/Thu. I'm doing my own research... if anyone thinks they know enough to offer me advice, please contact me~>_<

Saturday 15 December 2007

Blond Santa trial~

Its the Christmas season and looks who's out to play. Santa Yu~^_^
(Santa Yu~?? >_<)
Hehe... though the mood is in, the day hasn't quite arrived yet.
So a test photo shoot was taken first~^_^.

The costume is mostly made of wool and velvet. I haven't decided on the final accessories and style... but I'm thinking about it~

How do you find it?
Perhaps drop by the forums and take a look at the preview shots posted there. Merry Christmas~<3

Testing out the ears~^_^

This is just a test for the hair clips. Nothing is final.
So... is it alright nya~??

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Wax sculpting... Complete~

Finally sculpted and carved the wax blocks away into the desired shape. Then used a hairdryer to smoothen the sides up. All that is left to do is to add the black lines into the clips. I haven't thought of how to do that but should be simple enough. I wonder how would it look like worn on the hair. What do you think of it?

I've got enough excess wax to make another set of these...hehe. Wonder if I gave these hair clips to an anime ignorant friend as a gift, would they wear it out in public~>_<. They would be cosplaying without even knowing it... or would that be a mean thing to do to someone??>_<

Tuesday 11 December 2007

Made of wax~^^

After extensive melting and pouring and casting.... phew~>_<; Finally, I've got two pieces of wax which I can carve into the shape I need. Hope all goes well from here. The two pieces were made from a single large fat red candle which I had first grated into fine pieces. I then melted them in a metal cup before pouring it into a container. I was a little challenging to look for a container which is close to the final shape I wanted. This was what I've been spending my limited free time doing for the past few days. hehe~ I'll keep this place posted of new changes to the wax pieces.

I'll write up a new report of my new costume production process when everything is finished so you can see how I did "smelting" with wax for these toys... Its quite fun... but tedious~@_@
...>_<... it hurt when melted wax dripped on me by accident.

Thursday 6 December 2007

Can you guess what I am making~?? ^_^

I'm making a new part for a new costume, can anyone guess what it will be? The costume is from a mainstream anime character so most people should know it ~^_^ It has been fun trying to select and use different materials to try and make accessories.

In the first picture, I use styrofoam to cut out the shapes I need whereas in the second image, I'm just using sponge-like foam. The cuts were made using a pen knife, they look neat doesn't it. ^_^

They both belong to the same costume so can you recognise those shapes? hehe... maybe I'll give a prize again to someone who can guess it right~^_^

Wednesday 5 December 2007

Secret revealed in new fanart~0_o


Meer Campbell has a sister?!
Its never been mentioned before...hehe
Not until dxman decided to make a fanart of it ^_^

New fanart has been added into the fanart gallery.
Its another one of dxman's photo manipulations and it seems like he's getting better at it each time~^_^

Remember to drop in and check it out~<3

Monday 3 December 2007

Chun Li Youtube video added~

As the title says, I've added a video of Chun Li in her official design costume on Youtube. Please drop in to check it out~^_^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf4ABsCa6Y4

^^
Please remember to rate and comment~thx!

Sunday 2 December 2007

Chun Li official design gallery added~


Hi everyone, I'm guessing that most people have seen the Chun Li bracelets and cuffs which I made in the earlier posts. I've put them into use in a photo shoot in the official costume style of Chun Li. The new gallery has been added beside the former Chun Li gallery, so please visit the Chun Li gallery once again~^_^

Though the bracelets are kinda filmsy, I was quite satisfied with how it looked in the pictures. Its flaws are mostly not visible and I thought they looked rather hard...hehe. However the images made them look a little smaller but they are really quite big and wide with the spikes. It made typing a little hard during the live chat after the shoot. So most of the time I'm just typing with 2 fingers unable to rest my wrists on the table >_<.

I padded the pouch like things on shoulders with soft materials so that they look rounder, otherwise they would be quite flat. You can take a look at the former Chun Li gallery to see what I mean. The sleeves were also a lot wider so I had to close them up. Oh, in contrary to my previous intentions, I didn't used clipped on buns for Chun Li. The buns actually are holding my hair. Thats the only way since I wouldn't be able to hide the long hair otherwise. I bunned the hair up before putting on the mask so its easier for me... took a while to adjust it after putting it on but it was a lot easier if I didn't do so. Hope everyone likes the shoot~^_^

Friday 30 November 2007

Torso forms displaying Meer bodysuit~

"Alita_99 said...
Can I ask a special request? I'd love to see you wearing the bodysuit without the skirt. I hope you do not think I am perverted for thinking you are sexy and make for a great anime girl. ^_^ Meer is one of my favorites too."

Alita_99 gave a an idea. I kinda like the new Meer bodysuit as well, I suppose its ought to be good enough to pass of as an attire on its own, like a swim wear(As I was originally considering a shoot for). Since I'm in a rush to fix everything needed for a full swim wear shoot(need to wash the wig, its in tangles from the last shoot still), I thought I'll just take a torso shot of the new bodysuit.

I added some manipulation and effects to the torso shots to make it look as if it was a torso form displaying the bodysuit... hehe. Had to pose like one, was the first time trying to be a torso form. And there you have it, the bodysuit without the skirt, displayed on a table top~^_^

Wednesday 28 November 2007

Metallic Meer Campbell costume~^_^


This will be my final Meer Campbell attire. I've taken a small shoot to test the new costume and it looks (and feels~) great(to me >_<). How do you find it compared to the previous version? I actually have two complete Meer costumes now including gloves, cape and skirt. The designs are slightly different so I ought to take pictures in them to show everyone sometime. For the sake of this preview, since the new (custom)bodysuit is shiny metallic, I chose to wear the original skirt with is made from satin to match its shine~^_^ The gloves are the new pair.


As you can see, the new bodysuit is in turtle neck styled covering me all the way from the crotch to the neck and exposing the shoulders like a halter neck design. I specifically requested the tailor to make it this way as this is what I imagined the actual design from the anime is like. In the anime, the skin area under the neck is not exposed when the cape is lifted so I reckon that this is the only way it can happen. Its also little tighter than the former bodysuit material, so it holds down the busts a little more >_<... The little golden portion at the crotch is also placed lower which got covered by the skirt, I'm afraid that I can't pull the skirt any lower to reveal it without letting the skirt fall...

Well take a side by side comparison between the former and the current... hehe. Which costume do you think is nicer? The one on the left is the former design, whereas the one one the right is... I personally prefer the new version especially since the sides are made better. The white portion is actually also metallic white but it cannot be seen unless very close up. After all, the new design is what I would imagine it should've looked like if taken right out from the anime. What I really liked is also the shine of the new suit, I realised that on camera, it actually looks like latex. It is truely metallic lycra I assure you. Oh one more thing, the former design is wearing the older cape design, perhaps it will be noticable when I post more images of it next time~^_^ Thanks for reading~

New fanart added~


Randle has submitted a futuristic themed fanart. It is also his second "Space Girl" named fanart... hehe, what a coincidence. Since it is wallpaper sized, you can also see it in the wallpaper section. It somehow reminds me of power rangers and... the background is quite well matched with the theme. Quite a job well done on the editing and manipulation part. Its fantastic. Remember to drop in to check it out.

Tuesday 27 November 2007

Finally replied all emails~yay

Phew~...Been a long time since I got a little free time.
Most of the emails... actually all of them have been given a response finally.
Thank you for waiting all this time.
I look forward to more messages next time.
Do remember to write in the forums too if you can so that everyone can take part in the discussion.
I'll be taking pictures again these days, keep a lookout alright. Take care and have a great day~!

Monday 26 November 2007

Chun Li bracers making report added~

It has been a long time since I wrote an article for the "Reports" gallery. I just made a pair of bracers for my Chun Li cosplay and I wrote a full report on how I did it. The report can be found in the "Reports" link on the left. As I just finished them, I haven't had a chance to try them on in cosplay yet. I however did try them on for a test and they looked fine in my opinion. I dare not touch it too much as the adhesives have not completely dried yet. I look forward in using them and I'll post the images here once I get any. Do stay tuned ok~^_^

Saturday 24 November 2007

Two new fanart wallpapers added~!!!

Two new fanarts have been added into the fanart gallery. And since they are also wallpaper sized, they are also included in the wallpaper gallery~^_^ These fanart are "Victorian" themed by Randle. From the picture, I would guess that its the age of steam and early machines where people still wore fancy and elegant dresses. Hehe, the blimp kinda reminds me of Led Zeplin... was that spelt right? >_< I like this fanart very much, I hope everyone likes it as much as I do too. Thank you Randle~^_^

In case you're wondering, the two images are subtly different. You have to look at the full sized versions to tell~ hehe
Remember to drop by the fanart gallery to check it out~<3

Thursday 22 November 2007

Been really busy lately~>_<

I've received emails from many of you.
Please hold on until I have more time to reply to them >_<
I'm really occupied with school projects and a job lately so...

Anyways, it'll all be a little better in a week or two's time.
I'll respond to you as soon as I can alright? ^_^
Thank you~<3

Monday 19 November 2007

Visibile bustline effect~^_^

I always loved the anime style bustline of female characters in tight fitting costumes. What I meant is illustrated below. On the left would be the side view shape of how the bustline on a real person will look like when in tight fitting clothes. What shape I will like to obtain is the shape on the right. It is shaped like a tear drop and better resembles the shape of a woman's breast ^_^;








In anime, tight fitting clothes somehow cling so well to the women's body, that the fabric will actually wrap under their busts. This is not natural in real life ...unless some trick is applied to it. ..hmm >_< Below are some pictures of my attempt to get that look.

If I hadn't pointed it out, did you noticed the lines running along my sides @_@... I managed to get two tear drop shaped bosoms and with a distinctive V shaped line in the middle. I was hoping for a more distinctive droop on the underside of the bust where the bustline ends. It is so hard to force the shape out... real life clothes are just not stretching at the right places... erm or "anime clothes" places.

I guess its close to what I had hoped for, close in comparison with a Japanese anime figurine's bustline. Perhaps I just need to alter it a little and put more strength into forcing the shape out >_< ...hehe. What do you think? P.S. Please don't ask me for my technique, its trade secret >o< ...but you should be able to get a clue from the images ...*wink* Let me hear what your guess is~ maybe I'll give you a reward for the right guess~<3

Sunday 18 November 2007

Recognise these?











What does this pair of white balls remind your of?
The hair of the kigurumi mask is so hard to tie up by myself >_<. So I decided to make "clip on" buns for a proper Chun Li hair style. That will give rise to another problem that is, Yu's hair is rather long, where do I hide them if the buns does not hold the hair? Perhaps I just have to bun up my hair for real... hmm not sure, its nearly impossible to do it by myself when in kigurumi XD. I'll give it a try when I'm free then. If anyone has any suggestions pls tell me ok~^_^.

Saturday 17 November 2007

Just for the sheer size~

I didn't plan to spend much at the supermarket today. Just wanted to grab refills for my paper wipes which ran out. I passed by the fruits section on my way out and these huge yellow combs caught my attention. The bananas, they are the brightest yellow and clean looking bananas I've seen for ages, and probably ever. The price isn't really that attractive but the bananas were. So I decided to buy some home just because they were some of the brightest and largest I've seen. I took some pictures of them just to give an idea how they look like. The pictures didn't really do justice to their size and colour. I was starving when I got home so I took one for a bite. It wasn't as sweet as I've hoped it would be. But I guess thats because it can ripen more over the next few days and add to its flavour. I don't know, do they look larger than your average bananas? Their colour does look bright and clean golden don't they. Maybe its just because the entire shelf was stacked with these that made be felt some awe. hehe~^_^

Wednesday 14 November 2007

List of animes which I'm watching right now~

Hmm, a number of rather promising anime titles have started airing in Japan.
Just thought that I can mention a few names which I'm currently watching~^_^

New titles:
-Clannad
-Dragonaut the Resonance
-Genshiken 2
-Gundam00
-Maple Story
-UltrasevenX
-You are under arrest, full throttle
-Project ICE

Old titles:
-Bleach
-Naruto Shippuden
-One Piece
-D Gray Man
-Code Geass
-Lucky Star
-Romeo and Juliet
-Xenoglossia
-Zoid Genesis
-Ultraman Mebius
-Tales of Symphonia

Anything in particular which I'm not watching and you will like to recommend?

Tuesday 13 November 2007

New layout added~^_^

From today onwards, I'll get blogspot blogs to aid me in my webpage updates.
Its a lot easier now that blogspot does all the formatting and attachment for me...
Hehe, and that means I can update this space more frequently too.

The old layout is available at:
Old notification layout
I'll just leave the link there in case some people will like to look at it... hmm probably.