Good Smile Company: Kokonoe Mercury 1/8 Figure

So.. 2 months back GSC finally released a figure that I have seriously been waiting for.. for like.. ages.

Kokonoe Mercury from Blazblue has a special place in my heart so upon knowing that a figure of her was going to be released, I went to every online shop I knew on the face of the earth that could cater to my ridiculously late pre-order. I found out pretty late about it so most shops have closed ordering and by some miracle, my last resort shop had done miracles to get me Kokonoe.

Hubbyte Toy Store owned by Victor Thomas Galang.
Visit them here, Hehehe.
https://www.facebook.com/hubbytetoystore

I directly pmed him because..  desperation. lol. He replied right away and I was ecstatic, even more so when he managed to find the last figure available and even filled up the order form for me. They cater to an array of figures, figmas and nendoroids of all types. I applaud them a lot more because I am a very mischievous and often paranoid buyer so shops that can tolerate my constant messages have my trust, they're a shop I will surely go back to. :)

Anyway! On to the pictures!

I really like the way they produced Kokonoe, According to the box the figure is partially hand painted and the details did not fail my expectations. The colors are just lovely and GSC does justice to Sector Seven's Professor. She comes with a clear stand and a Lolipop (not photographed, because its so tiny... someone lost it).

Excuse my crappy background, I was so excited to open her up after school that I just improvised what I had around my room which was my bed and a blanket for a background. XD

Anyway, all in all, I really really love Kokonoe and she stands at one of my shelves among my games. I love the detailing, how she was posed and her pretty face. <3

She is my very first figure and 10 out of 10 I would buy more figures in the future!

Cosplay : Explained And Understand

LOOK. A FLOWER.
Okay, now I got your attention. This photo is totally unrelated to the topic.

Today, we will talk about cosplay.
Why will we talk about cosplay? It's because a lot of people who are jumping into this hobby are misunderstanding it, see it as a ladder to fame or simply just do it because its trending.

To start off, Cosplay = A combination of the words "Costume" and "Play" wherein "Cosplayers" wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a certain character or idea.
(For more info visit this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay)

So there's the basics, cosplayers wear costumes, accessories and don items of significance to portray a character. But it is not JUST THAT. I am telling this now not as a sort of discouraging thought but as a warning and so people who will wish to start this hobby may have a heads up.

COSPLAY IS AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY.
This is not to mock or show off, this is the reality of this hobby.
Cosplayers SPEND. We spend for our wigs, costumes, make up and contact lenses. We spend on materials, cloth, weapons we need or require for a character. We spend for transportation, entrance tickets, food for the event itself and of course, pocket money for the convention BECAUSE surely one will not leave an event without buying a few knickknacks from stalls. We take time to prepare, to practice should there be a competition, STUDY the character for complete accuracy.

For people who have been in this hobby for a long time it is not a joke or something to be taken lightly. That is where the problem comes in.
ONE CANNOT SIMPLY PUT ON....
- CONTACT LENSES
-WIG
-MAKE UP
-COSTUME
-CAT EARS OR WHATEVER
(Individually speaking.)
And be called a cosplayer IMMEDIATELY. NO, IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
Another thing....
LOLITA =///////= NOT COSPLAY.

Lolita is a fashion subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian-era clothing, but the style has expanded greatly beyond Japan.
(For more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion)
Let me explain the fact that there are anime - game - movie characters who WEAR lolita fashion and its many sub-themes as costumes but it is NEVER cosplay unless you are portraying a character WEARING the specified style.
Examples are....

                                                
Rachel Alucard - Blazblue and Chii - Chobits

Do you see the outfits? Rachel is more on Gothic Lolita and Chii on Sweet Lolita.
Meaning they are characters wearing Lolita Fashion.

Moving on....
This is Legitimate Lolita Fashion.
Yes, I used myself as an example. I am wearing a set composed of Sweet Lolita clothes. Pink and white, I am not cosplaying I am simply displaying a fashion which is... Lolita.
(I am not a hard core lolita enthusiast, this set was lent to me.)

^ .THIS IS NOT COSPLAY. ^
.THIS IS LOLITA FASHION.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Going back to the topic of Cosplay.
Cosplay is has MANY components. It is not easily achieved by simply wearing a wig, contacts, putting on make-up or wearing a costume ON ITS OWN.
I admit I went through the phases of not having enough for a wig, lenses and whatnot but what we're talking about is NOW.
Again, excuse my not selfie photo ready face.

A lot of people put on cat ears and lenses and say IM A COSPLAYER.
Much like the derp photo of me in cat ears. NO THAT IS NOT COSPLAY. It is JUST A PHOTO.
No cosplay, just photo. A normal NOT cosplay photo.

Cosplay is composed of a costume, wig, lenses if you can, accessories, items for which the character is known for, KNOWLEDGE ON THE CHARACTER and of course his or her personality.

^ THAT IS COSPLAY ^
That's my Kokonoe Mercury cosplay from Blazblue.
If you look at the photo reference and my costume... I dunno.. There's effort in it. EFFORT. LOVE. SERIOUS AWESOMENESS COZ I WANT TO GIVE JUSTICE.
Not counting that I wore lenses for her FOR THE FIRST TIME. My boyfriend and I spent a hefty amount to complete this set.
From head to my freaking toes. I'm glad to say I won my first competition with this costume and has brought me good memories.
Whats good is that people remarked that I got her attitude down right, her tone of voice during the performance and the acting. A cosplayer's greatest pride is probably when people around him/her say YOU NAILED IT.


So straight to the point....
I'm not saying cosplay is for chosen people but it is for EVERYONE. So as long as you know what you are doing, RESEARCH, UNDERSTAND and have passion for the hobby. It takes time, effort, love, the cruel reality of money and passion. If you want to try, GO FOR IT! There will always be people to SUPPORT YOU in this amazing hobby, whether they are your relatives, friends or people on the internet. I will be one of them.

Irisviel Von Einzbern Figma

So does anyone remember that short Iri post I made a year back?
Kinda late but hey! Courtesy of my fiance, he left me a really nice parting gift before he went back to the US yesterday. A new camera! A Nikon D3100 and I am really excited to use it. Actually, I've used it already. I can make a pretty Figma review at last coz you know... Good Smile Company makes the best stuff. Ever. Maybe. Depends.



So behold! Irisviel in all her magnificence! A really intricately designed figma with all the grace of an Einzbern, she's so far one of my all time favorite characters. Since she is my first figma I'll into a lot of details. 

 

I love how her hair flutters in the air and goes with any pose I do on her. The joints are very easy to manage and her interchangable expressions or face plates are perfect. Not in the photos coz I can't do much with my tiny dark room and if you notice, I used my blanket as a background.. coz.. Mehehe. I am a very messy person. She comes with her magic eagle which is not in the photo. Omg, haha. I was so eager to put up a new post I didn't take much photos.

 

I guess the only thing that bothers me is that her front bangs fall off way too easily and I once freaked out when my 2 year old sister got a hold of her and I had to search my bed for that tiny part.

All in all, GSC makes the loveliest figures and I couldn't be any happier. Hopefully I get more figmas in the future!