Fanime plans.
I had a dream a few nights ago that some friends and I were sitting in a room with a projector screen, watching a live feed of skits from AX. I guess that's a sign that I should get to posting about those thoughts for next year's Fanime that I mentioned last time.
In short, I have BIG PLANS.
First of all, I decided that I want to enter the karaoke contest. In 2009, I watched part of the prelims, and did open mic, and so I want to take it a step further. Not that I think I'd win or anything, but from what I remember, I think I have at least some chance of making it to the finals. And while open mic was fun, it didn't feel quite meaningful enough.
As things get closer, you'll probably get more posts about different songs and with sound clips and desperate pleas for feedback. As a small preview:
I'm pretty sure right now that my prelim song will be "Forever..." by Savage Genius, the OP for Erementar Gerad. It's got a strong beat but not too much melodic "help" from the accompaniment, except for the little Engrish parts. My only challenge right now is that I want to do both verses, and I'll have to figure out a way to cut things down to meet the length limit -- it's almost 20 seconds too long, which is a lot.
I'm less sure what I'd sing for the finals, if I made it that far. Top candidates right now are "My Soul, Your Beats!" by Lia, the OP for Angel Beats, and "Will" by lisa, the OP for Melody of Oblivion. I like "My Soul, Your Beats!" because it has impact and, aside from the intro, basically no long instrumental parts. But I don't have the timing quite down, and it's very hard to keep synced during the long chorus at the end. I'm a bit more solid on "Will", and I like it's varied structure, but I don't know what I'd do during that long violin solo. I also know my voice has a tendency to wobble on sustained notes when I'm in public -- though I haven't tested it all that much since I did "Kaze no Uta" (Nuriko's first image song from Fushigi Yuugi) in high school.
There are lots of other songs I know quite well, of course, but they all have certain disadvantages. I like "Hitomi no Naka no Meikyuu" (Kayou Aiko; Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito) and "Hitomi no Kakera" (FictionJunction YUUKA; Madlax) but I'm pretty sure my voice is really breathy when I sing those. There's also a considerable number of songs that I am currently not considering because they have no lead-in, including "Musouka" (Suara; Utawarerumono), "energy" (Inoue Marina; Ginban Kaleidoscope), and "Cocktail" (Hysteric Blue; Spiral). I watched a girl try a song like that in 2009; she had to ask the tech guy to tell her when he started the song, and it still didn't work. If one of those songs really seizes my fancy, though, I'll experiment with adding a tone at the beginning of the track to cue me in. Last, there are a couple of songs I like and know well but which I just think are too "easy". Top among those is "Kouya Ruten" by FictionJunction YUUKA, OP to an anime with a really long title that I've never watched.
Anyway, that's about enough of that for now, right?
The other part of my BIG PLANS is that I need to come up with another cosplay. I've decided that cosplay adds a lot to the con experience, but as I alluded to before, I can't just keep being Xellos forever.
So. Who to cosplay?
The idea of doing someone from Avatar has been kicking around for a while, but I'm kind of lukewarm. I love Avatar in every way, but I don't love any of the characters I could cosplay. While I was rewatching the series, I briefly considered Azula in her Earth Kingdom outfit. It's hopefully still recognizable, while sparing me from having to compete with all the awesome armor-makers out there. But the most positive sentiment I have for Azula is an occasional "meh".
While flipping through the artbook at Kinokuniya, another idea came to me: I could be the Painted Lady. I liked it because it hearkens back to my first cosplay with nendil, when we were also alternate "versions" of the same person (Mistress Nine and Sailor Saturn). But... I don't know.
In the end, any cosplay -- no matter how simple-seeming -- is a huge effort for me. It's not worth it unless the idea grabs me completely. I really have to enjoy every moment that I'm in costume. Xellos was like that. But Avatar just wouldn't be, I feel.
The idea that did grab me . . . may well be the death of me. But since it popped into my head, it hasn't shaken loose.
The idea is: Sima Shi, from Dynasty Warriors 7.
Since Dynasty Warriors always has super-elaborate costumes, and weapons, and armor, and I don't know the first thing about how to make any of those, you can see why I have doomed myself. But somehow I slowly delude myself into thinking it's doable -- without having really researched any aspect of it yet, of course.
But how much fun it would be if I could pull it off! I would have poses, including the one from his kickass "chouten wo mezasu" cutscene. I could even bring a meat bun with me for gags. And I can totally to his hair. (Once I figure out how to attach that hat thing.) Another plus: he's kind of a lone character, so I don't need a group.
I confess I had been trying not to get too carried away with the idea until after AX pictures were up and I could see what awesome cosplayers showed up to put my feeble ideas to shame. But, actually, I've only seen one Sima Shi so far. Not necessarily a good sign, if it means everyone else gave up on him, but given the number of Wang Yuanji's and Bao Sanniang's, I don't think that's really it.
So, we'll see. I'm too busy right now to invest more in the idea, but I've got almost a year to cobble something together.
Or maybe I'll be inspired by some new series I'm watching after all. I did consider Anri from Durarara!!, but I think I have a bias against doing characters in schoolgirl outfits, although I have considered several over the years. Haven't seen anyone from Blue Exorcist as yet, but the series is still young. And there's still fall and winter seasons to come.
And maybe time will pass and this unattainable idea will fade. I've already mostly gotten over the DW7 addiction, after all.
Oh, bonus points to anyone who noticed (or knew) that Sima Shi is voiced by Okiayu-sama. But I promise that's not the only reason I like him.
In short, I have BIG PLANS.
First of all, I decided that I want to enter the karaoke contest. In 2009, I watched part of the prelims, and did open mic, and so I want to take it a step further. Not that I think I'd win or anything, but from what I remember, I think I have at least some chance of making it to the finals. And while open mic was fun, it didn't feel quite meaningful enough.
As things get closer, you'll probably get more posts about different songs and with sound clips and desperate pleas for feedback. As a small preview:
I'm pretty sure right now that my prelim song will be "Forever..." by Savage Genius, the OP for Erementar Gerad. It's got a strong beat but not too much melodic "help" from the accompaniment, except for the little Engrish parts. My only challenge right now is that I want to do both verses, and I'll have to figure out a way to cut things down to meet the length limit -- it's almost 20 seconds too long, which is a lot.
I'm less sure what I'd sing for the finals, if I made it that far. Top candidates right now are "My Soul, Your Beats!" by Lia, the OP for Angel Beats, and "Will" by lisa, the OP for Melody of Oblivion. I like "My Soul, Your Beats!" because it has impact and, aside from the intro, basically no long instrumental parts. But I don't have the timing quite down, and it's very hard to keep synced during the long chorus at the end. I'm a bit more solid on "Will", and I like it's varied structure, but I don't know what I'd do during that long violin solo. I also know my voice has a tendency to wobble on sustained notes when I'm in public -- though I haven't tested it all that much since I did "Kaze no Uta" (Nuriko's first image song from Fushigi Yuugi) in high school.
There are lots of other songs I know quite well, of course, but they all have certain disadvantages. I like "Hitomi no Naka no Meikyuu" (Kayou Aiko; Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito) and "Hitomi no Kakera" (FictionJunction YUUKA; Madlax) but I'm pretty sure my voice is really breathy when I sing those. There's also a considerable number of songs that I am currently not considering because they have no lead-in, including "Musouka" (Suara; Utawarerumono), "energy" (Inoue Marina; Ginban Kaleidoscope), and "Cocktail" (Hysteric Blue; Spiral). I watched a girl try a song like that in 2009; she had to ask the tech guy to tell her when he started the song, and it still didn't work. If one of those songs really seizes my fancy, though, I'll experiment with adding a tone at the beginning of the track to cue me in. Last, there are a couple of songs I like and know well but which I just think are too "easy". Top among those is "Kouya Ruten" by FictionJunction YUUKA, OP to an anime with a really long title that I've never watched.
Anyway, that's about enough of that for now, right?
The other part of my BIG PLANS is that I need to come up with another cosplay. I've decided that cosplay adds a lot to the con experience, but as I alluded to before, I can't just keep being Xellos forever.
So. Who to cosplay?
The idea of doing someone from Avatar has been kicking around for a while, but I'm kind of lukewarm. I love Avatar in every way, but I don't love any of the characters I could cosplay. While I was rewatching the series, I briefly considered Azula in her Earth Kingdom outfit. It's hopefully still recognizable, while sparing me from having to compete with all the awesome armor-makers out there. But the most positive sentiment I have for Azula is an occasional "meh".
While flipping through the artbook at Kinokuniya, another idea came to me: I could be the Painted Lady. I liked it because it hearkens back to my first cosplay with nendil, when we were also alternate "versions" of the same person (Mistress Nine and Sailor Saturn). But... I don't know.
In the end, any cosplay -- no matter how simple-seeming -- is a huge effort for me. It's not worth it unless the idea grabs me completely. I really have to enjoy every moment that I'm in costume. Xellos was like that. But Avatar just wouldn't be, I feel.
The idea that did grab me . . . may well be the death of me. But since it popped into my head, it hasn't shaken loose.
The idea is: Sima Shi, from Dynasty Warriors 7.
Since Dynasty Warriors always has super-elaborate costumes, and weapons, and armor, and I don't know the first thing about how to make any of those, you can see why I have doomed myself. But somehow I slowly delude myself into thinking it's doable -- without having really researched any aspect of it yet, of course.
But how much fun it would be if I could pull it off! I would have poses, including the one from his kickass "chouten wo mezasu" cutscene. I could even bring a meat bun with me for gags. And I can totally to his hair. (Once I figure out how to attach that hat thing.) Another plus: he's kind of a lone character, so I don't need a group.
I confess I had been trying not to get too carried away with the idea until after AX pictures were up and I could see what awesome cosplayers showed up to put my feeble ideas to shame. But, actually, I've only seen one Sima Shi so far. Not necessarily a good sign, if it means everyone else gave up on him, but given the number of Wang Yuanji's and Bao Sanniang's, I don't think that's really it.
So, we'll see. I'm too busy right now to invest more in the idea, but I've got almost a year to cobble something together.
Or maybe I'll be inspired by some new series I'm watching after all. I did consider Anri from Durarara!!, but I think I have a bias against doing characters in schoolgirl outfits, although I have considered several over the years. Haven't seen anyone from Blue Exorcist as yet, but the series is still young. And there's still fall and winter seasons to come.
And maybe time will pass and this unattainable idea will fade. I've already mostly gotten over the DW7 addiction, after all.
Oh, bonus points to anyone who noticed (or knew) that Sima Shi is voiced by Okiayu-sama. But I promise that's not the only reason I like him.