What’s the right way to end the year? For all the anime fans out there, it is to geek out with fellow fans in a geek convention! We end the year as we geek out at Cosplay Matsuri 2017.
Geek out and about at the Cosplay Matsuri 2017
Photo via Cosplay Matsuri
Cosplay Matsuri 2017 is the last geek convention of 2017 which happened last December 28 to December 30. Anime fan con-goers filled up the Functions 1 and 2 of SMX Convention Center with much anticipation. The event started with long lines even before the gates opened.
Even though its the holidays, anime fans didn’t miss out this oriental Japanese-themed convention. If last year’s Cosplay Matsuri was a blast – this year is twice as big! This year’s Cosplay Matsuri 2017 never let us down with its impressive offers – more booths, more fun and exciting activities in which everyone enjoyed partaking in.
But what made Cosplay Matsuri 2017 the right yearender party to us fans? We list down the things we experienced in this year’s Cosplay Matsuri.
Cosplay Matsuri 2017 Highlights
Dokuen and Doujin Cosplay Competition
Cosplay Matsuri wouldn’t be a geek convention if not for Cosplay Competitions. In this event, it has two-part cosplay competitions – the Dokuen and Doujin Cosplay Competition. Anime fans get to compete cosplaying their favorite characters with a twist! – cosplays should be in a traditional Japanese style.
Photo via Jin (behindinfinity)
The guest cosplayer judge for the both competitions is one of our favorite Filipino cosplayer, Jin (behindinfinity). Want to know why we love Jin? Know more about how we Meet&Geek with Jin here.
Dokuen Cosplay Competition
This competition is a solo Japanese-themed cosplay contest in which Dokuen in Japanese means being in a solo performance. The competition happened on the 2nd day of the event. Characters from Anime, Manga, or Japanese Games as well as Western characters with Japanese elements are welcomed.
The over-all winner of the Dokuen Cosplay Competition is the cosplayer of Sanada Maru of the Japanese game Samurai Warrior. The winners of the special awards are Samurai Stormtrooper for 2nd place, Mecha T-Rex for the Best Craftsmanship and Scorpion of the classic video game, Mortal Kombat for the Best Performance.
All winners received goodies from Animax Asia and Cosplay.ph with a 32″ LED TV each! Truly, they end the year 2017 right and #BLESSED!
Doujin Group Cosplay Competition
Photo via arkadymac.com
What exactly is Doujin? It is a Japanese term for a group of people or friends who share the same interest, hobby, or activity – or what we call today, fandom. It is often used as the shortened form of the Japanese word Doujinshi which means fan-made fiction.
This contest, happened on the 3rd day, is for sets of cosplayers doing their own fan-made skit of their preferred characters in the same anime or cross-overs. The over-all winner of the Doujin Group Cosplay Competition is the Team Ultraman Werewolves who performed their own skit of the anime series Ultraman. The group win great prizes from Brother Philippines and Cosplay.ph with also a 32″ LED TV.
Photo via arkadymac.com
Congratulations to all the winners! You make the whole cosplay community geek and proud!
Anisong It Singing Contest
CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA~ Nani ga okite mo kibun wa~ heno-heno kappa~ CHA-
You sang it too, no? Did it give you LSS? Gotcha! There are always that certain anime soundtracks that are definitely so remarkable to us fans. The ones which gave us that major LSS vibes. Even though we don’t fully know the lyrics! Great anime always comes with great OST! Can you name one aside from Cha-La Head-Cha-La from Dragon Ball?
Anisong It lets anime fans sing their favorite anime songs and showcase them through a contest. Audiences also enjoyed the program as they sing along with the contestants. It’s like a trip down memory lane when you know all the songs – feels nostalgic!
Congratulations to all the winners! Sugoi ne! Now that we feel so nostalgic to the old animes, how about we recommend you some good ol’ song? This song is the soundtrack of one of our favorite animes, SlamDunk.
Fun Games
Everyone who went on the event didn’t feel left out or bored. Cosplay Matsuri offered con-goers some fun games to enjoy and interact with others. There is the exciting Cosplay Auction, fun and interactive Sumo Skirmish, Cosplay Diorama, Charms Wall, Kendama, and “That Name Is…” Anime Name Game.
Cosplay Auction offers great finds in just 1 Peso! Everyone can bid to the items they want or even put up their items for auction. All its proceeds will be donated to the #LahatSanta Campaign of Save the Children Philippines in putting smiles on the faces of the Filipino children. And this is what we say the right way to end the year.
The item with the highest bid to be ever sold is the life-size standee of Shoto Todoroki of the anime series Boku no Hero Academia. The life-size standee brought home in a whopping Php 4, 000! Todoroki really lives up to his bishounen status even to the con-goers.
The other life-size item, the Fairy Tail Dragon Cry Movie Poster was auctioned and sold for Php 1, 300.
Exhibit Booths
Cosplay Matsuri promised us with over 70 merchandise booths and they didn’t let us down! From anime merchandise, to apparel, to variety items, to exclusive artists’ arts and crafts.
There were so many merchandises that are either hard to find or on sale. It is surely a haven for collectors to be there. The challenge for collectors is what to look out for. Being there is tough particularly if you didn’t prepare for it. What would you do? Read here about the things you should look out for in this kind of event if you are or a future collector.
Takeaways
Cosplay Matsuri 2017 surely live up to its promise to give its fans an enjoyable and memorable yearender event with a blast. We had a great time spazzing and meeting new friends in the geek community. The two function rooms of the SMX Convention Center was well-attended of anime fan con-goers. It wouldn’t be a success if its not for the full support of the cosplay community from Day 1 until Day 3. With events like this, it brings us, geeks, together in a community we know we belong. A community who reminds us that we may be different in the eyes of others, we are proud to be uniquely geek. We hope for more Anime and Cosplay events in this new year, and also peace.
If you miss out on events like this, free your schedule and prepare for Cosplay Carnival 2018 on February 24-25, 2018. Plan ahead your cosplans and don’t forget to save more money for your next collectibles! Mata, ne?
