Cosplay for me: 2009 vs 2012

Here is a bit of rambling and my personal opinion. Feel free to comment with your own rambling, comparing 2 of your cosplay years.

I chose 2009 and 2012, seeing as 2009 was the year I started going to conventions, and last year, 2012, is still very fresh in my mind.

2009

UPCON

 

I cosplayed as Rukia from Bleach and I made my debut by making most of S.A.M / A.E.X. members' costumes for the convention. It was amazing and right there and then I got my very first request for a cosplay which we did for ICON 2009. I cosplayed both days, but only uploaded the competition outfit.

ICON 

Sorry for the tilted images but no matter what I do it keeps on turning to the side. Anyway, I cosplayed Yuu Kanda from D.Grey-man. The costumes took us 3 months to complete. This was my very first 1st prize (and if my memory serves me correct, my only 1st prize so far). I felt awesome and I did a lot of networking; having my very own stall to display some of my cosplay outfits. I got the request to go to Japan and represent South Africa in the cosplaying and I turned it down (seeing as I was still busy studying) I attended all three days but I only upload the competition outfit.

rAge

Sorry for the one tilted image. I cosplayed Itachi Uchiha from Naruto. It was a dream come true as we entered the Dome as Exhibitors. People were looking for me and talking to me, knowing my name, and yet I did not know them. I only attended the first 2 days, and only uploaded the competition outfit.

2012

UPCON

Thanks to Dina who took some nice photos of me. I cosplayed Rosette Christopher from Chrono Crusade. I won the random draw prize during the cosplay competition. I was not happy with the cosplay competition results. I saw a few new cosplay faces. The convention was okay. I only went on the first day, thus my cometition / only cosplay outfit is this one.

ICON

I cosplayed Chizuru from Hakuouki, in her geisha outfit... Nobody really recognized the character. I was not happy how the competition went, seeing as NO ANIME cosplay got a place. I cosplayed all three days, but uploaded only the competition outfit.

rAge

I cosplayed Nelliel Tu Odelschwank from Bleach. I was highly unimpressed with the competition and the so-called flash-mob which in reality was a smart-mob. It is never a good idea to try and cram a lot of cosplayers into a super small space. I feel the judging was not really objective, seeing as while the competition was still going on, we made the joke about who will win (because they know the judges personally) and it turned out that we were right:  they won. Thank goodness my best friend came in second! So there might still be hope.  I was sponsored for the competition as the competition had a very high entrance fee (R50 pre and on the day R70). And sadly enough the fee didn't go to the stage as all we cosplayers were made to believe.... Hen Hai gave out free gifts for the cosplayers who did not enter the competition. I cosplayed all three days, only uploaded the competition outfit.

So looking at both years, I enjoyed 2009 much more. Cosplay turned more political in 2012. I miss the good old days, but since this year, I will see who judge and what the fee will be, and decide on whether to enter the competitions or not. But I will still cosplay!