Akai Panda Cosplay (25/04/2009 @ Da Sein): Part 2- Afro, Snakes & Lollies!

Yes, contrary to popular rumor, I am still alive somewhere, out there. Truth be told, I am very tired and lethargic. It could be the weather (heat and humidity have never much agreed with me), it could be having a bazillion things in my head and it could also be a year of jumping from one project to the other – probably, a combination thereof. I mean, there have been days when I just crawl around like molasses, jotting down a few notes here and there but otherwise, time I don’t have goes to waste. I have never been good with managing my time and the two weeks of intensive rehearsal for the “Science of Ecology”, right at the turn of the season, really took the wind out of me (although, unlike the rest of the team, my friend Nick and I were the only ones who were not psychologically stressed).

I really have no excuse for posting this one and a half month after the party (and with such distance from the first part), when even Akai Panda have wished a good Summer and “see you in Autumn” to everyone. The fact is that I am, and unless something monumental happens, I don’t see my posts getting any more regular before mid-July (and then again, it will be a few tons of backlog stuff, that got lost along the way). However, you can probably look forward to seeing a third post of this day, documenting the much earlier visit to Camus’s house, Tomodachi’s transformation to Jigoku Shoujo’s Enma Ai and the surrounding chaos.

So then, without further ado…

“And it was all well and truly good.”

…since Seraphimon finally resolved his conundrum and guest-DJed for Akai Panda!

Jiraiya, Camus and Lily, with Camus finally able to relax…

(The very personal threats she made to hold him still, have been censored).

Glastenen and an unwilling Odin.

…well, he did slip every now and then!

Although Rock Lee wanted to be sober and modest about his second ranking…

…have been one huge pinata of fun after another.

…that first time in KABATZA, seemingly so long ago…

Seriously, these kids, ever since …

After all the hard work, it’s time for Didi-rin to cut loose the heabanging loli inside!

You guessed it, Karammeldansen!

…who’s like the Duracell bunny when it comes to shaking it!

…especially by crowd-favorite Mai-chan…

The voting was followed by quite a bit of dancing…

Another favorite: the new internet radio duo, Bloody + N8, best Visual freaks ever.

…but also for wearing the damn, super-warm thing, all f@&ing night!

In my humble opinion, Kankuro deserved the first prize, not only for the costume…

…inspiring moments…!

There were, however…

…making it near impossible to immortalize the awarding proper.

…which, of course, packed Da Sein tighter than ever that night…

At any rate, soon the time came for the award ceremony…

KOM: “How d’ya like my cool chixorz?!” (Gah, never mind…).

(*A-HEM* I was saying…)

KOM: “Yes, yes, great…angle!” (*sigh* I am trying really hard to get us off the sexist track here, people…)

…big heart! (All jokes aside, she is a great person, she can sing one of the craziest songs ever AND was this year’s Comicdom Awards co-presenter, with Vassilis Sakkos).

…really (KOM, will you PLEASE get off of her?)…

…has a really…

Now, I must say that Lydia, besides being an uber-cool metalhead chick…

…as well as a number of friends from the Western Comic Book community of Greece, such as Kostas Foutsidis, Lydia Xythali and KOM!

On a different note, Eri-chan celebrated her Nameday on that day and she brought along home-made treats (not translateable in English)…

Small Panda, Big Panda: Glastenen and Namida.

Flexxy, Ploutonas, Kyoshiro and… Mario!

Just a sample of how packed the place was after midnight (and I obviously had to climb somewhere to take this photo).

One of my favorites: Mika-chan as Mikaila (so NOT random choice, ne?) from Godchild, here with N8 the GR8, aka Freak in Freak.

…while Seraphimon T.K. faces a peculiar conundrum (more on that a little further on).

Melo tries on some new shades…

Meanwhile, Enma Ai gathers more souls (and Tomodachi puts her very own apprentice, SWA, to dire risk!).

…and Kairi (Kingdom Hearts) tries to jump away with it! (Japanese video game burnout).

Getting creative: Luigi employs a new weapon against the Koopa (provided it doesn’t corrupt him)…

Homework: take these last two pictures, in the order they are here, save them in your PC and view them alternately in quick succession. Tell me what you think…

Now, this is probably the most freaky Kagebunshin ever and yet sooo cool!

…getting creepier by the second!

Konan with Orochimaru past and future imperfect…

OK, this was all his concept but it seems to go well with the character (kidding!).

…and a Konoha-village version of Orochimaru (first time I’ve seen this).

…like the inredible Akatsuki’s Konan…

As the votes were being counted, there was time for a few more individual and concept shoots…

Voting time: yet another innovation (which I mentioned in the last post), the Totoro-shaped voting “jars”, hand-made by Glastenen! (Not to mention, carried around by the most deadly loli of them all).

The kawaii chibi slave driver, Camus, was very evidently ecstatic with the success of the party.

…(and a good thing I KNEW this was an actual young lady because, if in doubt…).

…(somewhere in the background, Kyoshiro graces us with a rare “kyaaaa”)…

…and effeminate J-rockers, like Atsushi Sakurai…

…like beer-guzzling lollies (Ayami-chan)…

Of course, people had lots of other things to oggle at, besides cosplays (Mai-chan)…

…right down to the cold, indifferent look (as well as the artist behind Akai Panda’s… Panda!).

Megi really was an amazing Kikiyo…

Dragonbunny and the Mario Bros, esquire!

…(“who let the ‘fros out?” and the rhytmh continues).

…Afro Fusion (“oooh, who let the ‘fros out, ho-ho-ho-ho-ho”)…

When afros meet (Afro Samurai and Nabeshin from Excel Saga)…

…easily took a turn for the weird, especially when combined with radically different characters (“Yakitate Note” or perhaps… “Death Bread”?).

…(along with any onw of the available Misas -here, Vegatasmate, Ravente and Eri-chan)…

…(such as Melo and Matt from Death Note)…

The combos that took place, even without premeditation…

Hmmm… awful friendly with Afro Samurai, are we? (It must be the weed).

Kairi Presents, For Your Entertainment Alone: Rock Lee Throat-Ripped by Melo!

“Ahhh… suffering is for the beautiful…!”

Damn, but this woman drives hard the poor lad…

…(Raziel as James and Velvet Vortex as Jessie).

…like the immensely funny Team Rocket (3rd Prize – please correct me if I am wrong)…

…small groups are putting on shows of their own…

As we break up the photo shoot, to let the car circulation be restored,…

You people are amazing – you are the ones that make all of this fuss worth it. If ever there was a reason for infighting inside the Greek J-community, it would be to be part of this.

…trying to get as many shots that would fit everyone in, as possible.

Never mind that we err… kind of closed off Solomou with Neuro and some others…

…both in quantity (I count 32 here and they are not all!), as well as amazing quality.

Group photo in the parking lot opposite Da Sein: a record of the most cosplay-intensive party ever…

(Not sure who the fanboy is though…).

Awww, a cute fanboy moment with Faceless Redgrave.

…(1st Cosplay Prize).

…and Kankuro…

…(yup, definitely)…

(Orochimaru’s buddy, I’m told?)…

…Nerethil as Kabuto…

… (here with mask on)…

…Marilou as Haku (Anbu version)…

The Family Portraits Collection: Kiba…

“Rrrright… More like a snore-i-form. By the way, you already wear green, you doofus!”

Rock Lee: “Never mock my training! It will make me a Green Uniform in no time!”

“That Rock Lee, always so serious… Even when he is drunk!”

Go Rock Lee, go! Hup-2-3-4! Hup-2-3-4! Gimme another 1000!

There you have it, the most successful J-party I have been to in Greece, to date. Here’s hoping that future parties will raise tha bar even higher! Don’t forget, we are up for Sakura Syndrome’s party this Saturday, so I expecto to see there any of you who can make it (exams notwithstanding).

Sleepy Cheers,

Speedgrapher