EDITOR IN CHIEF
GRAPHICS + PAGE LAYOUT
EDITOR INKED
PHOTOGRAPHY + EDITING
WRITERS + CONTRIBUTERS
Josette James
Catherine Souddama
Sarah Burrows
GK Studios Gareth Leigh Photography Kevin Bowen Dizzy Malliki Productions ReishaNavya Photography Lemuel Augustine Photography Devon White Randy Richards Steffani Singh Kelly Seelall Kristy Seelall Raeven Uchiha
Dizzy Malliki Productions Zalgo_Cometh Kamri Jade Scarlet Tenshi Panterona Matthew Hudson Shen Zhong
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ANIME NATION Review
COSPLAY MAKEUP Tutorial
01 Perona
09 Merida
AEX - ISLE OF ADVENTURE Review
04 Kitty Cat Katarina
10 Lady Tsunade
05 Ryuko Matoi
18 Winter Soldier 19 Nidalee 20 Blade Queen Lissandra
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MAHOUK NO RE Re
Fai
Nur
Uchiha Sha
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KA KOUKOU ETTOUSEI eview
25 iry Tail
27 rse Akali
28 a Sasuke 3 aringan
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SALLY ARJOON Interview
2015 ANIME Line-up
MATTHEW CLARKE Interview
JACQUELINE JONES Interview
35 Alphonse Elric
42 Suki Kyoshi Warrior
45 Oerba Yun Fang
53 Thrandie Elfqueen of Mirkwood
37 Gamora
46 Chun Li 47 Akcess Power Fan Art Competition Winner
54 Genderbend Lee Sin 56 AEX 2014 Manga Winner
COSPLAY
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EVENT REVIEW
ANIME NATION 2014
Freaks, weirdos, geeks, nerds, otakus, weeaboos; all these different labels and names that people find for us but none capture fully the true essence of what we are. Passionate! About a culture so refined and foreign to us that damn near everything about it pulls you in. The time honored history, values and culture that is passed on through not only the people but also the media manages to leave its country and make its way overseas for us to partake in. It has been 50 long and noteworthy years since Jamaica first partnered with Japan as countries in arms and I
am proud to see such an out pouring of support from so many for events such as Anime Nation. This will now be the 5th year since this event took Jamaica by storm and oddly it shows no signs of slowing down. JaCosplayaz is primarily spearheaded by 3 individuals: Tetrice Afayah Prendergast, Zane Francis and Fabian Pinkney. As you can see clearly they have a strong passion for the culture and all it offers whether through gaming or animation. It was this passion that has led them into a long
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EVENT REVIEW
standing partnership with the Embassy of Japan that has helped bring awareness of Japan in Jamaica to higher heights every year. Anime Nation 2014 started off well even though some items ran overtime; somehow it all managed to progress smoothly into the night. The day started off with a one of a kind interview segment with one of Japan’s animators of legendary status, Masami Suda, one of the main driving forces behind such classics as Gatchaman aka G-Force and Fist of the North Star. Not to mention all the cultural displays and merchandise on sale; and if that wasn't enough there was a wide variety of live performances for the patrons - from musical to animated. Hell, there was even a video game tournament played for Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3. The night culminated in an epic costume parade to showcase some of the cosplayers in attendance.
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Local cosplayer extraordinaire Steffi Singh made a clean sweep of Anime Nation 2014 by winning not only the award for cosplayer of the year but also best costume of the event. All in all, great event, great turnout and great people. I am very happy with my first experience cosplaying even though I was pretty nervous about my outfit and being around so many people. The highlights of my night would be all the kids I took pictures with, seeing all the Japanese people instantly recognize my cosplay and wanting to take pics and getting to snap a picture with a fellow Dragonball Z cosplayer who was cosplaying as Gohan. Can't wait for next year’s event to roll around, will definitely cosplay a character that isn't short so I don't have to crouch for all my pics to represent the character. This is your friendly neighborhood gamer Zalgo_Cometh signing off. * Photography by Devon White and Randy Richards.
COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Jeanne Von Bleue (Trident Cosplay) CHARACTER: Kitty Cat Katarina PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Bowen
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Steffani Singh CHARACTER: Ryuko Matoi PHOTOGRAPHER: Steffani Singh
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TUTORIAL
MAKEUP - THE EXORCIST Kamri Jade
INTRODUCTION I had a lot of fun turning myself into Regan from the classic 1973 horror, The Exorcist. Since this was my first attempt at special effects makeup, I used basic materials: gauze, tissue paper, black lipstick, black eye-shadow, brown face powder, red, white, black face paint and Spirit Gum. For guidance I used a tutorial I found on YouTube. The process took five hours and I enjoyed every minute of it! Here are the steps.
1 START WITH A CLEAN FACE Wash face to remove any oil and dirt.
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ADD WOUNDS + ALTER NOSE
SHAPE NOSE + ADD WHITE FACE PAINT
Using the skin friendly adhesive Spirit Gum, apply strips of tissue paper to the face where you want to create wounds. Add several layers of gauze over nose to make it broader.
When satisfied with the shape of your new nose, remove the excess tissue paper and gauze and add the first layer of white face paint.
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SHAPE WOUNDS + CONTINUE PAINTING FACE
BLEND FACE PAINT
Add more tissue paper to the wound areas using Spirit Gum. Gently dab the wounds with water to easily rip them open with a tweezer. This creates gaping tears. Next, add two more layers of white face paint.
ADD DETAILS Using black eye-shadow, add dark circles under the eyes, creases to the forehead, dry ashy lips and a dull look to the skin. Mix red and black face paint and fill the gaps in the wounds with ‘blood.’ Create decaying teeth using brown face powder and black lipstick.
Apply several more layers of white face paint until the tissue paper and gauze blend into the new face.
7 ADD CONTACTS Insert a pair of yellow Halloween lens to add that extra scare factor and complete the possessed look.
8 TAKE PICTURES OF FINAL LOOK Get into character and take pictures. This is by far the best part!
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Rhonda Bissoon CHARACTER: Merida (Brave) PHOTOGRAPHER: Reisha Navya
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Crimsom Phoenix Cosplay CHARACTER: Lady Tsunade PHOTOGRAPHER: Lemuel Augustine Photography
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EVENT REVIEW
AEX 2014 or as some of us would fondly refer to it, “Alias 2014”, was a welcome surprise that exceeded every expectation. The reaction that came from the Alias fans of 2012 who were so depressed after the curtains closed on the Alias Night events was one of utter joy as excited chatter was heard across the social media that promoted the event.
AEX took cosplay to another level yet again and not just locally in Trinidad and Tobago but within the entire Caribbean. Cosplayers from all over the region began gearing up their ‘A Game’ to grace the stage in a competition that rocked the halls of Centre of Excellence on July 26th 2014, and the competition wasn’t the only thing that blew minds, the judges were amazing themselves: None other than Panterona Cosplay - Local Cosplay Veteran
The beautiful Eve Beauregard - International Model and Cosplayer Larry Hama - The extraordinary comic writer / cartoonist / illustrator / actor / musician So what led up to this amazing weekend? There was a creative make-up competition where participants transformed themselves into masked beauties or horrors (their choice), for cosmetic prizes and the chance to win a VVIP Tony Stark ticket to the event.
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EVENT REVIEW
Another main attraction that excited many cosplayers and patrons for AEX was “The Cosplay Parade”, the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago. The parade strutted along the capital – Port of Spain and Frederick Street was awoken with cosplayers breaking the mid-day silence, dancing to the latest dance music, traditional anime tunes and epic rock songs. Store patrons and workers all came outside to view ‘the spectacle’ of costume clad characters, taking pics, even asking for group shots or simply wanting to know ‘what’s this?’. The frolicking and dancing led to the Central Bank Auditorium where Mr. Larry Hama held a captivating seminar. What a way to excite cosplayers before the big day.
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AEX itself transformed the hall of centre of excellence into a playground for otaku, gamers, comic fanatics and costume makers alike. Anime fans had tables upon tables of merchandise to choose from, from props to trinkets. Gamers had the Cave of Games where they sat and competed to their hearts content. There were craft seminars for cosplayers in almost every field from sewing to armour making, one of which was hosted by Eve Beauregard.
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EVENT REVIEW
Attendees spent the day roving from workshops to merchandise table to the cafĂŠ, with spontaneous photo shoots happening everywhere. Costumes littered the population and fans were excited to see their favourite anime, game or comic characters, some cosplayers even used their own ingenuity to create personalised pieces, boredom was a non-existent word that day. The high light of the event was the stage parade and of course the cosplay competition which had a whopping 40 registered competitors, including an impressive young cosplayer who flew in all the way from Jamaica just to take part. The stage parade was a chance for non-competing cosplayers to strut their stuff on stage; they were met by cheers and applause, especially those
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who did little performances. The cosplay competition was at an extremely high level that evening. The costumes were well made and the performances were brilliant with acting, voice recordings, and even small dance routines. Some performances made jaws drop, such as the winner of the night Sally Arjoon -Red Queen, her acting was truly captivating as she kept going even when her head piece fell lose, truly admirable. Kamri Jade was in second place, portraying Blade Queen Lissandra with a sharp and keen stage presence. Sharda Khan had the crowd giggling happily at her fun performance of Perona from One Piece.
The winners of the main competition were :
Judges Awards :
First Place : Second Place : Third Place :
Larry Hama : LLevan Ramharrack - Halo
Sally Arjoon - Red Queen Kamri Jade - Blade Queen Lissandra Sharda Khan - Perona
The judges also gave awards that night, Larry Hama awarded LLevan Ramharrack who did an entertaining performance of the loved Master Chief from Halo. Eve Beauregard delighted Christenne Lyons with the award for her Donna Troy Wonder Woman, who was headstrong and fierce on stage and finally Panterona awarded Natalia Henry for her Erza Scarlet, a costume which was well made and brilliant in its own right.
Eve Beauregard : Christenne Lyons - Donna Troy Wonder Woman Panterona : Natalia Henry - Erza Scarlet
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EVENT REVIEW
After the “serious� part of the night was over, it was time for the famed ALIAS After Party. This was the part that many of us patiently waited for, because it was known that it was the only dance party that would provide our favourite EDM, techno tunes, anime sound tracks, latest R&B, and all-time favourite rock songs, and by George we got it ! Along with free drinks all night. The music was always pumping and the lighting was perfect, everyone was infected with the atmosphere as the drinks kept coming and patrons kept packing the floor. The dancing never stopped, from raving to grinding, it all happened that night. At the end of the night, everyone was satisfied and tired as heck, but with smiles on their faces. AEX was amazing, so much so that cosplayers are already asking about 2015 and rightly so, believe me. I for one cannot wait to see what the organisers come up with next year! - Scarlet Tenshi
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Keegan Bruce CHARACTER: Winter Soldier PHOTOGRAPHER: ReishaNavya Photography
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Lee (Trident Cosplay) CHARACTER: Nidalee PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Bowen
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COSPLAY
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ANIME REVIEW
MAHOUKA KOUKOU NO RETTOUSEI 魔法科高校の劣等生
Mahouka Koukou No Rettousei is translated into “The Poor Performing Student of a Magic High School" and it is also known officially as "The Irregular at Magic High School". At first glance, what does that translation impress upon you? If it’s along the lines of a sad and lonely male or female student, drifting through a depressed and sullen school life, then pitch that idea out the window! The anime is based on a very successful light novel written by Satou Tsutomu and it received both positive and negative reactions from readers. However the pros bested the cons and there is now a very entertaining anime with the manga trailing not too far behind. Magic is what infuses true fiction into Mahouka Koukou No Rettousei, but the magic in this story has evolved from the usual written grimoires and incantations to highly advanced technological weapons called CADS. Ok, don’t panic, you don’t have to be a mathematical genius to understand what’s taking place, believe me I’m not >.> Everything is pretty easy to follow and it’s a plus that there is more to the anime than the SFX and pretty shiny lights. Aside from the fact that there are cool scenes showing the typical cute, solemn, 'techy' guy going at it on a PC, it's enjoyable to sit and try to figure out how spells and their activation work in the many circumstances that pop up. Oh and for the male otaku, there are enough charming ladies of interest as well. As far as story lines go, you get a mixture of things that we have all seen before, but some parts will have you thinking “oh really?” and “that’s way cool” which makes it new and exciting. The art work in the manga is also very detailed and strong with deep continuous lines and bold contrast in black and white. The blend of colours used to bring the story to animated life was striking but yet mellow enough to support a tale based on magic, menace and heart in an exciting world of competition and technology. Everything looks believable and possible even for this century.
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SHIBA TATSUYA The lead male of the plot, he attends one of the most prestigious Magic High Schools in Japan, but he barely scraped grades and got in as a “weed” – a derogatory term for students on the lower side of magical ability.
CADS Quite adaptable, they can vary in form from a sword, to a phone, or a gun. How does this happen? Two words – MATHEMATICAL ENGINEERING!!! SHIBA MIYUKI On the not so unbelievable side Tatsuya’a sister is seen as a “blossom” – a very talented user of magic. Actually she’s at the top of her game, and then some. She definitely gives you the impression of an undercover bad-ass, but I guess that’s something you will have to wait and see for yourself.
What adds a sense of mystery to this tale is that in a society where the population is split into basic classifications of 'elites' and 'pawns', with some tiny exceptions in the middle ground, one has to wonder why Tatsuya's family allows him to be around his prized sister Miyuki who is clearly an elite. He is hated while she and her “Ice Princess” powers are adored and cherished. Outside of that family dynamic, there is the battle for power that hides in the shadows of the wizard world where political plotting and assassination gives way to terrorism and espionage. So while school competitions are underway (by no means are they simple like football and hockey), certain people are trying to protect the students or something hidden on school grounds that some hell bent group is fixated on obtaining. Oh yeah, and that’s linked to the greater evil that’s looming in the magical darkness.
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ANIME REVIEW
In this story you can sit and watch each character bloom in their own way. Aside from our two main protagonists, there is one heck of a baton user and you can trust me when I say she can wield it as well as a sword. Her drive to succeed would make you smile inside, especially when she brandishes her skill in battle. There is also a fun loving Student Council President who is all but fun when dealing with her duties. She is a damsel that’s definitely not in distress; that girl can sharp shoot with the best of them. Still, guys dote on her class and beauty. She recognises
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the hidden potential in Tatsuya (not that he doesn’t know it himself ) and puts him in a position where he shines. She also seems fond of Tatsuya but possibly in a playful way; then again she isn’t the only one. There is also some play with “old magic” that has yet to fully show itself, but from the snippets and mumbles it looks very promising. A certain headstrong male who is trying wholeheartedly to prove his worth shall most likely bring it into play. So far his competitiveness with Tatsuya is enjoyable.
SMALL NOTE Miyuki has a weird affinity towards her brother and is seriously protective of him. This may lean towards a sort of incestual love which is the only small negative I’ve heard about this anime. I will however leave that for you to judge.
As I’m rounding the ball off here, let me not forget to mention some more interesting characters. Be on the look out for those pure hot-blooded lads who you'd enjoy seeing in a brawl and the shy girls that just don’t know how to show they like someone ( and it’s not just Tatsuya getting the love). So us viewers, sit there going “Dawwwww just do it already!” … O.O So all in all Koukou No Rettousei promises to be a technologically enjoyable, magical experience, with a lot of “Slash, Boom, Pew”. Take my word for it and have a look. It got me fully charmed by the 2nd episode and I was watching it without sound, in a place where I shouldn’t be watching anime :P Much Love, Scarlet Tenshi
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COSPLAY
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COSPLAY COSPLAYER: Lia (Trident Cosplay) CHARACTER: Nurse Akali PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Bowen
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COSPLAY COSPLAYER: Raeven Uchiha CHARACTER: Sasuke Uchiha 3 Sharingan PHOTOGRAPHER: Kristy Seelall EDITOR: Raeven Uchiha
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FEATURED COSPLAYER
SALLY
ARJOON Caribbean Cosplay Champion
The Red Queen
How do you feel after your win at the CCC this year? I am extremely empowered and a very relieved. The competition was very tough, I will be modest and say winning isn’t everything … but it still feels so awesome and I’m really proud to actually win such a big competition. Internally I still cannot stop smiling when I think of it. How long have you been cosplaying? I have been officially cosplaying for about a year now. What inspired you to take on the Red Queen? The game Alice: Madness Returns itself was very inspiring and quite intriguing to me and had a psychological twist that I loved. The game is about Alice finding justice for herself from a horrible man who abused her sister and destroyed her life. The Red Queen is a manifestation of Alice’s sister and she is a powerful queen with a very strong exterior, however, inside she is trying to battle against evil and help Alice while herself being “supposedly” evil. That’s how I view her character and why I respect her and somewhat understand her. To me she is such a strong character who is just misunderstood. The idea of cosplaying her came about when my friends who played the game suggested I should. They would always joke and tell me that I am exactly like her, they said that not only did I physically fit the character but my attitude did as well. However, it was only when the CCC was announced that I really consider cosplaying her, after all her costume was indeed worthy of such a big cosplay competition, but I was still not completely sure if doing her was a good idea. I did not like her in the original story and I was afraid people would mistake me for that version of the queen and then there was the problem of how on earth to make such a big costume and do it justice. I researched the costume and that’s where I saw Yaya Han and a cosplayer from the World Cosplay Summit cosplay her and it looked so awesome that I was completely inspired and driven to commit myself to it. So to sum it up I guess the game or character, my friends and the other cosplayers who did the queen were my real inspiration.
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How long did it take you to make and which parts were the most challenging?
What are your views on buying versus making your own costumes?
The costume took me 2 months to construct along with at least a month of brain storming, sketching and gathering materials. Although the entire costume was very challenging, the most difficult part was the gold trimmings on the fabric. I had no idea what material to use since the details were so intricate but a few days before the competition I found a very versatile plastic. The most difficult and tedious part was stencilling, cutting out and attaching each piece to the dress along with finishing on time of course. I finished this part on the morning of the competition.
In my opinion buying a costume takes the creativity and the fun out of cosplaying. To me most of the fun in cosplaying comes from making the costume; it’s like a giant puzzle and you have to figure out how to make all the pieces and then get them to fit together as one. Also the blood, sweat and tears that go into making a costume make it extremely worthwhile, since you feel this pride and confidence knowing what you when through to get the end result. You can’t recreate this feeling when you simply buy a costume.
What cosplays have you done in the past and which are you most proud of? I have done 2 cosplays prior to the Red Queen, I did Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan and Trafalgar Law from One Piece, however, the Red Queen was my biggest and most time consuming project thus far, I really pushed myself working on it and it really stole a small part of me so I am extremely and defiantly most proud of it. What cosplays do you have planned for the future, how do you plan on using all the Worbla you won!? I have a list of cosplays I would love to do but I have not settled on which ones I should actually try, as for the Worbla I would love to make some sort of full body armour with it, just to test my skills, it is an awesome material.
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Sally Arjoon CHARACTER: The Red Queen PHOTOGRAPHER: Gareth Leigh Photography
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FEATURED COSPLAYER
Would you say that you have developed a particular niche or style of cosplaying? What sort of characters are you drawn to the most? Yes I never thought I would have a preference for cosplays but I do, I love to cosplay powerful, strong, heroic women/girls. Something about cosplaying these types of characters is very positive and uplifting, perhaps it has to do with breaking the negative stigma attached to women or female characters in the anime/game/ cosplay industry, where women are sometimes viewed as just eye candy, fan service or unimportant characters. We see you have experience genderbending, how was that for you and what inspired you to take that route in your character portrayal? Yes, I cosplayed a genderbent Trafalgar Law, I really enjoyed it, my inspiration for his cosplay came from my enormous respect and admiration for that character and I could not do it justice if I did not genderbend it. However, for general genderbending I enjoy it because male characters usually have very interesting yet not revealing costumes as opposed to females and I don’t like doing very revealing cosplays, that’s just my personal preference. Your performance of the Red Queen was a big topic of conversation for weeks after the convention. Walk us through how you came up with it and was the crown falling an ode to Yaya Han's performance? I had no idea it was a topic for weeks wow...amm...my performance was inspired by the speech the Red Queen gave Alice during the game. To me this speech was very important since the Red Queen tried to help Alice understand herself, it showed a less evil side to the queen which I really wanted to portray. My monologue was created to be part of the game where the queen would have been looking on at the fight between Alice and Dr. Bumby (evil villain). Although she would have wanted to help Alice regain Wonderland, sadly she could not do anything but look on. To me the Queen is not evil she is misunderstood and I hope people grasped that from my portrayal of her.
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As for the crown *sigh* although I would love to save myself the embarrassment and say that my crown falling was an ode to Yaya Han, sadly it was not. On the day I used a new wig cap, it was a bit troublesome and kept pushing off the wig. It’s funny actually, I knew the crown was going to fall and I tried to save it by restricting my movements, however, there was nothing I could do and the show must go on so I continued. Sorry to burst the bubble of those who thought otherwise. What bit of advice do you have for anyone just getting into cosplay? Forget about what they all say, you should cosplay whoever your heart desire and don’t be shy and worry about how you will look, people will appreciate your effort, even if they don’t say it. Do not get into cosplay for the wrong reasons such as the little fame/popularity/ ”friends” you may gain through cosplay, it’s seriously a stupid idea. Also don’t ever get into cosplay as an excuse to sell or expose yourself, meaning don’t get into cosplay JUST to dress as over sexualize characters for the attention and because you can, that is also stupid and disrespectful to the art form Stay away from the bacchanal and trouble and don’t hold grudges against anyone. Most of all just be very creative and have fun cosplaying. Do you see yourself continuing on in this hobby for years to come? I see a bright future for cosplay here and I would love to be part of it so yes, of course. Are there any cosplayers or artists that inspire you and keep you working harder? Yes, locally everyone who cosplays inspires me to do my best and keep improving, especially the more senior cosplayers whom I have immense respect for. Internationally there are too many to mention but definitely all the “big” names or any epic costume I may see.
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Sheldon Dhaljitsingh CHARACTER: Alphonse Elric PHOTOGRAPHER: ReishaNavya Photography
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Panterona Cosplay CHARACTER: Gamora PHOTOGRAPHER: Gareth Leigh Photography
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ANIME PREVIEW
ANIME LINE-UP 2015
YAMADA-KUN TO 7-NIN NO MAJO (OVA) Genre: Comedy, Shounen, Romance, School
Shiraishi Urara is the top student in her school. One day, due to an accidental kiss, Urara finds herself in the body of the school delinquent, Yamada Ryuu! In trying to switch back to their own bodies, Urara and Ryuu discover that kissing causes them to switch bodies, which leads to their discovery that there are 7 witches in their school. They soon try to uncover the identities of the 7 witches... Editors’ Comments Panterona: This witch n switch body thing got jacked straight from The Originals I feel :P Scarlet-Tenshi : Huh, yea boy, that show *drool*, then again body switching is a common thing ( freaky Friday) , but the kissing leading to the switching O.o
GARO: HONOO NO KOKUIN Genre: Action, Demons
Based on the Garo Project tokusatsu drama. The Garo drama franchise has a dark story that revolves around humans that have the job of "Makai Knights," people who fight against demonic beings called Horrors. The first television series in the franchise revolves around Makai Knight Kōga Saejima, who tries to save a girl named Kaoru from her fate of death after being tainted by demon blood. (Source: AniDB) Editors’ Comments Panterona: Aye Kaoru!...still forever needing saving I see Scarlet-Tenshi: Ah yes, classic damsel who gets mixed up in bad juju and needs a platoon to rescue her, still, big fan of the demon battle action
DURARARA!! X2
Genre: Action, Mystery, Supernatural “6 Months Later… We haven’t changed at all… or it seems…” Half a year after the turmoil that rocked the entire city of Ikebukuro - Peace has once again returned to the city and people are living each day normally. The high school students enjoy their days of youth as the strongest and most dangerous man of Ikebukuro works diligently. The informant plots a new scheme and the headless rider is pursued by the cops as she rides through the night…But soon this normal will be cut short by the abnormal. Slowly but surely, the unknown will seize the city and face an all new storm. (Source: Crunchyroll) Editors’ Comments Panterona: IZAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAA!!! Scarlet-Tenshi: *wiggle* fight fight fight
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ANIME PREVIEW
SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN II Genre: Action, Adventure, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Super Power Many years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls, but even they seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered. Eren Jaeger, the son of a doctor and a longtime admirer of the survey corps, witnesses the end of this peaceful life and death and destruction that came with it. His goal thus becomes to join the survey corps in the hope of doing one thing and one thing only....wiping the entire race of Titans off the Earth. (Source: Crunchyroll.com) Editors’ Comments Panterona: My body is ready! Scarlet-Tenshi: Well you’ve already seen my reaction, I was ready since season one finish! LEVIIIIIIIIIII <3
NAGATO YUKI-CHAN NO SHOUSHITSU Genre: Comedy, Romance, School
This spin-off of the Haruhi Suzumiya series takes place in the world of the "Disappearance" arc of the original novels, focusing on the high school life (and romance!) of a tentative and bashful Yuki Nagato quite unlike the one you've come to know and love through the usual exploits of the SOS Brigade... but no less charming! (Source: Yen Press) Editors’ Comments Panterona : Noice! Scarlet-Tenshi : Ummm, cool cool, some romance in the mix
DEATH PARADE
Genre: Action, Game, Psychological "Welcome to Queen Dekim" What greets two unsuspecting guests is a strange bar, Queen Dekim, and the white-haired bartender, Dekim. "From here you two shall begin a battle where your lives hang in the balance," he says to introduce the Death Game. Before long the guests' true natures become apparent. As a matter of course, at the game's end Dekim is revealed to be the "arbiter." Dekim's judgement on the two guests is... (Source: ANN) Editors’ Comments Panterona: Yay Anime Saw! XD Scarlet-Tenshi: Lol, let’s hope it doesn’t scar me the same way, looks good though.
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HEAVY OBJECT Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi Based on a light novel novel series written by Kamachi Kazuma: In the near future, war has developed into a bloodless game that can be determined by mechanical units called Objects. In a military base located on the frigid regions of Alaska, mechanic-in-training named Quenser learns the ropes of becoming an expert in the field of Objects, and meets one of its elite pilots named Milinda. As their friendship develops, Quenser discovers that the real face of war is merely hiding behind the mask of bloodless defeat and victory... (Source: heavyobject.wikia.com) Editors’ Comments Panterona : Hmm...Interesting. Scarlet-Tenshi : Idk, this just has me going, huh? .. But because of that I wanna see it, costumes look decent though
JUNKETSU NO MARIA
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Historical, Magic The story follows Maria, the most powerful witch who lives during the Hundred Years' War in France. She despises war, so she obstructs battles with her strong magical powers. Her meddling with her succubus Artemis and incubus Priapos has caught the attention of the heavens, and so the Archangel Michael issues an edict. When Maria loses her virginity, she will also lose her magical powers. A beautiful angel named Ezekiel is supposed to watch Maria and make sure the witch does not use magic in front of people, but Maria continues to use magic anyways. (Source: ANN) Editors’ Comments Panterona : This look like bachannal hahaha. Scarlet-Tenshi : Virginity linked to magical powers, well LOL I say.
ANSATSU KYOUSHITSU (TV) Genre: Mystery, Action, Comedy, School, Supernatural A humorous and action-packed story about a class of misfits who are trying to kill their new teacher – an alien octopus with bizarre powers and super strength! The teacher has just destroyed the moon and is threatening to destroy the earth – unless his students can destroy him first. What makes things more complicated is that he's the best teacher they've ever had! (Source: Viz Media) Editors’ Comments Panterona : Okaaaaaaaaaay then. Scarlet-Tenshi : Idk, I wanted to kill, I mean harm, just… I’m sure teachers got that reaction before, but not as bad >.>
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ANIME PREVIEW
SHOW BY ROCK Genre: Music Original Anime based on the popular Smartphone game: The game is set in Tokyo Midi city, a place where those who command music control everything and where its inhabitants called Mumons form bands to play music and compete with other bands to be on top. One of the inhabitants of the city named Cyan, a white Gothic Lolita cat girl, dreams on becoming a musician one day and create the best music band in the city. One day, she is scouted by Maple Arisugawa, the president of a music agency and invited her to the company. From there she meets ChuChu, a purple honor student rabbit girl, Retoree, a yellow net geek dog girl and Moa, a pink and black cosmic sheep girl. Together they all form a band called Plasmagica as they all tackle and perform together in the music scene as they aim to be the best music band of all Midi City. (Source: Wiki) Editors’ Comments Panterona : -_Scarlet Tenshi : Yeah I know, my reaction, but I’m gonna do it, I will sit and watch every episode
ANIME DE WAKARU SHINRYOUNAIKA Genre: Comedy The psychologist Ryou and his cheerful nurse Asuna explain many aspects of mental illness to the reader. They cover topics such as the validity, prevalence, and origins of mental disorders, in addition to addressing specific disorders. The information is imparted in a cheerful and comic manner, with various jokes, puns, and pop culture references. (Source: MU ) Editors’ Comments Panterona : This intrigues and disturbs me at the same time. Scarlet Tenshi : I’m actually kind of scared, and like a white blond, I will subject myself to it.
SŌKYŪ NO FAFNER: DEAD AGRESSOR : EXODUS Genre: Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi
A sequel of the Fafner: Heaven and Earth anime. Editors’ Comments Panterona : Not familiar with the prequel but animation looks tight. Scarlet-Tenshi : >.> it’s the reason I listed it, >.< .. ahahah, “wild card!!!”
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COSPLAY
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INTERVIEW
MATTHEW CLARKE Graphic Artist / Illustrator
Matthew Clarke is an artist and co-founder of Beyond Publishing comics. Matthew is both a formally trained and self-taught artist, who loves the feeling of creating new worlds in his comics. His work focuses on social and global themes. One of his current projects â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hardearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a comic based on Caribbean society and the Caribbean attitude toward our own self-worth. Have you always wanted to be a graphic designer/illustrator?
favourite character from our group is Tristan Roach's Spirit Bear.
Yes I always wanted to be an artist.
If you had to cosplay any of your characters which one would you chose?
When was Beyond Publishing founded? In 2009 Since working with Beyond Publishing what has been your favourite project so far? My favourite project at Beyond has to be Hardears, a fantasy comic we launched this year (2014). Are you a writer as well as an illustrator on that project? Yes, I wrote that comic. Nigel Lynch also wrote and edited. We have seen in some of your past projects you were both writer and illustrator.Do you have a preference between writing and illustration or do you like doing both? I like both. I usually work closely with Nigel Lynch. Do you have a favourite character design? My favourite character so far in that series (Hardears) would have to be Bolo. My other
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It would have to be a character called Colins Hardin from one of our other books titled 'Offset', because I am 6 foot 4 and skinny, so he would best suit me.
Who or what inspires you as an artist? Different styles I guess. I used to like Frank Miller a lot and Eduard Risso but I am mostly influenced by the Caribbean itself. What is your greatest aspiration and challenge as an artist? My greatest aspiration is to do what I love for a living, always. The challenge is time really. Who was your favourite animated character as a child? My favourite was this cartoon called Mutant League. As a child were you inspired by any games, anime or comics? I loved Judge Dredd, that is my favourite character and comic book (series) ever. Do you have any advice for young aspiring artists? My advice is to just do it. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be satisfied with endless sketching and concepts, build something even if it is not right the first time. To my comic artists, make that book, go for it.
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Kristy Seelall CHARACTER: Oerba Yun Fang PHOTOGRAPHER: Kelly Seelall
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COSPLAY COSPLAYER: CHENCHEN NEKOHIME CHARACTER: Chun Li PHOTOGRAPHER: GK Studios
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AKCESS POWER FAN ART COMPETITION 1ST PLACE WINNER - ‘CODY’ BY MATTHEW HUDSON
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INTERVIEW
JACQUELINE JONES Author
What subjects did you take at school? Were you always this good at English? I took English, History, Business-related subjects, etc. I always enjoyed English and did well throughout my time at school in that area. What are your ambitions for your writing career? I will be an international bestselling author and able to use my platform to create programs and initiatives I’ve got up my sleeves. I look forward to being able to inspire and help others along the way and give back to those who continue to support me always. Which writers inspire you? INTRODUCTION Hi Jackie, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background? On the professional side: I’m a Barbadian author and entrepreneur and was a photo-journalist for many years prior to that. Before becoming a journalist I was the co-lead vocalist for a local alt/metal band for about four years. On a more personal level: My experiences thus far have taught me to try to always enjoy life and what I’m doing. It’s not always easy to remember, but I try to. I’m a blogger and vlogger, I love beer and I’m a huge fan of World of Warcraft (WoW), though I hardly get to play nowadays. I also enjoy the good company of friends and family.
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Christopher Pike and his The Last Vampire series which I devoured at 12 and haven’t gotten off the supernatural train since apparently. C.J. Cherryh is a brilliant sci-fi author, Stephen King for works like Carrie and The Stand, Charles Dickens because ... Charles Dickens! Enid Blyton because I’m pretty sure her lands of fairies, magical trees and everything else in between were already showing me the path to my future career, Oscar Wilde for works like The Picture of Dorian Gray, and many others across genres. So, what have you written and where can we buy or see them? I’m almost always working on something and as such have a few squirreled away for the traditional publishing route and others that have been self-published, or are available as free reads. The Wardens Series (Season 1: Episodes 1 – 5) is a NA (New Adult) supernatural thriller/fantasy on-going short-story series. The books individually
are: Skins, Howl, Lust, Taken, and Cemetery Party. There are also available as a 5-books-in-1 edition. Secrets (Return of the Guardian Book 1) is a YA (Young Adult) Action and Adventure / Fantasy trilogy. Secrets is now available as a free read on Obooko.com. Books 2 and 3 to follow in 2015. This book and trilogy was previously named: Secrets of the Tenari (The Tenari Trilogy). Awakening (When Worlds End Trilogy, Book 1) is a Sci-Fantasy novel with 15 of its 20 chapters currently available as free reads on Wattpad.com. Jacob’s Apocalypse and Other Stories is a collection of short and flash fiction across the speculative genre also free to read on Wattpad.com.
What are you working on at the minute and what is it about? (If you’re not working on anything tell me about your most recent work instead) I usually work on multiple things at once – that’s just my process. So currently I’m in the midst of an edit for the first book of an epic fantasy series. I’m also writing a new YA magical realism story. These are both on the traditional publishing route. The Wardens is my most current self-published work and is an on-going short story series that features wardens Erin and Zach, as they travel across the world keeping rogue supernaturals in line. It is a fast-paced, action-packed series and the characters are likeable and relatable. It’s also interesting seeing how they interact with others and everything that’s constantly going on around them.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Since we’re on The Wardens: Erin is Barbadian by birth. She’s feisty, doesn’t like to follow rules and wields formidable dark magic. There is much more to her story than meets the eye and readers are given clues to the puzzle as they hunt with her and Zach. Zach is British-born, laidback and unassuming. His strengths lay in the creation of specialty weapons capable of subduing supernatural beings, his tactical skills and of course, keeping his partner in check when necessary. You can get even more background on Zach, Erin and other members of the recurring cast of this series, in the Character Breakdown playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDZh-Pv6qSQ&list =PL2kDFdCHKbCSxr3xEs8BFWog99hf46ZPW
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INTERVIEW
What genre are your books? Usually fantasy or science fiction across the genres. However, I do enjoy dabbling in thriller, dark romance, creative non-fiction, among some others. What draws you to this genre? I’ve always loved the supernatural and the paranormal and I’m a huge fan of world-building. I love the lore associated with supernatural beings and the many things that you can create that don’t exist in our world. It’s also a pleasure to manipulate the world we live in, in ways that can bring various feelings to a reader -- from awe to terror . . . delicious. Do you write full-time or part-time? Writing seriously is a job no matter how you spin it. I don’t spend all my time on my books though, as I do take on freelance writing and editing jobs across the spectrum. Additionally, I’m currently getting other aspects of my business in order, so that also keeps me busy. How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? There was a period of about a decade where I didn’t write much fiction. The many things that happened during that time, the horrid and the good, have allowed me to add to the darkness that was evident in my teenage writer self and transform it into something new, that I really quite enjoy. What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book? The Wardens series was too fun to be hard honestly.
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Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? For The Wardens series: Ian Somerhalder as Zach, as I think he’d be great taking on that brooding, sexy, yet ‘hardcore’ kind of role. Rihanna as Erin, mainly because I think she’d be great playing a role where the character’s roots are Barbadian and though she’s not exactly Erin’s skin tone (dark caramel), I feel like the ‘badassery’ aspect of the role would be especially captured by her.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? As long as I’m able to focus on a project -- a novel takes a month to six weeks. Nowadays it takes about eight weeks or so, as there’s so much more on my plate. The Wardens episodes are short stories and I can usually knock them out in a couple days. Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors? I don’t read nearly as much as I used to, however, I’ve been trying to start back again. There are so many great authors out there, so a few I’ve enjoyed are: James Patterson, Belva Plain, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and indies like Travis Luedke. Who designed your book cover/s? My current covers were all done by a company overseas. They’re what you call place-holder covers.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? Yes it does. I remember when I used to run into a bookstore and choose books based on the author or the title, etc. I seldom looked at the front to be honest, I’d just pick it up and flip it over to read the back. Nowadays covers have a lot to do with how you stand out in the sea of books available to readers. What do you think of “trailers” for books? I endorse them wholeheartedly. They are a way for readers to get a quick feel of what they can expect from the story. Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book/s? I would always have book trailers for my books. I’ve done a local trailer for The Wardens series and one for Secrets (before it was renamed) as well. I intend to have others for all my releases.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Writing is something that has to come from inside us. It’s not just about throwing words together and hoping they stick, but really getting the story we want to tell out. It can be tough, especially when you decide to publish your work, however, if you love and enjoy it, giving up will not be an option. In summary, it’s a beautiful thing to share your words with others and I wish you all every success with your careers. Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included? My creative non-fiction piece Diary of a Punching Bag will be featured in the upcoming Senseisha: Memoirs of a Caribbean Woman anthology. I’m now an award-winning
author as I recently won two NIFCA (National Independence Festival of Creative Arts) awards for my short story entry The Wardens Prequel: Erin’s Origins and, a selection from The Wardens series Episode 1: Skins (This is my first time entering this literary competition). The Wardens season 2 which will consist of five new episodes, will be released in early 2015. More exciting news about this series and my other books in the coming months. How can readers discover more about you and you work? Blog: jackiejonesblogs.com Facebook: facebook.com/jackiejoneswrites Twitter: twitter.com/jackiejoneslive Instagram: @jackiejonesgram
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Aerahath Lowan CHARACTER: Thrandie Elfqueen of Mirkwood PHOTOGRAPHER: ReishaNavya Photography
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COSPLAY
COSPLAYER: Spade Avery (Trident Cosplay) CHARACTER: Genderbend Lee Sin PHOTOGRAPHER: Kevin Bowen
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AEX MANGA COMPETITION WINNER 2014
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THANK YOU FOR READING OUR DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE OF ALIAS MAGAZINE. Š ALIAS 2014 All Rights Reserved No part of his publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher / owner. The views expressed in ALIAS are the views of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by ALIAS and its staff.