UppCon:10

So I when to UppCon, the biggest convention in Sweden aimed at Japanese Pop Culture. And this is how it went:

Friday: I got up in a decent time this year and met with CarpeDentum and Madiirje on the station. From we got on our train and I finished all the things that had to be finished. And then we finally got to Uppsala, since it takes five hours to go by train. But the line in to UppCon was a bit long and it was about to rain so we occupied a table at the nearest Burger King and sat there a few hours.

By the time we gotten back to UppCon the line was a bit more normal (meaning: you don't have to wait more then two hours) and we only had to wait for an hour and a half before got our waistbands. Then we just had to get in the line to leave the luggage so it would be shipped to our sleeping rooms. But once we got in it was fun, even thou Madiirje was freezing and we were all wet from the rain. But at least we got to see MinxZone when we were standing outside and waiting in the second line.

Friday cosplay: I got ~CarpeDentum to cosplay Rangiku Matsumoto while I did Momo Hinamori from BLEACH. Our lovely ~Madiirje was our own steam punk inspired sky pirate. I got to meet with a Hitsugya and we took some photos together.

Later at the evening we watched the lolita fashion-show. It was much sweet, little gothic and they were all so cute. Hopefully I can take part next year After that we went for pizza and the we felt tired and retired to sleep.

Saturday: I went ahead of the others and went for a BLEACH-photoshoot at the con. We managed to get nine of us put in one photo and it was so much fun. After that I watch some of the BLEACHers training for they’re musical skit and I switched cosplay to Usagi Tsukino. By that time it was many who recognised me, sometimes it took me twice the time to get somewhere because of being stopped and asked to be photographed. But in Sweden Sailor Moon used to run at TV when I was little so it may not be so surprising.

After the rest of the people showed up, I went for second breakfast/lunch at the con and drank some lemonade with some strange name that barley tasted anything but was cold so it was enough. The day pasted with peoplewatching and missing things I had planned to do but just didn't since I forgot them.

But I did see the big cosplay contest. This year we barley got in and got to sit as far of the scene that was possible, that was a lie, there was one more row behind us, but we still got to see some really good and some less good cosplay as we sat there and I almost wanted to be a part of it as well. Who know, perhaps next year?

The skits this years was as much fun as last year, even thou no one can beat Norrlänsk cosplayfront who did the opening and ending of the whole cosplay contest. And to find out that it was Lulu from Code Geass that had stolen UppCon was fun as well.
After the cosplay contest was done we saw the AMV contest, or at least that was it was suppose to be. But because of technical issues we did some sort of mini disco inside the room instead. The whole room was dancing to Caramelldansen at some point, and think over thousand people dancing in a room that is made for concerts. It was awesome!

Then it worked and we got to see some amazing AMVs. After that we felt more the tired and got to sleep.

Sunday was not so much convention for me as I had to go to an interview at the other side of Sweden. So there ends my adventure of UppCon 10. Hopefully it will return next year and that the weather might be a little better.

Me at the Friday as Hinamori Momo as we were waiting for the Lolita Fashion Show to begin.

Looking out on the square that the public could also come and take a look at. We mostly sat on the inside and looking at all the funny people we could see, and wondering whether they were cosplaying or not.

I found some friends from Sailor Moon. Usagi: me, Jupiter: Rosenguru-sama, Venus: qwastanja and Mercurius: ?
I can also proudly say that I made the patterns for the school uniforms in this photo.

One of the best shoot I got of my Usagi-cosplay. Here is also the lovely stairs of UppCon, as UppCon would be nothing without them. Snapped by Qwastanja

Double-posted on DeviantART, minus the photos.

Bleach: Ulquiorra Schiffer 03

One of the first Arrancar to be introduced, Ulquiorra Schiffer went to the Human World alongside Yammy Riyalgo with orders from Aizen Sosuke to seek out Kurosaki Ichigo. When Ulquiorra analyzed Ichigo's reiatsu and its growth potential, he concluded that Ichigo was of no threat to Aizen and left without killing him. Unfortunately, Ulquiorra will soon come to realize that his initially findings were dead wrong.

Another beautiful cosplay sent in by Ana! I love this character very much, but his demise left me speechless. Thanks for sharing this with us!

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, anime, manga, game, bleach, ulquiorra, schiffer, first, arrancar, introduce, human, world, alongside, yammy, riyalgo, order, sosuke, aizen, kurosaki, ichigo, analyze, reiatsu, growth, potential, conclude, threat, left, kill, realize, initial, findings, dead, wrong, beautiful, ana, character, demise, speechless, thanks, share, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, ウルキオラ, シファー, 藍染, 惣右介, 黒崎, 一護

Bleach: Soi Fon

Born to be known as Shaolin Fon, Soi Fon is the captain of the 2nd Division, replacing Shihoin Yoruichi, her former captain who abandoned her post to aid Urahara Kisuke in leaving Soul Society. As she served Yoruichi as a bodyguard and eventually becomes her protege, Soi Fon felt abandoned that Yoruichi did not take her during the escape. It takes a century before she sees her former captain once more, challenging her in battle in order to ask the questions left unanswered.

Beautiful and very daring cosplay! She looks so convincingly like Soi Fon that it feels like she jumped out of the manga! Thanks to Ana for sending this in!

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, anime, manga, game, bleach, soi, fon, shaolin, captain, 2nd, second, division, replace, shihoin, yoruichi, former, abandon, post, aid, urahara, kisuke, leave, soul, society, reaper, shinigami, serve, bodyguard, eventually, protege, escape, century, challenge, battle, ask, question, unanswered, beautiful, daring, look, convince, jump, ana, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 砕蜂, 蜂, 梢綾, 四楓院, 夜一, 浦原, 喜助, 死神

Bleach: Shihoin Yoruichi 02

Highly skilled in tactical combat, Shihoin Yoruichi is known as the Shunshin, “Goddess of Flash”, for her speed in movement is unmatched in Soul Society. She is a master of Shunko, “Flash Release”, a technique that combines hand-to-hand combat with kido abilities. This allows her to fight bare-handed against an enemy’s weapon without sustaining injuries.

Very well-done! I really love her yellow eyes and pose. It makes her look very cat-like, wouldn’t you agree? Thanks to Mishalynne for sending this in!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, holic, cosplayers, costume, role, play, roleplay, anime, manga, game, bleach, shihoin, yoruichi, skill, tactical, combat, shunshin, goddess, flash, speed, movement, unmatch, soul, society, master, shunko, release, technique, combine, hand, kido, ability, enemy, weapon, sustain, injury, yellow, eyes, pose, cat, mishalynne

Bleach: Neliel Tu Oderschvank 05

Just when I thought I knew the real deal, Wiki changes on me, yet again.

So, she's really "Neliel Tu Oderschvank" and not "Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck", right? Or maybe I should stick to ネリエル トゥ オーデルシュヴァンク to avoid confusion this time.

Anyway, ネル トゥ has the ability to swallow cero attacks and, in her adult form, fire them back with her own cero. Her released form, which is achieved by manifesting with her zanpakuto Gamuza, is that of an ibex-like centaur with long, curved horns, a thick tail, and an armor covering her shoulders and hands. Her zanpakuto also changes into a white, double-ended lance, making her appear as a medieval knight or jouster.

Pretty daring cosplay, and she certainly has the look for it. Thanks to Shiro-kun for sending this in! Too bad there's only a small version of this photo.

Technorati tags: cosplay, holic, cosplayer, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, neliel, tu, oderschvank, wikipedia, nelliel, nel, odelschwanck, swallow, cero, attack, adult, form, release, fire, opponent, achieve, manifest, zanapkuto, gamuza, ibex, like, centuar, long, curved, horns, thick, tail, armor, shoulder, hand, white, double, end, lance, appear, medieval, knight, jouster, daring, look, shiro, small, version, photo, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 虚, ホロウ, 破面, アランカル, 十刃, エスパーダ, 虚閃, セロ, 最上大虚, ヴァストローデ, 鋼皮, イエロ, 斬魄刀, ネリエル, トゥ, オーデルシュヴァンク, ネル, 羚騎士, ガミューサ

Bleach: Kurosaki Ichigo 02

Kurosaki Ichigo has natural orange hair that always gets him into fights with bullies. He doesn’t care what other people think about him and doesn’t seem to mind fighting bullies either. He met Chad when they were still young, who was also a target for bullies because he refused to fight for his own sake as promised to his grandfather. Ichigo then decided to make a pact with him that they would fight for each other’s sake.

I couldn’t believe this was one of Jin’s works when I first saw it. She really does know how to take on the character she’s cosplaying, so much that it’s hard to tell it’s her! Great job, Jin!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, bleach, kurosaki, ichigo, natural, orange, hair, fight, bully, care, think, people, mind, chad, chado, sado, yasutora, young, child, children, target, promise, grandfather, decide, pact, sake, each, other, jin, jonson, character

Bleach: Sado Yasutora

One of Ichigo’s closest friends, Sado Yasutora is Japanese-Mexican who towers over most of his classmates, making him seem intimidating and fierce. His true nature, however, is that of a gentle giant, refusing to fight unless it is for the sake of another. His powers are a mystery even to him, with his right arm having defensive abilities, and later his left arm developing offensive abilities useful against hollows.

This is just way cool. It looks like Chad jumped straight out of the anime. I love the use of leather-like material for his armored arm. Great job on this!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, bleach, sado, chad, chado, yasutora, kurosaki, ichigo, japanese, mexican, tower, classmate, intinidating, fierce, true, nature, gentle, giant, refuse, fight, sake, power, mystery, right, arm, defense, left, offense, hollow, cool, anime, manga, leather, material, armor

Bleach: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez

The Sexta Espada who has an insatiable lust for power, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez is disrespectful and violent, often abandoning what little respect he has for Aizen when he is out of earshot. He is overly confident in his abilities, believing he is equal to or even stronger than Ulquiorra Schiffer, the 4th Espada.

Despite his disruptive behavior, he does have a sense of honor, going so far as asking Inoue Orihime to heal Kurosaki Ichigo’s wounds before their battle.

So he doesn’t have a hollow mask, but you have to admit, this is a pretty convincing cosplay. His I.D. is from Sakura Con 2008, but it’s too bad the picture’s too blurry to tell what his name is. Thanks to Marilyn for sending this in!

Technorati Tags: cosplay, holic, cosplayer, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, grimmjow, jaegerjaquez, sexta, 6th, espada, insatiable, lust, power, disrespectful, violent, abandon, respect, aisen, sosuke, earshot, equal, strong, ulquiorra, schiffer, 4th, diruptive, behavior, inoue, orihime, kurosaki, ichigo, heal, battle, fight, hollows, mask, sakura, con, sakuracon, 2008, name, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, グリムジョー, ジャガージャック, 藍染, 惣右介, ウルキオラ, シファー, 虚, ホロウ, 黒崎, 一護, 井上, 織姫

Bleach: Lilynette Gingerback

The young, female fracción of the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk, Lilynette Gingerback is depicted as short-tempered and vocal, often showing emotions that Coyote does not. Coyote is the Espada that represents “Loneliness” but prefers to be surrounded by friends, even going to the point of pretending to be weak as weak ones don’t have to fight by themselves. It was through this grief that Lilynette was born.

She is also the one who holds Coyote’s power instead of a zanpakuto like the rest of the Espada. When they combine into Los Lobos, Lilynette is one of the guns Coyote wields.

It would be difficult to cosplay Lilynette in an actual convention, that’s for sure. So I guess there will only be private photo shoots for this cosplay. Nice job!

Technorati Tags: cosplay, holic, cosplayer, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, lilynette, gingerback, fracción, primera, espada, coyote, starrk, short, temper, vocal, emotion, loneliness, friendship, weak, alone, grief, power, zanpakuto, los, lobos, gun, anime, manga, convention, private, photo, shoot, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 虚, ホロウ, 破面, アランカル, 十刃, エスパーダ, 斬魄刀, 従属官, フラシオン, コヨーテ, スターク, リリネット, ジンジャーバック, 群狼, ロス, ロボス

Bleach: Kusajishi Yachiru

A young infant Zaraki Kenpachi found in the 79th District of Rukongai’s North Alley, “Kusajishi”, Yachiru is a cheerful, carefree girl who often clings to Kenpachi’s back for transport. She is child-like in both appearance and action, but is also very strong, earning the right to be the lieutenant of the 11th Division. Her name is said to be in memory of the only person Kenpachi ever admired.

Cute cosplay! She’s so adorable, just like Yachiru. I sometimes wonder which one is cuter, her or Nell? Anyway, great cosplaying!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, bleach, kusajishi, yachiru, infant, baby, zaraki, kenpachi, 79th, district, rukongai, north, alley, cheerful, carefree, girl, cling, back, transport, child, like, childlike, appearance, action, strong, earn, right, lieutenant, 11th, division, memory, name, person, admire, cute, adorable, nell

Bleach: Ichimaru Gin 02

Graduating from the Soul Society’s Academy after only a year, Ichimaru Gin became captain of the 3rd Division after serving under Sosuke Aizen as the lieutenant of the 5th Division. He joins Aizen when he escapes to Hueco Mundo in order to fulfill Aizen’s plans to “change the world”. The only person he seems to truly care about is Mtsumoto Rangiku, a childhood friend and lieutenant of the 10th Division under Hitsugaya Toshiro.

I have no idea why he’s carrying Gin’s portrait. Maybe to show that the old Gin as a captain is dead and a new Gin, labeled a traitor, is born? It’s scary at how similar they look though. Nice cosplaying!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, cosplayer, bleach, ichimaru, gin, graduate, soul, society, death, god, reaper,third, tenth, division, fifth, aizen, sosuke, serve, under, escape, hueco, mundo, change, world, person, care, matsumoto, rangiku, childhood, friend, lieutenant, captain, hitsugaya, toshiro, portrait, dead, traitor

Bleach: Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck 04

I don't even know what to say to this anymore, because I think I might be dying of cute.

But I would like to know what her real name is. From my three previous features, I've always thought her name was Neliel Tu Oderschvank. I checked wikipedia recently and it had Odelschwanck instead. What gives?

Either way, Nel is just the cutest thing ever. I'm not sure, but she might be the same kid?

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, nel, neliel, tu, oderschvank, odelschwanck, wikipedia, photobucket, cute, chibi, child, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 十刃, エスパーダ, 破面, アランカル, 虚, ホロウ, ネル, ネリエル, トゥ, オーデルシュヴァンク

Bleach: Sarugaki Hiyori

The former lieutenant of the 12th Division under captain Hikifune Kirio and Urahara Kisuke, Hiyori is a violent girl with a fierce temper who took the longest time to defeat her inner hollow. Even after she became a Visored, she still abuses Hirako Shinji, often using one of her sandles to slap him in the face, or even using him as a human sheild.

I think there was a change from "Vizard" to "Vizored" at some point, not sure when and why. But she's a rather charming Hiyori, don't you agree? I don't want to get in her way, unless I need a slap on the face. Great cosplay!

EDIT: Thanks to anon for letting me know this is ~m-a-g-i! You can view the original deviation here... Awesome work!

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, sarugaki, hiyori, lieutenant, former, 12, division, hikifune, kirio, urahara, kisuke, violent, fierce, temper, defeat, inner, hollow, hirako, shinji, sandle, slap, human, sheild, vizard, vizored, photobucket, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 猿柿, ひよ里, 平子, 真子, 浦原, 喜助, ゲタ帽子, 虚化, 仮面の軍勢, ヴァイザード

Bleach: Kuchiki Rukia with Kon

The Death God / Soul Reaper assigned to exterminate hollows in Ichigo's hometown, Kuchiki Rukia was forced to transfer her powers to Ichigo in order to save his life and his family's. Because of this, she had to live temporarily as a human; registering in a local high school and residing in Ichigo's closet. Even though Rukia has the body of a teenage girl, she is actually 10 times older than Ichigo.

Haru left a comment in my blog one day and I decided to visit her blog. I was suprised she had such an awesome cosplay of Rukia that I had to feature her! I'm glad you enjoy reading my blog, Haru, and I hope you cosplay more soon! (I also want a Kon doll too!)

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, bleach, kuchiki, rukia, kon, death, god, shinigami, soul, reaper, exterminate, hollow, kurosaki, ichigo, hometown, transfer, power, life, family, save, temporary, human, school, closet, teenage, blog, blogger, blogspot, doll, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 朽木, ルキア, 黒崎, 一護, コン

Bleach: Shihoin Yoruichi

An old friend and close ally of Urahara Kisuke, Yoruichi was at fist thought to be a man because she first appeared to the cast as a talking black cat with a deep voice. She is carefree and was the former captain of the 2nd Division. When she abandoned her post to help her friend escape to the human world, she is replaced by Soi Fon, her young protégé.

Too bad I only have a small version of this photo. She’s convincingly like Yoruichi, even with that pose. Great work!

Technorati Tags: nanao, research, cosplay, cosplayer, role, play, costume, bleach, shihoin, yoruichi, friend, urahara, kisuke, ally, cat, black, voice, carefree, former, captain, 2nd, division, abandon, post, human, world, soi, fon, protégé

Bleach: Abarai Renji

The shinigami with an eccentric personality, Abarai Renji is the lieutenant of the 6th Division on Kuchiki Byakuya. He is often compared to Kurosaki Ichigo as they have similar personalities; the willingness to fight for what they believe in. Renji is nicknamed “Aka Pine” of “Red Pineapple” for wearing his hair in a ponytail that looks like pineapple top.

Ok, so Jin isn’t really wearing her hair/wig in the signature ponytail, and the tattoos are done in photoshop, but you have to admit, this is a very impressive cosplay of Renji. Wonderful work, Jin!

Technorati Tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, costume, roleplay, bleach, shinigami, death, god, abarai, renji, eccentric, personality, lieutenant, 6th, division, kuchiki, byakuya, kurosaki, ichigo, fight, belief, aka, pine, pineapple, red, jin, joson, ponytail, signature, photoshop, コスプレ, コスプレイ, ブリーチ, 阿散井, 恋次, 朽木, 白哉, 黒崎, 一護

Momo Hinamori - BLEACH - Cosplay

Yeah! I finally got it together, two hours before the con. But then I wasn´t that all happy with it, since on of my sewingmachines didn´t want to sew what I wanted it didn´t turn out the way I thought. So expect a version two.

Taken at KodachiKun 09, Lund.

KodachiKun 09

Around 10 AM did we (I, Little Red Ridinghood and Alice of Wonderland) found our way in to KodachiKun. What followed was public hugging with mates and other. I did manage to give out the impression of being Rukia, while cosplaying Hinamori Momo, both from Bleach. It must have been someone who hadn´t read that far in BLEACH.

I had already planed my day. Finding my captain Aizen, spontaneous dancing (caused by to much Rock Musical Bleach) and follow (read: stalking) people. I manage to do all things apart from finding my captain. He was nowhere to be found. T_T I think he was sitting somewhere reading a book.

By noon we invaded the nearby McDonalds. Think: almost the whole resturang crowded with cosplayers eating hamburgers and french fries. Everything from the duck of Gintama to Hidan from Naruto. At my table we got Little Red RidingHood, Alice, Hinamori Momo (me), Amulett Heart (Shugo Chara) and our Japanese cameko (I named him that). This year I got asked twice about what was going on. That beats last years record by one.

After a few hours of stalking people (not so bad as it sounds), it was time for the cosplayshow. This year instead of entering, I watched. One of the most popular song for this year was Hare Hare Yukari, do you think that was after I cosplayed Haruhi Suzumiya last year? Like all years from before so were there a big mix of skits and ordinary posingshows.

After the cosplayshow I meet a Light who was frilled by the fact that I was cosplaying Hinamori. He had tried to find me, but thought I had already gone home, while I hadn´t. It was a little scary to sign his Death Note, but since I´m a shinigami I don´t think it´s so dangerous.

Of cause there were many more things to do, but I was to busy finding my Captain, dance and follow people. So here follows what everybody else could do: drawingcontest with the theme: Envy, fansubbing, animewatching at the cinema, buying and eating Pocky, buying merchandise and manga, and playing games.

To sum the day up: I had fun, and the day went fast. It goes specially fast if you spend it with about 200 persons who have the same interest as you, and isn´t ashamed to dance the Caramelldance so everybody can see it. There were even people who recognized me from past years.



Photos by our lovely Red Ridinghood, not seen on the photos.

Bleach: Hirako Shinji

Warning: Spoilers may be written unintentionally about this character. Please read at your own risk.

Former captain of the 5th Division, Hirako Shinji, suspected earlier on that Aizen Sosuke could not be trusted. He made Aizen one of his lieutenants in order to keep an eye on him, but since he did not socialize with Aizen very much, he became of Aizen’s experiments, a Visored.

Pretty convincing Shinji, don’t you think? Although I’ve never seen his zanpakuto (sword) before, so I don’t know how accurate that is. Good job!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, research, cosplayer, bleach, vizard, visored, shinigami, death, god, reaper, soul, grim, captain, 5, division, hirako, shinji, aizen,sosuke, lieutenant, suspicion, experiment, zanpakuto, sword

Orihime Inoue - BLEACH - Casual Cosplay

Yeah! I have mine hairpins all day in school and on the shopping afterwards.

At a secondhand shop I found this therometer, that I can use for a White Rabbit-cosplay. That I hope will not be to far in the furture.