Convention~!

This weekend, I got to go to the JAFAX convention over in Allendale, MI, on the campus of the Grand Valley State University. It was quite a drive, but worth the fun! (Though it didn't feel worth it when we had to get up at 6:00 in the morning to get there by 9:30...) Anyone who was anyone there was wearing a cosplay costume, most of them homemade, some of them storebought. Here's a selection of my favourites as photographed by my goodself :) I apologize for the poor quality of some of the photos - crappy lighting + crappy camera = eggsucking photos >:(

Austria from Hetalia, looking classy as ever!

  

Probably the best non-professional Zelda and Link cosplayers I've ever seen...and I've seen a LOT. 

It's Team Rocket! Hey, that's my Pikachu! Give it back! 

THIS LIFE-SIZED ZOROARK IS A COSTUME. THERE IS A PERSON IN THERE. ISN'T IT MINDBLOWING?! :O

Zoroark and her (yes, the creator and model is a girl) trainer, May :)

Zoroark's groupies (family, I'm guessing), Hilbert, Hilda, and May.

A Kingdom Hearts group! 

Zomigosh! I''ve spotted Lugia in the Costume Contest! 

Flygon and Giratina  

Flygon and Giratina again :)

A Pokemon battle vs. Flygon and Giratina! Gee, who do you suppose is winning? 9_9

After winning the battle, Giratina dragged Flygon off the stage. :)

More of Zoroark and Hilbert in the Costume Contest :) (That's Zorua whom Hilbert is holding out, not a Pokesnack) 

  

Rocking hard...?

Another pose :) Each entry got two to four poses before leaving the stage.

Of course they won their division :) They were the Journeyman division, meaning they've shown somewhere between 7 to 15 costumes (or something like that). Less than that puts a contestant in the Novice division, and more puts them in the Master division. In addition to prizes in each division, each of the three judges give out a Judges' Choice award. 

This group's costumes were well done, but I think that it was lame that they got in the contest, which is obviously JAPANESE anime and games, on the technicality that Batman: Arkham Asylum was supposedly produced in Japan. Bull crap, I say. >:(

Plus, their Catwoman was a Fatwoman, and Batman was actually a Fatman...and a girl. Poison Ivy and the Riddler were SPOT-ON though. 

  

 

Hetalia Finland and Seychelles

America and (female) Italy of Hetalia

America-sama shows Italy-kun who's the boss HERO by giving her a noogie. Italy gave up quickly :) 

"Modern" Zelda and Ganondorf. LAME. >:(

As they left the stage, Ganondorf grabbed Zelda and ran. The judge said, "Is there a Link in the audience? We have a problem." 

A Super Mario Bros. group, featuring Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach!

They had a super-quick little skit-thingie where Peach hit a block, and Mario dragged a star across the floor and Luigi got it :)

Luigi: "GET A ROOM!" (he really said that!)

This entry reminded the judge of a puzzle :)

HOW IS LADY GAGA JAPANESE?! D:<

There were about eleven of these characters, "Grell"s, running around. A group of them somehow ended up in the same place (and Axel from Kingdom Hearts somehow got in this pic, too ^_^)

I LOVE THIS GUY'S HAT!!! (And personal hat attendee XD)

Walking ramen.

WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?!

 

Sealand and the Italy and America from the contest.

  

Hat guy and hat-antendee guy again ;)

These guys met each other for the first time walking in the doors, and they were joined at the hip for the rest of the day :)

Aren't they cute? ^_^

Shadow Link and Purple Link! I wanted to ask S.L. how she got her skin like that, but I didn't get a chance.

Russia! One of only about five people who knew who I was...

Another Russia. :) This one was better at posing.

Sly Cooper! I haven't heard from him in AGES!

Canada-kun and a different America-sama! There were about five or six Canadas, but this was the only one I got to photograph.  

I was looking through this artist's portfolio, and suddenly I exclaimed, "Omigosh, it's YOU!" This is Sara Joy, better known as Mavuriku!

France, as full of it as ever :)

A candid shot of France by the fountain. He didn't know I was there. :)

This guy was almost as creepy as the really bad Tails fursuit (wearing a sweater and jeans) walking around...I didn't get a snap of him, but he was CREEPY.

Revolutionary War England and America-sama! Many kudos for creativity!

A didgereedoo in the music centre (where the costume contest was being held)! :D

All costumes and creations are (c) to their creators, and all characters are (c) to their respective companies. All I own are the photos :)