Sets of Interesting Things: Best of Anime 2014 (Second Day)

9/23/2014 - 8:23 AM - GMT +8
By: Seth Legaspi

On Sept. 21, 2014: I went to the Best of Anime Convention in SMX. (BoA 2nd day)

Every year I make a point to go to this specific event, the reason behind this is that, this event is officially the first convention that I've been to. Heck it all started with me just going to the Manila International Book Fair that happens a floor below, and somehow later on discovering a wonderful event happening above.

The Entrance

So here we are in the Best of Anime (BoA) event, 2014. With this one, I took photos and explored the place with my real-life senpai: 'Pack Montoya.'

Disclaimer: Guy in the pic is not me

In the event, well in any similar event, the booths are one of the first things that welcomes a person upon entering, and the first one that really got my attention would be a booth about...

Fan-art.. They got one of almost every character, and that fan-art is really well-made. A good booth to go to if you want to wear a shirt with your chosen waifu or husbando. A good place to buy a souvenir for friends that you really feel like spoiling (while strangely knowing their shirt sizes).

They even have a catalog of fan-art that you can choose from

Of course, with every event like this, there will be amazing cosplayers who put great effort into showcasing their costumes.

First off would be these Rurouni Kenshin cosplayers. Them swords, they were pretty well-made, and those puffs of hair on Makoto were a nice touch too. Oh who am I kidding, I just like samurais and swords, they give that sense of 'action' to me.

Good thing the event didn't end in an inferno

I was then amazed by this Raiden cosplayer. Well, playing the game, I was immediately enamored by this cosplay. I simply have a thing for those mechs and stuff, and Raiden from Metal Gear certainly fits that. The coolness greatly radiates from this cosplay.

Raiden? Raiden! Raiiideeeeeeeen!

Been quite some time since I've seen someone cosplay Type Moon characters, especially from the Tsukihime visual novel (Its anime does not exist). Being a self-proclaimed fan of Type Moon, I simply have to give these two cosplayers a highlight.

Crimson Moon Brunestud and Shiki Tohno

Date Masamune! I can certainly appreciate the detail in that armor. I also like those sengoku stuff, and with this I highlight this cosplay.

There were several No Game No Life cosplayers around, and that series was simply epic. I wonder when they'll release season 2...

Imanity!

That detail. I'm a sucker for armor detail you see, and with those layers placed really well. Truly befitting of a Nightingale from Skyrim.

I am not really familiar with the series that this cosplayer used, but I really have to appreciate the detail on that armor. Truly marvelous.

A really good blast of Nostalgia. I simply need to highlight these cosplayers of the Saber Marionette J series. Their pose really had that retro kind of battle pose, which really gave me that said blast from the past. Otaru will be proud.

She even got Lime's face angle right!

Sniper Rifle. Yes. That sniper rifle. It really caught my attention, and it's Sinon from Sword Art Online. Yep, I'm caught red-handed, I like Sinon's character, she's awesome.

There were more amazing cosplays, and talking about them might make up a really large wall of text, thus I move on to the event itself...

The event was really fun, there was even a point where the convention grounds was shaking due to everyone jumping and shouting during the concert portion. Despite the initial protest of a minority due to the ticket price, there were numerous great cosplayers, and with the tighter security, it was easier to take pictures, and it felt a lot safer as well. The organizers even had a sort of 'rest-area' with three big screens showing a live screening of the happenings at the main stage:

Aside from this, there were also some really good booths, one was selling English Localized versions of light novels and manga, which really had me hooked for a good 30 minutes (My wallet was pulverized). There were also other booths run by appreciation and fan-groups, which sold lucky charms, keychains, while some even held short game tournaments, and one unique one that held the immortal marriage booth! (Sorry no pictures)