CF: "Comic Fiesta" or "Cosplay Fiesta"?

Good afternoon!

I haven't updated anything in a while as I'm busy with doujinshis and video games.
I wish to get back to reviewing anime but it's nothing more than a pipe dream i guess?

But today I'd like to talk about Comic Fiesta, and how it has evolved since I first set foot into the event. 17 days left until the big day, it's like an anniversary celebration for Malaysian Otakus so I feel like it's an obligation to come every year. I've been attending the event for 9 years, and this year will be my 10th anniversary as a doujinka (unless I count the years that I've been on hiatus)

art work does not belong to me http://comicfiesta.org/

Rather than going down memory lane, let me just get straight to the point. Since a few years back some attendees have been complaining about the true objective of Comic Fiesta; that it's no longer faithful to its name and glorifying cosplays instead. I noticed this changed but I didn't have problems with it, because I enjoy looking at cosplays as well as I love looking at comics (be it original or fanbooks).

I think people expect Comic Fiesta to be just about comics; selling independent comics, having a meet and greet session with comic artists or so. But for me, as I watched how CF evolved since 2004, I see the cosplay culture as a derivation of the event's name.

Should Comic Fiesta be only about comics? What about passion that is evolved from the love of comics? Cosplayers don in costume of comic characters, so how does it stray too much from the namesake? Back in 2004, I saw Kingdom Hearts cosplays in Comic Fiesta but nobody ranted against it, nobody said it's NOT "Video Games Fiesta". Most comic lovers are into video games as well, hence some artists decided to make fancomics based on video games they love. All of these are related to each other, so I disagree that 'Comic Fiesta' should be taken too literally.

I'm just baffled by how people complain cosplay is overshadowing the doujin industry, when every year there are always art booths. The number of art groups are multiplying, to the point we had to fight to get a booth for CF. We rush towards deadlines, we work hard, we make ads... yet some people think we didn't exist. Aren't you the ones allowing this to happen? I wonder if you guys even bother checking out the doujin booths and review each one of the comics.

Also must I remind you that there are cosplayers among the doujin community too?

I was told that CF stopped having awards for best doujin booth display or making art competitions, but those are already replaced by pre-event event called 100 Days Countdown, as well as CHAM2, which I think only those who can appreciate art and other artists pay attention to them. See, it's not like the artist community is totally underrated, it's just that these complainers (I'm amused that some of the are among the photographers community) probably don't give a fuck about them anyway.

Another problem with the lack of love towards the art community is that not many people are into doujin-reading culture. In 2004 almost every doujin booths sold their own original comics. As time passes, I was hoping to find more comic books on every booth. But recently it's all about badges badges and badges. Nowadays it's harder to sell comic books compared to mini merchandise (don't get me wrong I don't hate them, just that there are over-abundance of them that it's hard to choose). There was one particular year, my previous group had ours sold out, but last year we no longer had that magic. I'm not bitter about it though, I'm just stating what I observed throughout the years, and I can safely conclude that there are fans not nurtured to love elaborated ideas on stories or alternate interpretations of the series that they love.

I don't really have any problems with celebrity cosplayers being invited as guests in any event. I may not care about them, but it makes other people happy so I kind of feel happy for them. There are a few celebrity cosplayers that I like too, and their appearance make me happy - and I'm speaking as a non-cosplayer, as a regular guest and as a doujinka.

Of course it would be better if the committee invite anime/manga artists or staff from the animation studio, but I'm sure that's gonna cost a lot. Think about it, if you want the 'real' stars of comic and animation kingdom to come, you might need to sacrifice more money.

And I understand that you're already complaining about the ticket price too.

In the end, I don't really care much about what CF has in store for us. All these years I attend just for one reason; to have fun with friends.

check out our stuff this year!

Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy 2014

Good afternoon!

It's been over a year since I last updated my blog. I'm busy with doujins so I really don't have time to write anime reviews, let alone have the muse to do so. My Japanese language sensei suggested that I'd write again since I often write brief reviews on my facebook posts. But allow me to restart with writing a review on Distant Worlds as requested by a friend

Due to unfortunate events, we arrived late for the concert; as a result we couldn't enter the concert hall until the orchestra finished one set. But we were able to listen from outside and it was equally beautiful. The moment we got in they started playing Dancing Mad (Final Fantasy VI's final battle theme) which the conductor Arnie Roth claimed that it was something they have never done before.

After Kefkka's final form theme, it's Final Fantasy XIII's signature music, Light Eternal. Not quite familiar with it since I don't really have any interest playing the game, but watching the movie above the orchestra makes me want to play FFXIII. Next they performed You're Not Alone from Final Fantasy IX, which is my favourite piece from the game though it didn't sound too different from the last Distant World's concert in Kuala Lumpur. Before the interval, it's Chocobo Medley; also a little disappointing to me although they put an effort to make it a little different. I am still hoping they mix all the medleys from every game.

So it turns out we missed 6 songs and I was a little upset that I couldn't make it in time to hear Battle with the Four Fiends, and I think it affected my mood during the first half of the concert. But I personally think that the second half was better because of.... FEELS.

Final Fantasy VII's Opening - Bombing Mission wasn't anything special, Final Fantasy VIII's Fisherman's Horizon was ok and I love the choir part. I was excited that they're gonna play Final Fantasy XII's The Dalmasca Estersand as it's the best song in the game though it wasn't as epic as the studio version. Then we go back to VIII's with Don't Be Afraid.

Now the next part has the best feels, both songs from Final Fantasy X back-to-back. The Hymn of the Fayth was short but it gave me goosebumps. I personally think that Zanarkand was the most beautiful piece in this concert. Now this reminds me why have I not playerd FFX remastered yet?? (Oh wait I don't even have the BD yet!)

Battle & Victory Theme Medley was next, I was kinda hoping that they mix all the normal battle medleys something like this because I love all of the battle themes! But oh well at least they performed Gilgamesh aka Battle on the Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V) and Those Who Fight (Final Fantasy VII).

Final Fantasy VI's Opera 'Mario & Draco' (which is a mix of The Opening, Aria di Mezzo Carattere, The Wedding  Grand Finale performed consecutively) has something new in it; the inclusion of a narrator. Though I expected the narrator to have better voice as heard in The Black Mages version (it's in Japanese but you get my point) or sound more British because British accent is sexy. Nonetheless a mouthed the lyrics along with the singers. Maria & Draco never cease to amaze me in spite of being just a minor scene in the game, and I still wonder what is really the significance (Does it has something to do with Locke x Celes?)

A Final Fantasy concert is incomplete without the Main Theme and this is also gives me (forgive my lack of vocab and tumblr influence) SO MUCH FEELS ;__;

And of course, what's a Final Fantasy concert without Sephiroth's theme? One Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII) was played during the encore and I wasn't surprised. I guess you really can't deny the awesomeness of this song (though some people argue that Kefka's theme was better).

Overall, I think the fast paced songs especially battle themes were not that great, maybe because I'm used to listen to the rock covers or The Black Mages' rendition. Some songs sounded a bit too fast from its original pace. However, I love the slower songs a lot as in... it gave me the chills and made my hair stood at its end. The movie which was played along with the concert was sometimes distracting, the 32-bit cutscenes looks awkward with the live orchestra (but they did maeke me wanna play the games again, and I haven't even finished the classics! Trust me the gameplay seemed much harder than the recent ones). And I do think the 'AMV's could have done been better.

The first DW in KL was better I think...?

So yeah done with the review. I'll try my best to get back to anime reviews next. Luckily I have MyAnimeList that helps me keep track of my completed animes.