Geek of Oz

Click to enlarge Chris:  SMASH, Rosehill's anime answer to Sydney's Supanova, has come and gone. And what a convention it was! Those looking for cosplay, anime-themed karaoke and a graffiti wall with scribbles from participants need look no further than SMASH! It's a mega-super-hyper-kawaii-awesome con that scratches the manga and anime itches, and even a couple of itches you never knew you had. For instance, I got my photo taken with Evangelion Unit 02, which is something I never knew I wanted until I stood beside the cosplayer and smiled like a dork as Christof took my photo. Never too old, I say. The con this year was packed to the rafters with people, purchases and purveyors of fine artwork; it's easily one of the fullest conventions I've ever visited outside of San Diego, which is heartening to see especially in somewhere a little off the beaten track as Rosehill. Inside and outside the main event I witnessed a cornucopia of cosplay an...

Photo by What a Big Camera Cosplay is such a wide and varied hobby that attracts people from all walks of life. One of my personal favourite things about it is the community aspect of the subculture. In my experience, cosplayers can be some of the most welcoming, supportive, and knowledgeable people you’ll ever meet. When I discuss the community of cosplay it’s hard for me not to think of Justin Acharacter . Justin is a Sydney based cosplayer, actor, and prop maker. Not only is he highly respected in the Australian cosplay scene for his dedication to craftsmanship and performance, but he's also a fantastic community role model thanks to his enthusiasm to teach others, his involvement in charity work and his good natured and welcoming approach to cosplay. Photo by E Photography My first memory of Justin is back in the very early days of my cosplay endeavours. I wasn’t as aware of it at the time as I am now, but my craftsmanship was not excellent. I wasn’t a confide...

Click to enlarge Eve: I’m  here with the amazing  Ardella !  A highly experienced and talented costumer,   Ardella  has been a  cosplay  inspiration for me since I went to my first ever con in costume and saw her as Poison Ivy. You might know her as Power Girl, Jessica Rabbit or Black Canary! Today we’re going to be having a chat about being a  cosplay  role model and the  ins and outs of the  cosplay  community both online and in person. So first of all, hello and thank you for sitting down with me for Geek of Oz! Ardella :   Hello! You've been  cosplaying  for a long time now and you’re quite establ ished  with in the Australian  cosplay   scene. What is it about  cosplaying  at events and conventions that keeps you coming back? It doesn’t seem like that long to me! I’m still shocked when I realise it’ s been seven years since I attended my first convention....

Photo by WhatABigCamera.com Ryan: It's my absolute pleasure to introduce the newest member of the Geek of Oz family, cosplayer extraordinaire, Eve Beauregard! First of all thanks for having a chat and WELCOME TO THE GEEK OF OZ CREW! What can we expect to see from you? Eve: Delighted to be a part of the team! I’ll be writing about the many awesome aspects of cosplay, be it features and interviews of talented cosplayers, tutorials or any other hot topic in the community. I'm really excited to bring the world of cosplay through my eyes to Geek of Oz. 

SMASH! 2012 was huge. Upon entering the main exhibitor floor it was immediately apparent that, compared to last year, numbers were well and truly up. Perhaps because of the fantastic line up of stars or perhaps because the state of anime fandom in Australia is on the rise. Either way, we had a ball at SMASH! and look forward to 2013. Follow on after the jump to check out a few photos from throughout the day (click to enlarge) and don't forget to check out our coverage of the Madman panel , the Hanabee panel and our interview with the lovely Sakura Tange!

It seems as though Cosplayers are upping the ante each and every year. Costumes are getting more professional and the characters more obscure. No longer can you turn up in a store bought Superman costume and think that you'll fit the bill. Sure, you could whack on a curly wig and a colourful scarf and play Dr Who ala Baker, but there is so much effort going into modern day costumes that you'd better bring your A-game. It was impossible to grab snaps of all the cosplayers but here are a bunch that caught our eye. A very special thank you goes out to our official photographer for the day, Ken. Make sure you click on the images to enlarge them. Check out a quick run down after the jump!