CharaExpo 2016

A little write-up on the event since it's the first time I went for both days. This is the 2nd time it is organised with last year being the start of it. For people who had gone last year, would realise the price difference of $2 in the ticket price- guess last year's event was a great success~

Just like any anime events, the exhibitors will showcase stuffs they r bringing in and attractive redemption with a certain amt of $$$ spent. One particular caught my attention:

For their 1st time coming(and even be able to come), this was an attractive one for LLiver. I was no different and even woke up early to try but I really underestimated how hardcore singaporeans are... Reached like 0700 and damm the queue already reached 3rd row... And heard ppl who came like 0500 to queue... Maybe if I was younger, I would have the enthusiasm and energy but now, nah... 

On the 1st day, I still had that tiny hope and rushed to Bushiroad booth where the queue was horrible as well... But that did not falter me and I queued for like an hour to get in and then another 0.5 to 1 hour for redemption... Sometimes I wonder if those with friends actually allowed their friends who were behind to join in and thus the waiting time was freaking long, esp at the redemption... I mean it's just spin the damm wheel, how long can you take??? 

Nonetheless, the cutting-queue-cos-your-friends logic is a tactic used by many that ppl behind hate so much but can't deny cos they would do it for their friends too...(Leaving the ranting below- pls ignore...)

By the time, I finally reached the redemption, the namecards r long sold out... Kinda expected so just redeem the lucky draws that allow a draw per $20 spent. Drew twice and gt 1 green and 1 white ball(forgot what does each colour ball gives but the prizes were LL fans, LL postcard, LL card set and LL card sleeves) 

I gt the LL postcard and LL card set:

There are 2 postcard designs; one of μ's and the other of N cards member from SIF- naturally I choose μ's design... 

Back of the card- didn't realise the smudge till I reached home-.-(would hav changed on the spot if I knew...)

Cover to protect it- it's really nice with the glittering effect!

 Inside the card set:

These will be good ref materials when drawing μ's members~

After that horrible 1-2h at the bushiroad, finally freedom to really see the whole event. Went to the LL SIF booth where ppl r queuing to play SIF on the big screen:

The guy after me~

It was much like playing on an Ipad but much bigger. The only thing I find problem is the holding note part- the sensitivity there seems either too high or low that a slight movement means miss or that too light touch doesn't register at all- I experienced that myself and seeing other ppl play. 

The songs picked r random; when you first started, there's a menu to choose difficulty only and a song will be randomly picked for you. Seeing as many ppl play expert(cos it's more fun but u r screwed if you get those hard ones like heart-to-heart or sore wa bokutachi no kiseki... Music Start seems hard too... tho no worries of failing the live show; you won't even if your hp reached 1 and missed), I also attempted the expert mode and gt snow halation. It's not too bad but didn't get FC but was more than happy to be able to pull off the long string of notes at the mid:)

After done, the person at the booth will give this as a thanks(?) for trying:

It's a sticker, saying I love SIF~

At the same booth, there was a table of a few smartphones where ppl can also play SIF using those smartphones from the big screen. Also this works like the score match event in SIF where you competed with the players using the smartphones there. 

I played that after done with the big screen and maybe chose the wrong phone, the note timing is off a lot; kept getting good when I had pressed on time and ended up like 10 combo after done-.- The song is fixed at Aqours first single, Kimi No Kokoro Kagayaiteru Kai? and in hard mode. But what I really wanted was the card that was given out after trying out:

Freebies gotten from SIF booth

I don't play WS but love the art printed onto the card! It's a good collector card:)

Following that, walked around and took pictures here and there:

Love Live Sunshine

Flower stand!- Glad the VAs saw them:)

^Lol at the loss of the 3 members... Ltr they were back with the VAs' signatures which I couldn't take a pic cos I was stuck at the stage to secure a seat for their stage segment... Wanted to take after that but dang, the giving out of name cards was held there and too many ppl crowding there plus nid to queue for the seat number in day 2 concert so left...

Sword Art Online

Looking forward to their movie(hoping it'll be brought in to S'pore...)

Random anime pics(that I watch(ed)/wan to watch)

Gt that similar poster from Daisuki booth where you do a lucky draw when you signed up/r already a member

Cardcaptor Sakura- one of my fave childhood shows~ haven't started reading the recent continued manga^^;

Looking forward to the fight scenes!!!><

Debating whether to watch, haha... Another childhood show:)

Anime showcase outside

PS: being biased and only took those that I know of^^;

Qoo booth

Saw it while queuing for bushiroad redemption

There are mechanises being sold there but went there for freebies(again, haha...) For this booth, just snap a pic related to Qoo and upload on any social media with hastag #animaxcharaexpo, and you can get an anime file:

Not a fan of HunterXHunter but it's still a file~

And then there's the drawing part where ppl can draw any of the 4 characters under Qoo(though it's okay to draw anything u wan). As a thanks for participating, you r given a Qoo stress ball:

Gt one on each day- one for myself and another for my sis:)

Premium Lives

Different from last year, there're the premium lives from the 2 artists; Suzuko Mimori for the 1st day & Nitta Emi for 2nd day! If you're a LLiver, these artists shouldn't be strangers to you but just a FYI: Suzuko Mimori is the Voice actor(VA) of Sonoda Umi & Nitta Emi is the VA of Kousaka Honoka. Of course, they r coming as solo artists and not LL VAs!

I was elated to know they are coming back again(they came before in last year Charaexpo & AFASG as well!) And more than that, Nitta san is performing live for the first time!!! Couldn't leave such an opportunity and bought the premium lives for both days!

RIP $$$ -.-

The tickets bought included both the premium live and the regular entrance ticket so it's like a package~ While it was kinda sad and lonely to go for the concert alone, the system that the committee implemented kinda benefit ppl like me. 

It was announced a few days before the event that premium live ticket members(those who bought from sistic) are to queue for their seating numbers. It will be done in a lucky draw manner... When I heard that, I was happy at this implementation since it would mean no fighting over seats but never did realise how it really affected those ppl with their friends which I'm glad I didn't hav.

With lucky draws, it means the number you get will be random so it's hard to get the number after or before your friend who drawn first or last and as such, friends will be separated tho... I suppose it was a blessing for lone wolves like me? 

Ultimately, the best outcome is still to get the lowest number possible as that means the closer you're to the stage!
(My only complaint is how the committee never did say y can't ppl leave after getting the queue number- was planning to hav dinner after getting the number but apparently, once in the queue for the number, it's straight wait till ard 1845 to get into the concert venue...)

I would say my luck for this was the best(& only thing went right) in this whole event! 

For the first day(for Suzuko Mimori Concert):

99 wasn't so bad; it was in the center, at the 3rd row- a nice distance to the stage if you asked me. 

Tho cos I was really short, gt semi-blocked by the lady in front but just glad the ppl near me aren't so bad- quite friendly esp the guy who was taking a pic; he even lent one of his lightsticks to the lady beside him since it was the first time she came for a concert(if I didn't hear wrongly...)

As for 2nd day...

Even better than 1st day!!! And man, it's really all the way to the front:

Interestingly, the guy before me who did the lucky draw, actually drew 27- quite a coincidence! For her first solo live in Singapore, it was nice to be in the front row!!!

Really enjoyed the concert a lot tho I may need to brush up on the songs they sang... Plus was sick from a flu(still am) gt to refrain from shouting or I risk losing my voice...  

Loots from both days

1st day

The only day I spent. Some showcase of the stuff I bought:

Vol. 3: Didn't expect her but I haven't gt her so~

^Didn't realise till I see I managed to buy all the current ones! Looking forward to vol. 5~

^gt the letter size of this year as well~ Looking forward to 2017 ver- hoping for Aqours' ver:)

2nd day

Didn't spend at all and was occupied in the stage segment that I couldn't play at the SIF booth again-.- 

But I was more than happy to get what I couldn't in day 1, esp this:

Think it was gone by the time I was out of bushiroad booth on day 1-.- Thought I missed the chance and dang, when I saw the person distributing at the LLSS booth, just hav to get it!!!
Love the envelopeXD

Showcase of the inside:

back 

Plus gt the free shipping coupon for Pbandai- great for gunpla lovers like myself tho as long as signing up as Pbandai members before the deadline, still able to get the free shipping coupon:)

Thoughts on the event(Ranting time- pls ignore~)

The above was pretty much my review for the anime event and now, the rant I had wanted to say... It concerned the LLSS name cards thingy... 

As there were only 35 given out per day, it just means out of that massive amt of ppl who went in, it's only like 5-10% of the ppl can get(or even less than that...) That was y I tried to get out early for it but it failed and given by my condition, losing for 1 day is enough; couldn't risk it so didn't wake up early on 2nd day and I don't regret it since I get to eat breakfast with my family but that's beside the pt.

So with that little amt of cards given out per day, you would think being able to get one(regardless of which VA u gt) is already quite the fortunate but really... When I say Singaporeans(or maybe some foreigners) are hardcore, they really are when I saw ppl getting 3 of each VA... Getting 3 is still fine but when ppl gt like 6; 2 of each VA...That's when u feel so irritated at such ppl...

It's already so little chances of getting the freaking name cards and you, one person actually took like 6 which could have been another 5 ppl... 

Then again, I can't blame the person cos if u actually queued at like 0500/ even overnight(which ppl did after the day 1 concert...) with the goal of getting all 3 or as many as u wan so that your effort won't go to waste, I can't deny that amt of sheer hard work put in...

It's just pure frustration at how ppl take more than one person should have taken but it's human nature to utilise the maximum and no one gonna be kind and really think of the other fans who couldn't get...

At first, was really annoyed by ppl posting how they gt like 3, 6 of the name cards but now, I let it go and tell myself, another time or just simply being able to see them in the stage segment is enough(tho really hate those ppl at the side & front standing; can't see them except through the screen while sitting down-.-)

Afterwords

It was quite a tiring 2-days for me(getting old...) but it was fun!- It's not everyday you see anime in Singapore unlike Akihabara in Japan~

Until next time, see ya in next year's Charaexpo!

This is Yaiji signing off, ja ne~

Yaiji~