Otakus can look forward to big names in the world of cosplaying at the Best of Anime (BOA) 2013, a convention that brings the culture, art and entertainment of Japan set on Sept. 14 and 15, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
Best of Anime promises to be an exciting event for anime, manga, and cosplay fans with international guests to delight con-goers. Among those making an appearance are Filipino cosplay superstars Alodia and Ashley Gosiengfiao, and Thailand’s Karael, Yuki Godbless, and Jiaki Darkness.
Karael is an award-winning “crossplayer” — a cosplayer portraying a character of the opposite gender—who rose to fame with portrayals of siblings Yuko and Hideyoshi Kinoshita from Baka to Test to Shukanjuu, Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII, Eclaire ‘Lightning’ Farron from Final Fantasy XIII, and Brera Sterne from Macross Frontier, among others.
Yuki Godbless and Jiaki Darkness won first place in the Thailand Preliminaries on the World Cosplay Summit 2011 with their Frey and Freya portrayal from Zangeki no Reginleiv; they have also graced the covers of Thailand’s Cosmode Magazine. Their cosplay portrayals are always surreal, top quality and almost out of this world, with amazing attention to detail.
Together with Alodia and Ashley, Karael, Yuki Godbless, and Jiaki Darkness will be judging the cosplay competitions for BOA 2013, including the Best of Anime Cosplay Competition, which will field qualified entries to the World Cosplay Summit 2014.
This year’s BOA lineup also features much-awaited Japanese acts, the pop group STARMARIE and singer-songwriter Joe Inoue.
Gothic Lolita pop group STARMARIE, composed of Takamori Shino, Kishita Nozomi, and Aoki Shiori, is famous for intense dance tune lyrics with fairytale and fantasy themes. While based in Tokyo, STARMARIE started their international expansion in 2012, making their debut at this year’s Anime Expo 2013 in Los Angeles, California. They recently released their second album, “Fantasy World 2” and will be performing on Sept. 14
Japanese-American rock musician Joe Inoue, who rose to fame with the song “Closer,” used as the fourth opening theme for “Naruto: Shippuden,” is sure to delight fans with a highly-anticipated performance to cap off BOA festivities on Sept. 15.
BOA 2013 is mounted in cooperation with Japan Information and Culture Center, Japan Foundation, Anime Alliance, and Game Developers Association of the Philippines, sponsored by De La Salle – College of St. Benilde, Friendster.ph, Wheatgrass C.A.N International, Cherry Credits, Bankee Trading Inc., Timezone, Sugarfree & Blue, YKL Fujifilm, Animation International (Doraemon), Mogu Mogu Manila, Mt. Fuji Rice, Voiceiyuu, and The Brain Audio-Visual.
For BOA 2013 tickets and more details, log on to the BOA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BestOfAnime),
or contact organizer Primetrade Asia, Inc. at 896-0661 or 896-0682.
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