No. This is not Gunpla. This ought to be the most awesome cosplay at Cosfest VII. This could also possibly be the cosplay of the year.

I AM GUNDAM !!!!

Clive has out done himself again. (Pix above by Windbell)

This happened on Saturday, the first day of Cosfest VII, at the back of the D’Marquee at D’foyer of Aranda Country Club. But before I go to the why of things, let’s get to the what of things -

THE EPIC BATTLE OF GUNDAM EXIA VS KOS-MOS

Just as I was directing the photoshoot for Clive’s Gundam Exia, I spotted KOS-MOS of Xenosaga just as she walked by.

Lenneth as KOS-MOS

(Pix by Windbell)

She was an awesome piece of work at first sight (although I didn’t know that she’s Lenneth then). I requested for her to join in the shoot and she (and her minders) gamely obliged.

EXIA x KOS-MOS

Both Clive’s Gundam Exia and Lenneth’s Kos-Mos are anime bloggers favourite, and are thought to be the most outstanding at this cosplay convention. This is not just about the likeness or complexity of the costume, but how much you are able to get in-character. Two of them pulled off the feat on both counts.

On top of that, this got to be the most epic crossover battle at Cosfest VII.

ROUND 1: FIGHT!!!!

BLADES VS BLADE + GUN

First it was a match of blade vs blades, until Kos-Mos pulled out her gun.

(This series of pix by Windbell)

The mecha-musume pinned Exia down with her blade and shot one of Exia’s GN blade from his grip, forcing him to drop it.

She kicked the falling weapon with her never-ending legs, snapping it upwards with a deft flick of her ankle.

Deftly catching the hilt of the hijacked weapon, Kos-Mos’ swift backhand slash opened Exia’s like a sardine can.

This must be my most perverted thought of a female mutilating a male figure with phallic symbols. There ought to be a Freudian interpretation.

All these happened before I could take out my camera…

Hopefully, those who managed to catch that moment on their DSLR, post the pix up on their blogs or on Sgcafe.

But let’s get back to the crux of topic. Half of the epic battle wouldn’t have been possible if not for Clive’s skilled craft and labour.

Meet Clive Lee – props master, Gundam cosplay meister. He started making mecha costumes back in 2001. Other than mecha, he had also cosplayed characters from Samanosake from Onimusha, Sesshomaru from Inuyasha and even Hades from Saint Seiya.

Clive (aka mirage_cld) the Gundam Cosplay Meister

For those who were at EOY last year, Clive cosplayed as Gundam Dynames. This year, he made the costume (armour?) GN-001 Gundam Exia for Cosfest VII. Clive had made several mecha-costumes/armour before this – and each unit is much better than the previous in terms of proportion, details and special features.

Clive didn’t intend to wear/put on his costume at the Marquee but wanted to do a beta test before the competition day on Sunday.

Kitting Up

Cosplaying as Gundam is no easy feat. Putting on the parts of the costume/armour is a slow, time-consuming ritual lasting at least twenty minutes. And that would require the help of assistants who are like technicians servicing an awesome mecha.

GN Drive made by Stark Industries?

This costume took Clive half a year to complete, while holding down a full-time day job. The special features for this suit is the light-up GN drive and eyes. The lighting system in the GN Drive unit bears a striking resemblance to Iron Man’s core….

Blue Blue Eyes

The eyes of Exia light up too.

To put on his kit, Clive needed at least two assistants…or page boys. Many of the parts are fastened together using velcro strips.

Clive on High Heels

Form Thighs!!!

Form Feet and Legs!

Form Hip and Crotch!!!

Form Butt!

Strapping on the sexy GN Drive

Standing more than a head above the rest

Form Chest!!!

Exia…80% Complete

Clive has to take a momentary pause, as it was fricking hot underneath those layers of material. And it was a very humid day and we’re not in an air-conditioned area. Clive had mentioned that putting on this costume is like wearing a Full Battle Order. He said that cosplaying had helped him improve on his road march endurance – he always walked faster than the rest of his mates during reservist in-camp training.

Form Forearm…

…and Fist!!

Shields Up!!!

…and for the most anticipated moment

…and I’ll form Form the Head!!

I AM GUNDAM!!!

Clive deserves to call himself Gundam, just like Samuel L Jackson calling himself the Afro Samurai.

Clive’s Exia looks impressive even if he’s standing still. I don’t think anyone can make a paper/cardboard model of Exia that well, much less make a costume that is actually wearable.

Exia with GN Sword (retracted)

Before he put on his kit, Clive had wanted me to assist in his photoshoot. He wanted to try out as many ‘extreme’ poses as possible so as to test the limit of his self-made costumes.

Extreme Poses

It’s not easy, because posing a model is not the same as making a pose in costume because of the differences in centre of gravity. And its made even more difficult when there’s so many photographers clicking away.

Exia with GN Long and Short Blades

Clive first tried the poses with the retractable GN Sword. The downside is that the sword is a little heavy and cumbersome to move around. Next he tried the poses using the Long and Short blades.

Double Blader

For the next extreme pose, Clive powered up his GN Drive for the Setsuna berserker charge

Exia vs Papparazzi

He lunged forward….

BERSERK GUNDAM!!!

NICE BOAT

But don’t be mistaken, those weren’t blood from victims that fell under Exia’s blades. They belonged to all the otakus that nose-bled to death after seeing too many HAWT cosplayers at Cosfest VII. The lines on the walls were marks left behind by GN Blades when Exia slipped on the blood-slick floor when another group of HAWT cosplayer chicks walked by, and he had to plunge his blades into the wall for grip and to keep his balance.

(When I looked at this composition, I couldn’t help but imagine blood splatter all over. So I asked Budi to touch up the scene a little…)

And Exia tried to “Orz” but because of the restriction of mobility, the mobile suit cosplayer could only emo standing up. Yet, he still looked good in this pose like any good Gundam Meister did.

Emo Exia

Brooding, tortured heroes in armour always get the chicks.

Chicks dig guys in Armour

Got picture Got talk. The girl next to Clive isn’t his girlfriend. Caroline was around but standing off camera. His girlfriend/official assistant was not in costume because she’s saving it for the following day.

Exia Gundam Cosplay Beta Test…Completed

By the time Clive could take off his Gundam head for good, he was drenched in perspiration. Its a mean feat walking around in that rig. To be a mecha cosplayer, you definitely need a minder guiding you around and assistance to get into poses. And also go to the toilet before you kit up, unless you are willing to risk damage to your costume when you rip off the parts in an emergency.

Clive mentioned that Exia could be his swan song from mecha cosplaying for a while, as he’s just started a games development company, Wyndra Studio. He will need all the time he can muster to manage his new business.

I didn’t get to see the second day of the festival, but you can catch the coverage here, here, here and here. I guess the fan favourites of Clive’s Gundam Exia and Lenneth’s KOS-MOS didn’t step up to the competition stage; they surely would have killed all competition.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 4:03 am and is filed under Adventure Logs, Otaku Diary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.