Its been a while since there has been a blog entry showcasing these neat little clips that are shown every Thursday on Aichi TV. In fact it looks like September is the last month that these clips were shown. If these are the last it would really be too bad. You can find them if you look around on the internet nowadays at different video sites and they are nice compact stories from different angles of the WCS. The part that I like best is seeing people at home in their own countries with family around them or rooms that are filled with different manga and anime items. These are scenes that you do not see when everyone comes out to Japan for the event and it shows how highly people value manga anime and cosplay around the world. Regarding distance, time and culture the WCS is a long way away for many; these videos are great in showing how long this road can be.

Pardon me for dwelling in nostalgia, lets get to the videos. Click here to go the page with the clips.

Take a look down the left side of the page and click on the following image to see the videos.

We will start at the top with #26 and move down.

#26) This clip starts with the Thai team's well choreographed stage performance during the final competition. Right after leaving the stage the 2 were interviewed behind the scenes. Nan first mentions how nervous she felt and that she was releived that it was over. She then shows the camera some fairly cut up fingers and explains how she hurt them during practice. Not to be outdone by her partner Ant too produces an injured finger. Next up is the team from Singapore. They went through a compelling performace that ended up with a hip hop song that made them stand out amongst the other groups. After leaving the stage Ferlyn talked about how she enjoyed the performance and time in Japan. Julia mentions how she was satisfied with their performance and appreciated the great crowd that was there to take it in.

#25) This video starts out in Paris at Lena's home, her partner Ann is over and they talk about how they got into cosplay. Ann had been doing cosplay for a few years and talked Lena into joining her about a year previous. You can see Lena's dress in the background and they look very excited about going to Japan for the competition. It then cuts to their performance and you can see them in action. It is hard to believe that they put together such impressive costumes for the purpose of performing as "Astharoshe Asran" and "Kaya" from the anime "Trinity Blood". Nice work!

#24) The third instalment shows the depiction of characters of "Cloud Strife" and "Tiffa Lockhart" from the game FF VII - Advent Children by the team from China. Battling out from so many competitors in a country that has sub-preliminary rounds below the preliminary round ensures that the entry each year is a spectacle and the crowd was not dissapointed. Their depiction of the characters and the props they used was impressive. Afterward Yushin talked about how he was in university now but even after graduation and getting full time work, he wants to continue doing cosplay. Ni continues along the same line mentioning how important manga and anime is to her and how she will continue enjoying them into the future.

#23) The final clip is of the Spain team of Pedro and Raquel as the characters "Guts" and "Griffiths" from the manga "Berserk". The first scene is a really great backstage moment where Alexia from the Italy team urges Raquel to do her best before their performance. Spain was one of the teams that had put together very impressive and true to form costumes. Backstage they did have a great challenge in assembling their gear as did a number of other teams. In the end things worked out well and they wowed the crowds with great battle moves and Pedro polished it off with a song. Backstage Pedro was apologetic for not doing as well as they could have. They did a really great job and their reaction to their own performance showed sincerity and love for their art. Thanks for a great show!

If you navigate through the page you can find the other 22 videos also, please enjoy them! Well, I guess that will be it for the clips for now, lets hope there will be more in the future because they really show some great moments from different parts of the event.

Ed