Doujin Overload 2010

If things can go wrong, Doujin Overload 2010 would have been the day they did go wrong. I spent all week boosting my immune system so I wouldn’t catch whatever plagues were going around work, only to spend yesterday with a migraine; I brought the wrong lens for my camera and forgot my mc announcement sheet… and yet, I pulled through without too many mis-haps (Friend: “Speak louder Zeb! Your sexy dulcet tones were not heard in the far corners of the hall!”) Most importantly, I had a great time!

The atmosphere was fantastic; heaps of great artists and even more visitors than ever before. Doujin Overload this year was held in the basement of the Hyatt Hotel in Auckland with even more room available, but even that didn’t stop the place from being incredibly crowded (and loud!) at times. I’m not complaining though… unlike last year we didn’t have so much of an issue with cosplayers hogging every available space and being noisy, most also had the manners to go outside for their photo shoots etc. Thanks guys.

The stars of the day were the artists (as it should be), and the calibre of those attending was impressive. So much stuff for sale it boggled the mind… fan-art, prints, keyrings, plushes, posters, postcards, artbooks, comics, bookmarks, and even 3-D papercrafts! I’m sure I’ve missed stuff out… it felt like such a blur sometimes. You could definitely tell which artists had put in some serious work for the event… they were the ones who had gone beyond the standard prints and keyrings to provide quirky giveaways (Fatalis-unus‘ ‘pedo-bear approves’ stickers) and unique merchandise that hadn’t been done before (Kouken’s 3-d papercraft kits.)

Quick facts (cause I’m lazy and just want to get onto sharing all the goodies I bought):

• The Dollfie display this year was just full of so much win, I can’t begin to describe it. Others think they’re creepy creepy, but really, you gotta admit, they looked amazing altogether like that. Thanks to Woof, Alex, Edmund and the others who graciously shared their sons and daughters.
• Unfortunately missed seeing the Cosplay Cafe… was supposed to open at 11AM but when we went down they still hadn’t set up, but when we came back, they’d sold out and already gone… boo!
• The art competition entries this year were scarily good, and Dylan Horrocks (I was so pleased to see he had attended. If there was ever a New Zealand artist that had “made it” in the NZ comic/art scene, it would be Dylan) picked two of the three I liked. The one that didn’t get picked, I wanted badly… but the artist wouldn’t sell… *sob*
• I checked out the list of artists prior to the event, to work out who I had to see and came across one artist whose work really popped for me. She is able to draw funny, expressive characters that are a joy to look at, including some hilarious Harry Potter pieces. I don’t usually like purchasing fan-art, but I just had to find this artist and get her to draw me Harry Potter! Unfortunately, I forgot her username… so spent most of the morning muttering about my lack of HARRY POTTER! and how the day wouldn’t be complete without it… except… I had spoken to her several times during the day (coincidentally, we catch the same bus home every day and never made the anime/manga connection) but it didn’t click until after lunch… doh! … and yes, the day was complete once I found her and got mah HARRY POTTER!
  My friends, they were amused. I even got a pat on da head when I started purring with joy. Thanks Jess!

Artists that really stood out for me this year were:

1. Jess aka tonifasic – as described above.

2. Nani aka nai-XaIn – talk about an artist that took my breath away with the gorgeousness of her work. My jaw literally dropped, I think there was even a happy tear or two. While I love the art I see at this event, every year it’s more of the same effiminate skinny sort of characters… and not the more… womanly sort that I like. Nani delivered, and in spades. Her work in indescribably yummy, go check her deviantArt out to see what I mean. Also, most really skilled artists I’ve met are usually aloof/unapproachable… Nani was down to earth and an absolute pleasure to chat with.

3. Rinelle aka Rinree – most developed artist. She’s attended Doujin Overload every year, and this year I could definitely tell she’s been working and mixing things up in terms of what she drew and how she drew them. I was so impressed, the commission I got her to do for me is in my top 10 list.

4. Lufreeshia – a first timer at Doujin Overload, and while all of her items available for sale were digitally rendered, and prints, she did a lovely sketch for me. As far as newcomers to the event are concerned, A+ for work and presentation imho.

5. Siobhan aka reieleganza – an artist who proves that you don’t have to charge the earth for quality artwork, or vice versa, will deliver beautifully detailed work at a fraction of the cost other artists were asking, for work that wasn’t even half as detailed. Sorry, if I was going to have one gripe this year, it would be the disparity in pricing compared to quality of work. Some artists over-estimated their skills (or knew I liked traditional work so were trying to get as much $$$ out of me) or under-estimated their work and didn’t give themselves enough time to enjoy the event. Siobhan found that balance. Then again though, it’s all a matter of perspective, and this is mine.

You can see even more photos from Doujin Overload 2010 by visiting the Doujin Overload 2010 Gallery. If you would like larger copies of some of the photos in the gallery, please contact me. Full credit to me must be given!

Right, thats it, enough flappin… onto the pretties!

Commissions from DancingFeather and Melonkolly (and artists whose names
I can’t remember, eek!) and a pre-made traditional piece by The Plan Pony which
I adore; the colours are so bright and cheerful, the style so sharp/unique.

Commissions made on the day by Melonkolly and Digby (and again, artists whose
names I have forgotten, help!); it’s telling when there is a marked difference between the
work an artist has available for sale, and on the spot commissions.

Art I picked up during the event, top left by Seraphik,
the other four pieces are by Kylie aka Keysha-san.

Art I picked up during the event, the two pieces on the right by Kylie aka Keysha-san,
top left by The Plan Pony, botton left by Siobhan aka Reieleganza.

Top left clockwise; Hiyaku Studio’s 5th anniversary artbook, Hatsune Miku 3-d papercraft kit
by Kouken, comics by the awesomely gorgeous Nani Mahal aka nai-XaIn, and Touhou project:
A hundred clouds of dreams artbook by Collateral Damage Studios.

Top left clockwise; artbook and free poster by Project Yami Nabe,
Susan aka Arkillian’s artbook and free poster by Fatalis-unus.

Top left clockwise; line art bought from Des, commission from Rinelle,
commission from Lufreeshia and commission from Jess aka tonifasic.

Top left clockwise; commission from Siobhan, commission from Nani Mahal,
gift art and commission from Susan aka Arkillian.

Have paid for last year’s Hiyaku Studio artbook, just waiting for Des to send that to me, and Nani was working on another commission, which I’ll pick up from Susan soon. All in all I was quite pleased with my haul. That gripe about quality vs. price was really obvious this year… the truly gorgeous artwork, was usually also worth the price asked. Even though I had to leave soon after closing (migraine) I enjoyed the entire day, the people, the great art and most of all being able to hang out with friends and just have fun! THANKS GUYS! Rock on Overload 2011!

So what did you think of the event? Share your thoughts! If you’ve got photo galleries or you’ve blogged about the event, please also share links.

Other people’s accounts of the event, some with photos:

Alex’s Dollfie Gallery
Astrobunny
DancingFeather
Hiyaku Studio
Kalizuta

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