arkadymac.com is very pleased to have covered the well-received Slam Dunk Project Cosplay Photoshoot event headed by James Paolo Angeles, the very same visionary organizer/manager of successful and renowned cosplay photoshoot projects like Daydreams 1 and 2, Class Zero and Magic Knight Rayearth. After an affirmative and resounding response from the cosplay community, we deemed it necessary to bring you the cast of characters who gave life to one of the most beloved sports anime in the country through their amazing cosplaying. After the shoot itself, we got the chance to interview the main cast about their experiences prior, during and after the project itself.
James Paolo Angeles as Kaede Rukawa
“This project would prove to be very fun, albeit, also difficult to pull off due to several factors, e.g., alignment of schedules, resource and manpower allocation, and even finding the right chemistry/camaraderie between the cast themselves. Though I am very proud and happy to say that those who had been selected for this project are REALLY almost fully accurate in terms of their anime counterparts, and I know that I haven’t been that wrong in selecting the would-be cast ever since my past projects, so to speak.
I didn’t expect the project to be viral and trending among the cosplay and photography community actually. This was planned out since last two years ago, but I didn’t have the chance to execute this due to me being busy at my career, and the utmost difficulty of finding the right cast.
Maybe I am just really this blessed to have good/close friends who can portray all of the characters that I need for the series. There is the real-life PERFECT Sakuragi (Ken) who is always comically active and fun to be with, even off-camera; Brams who (sorry bro hahaha) really looked like Gori due to his size, face and height; Kaloy who very strongly resembles Mitsui in terms of face, hair, height, built and complexion (plus the character is his favorite all along haha); Jhogs who is strikingly similar to Miyagi as well in terms of physical attributes; Topher and Dale Perias (who is now enjoying his life as a cosplayer again) who also have uncanny resemblances to their anime counterparts as well. Not to mention Aya who beautifully depicted Haruko Akagi as our main muse, Miyumi WHO REALLY looked like Ayako (albeit, having a very gentle demeanor, haha) and Jenny who also looked much like Kawai Mari.
I was only expecting for this to be a simple basketball photoshoot event, but never did we expect the support and love of the community pouring since Day 1. Guess the namesake of ‘Slam Dunk’ itself, plus the exquisite skills of the photographers contributed to this.
Expect more fun and awesome projects that I will be implementing within the next weeks anyway after this. We will return definitely soon for a final appearance to return the love to those who supported us.”
Ken Lim as Hanamichi Sakuragi
“If you keep track of the characters I’ve portrayed, it’s very rare that I portray a series’ main character. Being specially selected for the role of Hanamichi Sakuragi isn’t something I can very easily put into words.
It’s a strange combination of being both flattered and honored, and at the same time there’s that hint of disbelief in the back of my head; I mean, I thought I could pull it off, but I’d definitely need to put in the work. It’s not easy being a ‘tensai’.
This project is one of the best, if not THE best, I’ve ever had the chance of participating in. Ever.
Also one of the biggest shoots I’ve ever attended, in terms of the number of invited photographers, and the venue itself. AND the most fun. Everyone had a good time posing in-character and acting in-character (I brought the bananas).
Time was limited and everyone had to move along according to schedule, but that’s the only way anything was going to get done. In my opinion, this was the most organized shoot I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending.
The Slam Dunk Project wouldn’t have been possible without James. Securing the venue, gathering the photographers and cosplayers; almost all the details were taken care of by James, or at the very least he had his hand in it.
As a ‘tensai’, it hurts to admit that we couldn’t have done it without Rukawa (James).
P.S. I still can’t believe I was able to hang from the ring for, what, 20 seconds? WOW. Never did that before.”
Abraham “Brams” Enriquez Cruz as Takenori Akagi
Karlo Pascua as Hisashi Mitsui
“It’s a privilege being part of such a huge project. I am also honored to cosplay my favorite character in the series. It is very nostalgic. It reminds me of my high school days when I was playing basketball, always playing catch and shoot like Mitsui really does. This would be the most memorable photoshoot I’ve ever had.
The shoot turned out to be very successful. The most memorable photoshoot by far I had. Huge credits and congratulations to each and every one of us.”
Jonathan Lopez Guarin as Ryota Miyagi
“I feel honored being chosen to portray one of the major characters for the project. I think it is also ‘the calling’ for me that made me start to cosplay, ahahahaha!
This is a very tiring yet very fun-filled project. Got the chance to meet new people and gain new friends along the way.”
Topher Duran as Kiminobu Kogure
“It is such a privilege to be a part of this project. I really feel great and excited when Sir James chosed me to cosplay as my favorite character, Kogure, a.k.a., Megane-kun. Haha!
As for the shoot, for me it is very successful! I get to meet a new batch of professional photographers and a new set of friends. Hope we can do this more often.”
Dale Perias as Yasuharu Yasuda:
“I feel very happy and satisfied because I was able to cosplay a character from one of my favorite childhood animes. It was fun cosplaying as a group especially when we were trying to recall the scenes from the anime and it brought back good old memories of the show.
The shoot turned out to be successful. Everyone prepared and worked hard just for this event and we were able to portray most the scenes that we planned thanks to the effort of the photographers and cosplayers.”
AyaNinna as Haruko Akagi
“How did I feel being selected to be a part of the cast? Very happy! And very much honored since I will be co-starring with amazing cosplayers (Kaloy, Ken, James, Jennie, Miyumi, etc.). It’s always been a privilege to be part of a well-planned shoot like what we had. I’m thankful that I was considered to be part of it.
What can I say about the shoot/project overall? Epicness level is over 9000! True that most of us got tired (posing, running, dribbling, etc.), but it was SO fun that you’ll just shrug off anything that tires you haha! The location fits perfectly to the theme. The photographers are very nice, the cosplayers are friendly and cooperative. I love these amazing people!”
Miyumi Dilan as Ayako
“I am very much honored and happy to be a part of this successful project. I was really surprised when Kuya James asked me to be a part of this team (as Ayako) because I was invited just the day before the photoshoot event itself. I guess I was really so lucky. Haha!
I had sooooo much fun during and after the event! It was tiring but the output was worth it. I had so much fun working with these people!”
Jennie Buaron as Kawai Mari
“Like the others, I feel much honored to be a part of this project because not everyone is given a chance to be part of such a project that involved selected-cosplayers-that-can-do-the-character only and will accurately fit into it.
It was so awesome: the place is very bagay sa theme because red ‘yung theme ng court, bumagay sa Shohoku and medyo nakakapagod talaga pero nakaka-enjoy because after the shoot all the cast and photographers gathered and ate dinner together.”
Our thanks to all the cast and staff as we at arkadymac.com are grateful for having been granted post-shoot interviews and share with everyone how everything was baked from the inside out. Photos posted here courtesy of the great photographers who took part in the shoot that day, and they will be the subject of our next article coming up real soon. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding this project.
Thank you for visiting, and do drop by again for more cosplay features here at arkadymac.com.
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