Books and Cosplay 2025

 In a few hours the Book Fair Leipzig (Leipziger Buchmesse) is about to start. As usual the Manga-Comic-Con (MCC) is part of it as well. 

After doing a poll about the reason of visiting the event the majority voted for meeting friends/community ativities (52%), photo shootings and location (39%) and a few to meet me ;), but nobody choose shopping or program. Therefore the question might be, do we need so many shopping booths for merchandise?

Yes, but No, simple and precise, I know.

The people in my "bubble" are primarily Cosplayers, so their focus are costumes, crafting and sewing tools or materials, their needs / main interest is costume-based. On the other hand you have those fair goers who simply want to get to know the latest merchandise, manga or anime and are willing to spend their saved cash on plush dolls, figures or just enjoy. We may not forget the fact that's it's a trade fair, too, mostly for books - who wpuld have guessed that - but also for video game publishers. I am looking forward to see and visit the booth of NINTENDO, should be a guaranteed hit, although I think I already know all the presented games or own them.

I am also happy to meet my friend from Games Room SVVAMP, it's been too long since I met him. Talking to him will create a few Monster Hunter flashbacks, because they are having a Monster Hunter community meetup and some sort of challenge aside the many offered tournaments with amazing prizes.

But every trade fair, especially otaku conventions, have a huge program and many shows, there are show groups and other acts, but the highlight of that is always the cosplay contest. Some cons call their contests championships, but there is only real championship, the DCM (Deutsche Cosplay Meisterschaft), all the others are copycats that try to blow up their relevance by using such a name making it sound bigger, more important and better, but when there are 5 championships, there is no championship, so it's just a regular contest.

Beside the MCC hall my main interest is the central glass hall, because I will pack a punch of taking thousands of pictures and normally the available light there is just perfect, so you don't need any flash and the ISO can stay low.

I will take a break of those shootings by visiting WirMachenDruck, they are some sort of business partner, because they print my books. I will also have a look for the travel section hoping to maybe find a publisher for one of four books or any of the 3 that are "work in progress".

I am quite excited and will have some difficulties to get a rest. I am ready and all my gear is packed, my batteries are charged and my SD cards are not completely empty, but I have ~400GB of available space, this should work.

ENJOY LBM 2025!

The Future is Purple

The Origin of Purple Shirt Guy

I am Martin Andreas Arendt – photographer, gamer, drone pilot, and Japan specialist. Over the past three years, I have established a nickname alongside my long-time alias "Neko-Lord": Purple Shirt Guy. Unlike Blue Shirt Guy from Ryan Reynolds' Free Guy, my title has an entirely different origin. It all began with a lucky shirt I wore while flying drones—never a crash while wearing my signature purple shirt. Before that, however, I had already crashed two drones, which, by sheer coincidence, led to the ritual of always wearing the purple shirt. Over time, it evolved into a ritual, a staple of my persona, and an essential part of my identity.

My love for purple runs deep, but it has to be the right shade. Lavender and lilac are too pastel, aubergine leans too blue, and Bordeaux is more red than purple. This particular hue became synonymous with me, particularly during my frequent visits to cosplay conventions, where I almost always wore my iconic purple shirt. Of course, I own multiple identical versions—otherwise, the implications of repeated wear would be questionable, both practically and olfactorily. As my presence at events grew, so did my visual identity. The shirt became a symbol, a brand of sorts, instantly recognizable. And so, I embraced it: the photographer also known as Purple Shirt Guy.

It started with drones

Looking Forward – The Future is Purple

This identity isn't just a fleeting trend—it’s something I intend to expand upon. Beyond merely a nickname, I want to integrate it into my overall style and artistic expression. My last two books, DRESSED and MASKED, already feature their titles in bold purple letters, a deliberate nod to this personal brand. Moving forward, I plan to deepen this aesthetic incorporation, making it an even more prominent part of my creative journey.

The Psychology of Purple

From a psychological perspective, purple is often associated with creativity, artistry, and individuality. Historically linked to royalty and mysticism, it conveys a sense of ambition, uniqueness, and deep thinking. It’s no surprise that many creatives and visionaries gravitate toward this color—it embodies both imagination and transformation. In embracing the Purple Shirt Guy identity, I am not just making a stylistic choice but aligning with the artistic and expressive power that the color symbolizes.

This is more than just a signature look—it’s a statement. Purple Shirt Guy is here to stay.