Events
Aki-Con'11 Report
October 11, 2011, 12:14 PM by Michi
Aki-Con 2011
Bellevue, Washington
Hilton Hotel
October 7th-9th, 2011
Okay. So. Aki-Con happened and I attended. This was my 4th Aki-Con and to be honest. I wish I hadn’t gone. It was the same weekend that Geek Girl Con at the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington was being held. But, I went to Aki-Con. I don’t regret the decision. I actually had a lot of fun at the convention. But, I only really went to see a few people that I don’t normally get to see. Bad or good it was the decision that I made.
I attended Aki-Con on Saturday only because of prior commitments and last minute decisions. The convention was held at the same place it was last year, only a month earlier this time. I actually got up to the convention about 11AM and went straight to see my friend Amidoji and Lacey. They finished getting ready and we went down to the convention area.
I got my badge first off. I asked the Pre-Registration people where I would pick up my Press Badge. They told me Registration or to ask Nicole. Well, I managed to find Nicole really quick, as she was coming out of the Registration booth. She told me it was at Pre-Registration. They found my badge, but there was no paperwork to look at, or confirmation that I was really who I said I was and who I said I was with. At least they checked my ID this year. After I got my badge, I finally looked around the convention area.
And oh my god.
Now, my Uncle is a firefighter with the Seattle Fire Department, so I know fire safety. And I swear Aki-Con was a walking fire trap. Their Japanese Temple arches where zip tied to the doors, which would prevent them from closing in an emergency. There where character cut outs that you could stick your face through in the hallways, and the Free Stage in the middle of the first floor. Isn’t the Fire Marshall supposed to come check on events like these?
I guess my inner staff was coming through during the entire time that I was in attendance at Aki-Con. There where a lot of little things that I kept noticing that kept annoying me. The hotel staff for the most part was very rude to many of the attendees. Now, I understand that you have all these underage kids running amok in your hotel. But, this event is bringing you a large amount of money. There where also a lot of kids that where not paying attention to common rules and knowledge.
Several times Amidoji, Lacey and I would get into an elevator and there would just be a kid sitting there. And at least 50% of the time, I would ask them if they where getting off at the next floor. They would tell me what floor and when we got there, I would look at them pointedly. The hotel had a strict rule of only 8 people per elevator and with kids sitting in the elevators; it was hard to get groups up and down to the right floors.
When I went into the Dealer’s Room… I developed a sudden case of claustrophobia. There where so many people shoved into such a small space. It was hard to get around. People where stopping in the middle of the hallways to chat or look at something or take pictures. I don’t believe there was even room to get a wheelchair through the aisles of the Dealer’s Room. I was floored. I did a circuit through the Dealer’s Hall with Amidoji and Lacey and then got the hell out of there.
It was after that we ran into Smidge. And after gathering the Boy, we decided lunch was a good idea. Of course, just as we where finally getting out of the area, we ran into a group of about ten people that I knew and that didn’t know I was going to be at the convention.
The funniest reaction was actually from Shun Hayashi, a photographer (see his work at http://www.silenceral.com) that I’d known for several years. He actually stared at me like I was a ghost. Yes, I am here. Yes I am not in cosplay. Yes, I have a social life Al.
After lunch though… The more that I was in the common convention area; the more I felt the building urge to yell at someone. Or at least yell at...
Bellevue, Washington
Hilton Hotel
October 7th-9th, 2011
Okay. So. Aki-Con happened and I attended. This was my 4th Aki-Con and to be honest. I wish I hadn’t gone. It was the same weekend that Geek Girl Con at the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington was being held. But, I went to Aki-Con. I don’t regret the decision. I actually had a lot of fun at the convention. But, I only really went to see a few people that I don’t normally get to see. Bad or good it was the decision that I made.
I attended Aki-Con on Saturday only because of prior commitments and last minute decisions. The convention was held at the same place it was last year, only a month earlier this time. I actually got up to the convention about 11AM and went straight to see my friend Amidoji and Lacey. They finished getting ready and we went down to the convention area.
I got my badge first off. I asked the Pre-Registration people where I would pick up my Press Badge. They told me Registration or to ask Nicole. Well, I managed to find Nicole really quick, as she was coming out of the Registration booth. She told me it was at Pre-Registration. They found my badge, but there was no paperwork to look at, or confirmation that I was really who I said I was and who I said I was with. At least they checked my ID this year. After I got my badge, I finally looked around the convention area.
And oh my god.
Now, my Uncle is a firefighter with the Seattle Fire Department, so I know fire safety. And I swear Aki-Con was a walking fire trap. Their Japanese Temple arches where zip tied to the doors, which would prevent them from closing in an emergency. There where character cut outs that you could stick your face through in the hallways, and the Free Stage in the middle of the first floor. Isn’t the Fire Marshall supposed to come check on events like these?
I guess my inner staff was coming through during the entire time that I was in attendance at Aki-Con. There where a lot of little things that I kept noticing that kept annoying me. The hotel staff for the most part was very rude to many of the attendees. Now, I understand that you have all these underage kids running amok in your hotel. But, this event is bringing you a large amount of money. There where also a lot of kids that where not paying attention to common rules and knowledge.
Several times Amidoji, Lacey and I would get into an elevator and there would just be a kid sitting there. And at least 50% of the time, I would ask them if they where getting off at the next floor. They would tell me what floor and when we got there, I would look at them pointedly. The hotel had a strict rule of only 8 people per elevator and with kids sitting in the elevators; it was hard to get groups up and down to the right floors.
When I went into the Dealer’s Room… I developed a sudden case of claustrophobia. There where so many people shoved into such a small space. It was hard to get around. People where stopping in the middle of the hallways to chat or look at something or take pictures. I don’t believe there was even room to get a wheelchair through the aisles of the Dealer’s Room. I was floored. I did a circuit through the Dealer’s Hall with Amidoji and Lacey and then got the hell out of there.
It was after that we ran into Smidge. And after gathering the Boy, we decided lunch was a good idea. Of course, just as we where finally getting out of the area, we ran into a group of about ten people that I knew and that didn’t know I was going to be at the convention.
The funniest reaction was actually from Shun Hayashi, a photographer (see his work at http://www.silenceral.com) that I’d known for several years. He actually stared at me like I was a ghost. Yes, I am here. Yes I am not in cosplay. Yes, I have a social life Al.
After lunch though… The more that I was in the common convention area; the more I felt the building urge to yell at someone. Or at least yell at...
| (Click here to read more) | 2 comments |
Kumoricon'11 Report
September 18, 2011, 12:38 PM by Michi
Kumoricon 2011
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver Hilton & Red Lion on the Quay
September 3rd to 5th
Kumoricon this year was a little different for me. I didn’t come with the people I have for the past several years, I staffed and I didn’t cosplay. It was an interesting, new experience for me, but one I did enjoy.
This was my 9th year attending Kumoricon and it’s been interesting to see the convention grow from the first one in 2003 when it was in Eugene, Oregon to what it is now. It still has that small con feel that I know many people crave, especially those of us who attend almost nothing but large (10,000+) conventions.
This year, Kumoricon returned to the 2007 location in Vancouver, Washington and we were in two hotels this year. The Hilton (were we were in 2007) and the Red Lion on the Quay. This is a first for Kumoricon, but it worked out. The convention didn’t seem as crowded as the previous two years, then again, being near Ester Short Park probably helped too. I got to Kumoricon a little before 9PM. I got my badge, got my room key from my roommates and went to dinner with Kato Shiroi and a handful of our friends.
Day One (Saturday) –
For Kumoricon this year, I was the Hall Cospaly Coordinator. That meant I wandered around the convention (two hotels, plus the areas cosplayers hung out) and took pictures of costumes that I liked or where really creative. I also handed out shiny blue ribbons and had people sign release forms. I admit right now that it was hard to cover the entire convention by myself, but I did the best I could.
Now because I did not interact with attendee registration, I have no real knowledge on how the registration staff was, or how fast the lines where. But from Twitter messages a friend was posting, the lines where quick and short, and quite often there wasn’t one.
The hotel staff at the Hilton (where I spent most of my time) was very friendly and helpful, moreso than I felt they where (at another location) last year. The convention staff was equally friendly and made the whole experience that much better.
I took around 60 pictures, 17 of them where group pictures, before I went to dinner with some friends. After that, we went straight to Bressler’s Whose Line is it Anyway? Panel. This was my second year participating and again, I had a ton of fun! And I must say, that Todd Haberkon (guest of honor) makes a fabulous Godzilla movie! The Director of Publicity got him to come to the game for just a bit. He played in a couple of games and one of them was Party Quirks. He was a guest, so his quirk was “You’re an entire Godzilla movie”. I swear the audience couldn’t stop laughing, I know at least that I didn’t. I got to talk to him for a bit afterwards. He’s a really nice guy and just because he’s a voice actor (popular role atm Italy from Hetalia), doesn’t mean he isn’t a person, but that’s another rant for another time.
There wasn’t a lot of adult programming that I was interested in. I wish that they would have had the sake tasting again. That would have been amazing. But, things do change every year, so maybe there will be something that catch my eye. After the Whose Line panel finished, I wandered around the convention for a little bit more, but didn’t see any costumes that really caught my eye. I was getting pretty tired at this point, so away to bed I went.
Day Two (Sunday) –
This day brought about more people and more costumes. I didn’t seem to take as many pictures this day, but I just can’t be every where and I know I missed so many costumes. But I was busier because the panel I was co-hosting was this day. Like every year since 2008, we once again had the Crossplay 101 panel, but unlike...
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver Hilton & Red Lion on the Quay
September 3rd to 5th
Kumoricon this year was a little different for me. I didn’t come with the people I have for the past several years, I staffed and I didn’t cosplay. It was an interesting, new experience for me, but one I did enjoy.
This was my 9th year attending Kumoricon and it’s been interesting to see the convention grow from the first one in 2003 when it was in Eugene, Oregon to what it is now. It still has that small con feel that I know many people crave, especially those of us who attend almost nothing but large (10,000+) conventions.
This year, Kumoricon returned to the 2007 location in Vancouver, Washington and we were in two hotels this year. The Hilton (were we were in 2007) and the Red Lion on the Quay. This is a first for Kumoricon, but it worked out. The convention didn’t seem as crowded as the previous two years, then again, being near Ester Short Park probably helped too. I got to Kumoricon a little before 9PM. I got my badge, got my room key from my roommates and went to dinner with Kato Shiroi and a handful of our friends.
Day One (Saturday) –
For Kumoricon this year, I was the Hall Cospaly Coordinator. That meant I wandered around the convention (two hotels, plus the areas cosplayers hung out) and took pictures of costumes that I liked or where really creative. I also handed out shiny blue ribbons and had people sign release forms. I admit right now that it was hard to cover the entire convention by myself, but I did the best I could.
Now because I did not interact with attendee registration, I have no real knowledge on how the registration staff was, or how fast the lines where. But from Twitter messages a friend was posting, the lines where quick and short, and quite often there wasn’t one.
The hotel staff at the Hilton (where I spent most of my time) was very friendly and helpful, moreso than I felt they where (at another location) last year. The convention staff was equally friendly and made the whole experience that much better.
I took around 60 pictures, 17 of them where group pictures, before I went to dinner with some friends. After that, we went straight to Bressler’s Whose Line is it Anyway? Panel. This was my second year participating and again, I had a ton of fun! And I must say, that Todd Haberkon (guest of honor) makes a fabulous Godzilla movie! The Director of Publicity got him to come to the game for just a bit. He played in a couple of games and one of them was Party Quirks. He was a guest, so his quirk was “You’re an entire Godzilla movie”. I swear the audience couldn’t stop laughing, I know at least that I didn’t. I got to talk to him for a bit afterwards. He’s a really nice guy and just because he’s a voice actor (popular role atm Italy from Hetalia), doesn’t mean he isn’t a person, but that’s another rant for another time.
There wasn’t a lot of adult programming that I was interested in. I wish that they would have had the sake tasting again. That would have been amazing. But, things do change every year, so maybe there will be something that catch my eye. After the Whose Line panel finished, I wandered around the convention for a little bit more, but didn’t see any costumes that really caught my eye. I was getting pretty tired at this point, so away to bed I went.
Day Two (Sunday) –
This day brought about more people and more costumes. I didn’t seem to take as many pictures this day, but I just can’t be every where and I know I missed so many costumes. But I was busier because the panel I was co-hosting was this day. Like every year since 2008, we once again had the Crossplay 101 panel, but unlike...
| (Click here to read more) | 0 comments |
Penny Arcade Expo (PAX PRIME) 2011 Synopsis and Review
September 6, 2011, 04:02 PM by Krowhop
PAX PRIME 2011
August 26-28, 2011
Washington State Convention Center
By Gintsuki
I attended the 2011 edition of the Penny Arcade Expo on the West coast (aka PAX Prime) for the entire 3 days it was in session and managed to only go to one panel and, personally, try out one game. One might wonder how that is possible with spending over 8 hours at the convention center on a daily basis. Wear an extremely popular cosplay, that’s how. Every time I’d stop to take out my phone to text or to take a picture I had someone asking to take mine.
Cosplay: Oerba Dia Vanille
Game: FFXIII
Day by Day Play:
My first day there I spent by myself (though I did manage to run into a friend of mine). For the most part I wondered around the main exhibit hall in awe of all the massive booths and their big shiny screens showing off their games.
Firefall, developed by Red 5 Studios, was the most heavily advertised game there; banners on ALL the escalators, banners around the escalators, a statue right outside the main entrance of the exhibit hall and a massive booth set up full of PCs for people to tackle their game with. I only watched the trailer, but based on that it looks like an intriguing FPS/TPS - space themed, of course.
My favorite booths to walk past were the ones for the games created for the Microsoft XBOX Kinect; a device that requires no controllers to play. Games for this console have mainly revolved around dancing and exercise but as this year draws to an end we’re going to be able to use it to transform into a Jedi Knight, a fruit slicing ninja, and a zombie killing machine.
There were also two stages set up for people to try out Dance Central 2 and Just Dance 2, which were both very entertaining to watch. The lines for the Kinect games were relatively long, which caused some people to not have a chance to test it, but there were other things to do. I kept busy with an MSNBC interview, giving away headphones over a live stream for Turtle Beach, appearing in the crowd for the filming of the G4 X-Play PAX Prime episode (airing Wednesday, September 7th) and posing for countless pictures. I ended the day with participating in the Crabcat cosplay panel which turned out to be non-contest contest where everyone was a winner.
The second and third day I went with a friend of mine who cosplayed as Lightning which made us twice as popular. We snuck into more booths to use their photo centers where they would print your pic and email it to you, too. Gunnar had several styles of gaming glasses for you to sport while you posed for their cameras, other booths had it set up so you were “posing” with their logo or video game characters.
On the second day I became aware of the random real-life games they have going on during the event. There is a scavenger hunt with barcodes (put on by PAX), a word game with buttons(put on by Square Enix) and in the indie game area there was a station where you could get turned into a zombie by a makeup artist and then you had to “bite” other people and turn them into more zombies – all of which had some sort of prizes to be won by participating in them. My friend and I managed to get in on the word game where we collected a $25 gift certificate to their online store.
Booth babes had been banned from the event for the first time, but that didn’t stop people asking us if we had been hired to be there. Good Old Games had hired two old ladies to sit in chairs and knit between handing out freshly baked cookies as their booth “babes”. The booths relied more on creating extravagant booths to draw people in. Telltale’s Jurassic Park had a booth set up with a “high voltage” fence with foliage and jeep mixed with their console stations. Bethesda’s Skyrim had a massive dragon hanging over their area while Trion World’s Rift booth took you to another world with towering, glowing foreign foliage.
Besides stopping for photos, on the second day we succeeded in the EVGA cosplay contest which...
August 26-28, 2011
Washington State Convention Center
By Gintsuki
I attended the 2011 edition of the Penny Arcade Expo on the West coast (aka PAX Prime) for the entire 3 days it was in session and managed to only go to one panel and, personally, try out one game. One might wonder how that is possible with spending over 8 hours at the convention center on a daily basis. Wear an extremely popular cosplay, that’s how. Every time I’d stop to take out my phone to text or to take a picture I had someone asking to take mine.
Cosplay: Oerba Dia Vanille
Game: FFXIII
Day by Day Play:
My first day there I spent by myself (though I did manage to run into a friend of mine). For the most part I wondered around the main exhibit hall in awe of all the massive booths and their big shiny screens showing off their games.
Firefall, developed by Red 5 Studios, was the most heavily advertised game there; banners on ALL the escalators, banners around the escalators, a statue right outside the main entrance of the exhibit hall and a massive booth set up full of PCs for people to tackle their game with. I only watched the trailer, but based on that it looks like an intriguing FPS/TPS - space themed, of course.
My favorite booths to walk past were the ones for the games created for the Microsoft XBOX Kinect; a device that requires no controllers to play. Games for this console have mainly revolved around dancing and exercise but as this year draws to an end we’re going to be able to use it to transform into a Jedi Knight, a fruit slicing ninja, and a zombie killing machine.
There were also two stages set up for people to try out Dance Central 2 and Just Dance 2, which were both very entertaining to watch. The lines for the Kinect games were relatively long, which caused some people to not have a chance to test it, but there were other things to do. I kept busy with an MSNBC interview, giving away headphones over a live stream for Turtle Beach, appearing in the crowd for the filming of the G4 X-Play PAX Prime episode (airing Wednesday, September 7th) and posing for countless pictures. I ended the day with participating in the Crabcat cosplay panel which turned out to be non-contest contest where everyone was a winner.
The second and third day I went with a friend of mine who cosplayed as Lightning which made us twice as popular. We snuck into more booths to use their photo centers where they would print your pic and email it to you, too. Gunnar had several styles of gaming glasses for you to sport while you posed for their cameras, other booths had it set up so you were “posing” with their logo or video game characters.
On the second day I became aware of the random real-life games they have going on during the event. There is a scavenger hunt with barcodes (put on by PAX), a word game with buttons(put on by Square Enix) and in the indie game area there was a station where you could get turned into a zombie by a makeup artist and then you had to “bite” other people and turn them into more zombies – all of which had some sort of prizes to be won by participating in them. My friend and I managed to get in on the word game where we collected a $25 gift certificate to their online store.
Booth babes had been banned from the event for the first time, but that didn’t stop people asking us if we had been hired to be there. Good Old Games had hired two old ladies to sit in chairs and knit between handing out freshly baked cookies as their booth “babes”. The booths relied more on creating extravagant booths to draw people in. Telltale’s Jurassic Park had a booth set up with a “high voltage” fence with foliage and jeep mixed with their console stations. Bethesda’s Skyrim had a massive dragon hanging over their area while Trion World’s Rift booth took you to another world with towering, glowing foreign foliage.
Besides stopping for photos, on the second day we succeeded in the EVGA cosplay contest which...
| (Click here to read more) | 4 comments |
Anime Boston 2011 Report
May 13, 2011, 12:09 AM by Knightfall
Anime Boston Report
Hynes Convention Center
April 22-24, 2011
Knightfall
DAY 01: Friday
The first thing of any anime convention is the registration, and Anime Boston was no different. Upon entering the Hynes, guests found themselves in a terrific atmosphere. It was big, clean, had three floors with much to look at, and an awesome view of Boston. The days attended were Friday and Sunday this year.
As guests streamed into the large entrance hall, there was a surprising number already in cosplay. Not to mention pretty decent ones at that. Many were pulled to the side for some photo shooting. Everyone there seemed to already be having fun.
At Opening Ceremonies Andrea Finnin, the Chairman of the convention spoke. Gifts were thrown into the crowd, so even though some guests didn't get great seats, they still got something out of it. There were announcements on some of the recent events in Japan: the passing of a few producers and VAs, the earthquakes/tsunami that took place the month before, and the events they were holding to help out in the relief effort (ie- the blood drive [hosted by the 501st!!], charity auctions, etc.)
Next was the introduction of the Guests of Honor. Anime Boston had a good line-up, and all of the guests were enthusiastic. Among the musical guests was the all-girl band Stereopony, better known among most for the OPs/EDs in such anime as Bleach, Darker Than Black, and Gundam 00. Among the VAs were Sean Schemmel, AKA the voice of Goku, and Greg Ayres, better known as Koyuki in Beck or Yamazaki from N.H.K. A full guest list is included at the end of this article.
All guests got 'swag bags' that included a map and schedule. This was good, because with all of the halls, and escalators, and rooms, it would be easy for someone to get lost.
In the dealers room, many seemed overwhelmed. They might have never seen so many anime/game related merchandise, all in the same room. Those that had been to an anime convention before might not have been surprised, and would know to wait until Sunday to make their purchases, as some dealers frequently have items marked 50% off. Make sure you ask the vendors specifically though, as the item you might have your eye on could very well be gone by the end of the weekend, and might not even be discounted then.
All the walking guests must do can be hard on the legs and feet, but the perfect place to take a break was in any of the rooms where panels were hosted. There guests could sit through talks about the history of anime/otaku, or the VA panels and listen to them talk about their lives and how they came to be voice actors. These panels were not only educational, but entertaining as well.
The VAs all had a good sense of humor, and were very approachable. One of the things Michael Tatum talked about was how he was "scouted" to be a VA by one of his friends. He shared how his friend kept pushing and pushing for him to audition, up to the point where he was "threatened" to do it "or else". He finally went for the audition. The recording session ended up taking 4 hours. Here Tatum thought he was failing miserably as he was being instructed on how to project his voice. After the recording was finally over, Tatum asked his friend "Does it usually take this long for auditions, or am I just that bad?" His friend responded with "Oh no, it usually takes about 15 minutes, you scored the job in the first 5, and they now finished dubbing the first 6 episodes. Congratulations, you're now a voice actor!". The panels allowed a lot of insight for fans in how their favorite shows are put together.
DAY 03: Sunday
The last day of the Anime Boston 2011 had come. There was an hour gap between the opening and the main event, which gave time for everyone to mingle, and for lots of cosplay pictures. Cosplay Chess was one of the most popular events, and this year's theme was magic vs science.
The first contestant playing for Team Magic was none other than Link (The Legend of Zelda), accompanied...
Hynes Convention Center
April 22-24, 2011
Knightfall
DAY 01: Friday
The first thing of any anime convention is the registration, and Anime Boston was no different. Upon entering the Hynes, guests found themselves in a terrific atmosphere. It was big, clean, had three floors with much to look at, and an awesome view of Boston. The days attended were Friday and Sunday this year.
As guests streamed into the large entrance hall, there was a surprising number already in cosplay. Not to mention pretty decent ones at that. Many were pulled to the side for some photo shooting. Everyone there seemed to already be having fun.
At Opening Ceremonies Andrea Finnin, the Chairman of the convention spoke. Gifts were thrown into the crowd, so even though some guests didn't get great seats, they still got something out of it. There were announcements on some of the recent events in Japan: the passing of a few producers and VAs, the earthquakes/tsunami that took place the month before, and the events they were holding to help out in the relief effort (ie- the blood drive [hosted by the 501st!!], charity auctions, etc.)
Next was the introduction of the Guests of Honor. Anime Boston had a good line-up, and all of the guests were enthusiastic. Among the musical guests was the all-girl band Stereopony, better known among most for the OPs/EDs in such anime as Bleach, Darker Than Black, and Gundam 00. Among the VAs were Sean Schemmel, AKA the voice of Goku, and Greg Ayres, better known as Koyuki in Beck or Yamazaki from N.H.K. A full guest list is included at the end of this article.
All guests got 'swag bags' that included a map and schedule. This was good, because with all of the halls, and escalators, and rooms, it would be easy for someone to get lost.
In the dealers room, many seemed overwhelmed. They might have never seen so many anime/game related merchandise, all in the same room. Those that had been to an anime convention before might not have been surprised, and would know to wait until Sunday to make their purchases, as some dealers frequently have items marked 50% off. Make sure you ask the vendors specifically though, as the item you might have your eye on could very well be gone by the end of the weekend, and might not even be discounted then.
All the walking guests must do can be hard on the legs and feet, but the perfect place to take a break was in any of the rooms where panels were hosted. There guests could sit through talks about the history of anime/otaku, or the VA panels and listen to them talk about their lives and how they came to be voice actors. These panels were not only educational, but entertaining as well.
The VAs all had a good sense of humor, and were very approachable. One of the things Michael Tatum talked about was how he was "scouted" to be a VA by one of his friends. He shared how his friend kept pushing and pushing for him to audition, up to the point where he was "threatened" to do it "or else". He finally went for the audition. The recording session ended up taking 4 hours. Here Tatum thought he was failing miserably as he was being instructed on how to project his voice. After the recording was finally over, Tatum asked his friend "Does it usually take this long for auditions, or am I just that bad?" His friend responded with "Oh no, it usually takes about 15 minutes, you scored the job in the first 5, and they now finished dubbing the first 6 episodes. Congratulations, you're now a voice actor!". The panels allowed a lot of insight for fans in how their favorite shows are put together.
DAY 03: Sunday
The last day of the Anime Boston 2011 had come. There was an hour gap between the opening and the main event, which gave time for everyone to mingle, and for lots of cosplay pictures. Cosplay Chess was one of the most popular events, and this year's theme was magic vs science.
The first contestant playing for Team Magic was none other than Link (The Legend of Zelda), accompanied...
| (Click here to read more) | 0 comments |
M.E.W. Con Report
March 31, 2011, 03:52 PM by Krowhop
M.E.W. Con
Manga & Exotic Worlds Convention
Dec. 31, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011
Sheraton PDX Hotel
By SailorKagura
M.E.W.con, which stands for Manga & Exotic Worlds, was over the New Year's weekend at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Portland, OR.
The Cosplay Contest was held early the first afternoon and was ended with a promise of the winners during Opening Ceremonies. Many of the costumes were well-made and appreciated by this long-time convention attendee.
Later the same evening, Opening Ceremonies introduced the convention, explaining its 17+ rule as an excuse to not abide by rules and act like teenagers in a R-rated movie, which was specifically alluded to with a vulgar performance by two cosplayers. The aforementioned Cosplay Contest winners were never announced during, and this reporter left at the conclusion of the ceremonies, having another obligation to attend.
The main highlight--as it should have been for a convention over the New Year's Holiday--was the evening dance and countdown to 2011. The con attendees rallied together in the small dance hall to welcome in the New Year.
Overall, M.E.W.con lacked any real semblance to a well-organized convention. There was a distinct lack of interactive events, which lead to quite a blasé impression for this reporter.
Manga & Exotic Worlds Convention
Dec. 31, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011
Sheraton PDX Hotel
By SailorKagura
M.E.W.con, which stands for Manga & Exotic Worlds, was over the New Year's weekend at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Portland, OR.
The Cosplay Contest was held early the first afternoon and was ended with a promise of the winners during Opening Ceremonies. Many of the costumes were well-made and appreciated by this long-time convention attendee.
Later the same evening, Opening Ceremonies introduced the convention, explaining its 17+ rule as an excuse to not abide by rules and act like teenagers in a R-rated movie, which was specifically alluded to with a vulgar performance by two cosplayers. The aforementioned Cosplay Contest winners were never announced during, and this reporter left at the conclusion of the ceremonies, having another obligation to attend.
The main highlight--as it should have been for a convention over the New Year's Holiday--was the evening dance and countdown to 2011. The con attendees rallied together in the small dance hall to welcome in the New Year.
Overall, M.E.W.con lacked any real semblance to a well-organized convention. There was a distinct lack of interactive events, which lead to quite a blasé impression for this reporter.
| (Click here to read more) | 4 comments |
Aki-Con 2010 Synopsis and Review
November 14, 2010, 06:44 PM by Michi
Aki-Con 2010
This was my third year attending Aki-Con and oddly enough, the first time that I attended all three days. The convention was held in Bellevue, Washington (as opposed to Everett where it had the first two years) and at the Hilton. The first floor of convention was where Main Events, the Cosplay Hall, Gaming, Artist Alley, panel rooms and the viewing rooms were located. The second floor of the hotel was where the Dealer’s Hall, and Manga Library were located. The lobby of the hotel (technically the third floor) had no events for the convention, but still a lot of people met there and where actively engaged in photo shoots there.
Day One (Friday) -
Now, I didn’t get up to the convention until about 5PM on the first day. The first thing that I did after finishing getting my costume on was head down to Pre-Registration to pick up my badge. I had my ID out and ready, as is per the usual for the conventions that I attend. There was no line, which was actually very nice, as I’ve had to stand in many lines for conventions before. When I said I was picking up my badge as press for Anime Seed, they just handed it over, didn’t even bother to check I was who I said I was. That unnerved me just a little bit.
After I got my badge, I signed up for the Costume Fashion Show with my Princess Kakyuu costume. After that, I wandered around just a bit, talking to people I know and meeting new people. Around that time, I met up with Savani, Slowmope and Elferz to get dinner at Blue C Sushi. After dinner, we went back to the convention in time so I could head to Main Events for the Costume Fashion Show. This is the first Convention Hosted event that I’ve participated in since 2006.
First thing first, there weren’t a lot of rules on Aki-Con’s website about the event, so I had no idea what to expect. I got into line for my costume to be judged and right at 9PM (when the event was set to start) they still hadn’t gotten to me, and there was a straggling of people behind me. So, we where shuffled out of sight and lined up in the hallway next to the kitchens. Not exactly the greatest thing for a costume made out of expensive fabrics.
Well, we (the contestants) where not told that we where being judged on performance, so many of us didn’t do much on stage, and that actually hurt our overall points. I was told to say my name, any name whether it be our character‘s name or our real name, and then get off stage, leave the room and if we had things in the back, return to get them. I did, and then went to sit with Savani and Elferz. While the judges (most of which I knew) where tallying the points, they put on some AMVs, most of which where pretty good.
The judges then came back out and the winners where announced. I got sixth with my Princess Kakyuu. I don’t remember who got fourth or fifth. But third with to Stendex with his Dustan from Prince of Persia. Okay, so something better than hand made metal armor had to get second or first. But, no. Second went to Red XIII from Final Fantasy VII and first went to Zoidberg from Futurama. That actually annoyed a lot of us. Even the second place winner said that judging wasn’t right.
After the end of the Costume Fashion Show, myself and Savani went and walked about the convention, having to take it slow because of the crowds and my skirts. About eleven, I headed over to the Free Stage (which is another rant all together) for Besslol’s Whose Line is It Anyway?
Now, the Free Stage was a stage that was located in the middle of the first floor of the convention, in a high traffic area. Which is a bad and dangerous idea. As it could potentially violate fire codes. And if there was an actual emergency, a lot of people could be really hurt in a rush to get to the door. Whose Line was a great success, and I participated in the event for the second convention in a row. For which I had a ton of fun once again.
After that event, Amurika,...
This was my third year attending Aki-Con and oddly enough, the first time that I attended all three days. The convention was held in Bellevue, Washington (as opposed to Everett where it had the first two years) and at the Hilton. The first floor of convention was where Main Events, the Cosplay Hall, Gaming, Artist Alley, panel rooms and the viewing rooms were located. The second floor of the hotel was where the Dealer’s Hall, and Manga Library were located. The lobby of the hotel (technically the third floor) had no events for the convention, but still a lot of people met there and where actively engaged in photo shoots there.
Day One (Friday) -
Now, I didn’t get up to the convention until about 5PM on the first day. The first thing that I did after finishing getting my costume on was head down to Pre-Registration to pick up my badge. I had my ID out and ready, as is per the usual for the conventions that I attend. There was no line, which was actually very nice, as I’ve had to stand in many lines for conventions before. When I said I was picking up my badge as press for Anime Seed, they just handed it over, didn’t even bother to check I was who I said I was. That unnerved me just a little bit.
After I got my badge, I signed up for the Costume Fashion Show with my Princess Kakyuu costume. After that, I wandered around just a bit, talking to people I know and meeting new people. Around that time, I met up with Savani, Slowmope and Elferz to get dinner at Blue C Sushi. After dinner, we went back to the convention in time so I could head to Main Events for the Costume Fashion Show. This is the first Convention Hosted event that I’ve participated in since 2006.
First thing first, there weren’t a lot of rules on Aki-Con’s website about the event, so I had no idea what to expect. I got into line for my costume to be judged and right at 9PM (when the event was set to start) they still hadn’t gotten to me, and there was a straggling of people behind me. So, we where shuffled out of sight and lined up in the hallway next to the kitchens. Not exactly the greatest thing for a costume made out of expensive fabrics.
Well, we (the contestants) where not told that we where being judged on performance, so many of us didn’t do much on stage, and that actually hurt our overall points. I was told to say my name, any name whether it be our character‘s name or our real name, and then get off stage, leave the room and if we had things in the back, return to get them. I did, and then went to sit with Savani and Elferz. While the judges (most of which I knew) where tallying the points, they put on some AMVs, most of which where pretty good.
The judges then came back out and the winners where announced. I got sixth with my Princess Kakyuu. I don’t remember who got fourth or fifth. But third with to Stendex with his Dustan from Prince of Persia. Okay, so something better than hand made metal armor had to get second or first. But, no. Second went to Red XIII from Final Fantasy VII and first went to Zoidberg from Futurama. That actually annoyed a lot of us. Even the second place winner said that judging wasn’t right.
After the end of the Costume Fashion Show, myself and Savani went and walked about the convention, having to take it slow because of the crowds and my skirts. About eleven, I headed over to the Free Stage (which is another rant all together) for Besslol’s Whose Line is It Anyway?
Now, the Free Stage was a stage that was located in the middle of the first floor of the convention, in a high traffic area. Which is a bad and dangerous idea. As it could potentially violate fire codes. And if there was an actual emergency, a lot of people could be really hurt in a rush to get to the door. Whose Line was a great success, and I participated in the event for the second convention in a row. For which I had a ton of fun once again.
After that event, Amurika,...
| (Click here to read more) | 1 comments |
Yaoi Con Synopsis and Review
November 12, 2010, 09:11 AM by Krowhop
Yaoi Con 2010
October 29th - 31st, 2010
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
This anime convention is rated 18+, as per California penal code section 313-313.5313. The con has some very strict rules, and code of conduct. There is zero tolerance for violations. Which is good. It keeps the children OUT. ^_^
I arrived a day in advance in hopes of seeing a bit of San Francisco. Unfortunately, the convention site was further away than I realized, and didn't get to see the city. There were a lot of local attractions, but none of the action really started until the convention itself started.
The line to get a badge, in spite of not having pre-registered, was VERY short. This could be because I was there early, or good planning on their part. From everything I saw, compared to other anime conventions, it was just good planning. They were very organized, and everyone seemed to be on the same page. Even if that page was "Oh, I don't' know, go talk to THIS person!" Everyone was agreed on who WOULD know.
Friday morning, before the convention started, there was an open 'Swap Meet' where both fans and some artists had their work on display, for trade and for sale. There were some REALLY good steals in there, as well as items for sale for fans, and charity alike. One man was selling calenders to help fund raise for aids research, where in the same room Hamlet Machine was showing off her wonderful yaoi webcomic.
The Carnival was also open on Friday, pre-con, where you could buy a game card, and win tickets for prizes. Of course, this being the convention it was, it was not just any carnival, but one where you were 'distracted' by the men working there. The ring toss was amusing, to say the least.
Friday evening was Opening Ceremonies, where famous mangaka Hinako Takanaga(Bukiyou na Silent, Challengers, Love Round, The Tyrant Falls in Love, Little Butterfly) was introduced, along with seiyuu(voice actors) Hidenobu Kiuchi(Ruroni Kenshin, Monster, Darker than Black, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, and Prince of Tennis) and Ryoutarou Okiayu(FullMetal Alchemist, Bleack, Prince of Tennis, Fruits Basket, Gundam Wing, Kizuma, Gravatation, D.Gray-Man, D.N.Angel).
Following opening ceremonies was 'Bishie Bingo', where attendees could purchase a bingo card, and play. There were many prizes available, not to mention they could select one of the 'bishies' on display to remove an article of clothing. Within reason, of course.
The dealers room was a little crowded, but there were a lot of different booths so finding something you'd like was easy. I never managed to make it to the manga library or the game room, there was just too much to do.
Saturday, the anime music video contest was amazing. I found myself literally laughing out loud, and crying, by turn. The AMV's I at first thought would be horribly annoying made me smile, and the ones I thought were boring brought me to tears. Overall, it was a very well put on show, and congratulations to those who participated.
That night was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, presented on screen, and preformed live. There was lots of audience participation, pulling everyone who hadn't gone to a public showing before on stage. These were the 'virgins' of the night, as designated by the giant 'V's drawn on their faces with lipstick. If you lucked out, you got the lipstick without the lip stain!
The show was very nice. What I remember of it. There was a lot of orange juice being shared that night. Lots of new friends made. The cast even had an 'after party' for those they made friends with. The after party went until approximately 6am.
Sunday morning there was a Bishie Brunch, where you could be served and waited on by the bishies. Most shared a table with those they didn't know, but it wasn't long before friends were made. After all, you know you already have something in common!
Closing Ceremonies was sweet, with last minute raffle that turned into more than a minute. Also, the last few items...
October 29th - 31st, 2010
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
This anime convention is rated 18+, as per California penal code section 313-313.5313. The con has some very strict rules, and code of conduct. There is zero tolerance for violations. Which is good. It keeps the children OUT. ^_^
I arrived a day in advance in hopes of seeing a bit of San Francisco. Unfortunately, the convention site was further away than I realized, and didn't get to see the city. There were a lot of local attractions, but none of the action really started until the convention itself started.
The line to get a badge, in spite of not having pre-registered, was VERY short. This could be because I was there early, or good planning on their part. From everything I saw, compared to other anime conventions, it was just good planning. They were very organized, and everyone seemed to be on the same page. Even if that page was "Oh, I don't' know, go talk to THIS person!" Everyone was agreed on who WOULD know.
Friday morning, before the convention started, there was an open 'Swap Meet' where both fans and some artists had their work on display, for trade and for sale. There were some REALLY good steals in there, as well as items for sale for fans, and charity alike. One man was selling calenders to help fund raise for aids research, where in the same room Hamlet Machine was showing off her wonderful yaoi webcomic.
The Carnival was also open on Friday, pre-con, where you could buy a game card, and win tickets for prizes. Of course, this being the convention it was, it was not just any carnival, but one where you were 'distracted' by the men working there. The ring toss was amusing, to say the least.
Friday evening was Opening Ceremonies, where famous mangaka Hinako Takanaga(Bukiyou na Silent, Challengers, Love Round, The Tyrant Falls in Love, Little Butterfly) was introduced, along with seiyuu(voice actors) Hidenobu Kiuchi(Ruroni Kenshin, Monster, Darker than Black, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, and Prince of Tennis) and Ryoutarou Okiayu(FullMetal Alchemist, Bleack, Prince of Tennis, Fruits Basket, Gundam Wing, Kizuma, Gravatation, D.Gray-Man, D.N.Angel).
Following opening ceremonies was 'Bishie Bingo', where attendees could purchase a bingo card, and play. There were many prizes available, not to mention they could select one of the 'bishies' on display to remove an article of clothing. Within reason, of course.
The dealers room was a little crowded, but there were a lot of different booths so finding something you'd like was easy. I never managed to make it to the manga library or the game room, there was just too much to do.
Saturday, the anime music video contest was amazing. I found myself literally laughing out loud, and crying, by turn. The AMV's I at first thought would be horribly annoying made me smile, and the ones I thought were boring brought me to tears. Overall, it was a very well put on show, and congratulations to those who participated.
That night was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, presented on screen, and preformed live. There was lots of audience participation, pulling everyone who hadn't gone to a public showing before on stage. These were the 'virgins' of the night, as designated by the giant 'V's drawn on their faces with lipstick. If you lucked out, you got the lipstick without the lip stain!
The show was very nice. What I remember of it. There was a lot of orange juice being shared that night. Lots of new friends made. The cast even had an 'after party' for those they made friends with. The after party went until approximately 6am.
Sunday morning there was a Bishie Brunch, where you could be served and waited on by the bishies. Most shared a table with those they didn't know, but it wasn't long before friends were made. After all, you know you already have something in common!
Closing Ceremonies was sweet, with last minute raffle that turned into more than a minute. Also, the last few items...
| (Click here to read more) | 4 comments |
Animeland Otaku Mex Synopsis and Review
September 30, 2010, 04:04 AM by Krowhop
Animeland Otaku Mex
Sept 24-26, 2010
Mina
AnimeSeed Synopsis and Review
GENERAL--Mina
Small conventions are always a nice release from the stress of major conventions. OtakuMex is no exception. From its intimacy of being able to actually speak to guests and staff members (and not feel unworthy or like they are too busy) to full-con sing-alongs during karaoke, OtakuMex provides a sense of nerd-closeness that many in the area had never had the chance to experience prior to. When I attended the first OtakuMex two years ago, it was dubbed as “ghetto-fabulous”, now I believe it has the great potential to become “fabulous”. As with all cons, it has its speed-bumps, but I have seen the desire in the staff and con-goers to improve and leap over any future problems. I hope to be able to return in future years, and hope to see it grow into something wonderful.
FRIDAY
Cosplay Etiquette--Sydney
Because of local issues during last year’s Albuquerque conventions, it felt necessary to host this panel. It went over the do’s and don’ts of Cosplay Etiquette, from glomping to hygiene, cosplay manners to dealing with ‘normals’. It was well-received by those present, though I felt it was under-promoted due to its scheduling immediately preceding Opening Ceremonies. Those in attendance welcomed the previously unknown information to New Mexico based cosplayers and some had advice they were willing to share with one another.
Opening Ceremonies--Mina
Most unique opening ever and one I will soon not forget. From the start, the con was Rick- Rolled. One of the guests, Warky the Chocobo, performed a cover of the song with lyrics based on the convention and con-activities. The guests were introduced one by one and we were informed Opening Ceremonies was over. I felt the official-ness of the Opening Ceremonies was lacking, but it certainly left an impression of what the con was to be: casual and fun. It was quite unlike most of the major conventions I have attended in the past, and was well-appreciated.
“Anime One Night Stands with Uncle Yo”--Mina
Uncle Yo is a stand-up comedian focused on gamers, nerds, otaku, and the-like. I attended his panels and laughed the entire way through. His “Anime One Night Stand” panel was amusing, yet informative. He went through a list of series—both old and new—that are short enough to watch in a short period of time. He mentioned series such as Baccano!, Beserk, FLCL, and even Rin: Daughters of Mnesmoyne. He endeared the crowd during the last few minutes to suggest their favorite “one-night-stand” series.
“Yaoi: What is it?”--Sydney
Hosted by the locally-proclaimed “Queen of Yaoi,” this 18+ panel held nothing back. It started with basic explanations of what “yaoi” is, though most in the audience already knew. She followed up with example scenes and trailers of upcoming and favored yaoi’s. But, the piece de resistance was the audience interactive game of “Sex or Not?”. During which the Queen showed a manga sound effect and the audience had to guess if it was related to a sex scene, or not… at least, at the moment. It was creative and entertaining for those present.
SATURDAY
Cosplay Masquerade--Mina
A major event at any convention, the hype and excitement for OtakuMex’s Cosplay Masquerade was tangent for both contestants and audience alike. Though it had some difficulties leading up to the convention, the two wonderful judges stepped up to the challenge and delivered an amazing event. The contestants consisted of a wide-variety of talents and skills; all should be proud of their work. As a contestant, it was a little stressful to not know what was going on at times, particularly before pre-judging. The Masquerade itself was a little lacking in prepared skits; however the impromptu ones performed were welcome entertainment.
Hetalia: Historical Hilarity--Mina
One cannot get away from Hetalia at an anime convention. An...
Sept 24-26, 2010
Mina
AnimeSeed Synopsis and Review
GENERAL--Mina
Small conventions are always a nice release from the stress of major conventions. OtakuMex is no exception. From its intimacy of being able to actually speak to guests and staff members (and not feel unworthy or like they are too busy) to full-con sing-alongs during karaoke, OtakuMex provides a sense of nerd-closeness that many in the area had never had the chance to experience prior to. When I attended the first OtakuMex two years ago, it was dubbed as “ghetto-fabulous”, now I believe it has the great potential to become “fabulous”. As with all cons, it has its speed-bumps, but I have seen the desire in the staff and con-goers to improve and leap over any future problems. I hope to be able to return in future years, and hope to see it grow into something wonderful.
FRIDAY
Cosplay Etiquette--Sydney
Because of local issues during last year’s Albuquerque conventions, it felt necessary to host this panel. It went over the do’s and don’ts of Cosplay Etiquette, from glomping to hygiene, cosplay manners to dealing with ‘normals’. It was well-received by those present, though I felt it was under-promoted due to its scheduling immediately preceding Opening Ceremonies. Those in attendance welcomed the previously unknown information to New Mexico based cosplayers and some had advice they were willing to share with one another.
Opening Ceremonies--Mina
Most unique opening ever and one I will soon not forget. From the start, the con was Rick- Rolled. One of the guests, Warky the Chocobo, performed a cover of the song with lyrics based on the convention and con-activities. The guests were introduced one by one and we were informed Opening Ceremonies was over. I felt the official-ness of the Opening Ceremonies was lacking, but it certainly left an impression of what the con was to be: casual and fun. It was quite unlike most of the major conventions I have attended in the past, and was well-appreciated.
“Anime One Night Stands with Uncle Yo”--Mina
Uncle Yo is a stand-up comedian focused on gamers, nerds, otaku, and the-like. I attended his panels and laughed the entire way through. His “Anime One Night Stand” panel was amusing, yet informative. He went through a list of series—both old and new—that are short enough to watch in a short period of time. He mentioned series such as Baccano!, Beserk, FLCL, and even Rin: Daughters of Mnesmoyne. He endeared the crowd during the last few minutes to suggest their favorite “one-night-stand” series.
“Yaoi: What is it?”--Sydney
Hosted by the locally-proclaimed “Queen of Yaoi,” this 18+ panel held nothing back. It started with basic explanations of what “yaoi” is, though most in the audience already knew. She followed up with example scenes and trailers of upcoming and favored yaoi’s. But, the piece de resistance was the audience interactive game of “Sex or Not?”. During which the Queen showed a manga sound effect and the audience had to guess if it was related to a sex scene, or not… at least, at the moment. It was creative and entertaining for those present.
SATURDAY
Cosplay Masquerade--Mina
A major event at any convention, the hype and excitement for OtakuMex’s Cosplay Masquerade was tangent for both contestants and audience alike. Though it had some difficulties leading up to the convention, the two wonderful judges stepped up to the challenge and delivered an amazing event. The contestants consisted of a wide-variety of talents and skills; all should be proud of their work. As a contestant, it was a little stressful to not know what was going on at times, particularly before pre-judging. The Masquerade itself was a little lacking in prepared skits; however the impromptu ones performed were welcome entertainment.
Hetalia: Historical Hilarity--Mina
One cannot get away from Hetalia at an anime convention. An...
| (Click here to read more) | 0 comments |
Kumoricon 2010 Report
September 28, 2010, 10:22 AM by Krowhop
KumoriCon Report
September 4-6, 2010
SailorKagura
Kumori-Con—Hetalia: Axis Powers Screening
Todd Haberkorn, the English dub voice actor for Italy, was in attendance at Kumori-Con to present the Hetalia: Axis Powers anime dub screening. Adorable and enthusiastic, he heartily welcomed the crowd and excitedly recognized the Hetalia cosplayers present. He requested they show themselves off to the crowd… even if they were the only one there of that character, like Canada. He welcomed the audience to the screening and even indirectly addressed the satirical issues that had been upsetting some in the fandom by saying: “If one of you takes offense, all of you should take offense.” He further explained that the dub endeavored to leave no stereotype behind, rather focusing on insulting them all, in good jest. The first six episodes of the dub were shown, and with each ending Maru Kaite Chikyuu, the crowd burst into a sing-along. Todd worked his way back on stage to perform impromptu dancing, thrilling the crowd and inspiring the AV techs to start up the rave lights each time. It was easily one of the most amusing performances to date seen at a convention. It kept the panel mood light-hearted, which is what the series is meant to be. Following the screening, Todd answered questions the audience had for him concerning the series or himself as a voice actor. The only issue came from the audience itself during this portion of the panel. Though excited, many in the Q&A line asked questions irrelevantto Hetalia and many requested hugs or autographs; it seemed like an inappropriate time for such requests. Todd was more than willing, but seemed as if he wanted to answer questions pertaining to his work as Italy rather than his other works. Many questions were overtly similar, which quickly became irksome. The line continued to grow, even as the panel was nearing its last allotted minutes. Many in the line did not seem to notice, or care, and kept trying to line up even while the staff was attempting to cut the line off. Overall, the Hetalia: Axis Powers screening was thoroughly enjoyable and a highlight of the Kumori-Con 2010 experience.
Meanwhile, feel free to visit their site.
September 4-6, 2010
SailorKagura
Kumori-Con—Hetalia: Axis Powers Screening
Todd Haberkorn, the English dub voice actor for Italy, was in attendance at Kumori-Con to present the Hetalia: Axis Powers anime dub screening. Adorable and enthusiastic, he heartily welcomed the crowd and excitedly recognized the Hetalia cosplayers present. He requested they show themselves off to the crowd… even if they were the only one there of that character, like Canada. He welcomed the audience to the screening and even indirectly addressed the satirical issues that had been upsetting some in the fandom by saying: “If one of you takes offense, all of you should take offense.” He further explained that the dub endeavored to leave no stereotype behind, rather focusing on insulting them all, in good jest. The first six episodes of the dub were shown, and with each ending Maru Kaite Chikyuu, the crowd burst into a sing-along. Todd worked his way back on stage to perform impromptu dancing, thrilling the crowd and inspiring the AV techs to start up the rave lights each time. It was easily one of the most amusing performances to date seen at a convention. It kept the panel mood light-hearted, which is what the series is meant to be. Following the screening, Todd answered questions the audience had for him concerning the series or himself as a voice actor. The only issue came from the audience itself during this portion of the panel. Though excited, many in the Q&A line asked questions irrelevantto Hetalia and many requested hugs or autographs; it seemed like an inappropriate time for such requests. Todd was more than willing, but seemed as if he wanted to answer questions pertaining to his work as Italy rather than his other works. Many questions were overtly similar, which quickly became irksome. The line continued to grow, even as the panel was nearing its last allotted minutes. Many in the line did not seem to notice, or care, and kept trying to line up even while the staff was attempting to cut the line off. Overall, the Hetalia: Axis Powers screening was thoroughly enjoyable and a highlight of the Kumori-Con 2010 experience.
Meanwhile, feel free to visit their site.
| (Click here to read more) | 1 comments |
Anime Expo 2010 Report
July 22, 2010, 01:29 PM by Michi
Anime Expo 2010
Los Angels, California
LA Convention Center
July 1–4, 2010
by Michi
Stats have not been released yet for number of attendees for 2010 Anime Expo.
For the convention itself, when I went to Anime Expo (AX), it was with the pretense of expectations of previous years, and prior conventions. The pre-registration line was only 2 1/2 hours, less than I honestly expected-some people waited in line upwards of 6. There were not a lot of cos players on day 0(Wednesday), which was very surprising, compared to other past experiences with cons.
Day 1-Thursday
I spent a lot of this day in the dealers hall, wandering around, looking at things. There were a lot more dealers than tend to be at other cons. A lot older, more serious merchandise, old school and classic things. There were a lot of photographers, so lots of random on-site photo shoots too. (on this day I cosplay'd Zechs Marquise-Gundam Wing)
Day 2-Friday
Today I spent more time in the con area itself, but not any panels. Would have, but the lines were just too long. The lines at AX are horrible, for everything....except the bathroom, which is kinda important. Not really a line for them, which does sometimes happen at conventions, but there were lots of people at the mirrors. No wait for the toilet though, at least for the girls.
I stopped briefly by the game room, at least part of it. Basic arcade room, lots of really good games, even ParaParaPraradise. I was able to talk with a lot of people from other places today, one girl who was from Germany (total sweetheart) who is going to UW. (Today I did a cosplay of Russia-Hetalia)
Day 3-Saturday
This was the main day, and there were a lot of VERY impressive costumes. There was a Tokyo Pop bus was outside south hall lobby, just really cool, there was a 'spin me' wheel by it, possibly a contest of some kind, but it was so packed that I never managed to make it over. Lots of steet vendors selling things outside-water, ice cream, basic LA stuff. Visited the dealers hall again, and was stopped a lot more for pictures. Only event I did manage to go to was not under jurisdiction of AX-but it was very well run and put together.
Cosplay Chess was a mess. People were literally walking out. It was boring, dull, it just didn't have enough interaction between the 'chess pieces'. For the amount of time you waited in line to attend the event, it was NOT worth it. (This day I was dressed as Princess Kakyuu-Sailor Moon)
Day 4-Sunday
Today I expected it to be slower, and didn't cosplay, a mundane cloths day. It was still surprisingly busy, for a last day. Lots of 'deals' going on at the booths in the dealers hall. It was the last day, and so a lot of the dealers were just looking to clear out their merchandise. A lot of people being 'draggy' about things, seeming either hung over or overly tired. It tends to happen on the last day, as Con is catching up with people. Also, this day, a constant concern is Con Funk. For AX, it really wasn't that bad. It helped that some of the dances were outside in the Nokia Pavillion, and main events were in the Staples Center.
For main events, you did have to BUY tickets for them, on top of 80$ at door for the standard badge. Usually at conventions, if there are ticketed events, it is only to make sure fire codes are not broken, but this con is probably the only one you would have to PAY for the tickets at.
I already have plans to go again next year, it really was amazing. My favorite part of the whole convention was interacting with all of the people there, from all over the world. Alternately, my least favorite things was the people, some were really rude, and it made things difficult. I honestly wouldn't change anything though, no matter what you do the lines will be hell, there is just too many people-at least, for lines. Overall, the convention was very well run, and obviously the people in charge knew what they were doing. End grade? 7/10
Los Angels, California
LA Convention Center
July 1–4, 2010
by Michi
Stats have not been released yet for number of attendees for 2010 Anime Expo.
For the convention itself, when I went to Anime Expo (AX), it was with the pretense of expectations of previous years, and prior conventions. The pre-registration line was only 2 1/2 hours, less than I honestly expected-some people waited in line upwards of 6. There were not a lot of cos players on day 0(Wednesday), which was very surprising, compared to other past experiences with cons.
Day 1-Thursday
I spent a lot of this day in the dealers hall, wandering around, looking at things. There were a lot more dealers than tend to be at other cons. A lot older, more serious merchandise, old school and classic things. There were a lot of photographers, so lots of random on-site photo shoots too. (on this day I cosplay'd Zechs Marquise-Gundam Wing)
Day 2-Friday
Today I spent more time in the con area itself, but not any panels. Would have, but the lines were just too long. The lines at AX are horrible, for everything....except the bathroom, which is kinda important. Not really a line for them, which does sometimes happen at conventions, but there were lots of people at the mirrors. No wait for the toilet though, at least for the girls.
I stopped briefly by the game room, at least part of it. Basic arcade room, lots of really good games, even ParaParaPraradise. I was able to talk with a lot of people from other places today, one girl who was from Germany (total sweetheart) who is going to UW. (Today I did a cosplay of Russia-Hetalia)
Day 3-Saturday
This was the main day, and there were a lot of VERY impressive costumes. There was a Tokyo Pop bus was outside south hall lobby, just really cool, there was a 'spin me' wheel by it, possibly a contest of some kind, but it was so packed that I never managed to make it over. Lots of steet vendors selling things outside-water, ice cream, basic LA stuff. Visited the dealers hall again, and was stopped a lot more for pictures. Only event I did manage to go to was not under jurisdiction of AX-but it was very well run and put together.
Cosplay Chess was a mess. People were literally walking out. It was boring, dull, it just didn't have enough interaction between the 'chess pieces'. For the amount of time you waited in line to attend the event, it was NOT worth it. (This day I was dressed as Princess Kakyuu-Sailor Moon)
Day 4-Sunday
Today I expected it to be slower, and didn't cosplay, a mundane cloths day. It was still surprisingly busy, for a last day. Lots of 'deals' going on at the booths in the dealers hall. It was the last day, and so a lot of the dealers were just looking to clear out their merchandise. A lot of people being 'draggy' about things, seeming either hung over or overly tired. It tends to happen on the last day, as Con is catching up with people. Also, this day, a constant concern is Con Funk. For AX, it really wasn't that bad. It helped that some of the dances were outside in the Nokia Pavillion, and main events were in the Staples Center.
For main events, you did have to BUY tickets for them, on top of 80$ at door for the standard badge. Usually at conventions, if there are ticketed events, it is only to make sure fire codes are not broken, but this con is probably the only one you would have to PAY for the tickets at.
I already have plans to go again next year, it really was amazing. My favorite part of the whole convention was interacting with all of the people there, from all over the world. Alternately, my least favorite things was the people, some were really rude, and it made things difficult. I honestly wouldn't change anything though, no matter what you do the lines will be hell, there is just too many people-at least, for lines. Overall, the convention was very well run, and obviously the people in charge knew what they were doing. End grade? 7/10
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