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shirenomadHere's your answer. I didn't have the endurance or the cash to spend all four days there (much less cough up for a hotel room), so I decided to go Monday only, which had the masquerade, less crowds, someone who could transport me, and absolutely nothing else going on that day that could interfere with my ability to attend. Naturally, to try to ruin that last factor, as of Sunday I was still recovering from feeling sick and groggy all the past week, and it wasn't until that evening that I was sure I was feeling well enough to attend the next morning.
I got there well before Allen and Christina were so much as mobile, though I briefly saw Ted and Nora in line for the vendor hall to open (suckers; by noon you could get in without any wait). So after registration I checked out a panel or two (I skipped the anime showings, reasoning that I could get 95% of them off of either AnimeSuki or NetFlix and watch the entire series beginning to end on my own time). Nothing all that interesting, though the AMV workshop was entertaining, and I figure if you've got to miss the AMV contest (back on Saturday), that was the next best thing.
The half of my afternoon not spent in line (see below) was spent amidst the vendors. Despite excessive levels of Cool Stuff, I nearly got out with only two CDs... and then I saw it. All six volumes of Akira... for FIFTY BUCKS. For those not familiar with the print version of Akira, these are not normal manga; these are weighty, 200-300 page illustrated novels, and they normally cost $25 to $30 PER. This batch (along with lots of other less-interesting manga) was discounted heavily due to warehouse clearance and being in slightly less than mint condition. I didn't give a crap about the latter; I fully expect to do at least as much damage to them the first time I read them. I walked out with the entire series. Between those, the CDs, food, and the entrance fee itself, there went my entire July discretionary income in a single day, but oh well...
The main event for Monday was the "masquerade," which consists of cosplayers getting up on stage, showing off their costumes, and usually doing some sort of act. You can participate with just a walk-on, but that usually gets minimal applause unless your costume is truly amazing, and you aren't going to qualify for the "best performance" awards. Anyway, getting in was a real hassle -- standing in line for two hours to get tickets, then another hour to get into the show, thus absorbing the majority of the afternoon -- but I've got to admit it was an excellent performance. And they actually started on time! The highlights:
Photos to come. None of the masquerade itself, though; the lighting was horrible for photo taking, especially from where I was sitting.
Although he doesn't read this, my thanks to Jeff for the ride there and back.
I got there well before Allen and Christina were so much as mobile, though I briefly saw Ted and Nora in line for the vendor hall to open (suckers; by noon you could get in without any wait). So after registration I checked out a panel or two (I skipped the anime showings, reasoning that I could get 95% of them off of either AnimeSuki or NetFlix and watch the entire series beginning to end on my own time). Nothing all that interesting, though the AMV workshop was entertaining, and I figure if you've got to miss the AMV contest (back on Saturday), that was the next best thing.
The half of my afternoon not spent in line (see below) was spent amidst the vendors. Despite excessive levels of Cool Stuff, I nearly got out with only two CDs... and then I saw it. All six volumes of Akira... for FIFTY BUCKS. For those not familiar with the print version of Akira, these are not normal manga; these are weighty, 200-300 page illustrated novels, and they normally cost $25 to $30 PER. This batch (along with lots of other less-interesting manga) was discounted heavily due to warehouse clearance and being in slightly less than mint condition. I didn't give a crap about the latter; I fully expect to do at least as much damage to them the first time I read them. I walked out with the entire series. Between those, the CDs, food, and the entrance fee itself, there went my entire July discretionary income in a single day, but oh well...
The main event for Monday was the "masquerade," which consists of cosplayers getting up on stage, showing off their costumes, and usually doing some sort of act. You can participate with just a walk-on, but that usually gets minimal applause unless your costume is truly amazing, and you aren't going to qualify for the "best performance" awards. Anyway, getting in was a real hassle -- standing in line for two hours to get tickets, then another hour to get into the show, thus absorbing the majority of the afternoon -- but I've got to admit it was an excellent performance. And they actually started on time! The highlights:
- Avenue Q was huge this year. First it dominated the humor category in the AMV contest, according to Allen. Then the masquerade starts off with an "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" to discuss stereotyping of the Crystal Chronicles races ("what, just because I'm a Liltie, I have to do all the front line fighting?") A few skits later, some series I didn't recognize but that's apparently heavy on the shounen-ai subtext did "If You Were Gay." Around skit 15, Brad DeMoss (the evening's co-host) announces that the next one is about Konoha getting Internet access; this immediately triggers a mixed wave of reactions from the audience, to which DeMoss responds, "Yes, I think we all see where this is going." (But there are few characters in anime more suited to play Shreky in that song than Jiraiya.)
- Simple and to the point: happy music from Kingdom Hearts plays. Sora comes out, childishly licking an ice cream bar. ...Then he drops it. The music abruptly shifts to the "you're dead, game over" theme as he tragically lifts his lost friend from the ground, mourning it with all his heart... Suddenly, over the speakers comes (a really good imitation of) Mickey's voice: "Remember the five second rule, Sora!" Sora's eyes light up, and he starts licking away again as he leaves.
- With little information on what we're about to see, DeMoss introduces the "Tonkatsu Brothers". Onto stage charge two guys wearing giant Pocky boxes. We cheer... and then our cheers turn to horror as they toss aside their boxes and the music starts up. "G! R! Double-E! N! LEAVES!" Yup, they were in the leaf underwear. Yup, they danced through the entire song.
- "Nintendon'ts" goes through a brief history of Mario and Luigi games (with, of course, the two of them on stage) before explaining that the "true turning point" came with Smash Brothers (nearly half the cast of Melee takes the opportunity to charge across the stage, to some serious cheering). "Then, came Smash Smash Revolution!" (Cue a few cast members dancing awkwardly.) "Then, Metal Gear: Solid Sheik!" (Cue Link calling Sheik over the radio and giving orders.) "Then, the first Nintendo MMORPG: World of Nintendo!" (All the cast comes out, stands around, and starts talking about random stuff at the same time. At this point Pikachu decides enough is enough, charges into the middle, and thundershocks the lot of them.)
- Out onto the stage comes Terra, Celes, and Relm, to face Kefka, as they begin re-enacting the pre-final battle sequence. Kefka gets the initial drop on them, and it looks like all is lost! Then in comes Setzer... in Mickey Mouse ears. "Sorry I'm late, but I got souvenirs for everyone; let me tell you, Disney knows how to treat a fellow..." Everyone breaks from combat and starts complaining about how such a minor character got into Kingdom Hearts 2; they're all much better choices. Finally they all storm off, expect for a confused Kefka. Setzer pulls him aside, tells him that Disney says Sephiroth isn't working out and they need a new villain, and that they'd like to use him. "What would I do?" "Oh, maim, destroy, burn stuff, the usual." Kefka grins evilly and puts on Setzer's mouse ears.
- Not all of them were silly, of course: there was a well-choreographed re-enactment of a scene from Resident Evil 4, which I thought deserved more credit that it got in the final judging, and an awesomely constructed Totoro that included two little Totoro dolls trailing behind (on wheels) and, we found out later, its own air conditioning for the person inside. Also, a costume of a character I didn't recognize, but it was made entirely of duct tape.
- But the performance that brought the house down, and that eventually got Best of Show, started as a "Card Captor Sakura" skit. The creator of the Clow Cards (haven't seen enough of the show to know his name) comes on stage in robes, along with the four elemental Clows (very well done costumes, incidentally). He gives a brief speech about how they are the four most powerful cards, etc., and then he talks about how he will merge their powers with his own to make them even greater. Suddenly, a familiar tune starts up on the speakers, as each card sounds off... "Earth!" "Fire!" "Wind!" "Water!" The creator adds "Heart!" and starts pulling off his robes as he announces that by their powers combined, he is (*pose in tights*) CAPTAIN PLANET! And everyone dies laughing as they all dance to the theme song.
Photos to come. None of the masquerade itself, though; the lighting was horrible for photo taking, especially from where I was sitting.
Although he doesn't read this, my thanks to Jeff for the ride there and back.
