Anime Expo 2007
OK I'm going to try and do this to the best of my remembering: It will be like being there! Only not really.
Thursday June 28
We finish packing and hit the road around 10:30am after aiming for 9. Next year, we should plan on leaving an hour earlier than we really should leave, thus allowing us to leave on time. A long car-ride and a stop at Flying J and the Dinosaurs BK later, we arrive in Long Beach. The hotel is on the marina, we can smell the ocean salt in the cool breeze (omg like 72-75 degrees nice weather) and the sweet tart of the room. Wait...what? Yes, you heard me. The room was PUNGENT and smelled of SWEET TART. And it continued to do so every time it was cleaned. On that note--the cleaning people were awesome.
We check in, unpack a little, and all squeeze into Steve and Janet's car for the 20-min drive to the Convention Center. A lot of u-turning involved. And $8 in parking. We prepare for horrendous line to get our badge since Expo is still to inept to get us our badges in the mail on time (note: they arrived later on the day we left, or maybe the day after. Greg got them in the mail) but surprisingly, the lines are very short and we're in and out like that *snaps*.
We walk around the area (there are more stairs than I care to remember) and look at our program guide. The area is pretty but everything is really spaced out. The convention center itself is half the size of Anaheim but we have the whole thing to ourselves so yay. Then we leave back to the hotel, drink sinful concoctions of mountain dew and watermelon rum and go to bed.
Friday June 29
My first workshop: Copic for beginners. Enlightening. Much fun and art abuse ensues. Also, my first panel: Galaxy Angel! This one Aaron attends with me and he wins a raffle for a box set of collector cards and DVD of which contents we still are not sure. We get to see a preview of the new Galaxy Angel II (Rune) and stickers and a pretty headband and light pen. Yay for my first panel I loves me the free stuff. Also we hit up Dealers Hall: a big stuffed Mokona and the pre-release DVD (it's supposed to come out on July 7 they said) of Galaxy Angel Rune. AMV SUCKED. Not like last year, where the videos were of a low calibur, but we waited in line and in seating for a total of 3 - 3 1/2 hours after which was announced that someone with "sticky fingers" had gotten into the host's laptop bag and as a result they only had the AMTV category to show us. The videos were good (even the Utena one, may she die in hell) but the whole thing was a big freaking disappointment. We didn't go the rescheduled show which was in the Terrace Theatre at 9am the next morning. After that, back to hotel and to sleep.
Saturday June 30
More Dealers Hall, some more swag. Saw 2 movies, which were played in the theatre, which was teh awesome! Death Note (live action, btw) and Death Note: the Last Name. Both were fantastic. These were based off of anime based off of manga, as I understand. Looking forward to seeing the anime since it's supposed to be even better than the movies (said the guy yelling it in the theatre anyway). No main event, so mostly spent in Dealers Hall, movies, and walking everywhere in between. Also, taking pictures. Also, someone made a SUMMONING STONE (full size, from WoW if you're like "wtf?") and we got a pic of Aaron and I "summoning". OMG we are teh dorky. Tried to attend a Copic inking workshop but it was filled with really annoying kids so I left early...also this was when I think we did the Blood + panel and got lectured on downloading anime by Crispin Freeman.
Sunday July 1
Notable events include: the panel on voice-acting which was halarious and really fun to watch. If they do the same thing next year I might even volunteer to try it out ^_^. Also, the showing of episodes 1 & 2 of Romeo X Juliet which we had already downloaded (gasp) but I never got to see. It has definite potential and there were some AWESOME cosplayers there. Did the advanced Copic workshop (which was a lot better than the previous) and finally broke down and bought some more markers. Let's see...Dealers Hall...more swag. Ooh! Masquerade night. Great show (minus cottage-cheese-kneed Utena) with only a few hitches (during which was the camera-phone light show + flash attack) We cut out after the half-time show (pirates vs. ninjas skit omg funny) to catch the 3'rd ep of Hellsing Ultimate. However it was already so crowded that they weren't admitting anyone else and we ended up missing both the judging and the pic ops at the end of Masquerade. This was depressing, however we were all tired so we just went straight back to the hotel.
Monday July 2
Got up early to catch Kimba the White Lion. Turns out it wasn't the movie, but episodes of the show, which really wasn't that great. We left after 1 ep and got breakfast at a cafe in the Westin. Did Dealers Hall: last chance for deals. Will detail everything in a separate swag list to save time here. Then we packed up and went home. It all goes by so fast. On a last note: I didn't mention the Artist Alley specifically as we browsed here and there all days. It was great, and we picked up some really beautiful pics.
SWAG LIST:
big plushie Mokona
Anko in kimono figurine (from Naruto)
Cassandra figurine (from SoulCalibur)(a gift from Joe)
Galaxy Angel Rune dvd 1 (we find out later this contains only 1 episode >;<)
Le Chevalier D'Eon dvd 1
Cromartie Highschool boxset (a b-day gift for Miller)
Witchhunter Robin boxset
Those Who Hunt Elves boxset
24-pc wallet set of Copic Ciao markers + .3mm inking pen (JOY)
Galaxy Angel Beta manga vol. 1-3
Bleach messenger bag (now Aaron is cool like me, Joe, and Miller)
from the Artist Alley: a pic of Link, and a random pic of pretty anime leafy green chick (shoulda got the artist name on both these but *shrug* hindsight is 20/20)
Free stuff: a loooot of posters, post-cards, pin, headband, lightpen, collector card box
That about covers this Expo. Aaron posted some pics already. Next year is up in the air since it will be at LA Convention Center which is right in the middle of gang territory ghetto town, or so people say. Working on getting a hotel that's close (since there are no connecting ones) so we won't get gang-raped in our costumes on the way to the Con. We'll see how that goes. >.>
(Last note: saw a couple random animes in the viewing rooms, none of which were impressive. The guys did catch some previews they liked while I was in the Copic workshops, the most notable being called "Pumpkin Scissors". We'll see where that one goes ;))
That's all for now. I have some pics of Tink's wedding I'll post as soon as I transfer them over to this computer. Ciao!
Thursday June 28
We finish packing and hit the road around 10:30am after aiming for 9. Next year, we should plan on leaving an hour earlier than we really should leave, thus allowing us to leave on time. A long car-ride and a stop at Flying J and the Dinosaurs BK later, we arrive in Long Beach. The hotel is on the marina, we can smell the ocean salt in the cool breeze (omg like 72-75 degrees nice weather) and the sweet tart of the room. Wait...what? Yes, you heard me. The room was PUNGENT and smelled of SWEET TART. And it continued to do so every time it was cleaned. On that note--the cleaning people were awesome.
We check in, unpack a little, and all squeeze into Steve and Janet's car for the 20-min drive to the Convention Center. A lot of u-turning involved. And $8 in parking. We prepare for horrendous line to get our badge since Expo is still to inept to get us our badges in the mail on time (note: they arrived later on the day we left, or maybe the day after. Greg got them in the mail) but surprisingly, the lines are very short and we're in and out like that *snaps*.
We walk around the area (there are more stairs than I care to remember) and look at our program guide. The area is pretty but everything is really spaced out. The convention center itself is half the size of Anaheim but we have the whole thing to ourselves so yay. Then we leave back to the hotel, drink sinful concoctions of mountain dew and watermelon rum and go to bed.
Friday June 29
My first workshop: Copic for beginners. Enlightening. Much fun and art abuse ensues. Also, my first panel: Galaxy Angel! This one Aaron attends with me and he wins a raffle for a box set of collector cards and DVD of which contents we still are not sure. We get to see a preview of the new Galaxy Angel II (Rune) and stickers and a pretty headband and light pen. Yay for my first panel I loves me the free stuff. Also we hit up Dealers Hall: a big stuffed Mokona and the pre-release DVD (it's supposed to come out on July 7 they said) of Galaxy Angel Rune. AMV SUCKED. Not like last year, where the videos were of a low calibur, but we waited in line and in seating for a total of 3 - 3 1/2 hours after which was announced that someone with "sticky fingers" had gotten into the host's laptop bag and as a result they only had the AMTV category to show us. The videos were good (even the Utena one, may she die in hell) but the whole thing was a big freaking disappointment. We didn't go the rescheduled show which was in the Terrace Theatre at 9am the next morning. After that, back to hotel and to sleep.
Saturday June 30
More Dealers Hall, some more swag. Saw 2 movies, which were played in the theatre, which was teh awesome! Death Note (live action, btw) and Death Note: the Last Name. Both were fantastic. These were based off of anime based off of manga, as I understand. Looking forward to seeing the anime since it's supposed to be even better than the movies (said the guy yelling it in the theatre anyway). No main event, so mostly spent in Dealers Hall, movies, and walking everywhere in between. Also, taking pictures. Also, someone made a SUMMONING STONE (full size, from WoW if you're like "wtf?") and we got a pic of Aaron and I "summoning". OMG we are teh dorky. Tried to attend a Copic inking workshop but it was filled with really annoying kids so I left early...also this was when I think we did the Blood + panel and got lectured on downloading anime by Crispin Freeman.
Sunday July 1
Notable events include: the panel on voice-acting which was halarious and really fun to watch. If they do the same thing next year I might even volunteer to try it out ^_^. Also, the showing of episodes 1 & 2 of Romeo X Juliet which we had already downloaded (gasp) but I never got to see. It has definite potential and there were some AWESOME cosplayers there. Did the advanced Copic workshop (which was a lot better than the previous) and finally broke down and bought some more markers. Let's see...Dealers Hall...more swag. Ooh! Masquerade night. Great show (minus cottage-cheese-kneed Utena) with only a few hitches (during which was the camera-phone light show + flash attack) We cut out after the half-time show (pirates vs. ninjas skit omg funny) to catch the 3'rd ep of Hellsing Ultimate. However it was already so crowded that they weren't admitting anyone else and we ended up missing both the judging and the pic ops at the end of Masquerade. This was depressing, however we were all tired so we just went straight back to the hotel.
Monday July 2
Got up early to catch Kimba the White Lion. Turns out it wasn't the movie, but episodes of the show, which really wasn't that great. We left after 1 ep and got breakfast at a cafe in the Westin. Did Dealers Hall: last chance for deals. Will detail everything in a separate swag list to save time here. Then we packed up and went home. It all goes by so fast. On a last note: I didn't mention the Artist Alley specifically as we browsed here and there all days. It was great, and we picked up some really beautiful pics.
SWAG LIST:
big plushie Mokona
Anko in kimono figurine (from Naruto)
Cassandra figurine (from SoulCalibur)(a gift from Joe)
Galaxy Angel Rune dvd 1 (we find out later this contains only 1 episode >;<)
Le Chevalier D'Eon dvd 1
Cromartie Highschool boxset (a b-day gift for Miller)
Witchhunter Robin boxset
Those Who Hunt Elves boxset
24-pc wallet set of Copic Ciao markers + .3mm inking pen (JOY)
Galaxy Angel Beta manga vol. 1-3
Bleach messenger bag (now Aaron is cool like me, Joe, and Miller)
from the Artist Alley: a pic of Link, and a random pic of pretty anime leafy green chick (shoulda got the artist name on both these but *shrug* hindsight is 20/20)
Free stuff: a loooot of posters, post-cards, pin, headband, lightpen, collector card box
That about covers this Expo. Aaron posted some pics already. Next year is up in the air since it will be at LA Convention Center which is right in the middle of gang territory ghetto town, or so people say. Working on getting a hotel that's close (since there are no connecting ones) so we won't get gang-raped in our costumes on the way to the Con. We'll see how that goes. >.>
(Last note: saw a couple random animes in the viewing rooms, none of which were impressive. The guys did catch some previews they liked while I was in the Copic workshops, the most notable being called "Pumpkin Scissors". We'll see where that one goes ;))
That's all for now. I have some pics of Tink's wedding I'll post as soon as I transfer them over to this computer. Ciao!