Anime Expo

[Drake_XIV]

http://www.anime-expo.org/

With it approaching, I just want to know.  Is anybody going at all?  If so, what panels and/or events are you looking forward to?

If not, would you be interested in going if you had the opportunity?

[furballdn]

Not going. Perhaps, maybe, who knows if I would if I could. Let me stay by my computer for now.

[Drake_XIV]

Day 0 -

Got up at  to line up at registration 5:00 a.m.  The sun is barely out but people are already lining up for the doors to open in ten hours.  I don't blame them.  I'm doing that too.

A few rounds of various card games and my group is bored.  I pull out my 3DS and launch PKMN White.  A few people in the Union Room.  I sate my boredom by teaching them what it means to play Pokemon.  I hope I have not crushed their spirits at 7:00 a.m.

The first hours are bad, but much better than what is to come.  By noon, the sun is beating down and the ice cream vendors taunt those in line with their over-priced ice cream.  I give in.

Didn't get in until 3:00 p.m. to get 4-day badges.  Got home and blanked out for 12 hours afterwards?  Worth it?  My Sigilyph says yes.  That and my coupon for a free order of Tentacle Grape.

[Drake_XIV]

Day 1 -

First day of the actual convention.  I take the first train into L.A.

It's a warm morning, but the inside of the convention center is cool.  And riddled with cosplayers.  First one I see?  Fiddlesticks [for you LoL players] jumping around on these spring loaded mechanisms fitted in his shoe.  And Pyramid Head encroaching on some poor soul.  I know today will be a good day.



Time goes by and more cosplayers flood in.  Mostly Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica and Vocaloid stuff.  No one recognizes me in my red shirt.  But then we come across THE BEST COSPLAY IN THE WORLD.



Perfect, right?  Well, the exhibit hall leading to the many vendors and artists is still closed and the "interesting" panels have yet to begin, so that leads to more wandering.  And then Kyubey.



Said something about a contract.  Couldn't tell.  Some pink-haired chick named Madoka shot him.



So, more wandering.  Even more wandering.  So many Vocaloid and Hetalia cosplayers.  And this guy.



After the panels, some curry, and a few more "mature" panels, the night is upon the convention and something about the guy in the trenchcoat behind me tells me I should head home...

[Rutarete]

Man, those pictures make me miss you guys even more! Tell them 'hi' for me if you remember.

[Annele]

You the guy is purple? Looks fun. Here I am, sitting in my bed in little ol' New Zealand, with nothing on but tourist attractions.
Lucky Americans.

[Pineapple]

Would go, but in East Coast.

[Drake_XIV]

I'm actually in none of the pictures.  I plan on getting better pictures NOT taken by my 3DS.

And while it is held in LA, a majority of the expo goers are out of state.  I'd like to say only 10% are from CA.

[Drake_XIV]

Day 2-

I head out yet again in my red shirt and beanie.  I must remain in character.

The first thing I attend is a panel called Ani-Riffs.  I had initially thought it would be on J-Rock or something, but it turned out to be some guy complaining about a badly dubbed anime that came out a few decades ago.  One, it's bad because it is DUBBED.  No one watches dubbed seriously.  Two, his voice was just annoying...

Decided to cool off in a Manga Workshop.  It may have been 2 hours on lectures about how to draw faces, but I honestly enjoyed it.  Although I wish I could say the same about people around me.  Especially when PedoBear appeared on their submission for an attempt at a human head.

After that, I hit Artist Alley.  For those who don't know, this is where all the independent artists set up their booths and sell off their work.  And it is where I discovered my weakness.  Hard-copy fan art.  It's so much different than just seeing it on paper and sketched out than seeing the online scans.  So much that I am now currently down $120.

Took a break for Brawl, but there was tournament, foiling my plans at losing to the many competitive Brawl players there.

After some curry and some HORRIBLE AMVs, I take the first train home.

[Drake_XIV]

Day 3-

Has anybody figured out who I'm "cosplaying" as yet?

In any case, there was yet another Manga Workshop.  This time on the build and balance of a human body.  These 2 hours were just as entertaining as they were enlightening.  Feel free to interpret my interest as you wish.

After fooling around and getting lunch, I attended a concert.  LiSA.  Apparently it is her U.S. debut.  After an hour and a half of listening to her, which wasn't bad as she did have the chops and it was enjoyable, I returned to the main of the convention.  I didn't feel like taking pictures.  It's a Sunday.  Not really a day to do much.

Soon, I found myself in a hall with a couple thousand chairs.  It was time to tell the winners of the AMV contests.  Here's a few of my favorites that have been uploaded.

[Drake_XIV]

Skipping Day 4 because frankly, it was just me buying stuff.

For those who are not aware, I FOUND MENMA!

Spoiler for Hidden: