Yaaay, I'm finally back from Anime Expo!! <33 Overall, I had a really great time, and honestly, leaving behind the sunshine was enough to make me wish that I didn't have to fly back to Tokyo so soon.. ^^;;

I spent most of the con trying to find out where things are (the map was TERRIBLE and LA convention center staff were quite rude/unhelpful), and then rushing from one thing to another or from one person to another, or going out trying to find supplies that we hadn't gotten yet. Busy busy!! I feel kind of bad that I troubled friends for telephone numbers and then didn't have any chance to make calls. ;o; Our hotel was the Westin Bonaventure, which was GORGEOUS!! Although there was a free shuttle, it was still pretty far from the convention center, which I didn't really like. I wish that they'd put it back in Anaheim!! <3<3 But at least the main events theatre was really awesome this time around! I'd missed that. =D

I was completely shocked that the big winner by sheer numbers of cosplay was Vampire Knight. I had no idea that it was so popular!! :O It was kind of like the Chiis from back in 2001/2/3/etc.. Except that it takes actual work to make a Vampire Knight costume! Just wooooow. o.o I must have seen at least one cosplayer in the school uniforms every 5 minutes that I was walking around. XD Unfortunately, other than two so-so Altos and one CUTE Ranka, I didn't see any Macross F cosplayers. Maybe it's too new? There was very little in the way of Gundam 00 too, although I'd been under the impression that it was really popular. But I think that I just get Japan (where it's insanely popular) mixed up with America sometimes. Vampire Knight is only mildly popular here. And sadly, I didn't see a Kodomo no Jikan cosplayer.. not that I'd really expected one.. (but can't help but hope!) ^^;;

It was really weird being at AX without my usual crew... Elvy, Athy, and Nav, I missed you!! :O California without you is like... sushi without tons of wasabi... still yummy, but somehow missing something! I did get the chance to meet with a lot of friends, though! ^^ Sosiqui (sorry I didn't get to call you!), Alie (ditto!), Trisha (I can't wait until you come to visit!), Kato (ditto!), Chris (WOW awesome coincidence! I wish we could have talked longer!), Jenn (OMG so happy I saw you!!), Nori (So glad that I finally met you! Erin talks about you all the time :)), Sunny (So surprised!!! WAI!), Mew (kya! Happy happy!!), and of course wonderful Kei-chan whom must have been fed up with our constant perusal of her booth :3.

I'm not sure what to say other than I revived my interest in cosplaying x 1000%!! And I'm not sure if I want to go back next year due to poor showings of the Maquerade and unfair treatment at the Shokotan concert (which was enjoyable nevertheless though I'd never heard of her before). I really, REALLY wish that I could go to ComicCon this year though. With the new ElfQuest movie announcement and 30th anniversary, you have no idea what I'd give to be there!!! :O Maybe next year, if I can talk some people into going with me!! (Karen and Jon? Wally? AZ trio? Japan ppl? Anyone??)


YAY!!


This was the industry/press-only panel about the future of fansubs.. It was really interesting to hear what people in the different businesses are thinking, though I didn't always agree with them. I do agree however, with the statement that someone made, "illegal fansubs will always exist, unless you make them unnecessary." I actually could talk about this forever, and I have a million ideas on how the anime industry could handle this better (at least on the japanese side), but I think that's best for a separate post. What do you think?


Otaku in Crime at the Karaoke All-stars performance. ^^ At center-right is my friend Trisha, whom I was really close with while she lived in Japan. Please come back!! ^o^ At far-right is Alie, whom is part of my US-cosplay group, O². Speaking of which, I really want to do something together again!! You should all come to Japan and stay with me for a while!!! :3












Starting on the weird... Here is ME in my first costume... a girl-Hallelujah from Gundam 00! Mwahahhaa!! I was supposed to act crazy and all...




Here is dilettantka as girl-Tieria. Check out the special red eyes!


We met some new friends in the dealer's room... =D


Bandai was sponsoring a Host Club! LOL!! I had no idea that I'd taken a picture of a friend until much later on.. XD




Pac-man goes on a rampage!!


I actually thought I would never miss green tea... but I was so wrong. I had to stop for free drinks here!! ToT




Gundam 00 gathering commence!! Girl&boy Tieria, girl-Hallelujah&boy-Allelujah! =D








The despair of Lockon.. XDXD


It's RANKA LEE!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! Why was she the only one??? ToT




LOL Ummmm... Erin decided at the last moment that she wanted to be Nadleeh..


I love Louise!!! <3<3<3 So even though Halle might not.. XD I DO!!






She made SUCH an awesome Alle!! I must say, we're quite the pair.. :3






LOLOL I don't know!!




I actually love this shot and the next one... :3




LOL now come one, this is almost canon!! XD These two were great =D


Possibly the best expression EVAR. =D




I'm touching your... balls... >.>;;


Gundam helps give Lockon what he's missing..!!


Halle x Nadleeh..?


The two Setsunas were so cute!!!! <3








C'mon he would have a camera too!! =D Somehow this seemed appropriate!


Nadleeh/ee970 says it all. =D


Tieria's secret feelings..


Picture from the official arts....


?????


Do you see why I love Louise??? ^o^


OMG FINALLY!!! Xel/Zel was my first yaoi OTP, and it was here for the taking!! these girls were so nice, humoring me by letting me take their picture together.. :3 :3 :3


These are totally for you, Robin!!!! If you're out there still!! <3<3 (miss you!) If it wasn't for you, I would have never became a yaoi fan all those years ago... ^^




Me and Eda/ Halle and Tieria fooling around with the camera again. =D




Nice expression!


??? Nice-Halle does not compute..


Yes the girls rule in Gundam 00!!










I found a cute Hatsune Miku!! =D




And this Matsumoto became my new friend when she let me take a picture like this :3 Seriously..... maybe I should look for her email address somewhere! :3 :3 :3


I really want to watch Gurren Lagan now.... ToT




In the elevator. =D


Eda in her yukata for the 4th of July. ^-^


Me in mine. ^-^ I've had it since last summer and never worn it until I got to America!! LOL go figure! XD






I had no idea that Wendy Pini, the artist of ElfQuest, was going to be at AX!! What an awesome coincidence!!! She was so nice, too! It was really a nice surprise! ^^


Yay Orihime in her SS outfit!! Yaay! I want to cosplay this ^^




Enjoying the outdoor patio/swim area of the hotel. ^^






Kabaji (ee970), Gakuto (lj user=dilettantka>), and Oshitari (me!)


Gakuto hams it up. :)




Oshitari is a bit more subtle with his sexiness... :P OK, I feel weird saying that about myself. ^^;;


Theoretically, I was blowing bubble, but no bubbles got in the photograph! XD Erin was definitely blowing them!


The Oshitari series.. =D




Kabaji is looking mighty Kabaji today... XD


Back at'cha!


Sonic!! They were so awesome!!! I didn't realize that that girl in front is Sally until I got home, though! I wish I had realized, she is my favorite!!!!! <3


Heartless-Sora's eyes lit up... is that not seriously AWESOME??!




A stately pair. =D And so IC.. XD


There are two of me!! :O


Atobe Sandwich XD


Calm for once...?


Gakuto sandwich? O.o I think the filling came out..


Speaking of getting squeezed!! I love this picture of me and Jen!! XDXDXDXD!!


Me and Wendy Pini ♥ It was so great to finally get to meet her.. ^^ I wish her luck!! I wonder if she was scared by my costumed tallness.. XD


All of the booths were quite boring, sadly... ToT














Tetris!!! =D


Yeah... I'm not sure, either..


I LOVE THESE TWO ♥♥♥♥♥ I saw them from a mile away and stole them away from their Bleach group to take pictures together.. I LOVE how nice people are about that nowadays!! ^^




It was quite warm out (105?) but there was no humidity so it was actually quite nice feeling!! <3<3








Heheheeee Nori as Atobe. She was a great Atobe!!




This is Shokotan at her concert... It was my first time hearing of her, so I wasn't all that interested in seeing her, but I picked up 3rd row tickets in the press office (there aren't many perks but there are a few!). My overall impressions of her are: 1. average voice, though a bit squeaky. She's not that great of a singer (though on the GL op, she sounds better... but live is very tinny), and 2. she has a very addictive personality. She was so endearing, the way that she talked in ways that a normal person would, as opposed to a star on stage.. I found myself thinking that she seemed really sincere, and like she might be a good type of friend to have. ^^ Of course, it might have had to do with the fact that she romped out dressed in a Yoko (GL) costume halfway through.. >.> (I certainly wouldn't mind if my friends did that!).


Sexy-jutstu!! XD Yay for Naruto... actually, I've never watched it outside of one episode and the musical a few years ago...


More Bleach goodness!!


I don't know who the guy Eda wanted to pose with is... Just that he's a Gundam character...


Shugo chara!! I was really (pleasantly) surprised!! <3


Speaking of pleasant surprises! I completely randomly ran into Chris, who is a friend from college!!!!! So awesome!! ♥


Kei-chan in her booth of awesome! <3<3 Thank you so much for everything!!


Beautiful sunsets in L.A......


If you look closely at Gakuto's toes...


Banner in the main hall...


From the masquerade: Konpachi!! XDXDXD I laughed so hard!! The masquerade was overall a big let-down, but there were a few really funny skits. ^^


I loved this guy's Kite costume. WOW!!!! O.O


More pretty buildings. ^^


Me and Kato. ^^ LOL it was hilarious, Eda had actually taken a picture with him earlier, and had no idea that he was an old friend of mine! XD Next time he comes to Tokyo we'll have to hang out as a group-- and I promised to eat japanese this time! XD






These round skyscrapers are actually our hotel ^^ Svelte, ne? ^^


The japanese coast from the airplane~~^^


It was with great sadness that I bid sunny and friendly CA goodbye. -.-;; Adeiu, adios, mata ne... xie chien au revoir, until I spend a lot of money to see you again..