Anime Expo
#1
Out of curiousity and great enthusiasm, I finally made it to AX today.
Ended up kind of disappointed.

The main exhibition hall is only about 70% occupied. Only 30% of the hall is occupied by the studios, ADV, Geneon, Tokyopop, Bandai, Media Blasters etc. While their designs are really great and professional, all the other 'stalls' are just like what you see in an ordinary market fair.

I've never been to an anime convention/expo before so I didn't really know what to expect.

Geneon had an autograph signing session. Long queue. Bandai had "muscle man" competition. If you are able to hit the bell way high above, you get a prize. Viz had a "manga money" competition. Enough manga money collected, you get a free prize. Tokyopop 'threw' out autographed mangas at the crowd.

Geneon staffs were really friendly. Full of smiles and readily answered questions. ADV staffs, only a couple were nice. The rest had the "don't approach me" look on their faces. One of the girls, threw a pen at me and said," If you want a free price, sign up for Newtype Mag now!". Hehe...I walked away. Viz front desk attendants were too busy chatting with each other. They practically ignored the people who were asking them questions.

As for buying, I thought that maybe I'll be able to get some pre-releases from each studio. However, most of the stuffs they were selling there, *shrug*, either I have already gotten them or seen them. If you are looking for sweet deals, forget it. All the DVDs or Boxes are priced only $2-$3 lesser than MSRP. I was going to get a brand new WHR Ltd Ed box coz don't know which a$$ at home tore the corner of the box by a tiny bit. Dang...they are selling the box for $100-$120. Bandai employee said," Oh! It's at this price because it's totally OOP! The S-cry-ed box is $70 because it's OOP too. We only have 1 left!" "Any .Hack//Sign box?" I asked. "NOPE! We don't even have that in stock anymore. Sold the only and last one on the first day of the expo at $200!" Luckily, I already have all those.

As for anime screenings, the only one I went to see is Nasu: Summer in Andalusia. The rest, except for Flame of Recca, seen them before. My bloody roommates didn't want to go watch it coz they were so bored with the exhibition and wanted to go home.

The only thing I enjoyed looking at are the cosplayers. Oh man! I saw guys dressing as Chii. Almost died laughing. There were so many Narutos around. Narutos with black hair, Narutos in jeans and t-shirt. The best of them are sailor moons with spare tires and thunder thighs. Saw a few Kenshin. The one who left me with the deepest impression was the one with patchy red curly hair. I walked past him and SHEESH....I was thinking to myself, TAKE A GODDAMN SHOWER! It's chilly in the convention center, I can't think of a reason why would he smell like that.
The funniest one was, there's this girl who dressed up as Maria from a hentai series. The old lady at the food condiments kiosk asked her who was she impersonating. The girl told her. The old lady was like," Sweet Jesus. You are porno anime star?" Then the old lady walked away quickly, leaving her kiosk unattended.

I guess that's about it. Spent only 1.5hr-2hrs there. Went with purse full of cash and ready to max out the credit cards. Came back with nothing......hehehe.

Highly doubt that I would be returning next year. It's a good experience anyway.
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Messages In This Thread
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-05-2004, 01:50 AM
Anime Expo - by tsunami - 07-05-2004, 10:47 AM
Anime Expo - by r00ster - 07-05-2004, 11:41 AM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-05-2004, 12:07 PM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-05-2004, 12:14 PM
Anime Expo - by Robojack - 07-06-2004, 07:14 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-06-2004, 07:18 PM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-06-2004, 08:18 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-06-2004, 08:27 PM
Anime Expo - by Robojack - 07-06-2004, 08:35 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-06-2004, 08:45 PM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-07-2004, 04:46 AM
Anime Expo - by Zagatto - 07-07-2004, 05:55 AM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-07-2004, 09:26 AM
Anime Expo - by Jiro Komyoji - 07-07-2004, 09:38 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-07-2004, 09:41 AM
Anime Expo - by tsunami - 07-07-2004, 09:50 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-07-2004, 09:58 AM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-07-2004, 10:53 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-07-2004, 11:25 AM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-07-2004, 11:29 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-07-2004, 12:08 PM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-07-2004, 02:25 PM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-07-2004, 03:00 PM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-08-2004, 10:39 PM
Anime Expo - by hbk101 - 07-09-2004, 12:06 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-09-2004, 04:17 AM
Anime Expo - by Nina182B - 07-09-2004, 08:32 AM
Anime Expo - by kristym22 - 07-09-2004, 08:45 AM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-09-2004, 09:20 AM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-09-2004, 10:35 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-09-2004, 12:09 PM
Anime Expo - by Nina182B - 07-09-2004, 12:42 PM
Anime Expo - by hbk101 - 07-09-2004, 12:54 PM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-09-2004, 12:58 PM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-09-2004, 02:29 PM
Anime Expo - by Japschin - 07-09-2004, 03:32 PM
Anime Expo - by lucien - 07-09-2004, 04:03 PM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-09-2004, 06:42 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-09-2004, 10:03 PM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-10-2004, 10:25 AM
Anime Expo - by kristym22 - 07-10-2004, 11:32 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-10-2004, 01:19 PM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-10-2004, 04:03 PM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-11-2004, 08:23 AM
Anime Expo - by Vicious - 07-11-2004, 09:54 AM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-11-2004, 11:13 PM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-12-2004, 01:18 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-12-2004, 06:45 PM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-13-2004, 04:48 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-13-2004, 08:43 AM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-13-2004, 08:58 AM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-13-2004, 10:58 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-14-2004, 02:05 AM
Anime Expo - by Nina182B - 07-14-2004, 05:24 AM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-14-2004, 07:43 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-14-2004, 10:22 AM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-14-2004, 10:41 AM
Anime Expo - by morgorath - 07-14-2004, 12:12 PM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-14-2004, 02:30 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-14-2004, 07:22 PM
Anime Expo - by Batik - 07-06-2004, 07:10 PM
Anime Expo - by Andromeda18_ - 07-10-2004, 01:25 PM

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