As you probably have guesse by now, anime is another huge passion of mine. This weekend I plan on attending Anime Expo, North America's biggest anime convention to date. So here's a list of my top 7 things to look forward to, enjoy!
7. Trigun Anime Director/Creator Staff Panel:
Trigun was one of the first animes I ever fell in love with, thus Vash and Wolfwood were also my first anime boy crushes. The series/movies creators, Satoshi Nishimura and Yasuhiro Nightow, will both be gracing Anime Expo as official guests of honor. So you can only imagine why their panel deserves a spot on this list.
6. Robot Chicken Panel:
Another series that I am definitely a big fan of! The Robot Chicken panel will include one of the masterminds behind the stop motion cartoon, Seth Green. This series is one of my favorites on Adult Swim, so knowing that the creators will be on a panel at AX makes me even more stoked to go!
5. Model Contest:
Gundam building is another hobby that I have taken up over the years. While it can be painstakingly detail oriented, and semi expensive, the products of my hard work have never disappointed me. I recently finished building my first 1/100 scale Perfect Wing Zero Custom model, complete with wings and interchangeable weapons. While I have been building models for a while, I know I am no expert. Every year at Anime Expo the best of the best come together to show off their best model making skills at the Model Contest for various prizes and the prestigious Anime Expo Model Contest Trophies. It will be nice for a little n00blet like me to see what happens when the pros come to play.
4. Sneak Peek of Live Action Movie, Blood: The Last Vampire
While I am always skeptic when it comes to live action translations of anime movies, this one at least looks a little hopeful. Blood: The Last Vampire is a classic anime thriller, that has amassed wide audiences world wide. At Anime Expo they will be screening the first twenty minutes of the film that is to be released July 10th in limited theaters. The live action movie is being directed by Chris Nahon, who also directed Kiss of the Dragon, while the producers Bill Kong and Abel Nahmias are known for their work on Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, and 11 Commandments. Hopefully with reputations like this behind the people who are bring this movie to life, it wont disappoint audiences and fans of the original movie.
3. Daisuke Iwatari- The Creator of Guilty Gear:
Daisuke Iwatari is best known for being the video game developer of the hit fighting game, Guilty Gear. As a young boy his parents forbid him from enjoying video games, so of course he rebelled and became so interested in video games that he attended a vocational school to become a video game developer. Much like most people in the industry today, he started out as a tester working on a children's game called "Pico", and eventually he created the game Guilty Gear for the PS1. A revolutionary fighting game that was inspired by Iwatari's own thoughts on the improvements of other fighting games. Nowadays Guilty Gear is one of the most popular fighting games to date, and it's a real treat knowing that the original creator will be gracing the halls of Anime Expo.
2. Animaid Cafe:
You know you've heard of them in Japan, the cafe's where the most adorable waitresses dress up as maids to serve you and make you feel like a master while catering to your every need. Well I am pleased to say that the Animaid Cafe at Anime Expo is an American version of this Japanese phenomenon. Hosted by "Funky Fresh Cosplay" the cafe will do shows on an hourly basis at the later hours of the expo and you can bet that I will be there to enjoy an experience that is as close as possible to the authentic Japanese cafe.
1. Masquerade/Masquerade Ball:
As many of you have probably guessed, I am a veteran cosplayer; so the Masquerade Ball is the number one thing on my hit list when it comes to AX. Cosplayer noobs and pros alike come together for this contest in attempts to win prizes and bragging rights. Afterward, a dance ensues and you better believe there is nothing more fun than getting down with your favorite anime and video game characters in costume. The masquerade has always been my favorite event at SDCC and AX, so you can see why it takes the number one spot one this list.
