Razorclaw X's Look at Anime Expo '99 (7/19/99) ---------------------------------------------- Didn't really do a whole lot there but sit in video rooms.... I even missed the concert. Friday Got to the hotel at around 7am, and got in line. I was with seven other people, one who was without preregistration (!), so he had to go to a separate line. And of the eight of us six had costumes (I was one of the other two). We were almost at the front of the line, even, and my buddies were making a show there (with flip sticks, juggling Pokeballs, or just yelling out "You're on my team!" to anyone in costume). Someone came by and was handing out flyers for something that was going on next week, so one member of the group (the one who juggled the Pokeballs) made claws out of them-- which I used to annoy them with. After getting our badges we headed up to our room for about a couple hours, while the six guys got into costume (meanwhile, I was itching to get to the dealer room), and ended up staying there for a couple hours. Incidentally, the costumes consisted of: Dan, Ash, Chuji-wu (Tobal), James (he accidentally left his Pokeball at home but he still had his rose), Happosai (not very convincing), and Genma. Odd combination, yo... and they wanted to get in the Masquerade. I had no idea what they were planning. While they were registering for their spot in the Masqerade, I submitted my music video (to this day I'm sure it didn't air, because I didn't even go to it-- see below). Anyway, we eventually parted when I discovered there was a gaming tournament I wanted to attend. While the others decided to go to the dealer room, I chose to enter the Power Stone tournament that was at noon. Needless to say, I was yet again delayed on my trip to the dealer's room. The Power Stone tournament was pretty small... only thirty-odd people, I think, and most of the people didn't know how to play the damn game (I, of course, HAD played it, because a local arcade had it). I watched the brackets go by, and I gaped in horror at the lousy playing I was seeing (and because that meant whoever I was pitted against may be one of the good players). I got into a friendly conversation with one guy next to me, and we pointed certain things out to each other (we both thought one guy who picked Wangtang-- a Ranma-lookalike and Goku-wannabe character, would win... but lost instead). Eventually I got my turn, I picked Ayame (Japanese cutie who turns into a pink ninja, and my usual character despite being an utter weakling), and ripped up the first guy. My second opponent actually turned out to be someone who went to my high school, but I ripped him apart too. Third match never happened; since there was an odd number of people, I was last-man-out. Fourth match I actually got to play against one of the good players... and I ripped him to shreds too. The others were jabbing ribs at me at about how I thought I was going to lose. Final match turned out to be against the guy I talked to earlier-- he used Galuda (that's how it's spelled), and it was a VERY close match-- I lost in the third round because of time-out! Anyway, it was fun and exhilerating; too bad I didn't win. And NOW I finally made it to the dealer's room. And, after two hours of running around in it, all I had to show for it was a CD and a set of Magmar Japanese Pokemon cards from the Squirtle Guy's booth. I met my buddies off and on here and apparently they've already eaten (I hadn't). So for the next few hours I went to the video rooms (forgot what I saw on Friday except for the Saber Marionette J OAV-- which rocked, even if it didn't explain a thing about Tamasaburo and Baiko (SPOILER), or even why Lime calls Baiko 'Uma-chan'-- it's not that hard to imagine 'Tama-chan'), and didn't get back with my pals until around 10 (they went back to their room and went to sleep) and we all went to the dance party. I left a little early to catch 'Ninja Ressurection,' but it wasn't impressive. Saturday Watched Pokemon on the local station, and their touted music video sucked hard. Checked the video room schedule and noted that Saber Marionette J to X was going to be on at 1:30 pm. Headed for the dealer room to kill time. Got in line for Masquerade tickets at noon, and by 1pm the line still hadn't moved. By 1:20 I got so restless and fed-up that I left to watch SMJ2X. The opening was great, but the ep sucked. Still, this turned out in my favor later on (see below). Later watched the second ep of the SMJ OAV, and I yelled out "MOUSSE!" when a guy appeared on-screen that looked exactly like him. Also watched Sakura Taisen, Slayers: Dragon Slave, and Nadesico: Prince of Darkness (even though it wasn't subbed, it was hilarious). Got out of Nadesico at around 5:15pm, and walked down the street to the nearest Carl's Jr. Got back to the hotel at 6pm, just as my pals were leaving for Masquerade (they requested to be last by the con-directors). So I killed time and slipped into the Fanfic Panel to listen to fanfic writers who didn't read fanfics ^_^ I left and slipped back into my room at 7pm, played one roommate's Playstation Rival Schools (he wouldn't know because he was at the Masquerade). Nearing 8pm I went back down to the room where the fanfic panel was held to await the simulcast of the Masquerade, and several other people trickled through as well. It turned out to be the longest wait from hell. The Masquerade didn't get going until 9:45pm, during which time the video guys in my room were running back and forth to the Masquerade techs and telling us what was wrong (the board got fried, and apparently it was being run by someone who hadn't slept in THREE days). Sound was a bastard because it kept losing, but the gang in the room faked it anyway. We absolutely loved Pen-pen and the Evangelion/Austin Powers skits ("One million dollars is more than one million yen, Mr. Gendo..."). I picked out the winners (the robot suit, Pen-pen, and the Eva/AP, and the two little girls, were the ones I picked and they all won something). My groupies came on last, and well... thought the fight was well-done, it was rather lame (they excel in fight scenes). They didn't win a thing (oh, shame :P) The Music Video contest was to be held after the Masquerade, and, being intolerable and irritable at waiting for the Masquerade, screwed it over. At midnight I slipped into the video room and caught a couple of Dirty Pair fandub spoofs (the first one was about capturing Carl Macek, who was being held by Exedore (heh), and the second at Disneyland. The best part was the first one-- Kei and Yuri blew up Bablyon 5 section-by-section, and when the last part went it became DS9 ^_^). Lumbered back into my room after the second one was over, and violently jerked awake by my roommates (they came in at 3am acting drunk). I was so pissed by this that I got up and left, hitting the video room AGAIN (they were still showing spoofs). Among other things watched Shin Getta Robo OAV 1 (nostalgia...! I want more!) and Idol Project 1 and 2 (personally I liked Shion; it's got a lot of ecchi scenes (especially the end of part 2 when a bunch of muscles (the sea crature) jumped out of the sea and latched themselves onto the girls in weird spots), but gads, it was funny). Sunday At 8am caught Pretty Sammy vol.3-- it was okay. After that everything became inconsequential because I'd lost my badge somewhere, and I wasn't willing to get another one when I was going to leave soon, so I left. Conclusion The convention seemed a bit disjointed (especially the Masquerade wait), and I barely attended a panel at all. I spent most of my time in the video rooms, and I have nothing to show but a CD and a couple Magmar cards (incidentally my favorite Pokemon). I will remember next time to get my own room, so I won't have to sleep on the floor again.