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Meet Okouchi Ichiro, veteran screenwriter for many popular shows such as AZUMANGA DAIOH, UCHUU NO STELLVIA, RAHXEPHON and KIDOU TENSHI ANGELIC LAYER!
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A luscious Lisa (now dressed as Li Kouran from SAKURA TAISEN) can't pass up a chance to snuggle next to the man who developed the series concept for ANGELIC LAYER, one of her all-time favorite anime titles!
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After one gape at Lisa, it's no wonder that Ichiro-san adds the phrase "Be My Only Angel" while autographing her ANGELIC LAYER DVD insert cover! At the Tomokazu panel, they even recognize her as Lisa "Hot Mama" Bay!
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After a nearly 2-hour wait, I make it into the over-capacity panel for mega-seiyuu Seki Tomokazu! Though my seat's located towards the back, I sneak up close enough to capture Gai's voice actor from NADESICO flashing his memorable Gekiganger III sign!
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Sensing the need to watch each other's back, San from MONONOKE HIME and Helena from DEAD OR ALIVE team up to take down all the dirty and stinky otakus in the Exhibit Hall (and trust me, there are some foul ones swirling around)!
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While San growls away from some perverted hentai nearby, Helena confidently charms the camera with a regal pose (not to mention some leg action)!
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San quickly loses her rage when she doesn't smell anything but well-practiced hygiene coming from this photographer!
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Self-defense doesn't seem to be a concern for this graceful Kasumi from DEAD OR ALIVE, however! As a Kunoichi (female shinobi) trained in the Mugen Tenshin martial arts style, she is ready to handle any foes that cross her path!
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Soon Kasumi readily drops her guard as well, sensing the honest integrity of the stranger before her... still, maybe I should be a tad disappointed that she couldn't find me at least *a little bit* threatening!
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According to their mom, these kids stomping around with Geneon's interactive floor projection system are Princess Sissy and Clara from POWER INSTINCT MATRIMELEE (a NeoGeo game).
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If you're ever in Little Tokyo (Los Angeles), you MUST seek out the fabulous Anime Jungle shop, run by the super friendly Shiota Tetsu! Just don't let his yakuza-style goatee fool you!
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MIQ (or the artist formerly known as MIO) has performed theme songs for several classic anime, such as GUNDAM 0083 ~ STARDUST MEMORY and AURA BATTLER DUBINE! Unfortunately, anime is a youngster's hobby, so sadly very few folks show up for her signing!
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How tough is it for Masao Maruyama? He's president and founder of the legendary MADHOUSE STUDIOS, which has produced countless hit titles from NINJA SCROLL to METROPOLIS! But with his autograph session just before Seki Tomokazu's, he basically earns a bonus hour to nap!
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At the close of his panel, Tomokazu-san has a stampede of frothing fan girls rampaging their way to his autograph line (nearly sending me and many other innocent bystanders to the infirmary)! But I manage to survive and get a cel signed!
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Still licking my wounds from the Seki Tomokazu riot (I definitely think that running in front of the bulls in Pamplona would have been safer), I spot this cosplaying couple of Gai and Hikaru, paying homage to NADESICO!
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Free to casually browse around the dealers room at last, I come across a fidgety Chii from CHOBITS, who gets flustered when a female pedestrian in the background shoots a smile at the cameraman!
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A little perturbed by the previous distraction, this Chii insists on a photo retake! I didn't realize that a Persocon could develop such sophisticated human emotions (like envy) so soon!
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Make way for this huge MBF-PO2 Gundam Astray Red Frame mobile suit mecha from GUNDAM SEED! This guy towers above practically everyone in the Exhibit Hall (and I have no idea how he's going to navigate it)!
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Continuing the heavy metal parade is this detailed Alphonse Elric, the suit of armor with the soul of a young boy trapped inside (from FULL METAL ALCHEMIST)!
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I hope you stay indoors my friend, because if you spend more than 10 minutes outside in the blazing July sun... then someone just might have to whip out the Jaws of Life and pry you out!
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Guess who's going to make Anime Expo their own personal Wonderland? It's Sumire from FUSHIGI NO KUNI NO MIYUKI-CHAN!
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When CLAMP decides to develop a flower fairy character, you already know that she won't fit the traditional image of a fantasy sprite!
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Perhaps I've just awakened into a new World, because now I see Subaru, the virtual leader of the Scarlet Knights from .hack//SIGN!
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Although I would love to help you search for this Key of yours, I think that it's time to log out and check back into reality... Besides, there's already a bunch of role-players behind me ready to pick up your IP address!
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Maybe the Persocon I saw earlier was actually Freya (the "dark" Chii), since this dainty belle is much more reserved and soft-spoken, as Eruda (the true Chii) should be!
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Listen, we're not going to get very far if you answer all my questions with just "Hideki", "Chii?" or "Pantsu!" There might be a booth here that can provide you with what you want (although the SPJA probably banned them by now), but I need another clue here!
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That's quite alright, Rabi-En-Rose, but I'm really not interested in hearing your latest P-Diddy hip-hop remix of ~Party Night~ for the next DI GI CHARAT!
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The moment I accidentally address her as Usada Hikaru (the character's real name), the smile instantly freezes up... And I brace myself for an uppercut that will launch me out of the Exhibit Hall!
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