AX Day 0

I'll try the same thing I did last year and do posts for each day that I have gone. I'll try and make this short since I got home later than I thought and still need to do preps for tomorrow (e.g. getting lists of stuff to buy, getting my food ready, readying my bag, etc.) Summary as follows:

• Was planning to be there @ 3'ish, my cousin suggested to lounge around at Little Tokyo for an hour or so, hoping that the line will be lessened later in the day...
• get there around 4:30'ish, and the line is quite a bit longer than I thought (longer than last years, due to each person needing to pick up his/her badge themselves). Perspectively, we were in line for 2.5 hours but wasn't as bad as one would think since the line was constantly moving. And majorily in the shade; no burning of peoples skins!
• Several already cosplaying. As some might see on figure.fm by now, a Celty cp was found! I can cross off the first name on my list! Will do so after doing this post.
• Quickly checked the programming and noticed not only that there is no arcade room this year, but that the number of rooms used this year have been reduced. Most of the North convention Area isn't being used. Hoping it's not a sign that the event is increasingly suffering each year *knock on wood*

That'll be it for now. Need to do my prep'ing up!

Only a few hours away from making a trip down to pick up our badges. I had a bit of free time right now to post this bit of pointless information... most preparation is good for tomorrow and the next days, which will be definitely finalized tonight.

In addition, I was flipping through morning news channels just to see if they'd be doing any coverage and came across a bit on KTLA 5 this morning, interviewing the CEO (and suprisingly it's a white dude. Wasn't expecting that). Showed off some cosplayers, which I almost turned away from, but stuck through. Featured cosplayers of Haruhi, Reimu, Sheryl, Cecil, and a few others I didn't recognize. I think one of them was Vampire Hunter D.

Ok then. Another post to be done tonight.

Near pre-expo final thoughts...

well, I was going to make a  'rant' about how AX has been performing these past few years but I second-thought it and instead of doing some long post, I'll summarize that their performance hasn't really been their best, at least since I remember it when it was still in Anaheim.

I'm afraid this year that it'll have it share of complaints from what I've noticed on the main site and also from word of mouth. I'll share what I've noticed different since last year. 2 changes:

1. No exhibit hall only passes. If one was to just wanting to go to the exhibit hall, they'd need to get a full day pass. Not really affecting me, but my cousin who wanted just the exhibit hall pass (I convinced him that there's more to it than just the hall)
2. One person cannot pick up any other persons badge, even if they're in the same group. This was the big one because now since I was planning to go down tomorrow to pick up my cousin's and my badge, I gotta bring him along tomorrow as well just to pick his up. Quite inconvenient for a lot of people, especially for those that are still under the assumption (up to this date) that they are able to do so.

Thus, I came to the conclusion just from these two and the word of mouth (which I will not talk about here) that it all comes down to money (like everything does...). Someone that wants to just do the exhibit hall has to now dish out an additional $20, assuming an exhibit hall pass probably would've been $15-$20. If each person has to pick up their own badge, that means travel, parking, etc.etc. it'll all add up.

Now despite all of these, I'd still find myself going to AX, It is more the atmosphere that entices me, to see that there are a lot of people out there that are just like me with the same interests. At least for 4-5 days of the year, I can really let loose in me being an anime enthusiast.....ok, an Otaku!

K that'll all I'll talk about on that topic. I'll post again tomorrow.

Tomorrow's almost here!

The long awaited time is only 2 days away and I have to make my way downtown tomorrow to pick up the badge (hey, nothing new for me since I make a trip every other 2 weeks or so). As for preparedness, I am still in the process, I'm wondering if I am going to wing it a bit when the time comes.

But for one thing, I am thinking of not lining up for the exhibit hall on the first day as the first thing to do. In other words, and as I think in my mind: I AM NOT GOING TO BE AN EXHIBIT HALL SLAVE THIS TIME!! Well, @ least for the first day...maybe, still debating it. Besides, I gotta meet up w/ my cousin who'll be there around 1, although he'll already have his badge as he gets there, I'll explain in another post tonight.

No more lengthy. I'll update more later. I've updated my lists from previous posts as well.

4 days and counting!!!

K well, first, maybe 3 days. Wed is badge pickup but that's about it for that day. And I guess I haven't been posting up as much as I wanted to before, so I'll put up a bit more effort these next few days.

There are a few new ones to add to the cosplay list, I'll update that post after I do this one.

Now I have a different list, more of what I'd expect rather than what to look for. Especially with this year and some new recent anime series out there, some of these may not be too much of a surprise. Plus although some may belong on the other list, they aren't included on that one b/c it's kinda expected.

Due to Danny Choo being a guest:

• Stormtrooper, any  Seen: Samurai, SOS Dan, 'Foresttrooper', Black Stormtrooper
• Mirai (or her sisters)
• Black Rock Shooter
• Dead Master

Recent Anime series:

• Celty Strusion (Durarara!)
• Anri Sonohara (Durarara!)
• Shizuo Herikawa (Durarara!)
• Yurippe (Angel Beats)
• Kanade (Angel Beats)
• TK (Angel Beats)
• Senjougahara Hitagi (Bakemonogatari) Surprisingly I didn't see any Bakemonogatari Cosplayers until today ><

Due to May'n and Megumi Nakamura:

• Sheryl Nome
• Ranka Lee 

Again, I'll probably update this list prior to AX. I'll cut it here for right now b/c its late and I gotta wake up early tomorrow.

Edit: Lists updated on 6/30
Edit: confirmed sightings crossed out .Updated 7/3

Light Writing

Yet another trick I've picked up off of figure.fm and is somewhat of the craze for the moment. A matter of light writing with my DSLR. I will spare you the lengthy explanation and get straight to a few of my first test subjects! ><

First up is my modded - Drossel: 

 

Now with a simple LED action!:

I liked this effect. Either gathering and shooting some energy beam from her hand or deflecting a shot, Gurren Lagann Style (which may come down the line using revoltech GL figures):

Next up are Eva Units 1 and 2, Reawakened mode and Beast Mode, respectively.

Unit 1 based off the concept of the halo that appears in that form. I'd like to work with this one more to get a cleaner halo shape:

And finally Unit 2 The Beast. I compiled 3 shots into one picture, since it's the same pose but w/ different lighting effects. This light writing subject is probably my favorite of the ones I've done so far; mainly the middle one (the light streak is cleaner than the other two):

Well there ya go, hope you enjoy my pictures! I'm having fun with this and hope I can find some other LED lights of different colors that I won't have to create myself.

Quick AX Countdown Update

Well, now it's come down to 10 days before the big 4 day event and I am slowly prep'ing up for it. Pulled out my final spending money from my latest paycheck. Requested not just those days off but the entire week (well, after the massive amount of work I've done, I'd like a break once in a while). So it's all slowly coming into order. I can't wait!! ^^

Anime Cosplay List

Heh, just found out that I have done a similar posting about AX around the same time last year.

As I posted last year, I am making a cosplay scavenger hunt list for this year. And again, it will be mainly a list of the more uncommon cosplay outfit to look for. This includes some from last years that I think would still be interesting to find and this will be a growing list as AX approaches closer:

• Evangelion units - Unit 02 The Beast, Unit 05 Provisional, "Kaoru"'s Eva Unit (Eva Movie 2)
• Gundam suit - Unicorn Gundam (Unicorn Gundam); Nadleeh, Gundam 00 (Gundam 00) I meant for this to be any Gundam, not just the ones I listed. I ran into an Exia CP'er
  
• Aizen in Hougyoku Chrysalis form (Bleach)
• Soifon in Bankai Form (Bleach)
• [Group] All 8 Vaizards (Bleach)
• Keroro (Keroro Gunsou)
• Lady Moa (Keroro Gunsou)
• Nu-13 Battle Form (Blaz Blue)
• Hakumen (Blaz Blue)
• Samus Aran in good quality power suit (Metroid)
• Alphonse Elric in good quality armor (Fullmetal Alchemist) Not quite the best, but still very good to consider checked off
• Hachikuji Mayoi, in a sense that it's a small girl with an oversized bag (Bakemonogatari) not quite a very young girl(s), but the proportions w/ the bag were right
  
• Drossel Von Flugel (Fireball)
• Certy Strulson (Durarara!)
• Anri Sonohara with bright red eyes [contacts] (Durarara!)
• Lich King in good quality armor (Warcraft)
• Illidan (Warcraft)
• Kerrigan (Starcraft)
• [Group] All 7-8 Homonculi, bonus if with "Father" (Fullmetal Alchemist)
• Multi-person costume (Any)
• [Group] K-on girls in "Listen!" outfits
• Master Chief in good quality armor (Halo)
• ODST in good quality armor (Halo)
• Video game cosplayer playing the game using that same character (Any) Taokaka Cosplayer using Taokaka in BB:CS
• Cardboard box robot/gundam (Any)
• "Sheet of Paper" cosplayer (Any)
• Exelica in full armor (Triggerheart Exelica)
• Bridget cosplayer that's a guy but looks close enough to be a girl (Guilty Gear)
• Any Ultraman (Ultraman)
• Hagumi with Leaf (Honey and Clover)
• Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)
• Rachel with scythe (Ninja Gaiden)
• Strider Hiryu (Strider)
• Mariya Shidou that's a guy (Maria Holic)
• Saber, any form, in good quality armor pieces (no foil crap) (Fate/Stay Night)
• Senjougahara Hitagi with multiple school staionary (Bakemonogatari)
• Any Tengen Toppa (TTGL Movie 2)
• Valkyrie in Gerwalk or Battroid Mode (Macross)
• Any Macoss (Macross series)
• Shishio (Rurouni Kenshin)
• Hentai game cosplayer (Any Hentai game)
• Konata cosplaying as Haruhi cosplayer (Lucky Star/Haruhi)
• Tachibana Himeko (K-on!) 
• "Crimson" Saber (Fate/Extra) bonus if with a group of Original, Lily, and Alter Sabers
• Dark Samus (Metroid Prime Series)
• Uzumaki Kushina (Naruto's Mother) (Naruto) 
• "Honeybee" Mio from the "Listen!" ED (K-ON!) 

EDIT: Updated List 6/29/10 
EDIT: Confirmed CP's Found Struck through Updated 7/5

Updates Updates/ 14 days until AX 2010!

Well, better late than never. And I am actually not tuning into the Lakers Celtics game 7. Now I am not one that hates the game, I just don't find the interest at the moment. Plus as strange and superstitious as it may sound the earlier games I tuned in for a bit and Lakers ended up losing the games. For game 6, I ended up not watching at all and Lakers ended up forcing a game 7. I figure doing the same thing may be in the Lakers favor. Kinda favoring the team by not tuning in. Weird huh?

Anyways, Anime Expo's only 14 days away and this will be my 7th year (? I'm starting to be at the point that I'm losing count). Starting to prep up, planning the days, what to buy etc. Ought to be interesting this year: Danny Choo's a special guest, Megumi Nakajima (VA of Ranka Lee) and May'n (singing VA of Sheryl Nome), both from Macross Frontier will be performing. Those two are probably the main highlights that interest me. Although I wonder if I'll get into any panels featuring Danny or if I will decide to attend the Megumi and May'n concert.

I'll post more info about this year's AX in separate posts.

No Title

Not much to really update on but I had the urge to post up just a lil bit just so my weekend didn't seem wasted...again...(It was a hot weekend anyways. No big urge to be outside) Well I do have some things I'd like to talk about, maybe in a post later on today. I'll see if I will get to that.

Mainly, here's a new 4koma I've done just today. I got ideas for more, just gotta find the time.