interviews and signings

Let me just state that I have never been asked to be interviewed before by any anime press, webcast and podcast. My cosplays are very simple and I usually don't hang out where the major photoshoots are taking place. This being a smaller con, I actually got interviewed several times. G4 being the first. O.O *blush* My second interview was with ANN and a third later on in the evening. I signed any release forms as Rai. ^.^ After my rounds in the dealer's room, I headed to the next signing.

Rachael Lillis signed my Alien Nine dvd cover as Miyu Tamaki, and my Maetel pic as Queen Prometheum (Maetel Legend.)

Veronica Taylor (left) signed my Alien Nine dvd cover as Megumi Hisakawa, and my Maetel pic as Emeraldas (Maetel Legend.) Jamie McGonnigal signed my Weiss Kreuz pic as Omi Tsukiyono. *happy sigh* Unfortunately, Lisa Ortiz's signing was moved and added to an afternoon signing with Wayland and Sinterniklaas.

I headed back to the dealer's room where I discovered the Youji and Natsuo of yesterday as Nekozawa-senpai and Haruhi (respectively) of Ouran Host Club today. More like they found me again. ^^; We were all at the Coscliips booth where I reviewed some of my Ritsuka pics from before. The photographer of Cosclips asked to take my picture which I happily obliged. Then a Hiei (YYH) cosplayer asked for an action shot of me shooting my arrow for his youtube movie. After warning him of how short my shot will be, I let my arrow fly (or more like fall. ^^;)

Domo-kun! And friends!

Finally, Diana-chan called announcing her arrival at the con. It took us awhile to find each other, but when we did.... *glomp*

I haven't seen her in such a long time and she is in her first cosplay! Of course I was thrilled! Old friends soon appeared. Many of them grew so tall.... *looks up*

*hugs Sandy-chan and Charles-kun* Darren-kun (one to the very left) soon learned that not cosplaying means having to hold all of the cosplayers' stuff when pics are being taken. lol Arigato, Darren-kun! ^.^ I already warned Domo-kun the reception she will most likely receive...and I was right. She was glomped, hugged, hit (pretend of course,) by her many fans. ^.^

There was a Domo-kun booth where she was bombarded with pic requests and interviews. It was only the beginning.... *cheers her on* ^.^ Darren-kun and I helped her maneuver around the dealer's room in search of One Piece goodies and free stuff. She found a Domo-kun dangly which she happily bought. ^.^

New Eva, new anime

I left the group (and Domo-kun to the masses) to go to the Kobun Shizuno-san panel, co-director for the first new Eva movie. It was interesting as he spoke about wanting to become a director and being one quicker then expected. Yay for us fans! ^.^ Other anime that he worked on was Princess Nine and GI Joe Sigma Six. Several questions were asked about the new Eva movie You are [Not] Alone including the one question I wanted to ask, 'How is it like working with Hideki Anno?' Unfortunately, I don't recall the answer, but most likely it was concerning how interesting it is working with him. ^^; As for the new movie, Shizuno-san stated that 'It was an incredible experience. Everyone gave 200%.' Some people who worked on the original series before are also working on the movies. There are new people as well. Shizuno-san refused to give any additional info on the plot itself since he didn't want to give anything away. ^^; We'll see it soon enough....

Then they showed a trailer to Shizuno-san's new anime, which is coming out in 2008, Cross Climb. What was particularly awesome was that it was the first time Shizuno-san was showing the trailer to anyone. We saw it before Japan did! *cheers* (Though you can see it now on the movie site.) The trailer started out simple enough about a woman in London who is looking for a significant other. Failing that, she is immersed in a new program called 'Cross Climb' that is a virtual reality world. There is more to it, but the action sequences are so fast paced that I don't know what is really going on beyond the fact that she is fighting in the virtual world and the bishie she is fighting is pretty cute. ^__^

After the panel was the signing for Shizuno-san. But I first found Diana-chan resting from her cosplay and found out that Darren-kun attended the School of Visual Arts. O.O He showed me his drawings and they were fantastic. We were at the Visual Arts booth and I was able to leave my bag there. *whew* At the booth, I was greeted with the purple Ouran Host Club, the host club with purple blazers. I found that Nekozawa-senpai and Haruhi in blue blazers were there as well. *clicks of the cameras*

Me and Darren-kun went to the Shizuno signing. I got him to sign two 'You are [Not] Alone' Eva pics, one of them signed to Theresa-neechan. ^.^ Darren-kun got him to sign a sketch he made of one of the angels. When I asked what did Shizuno-san think of his sketch, Darren-kun stated that he just laughed. I think he liked it. ^.^ After Shizuno-san signed my pics, I was interviewed by a Otaku Radio. O.O Their station is not heard in NY, but they also stream it online. I left Darren-kun and crew for another round at the dealer's room....

Fast forward...play...and stuck! >.<

On the way to rejoin Domo-kun and crew, I took a pic of a large mural of Voltron that an artist was drawing throughout the con. He was just finished and taking pics of the work as I arrived. I didn't catch his name...but sugoi!

Diana-chan and Darren-kun was at the Tsubasa movie premiere. I arrived during the climax of the movie when the princess was being captured and Sakura and Syaoran are thrown into a barrel in order to save her. (No names since I don't want to give any spoilers. ^.^) That scene was funny. And Kurogane and Fai! Fai said 'Kuro-pu'! Kawaii! And Kurogane didn't get mad! *grins* What is a movie without snacks? My chocolate pocky was given to Darren-kun and Domo-kun. Pocky was passed to Domo-kun through the opening in the hands. Water and cellphone is also passed through so she can do stuff inside the costume. Diana-chan, you're awesome! *not sarcastic*

The problem with the movie came when Syaoran went off to fight alone (in the barrel) and then...the dvd stopped at the moment. x.X The staff started the movie up again, fast fowarded to that part, played it...only to have it be stuck again. After another dvd was obtained, it was discovered that the movie was stuck at the exact same place. >.<; Since this was taking a looong while (and we were all very patient, except for one rude person) they started playing the Xxxholic movie while the staff went to get a third disc. ^^; I left at that time since I had...the VIP meet and greet! *dances*

M&M's and dubs

Shizuno-san was absent from this gathering since he was tired. *sad* But Peter Fernandez and Corinne Orr was there! I was totally fangirling when Mr. Fernandez stood behind me. Elderly he may be, he is still a legend. ^.^ We all introduced ourselves, VIP and guests and Corinne shared her blue M&M's that she had asked for (as a gift) from a fan. Oishi! We also had cookies and water.

We could speak freely and ask questions, but it soon turned into another voice actor Q&A panel (not that it is a bad thing,) and we went into a deep subject about translations and dubs. I congratulated Mr. Fernandez about his achievement award at the Anime Awards earlier this year and how much of an honor it was speaking with him. ^-^ I was able to ask my question about Speed Racer's script and the uniqueness of it. I implied about the uniqueness of it, and inquired if it was normal back then. Someone mentioned that it was the fast pace of the series that also encompassed the rate of everyone's words. Also, Mr. Fernandez also wanted the series to be Americanized, as the company (at that time) had requested. That is what is so special about the series. ^.^ We also talked about the live action Speed Racer movie. Mr. Fernandez actually has a small part in it, though he said that it will most likely be cut out. Sugoi! At the end, I got his and Ms. Orr's autographs on my Speed Racer pic. ^.^

We were each given a copy of the cosplay calendar that Cosclips put out. (The cosplayer for Youji is in two of the months...though not as Youji. ^.^) Yay! I don't need to buy it! We took group pics and I was able to take one of all the voice actors. Veronica wanted a pic taken on her camera and I volunteered. It was kinda dark, so I turned on the flash. Veronica was happily surprised and asked me how to work the flash on her camera. Yay! I know something! lol I was happy to be of some help. ^-^

mosh pit dancing!

I caught up with Domo-kun and crew (minus Sandy-chan and Charles-kun since they left already) at the line for the concert. I forgo my VIP seat since it's more fun to stick with friends. ^-^ That was when I realized something: the girl standing next to Darren-kun is Vanessa-chan, his sister! O.O I didn't recognize her! *hugs* I was so surprised.... lol I remarked about how she should've said something since I was obviously not acknowledging her directly. ^^; My bad....

Since Domo-kun is now Diana-chan again, I had to take a pic of us. ^.^

We found our seats and waited for the concert to start. Since there was music through the speakers, there was a large group in the middle aisle that was dancing and raving. I went up to grab some video and pics. ^.^ Later, some guy started a Mario Cart DS game and called for additional players. Of course, I pulled out my DS to play. We waited until we had 6+ players and then we started. I got first place in the first game. ^^V We were in our second game when the concert finally started. I stopped playing in the fourth game so I could enjoy the concert. The band was Unicorn Table. ^.^

lol Diana-chan and her crew was shy, but as soon as I suggested going to dance in the mosh pit in the front, Vanessa-chan and her friend agreed immediately. We all went to dance in the mosh pit. There was no pushing, just lots of people dancing. ^-^

Raffles tickets were given when we were walking in. One of the prizes was an accessory that the lead singer had made. I wanted it...but none of us won. ^^; We stayed until the end of the concert. No encore, the con building has a closing time. I said goodnight to Diana-chan and crew and was about to leave when an Inuyasha found me. Of course, pics were needed: the usual me shooting Inuyasha pic. ^.^

I went back to the apartment, showered, ate dinner, sewed on my tail for my Ritsuka cosplay and slept. One thing about my tail, I initially pinned the tail to my pants, but the pin kept on coming unclipped. >.< Instead, I used the string on the tail and tied it to a button on my pants, but if I sat, my tail would come off. Youji had fun joking about me losing my tail.... ^^; So, I finally sewed it on.