waiting for Ritsuka's new look

I woke up around 8:30am and dressed in my Ritsuka cosplay before going down to breakfast. Chains and everything. FYI, the Hyatt breakfast did not live up to it's hotel: cereal, toast, bagels, yogurt, fruits, juices and coffee...and that's it. No eggs, meats or muffins. Oh well, I ate lots of fruits and went to the con center.

I hopped into the 'JFashion 101' panel that went through the eras of Japanese fashion up to the current trends including Lolita fashions. Some of the trends I knew, but alot of the older fashions I had not even heard of. (I seen most of it since they're pretty prominent in Japanime series, but I never knew the terms.) Found out that 'yankee fashion' is a gangster type look (as confirmed in Ouran ^^;) and there is even an extreme version of 'ganguro'...ultra, ultra, ultra tanned with bleached hair.... O.o I forgot most of the terms already, but there is even a materialistic type look that is all about namebrands. (Hey, we have that here too!) Of course, some trends have been 'mastered' by various Japanese musicians and are forever known as their look. The evolution of J-fashions will never cease to amaze me.

FYI, this is the first time AnimeNEXT has used a lower level in the convention center. And the lower level is a dimly lit, parking lot. I was shocked but saw the humor since the workshops were also held at the lower level. How can you sew in that lighting? The artist alley, panel 3 room, autographs and TCG tournaments were all down there as well. Oh well.... ^^; After the panel, I headed down to the artist alley only to find it hasn't opened yet. After waving hi at X (who was staff at the artist alley this year,) I headed up and out.

There wasn't much going on so I headed back to my room and picked up a bottle of water (that I had forgetten that morning) and met up with iceblueaya and 801megane. We got their stuff to the room and iceblueaya changed into her Tenipuri shirt. I totally glomped her. ^-^

I gave them their room card keys and we headed back to the convention center. We went our separate ways when I finally got in touch with Cloakedschemer (Youji at NYYAF '07.) I bumped into my Soubi on the way to her room to get my new Ritsuka jacket. At her room, Cloakedschemer showed off her newest cosplay: legendary Kite from .hack/G.U. complete with tri-blades. Banair (Soubi from NYAF '07) was there as well but she wasn't in cosplay yet. I didn't realize it was her until we were on our way out! O.O *hugs* I tried on my new jacket and loved it. After paying Cloakedschemer, we headed out to the con center.

making memories...in the hot sun

I dumped my old Ritsuka jacket at the hotel and caught up Soubi at the artist alley. Then I found the most awesome mascot cosplay (next to Diana-chan's Domo-kun of course ^.^) which is Yotsuba's Danbo! O.O The eyes even light up from a switch at the side. o.O It was perfect. I would totally glomp Danbo if I could...but my arms couldn't go around it. ^^;

We found CloakedSchemer having a photoshoot with Banair as photographer. Awesome Kite shots. Afterwards, Soubi and I headed to the Holiday Inn lawn where the Loveless photoshoot was going to take place. I bumped into another old friend (Haruhi, NYCC '08) who was cosplaying Sawada Tsuna from Reborn!. I bumped into her earlier, but now we could talk more. ^.^ Cloakedschemer called asking for 'Ritsuka's bandages' and I brought them over to her. She needed them for her next cosplay from Persona 3. I helped her take some awesome shots in the stairwell of the Marriot (where she was staying at.)

The Loveless shoot itself was kinda disappointing since other cosplayers did not show up. However, Soubi and I had some fanservice requests which we obliged by staring into each other's eyes. Soubi's height was perfect...which is why I wish I was shorter. We headed back to the Dealer's Room and browsed a bit before Soubi had to leave for her next event. I stayed a bit before going back to the hotel to pick up pics and pocky for the autograph session.

fangirling

I got to the autograph line before 5pm and was happily surprised to see Tsuna behind me. We chatted with people around us and I shared my greentea pretz with people. ^.^ The three VAs that were signing were Greg Ayres (Negi, Negima) Leah Clark (on the left, Noah, Fullmetal Alchemist) and Alison Victorin (on the right, Conan, Detective Conan.) I asked Alison to sign my Conan pic as well as the Sasami postcard (which is totally cute.) Leah signed two of my FMA movie cards that had Noah on it. Greg signed my Kaworu pic after asking me 'Did you make this?' Me: *blush* Of course not! I printed it out! ^^; Of course, all the VAs got pocky. ^.^

X met up with me and we headed for the Gravitation panel that was underway. Both Bill Rogers (Tohma) and Rich McNanna (Shuichi) was there and questions were asked and answered...but I don't remember them all. ^^; (Once I recall them, I'll add them here. lol) Rich actually is a middle school teacher. o.O There was an interesting reaction from McNanna-sensei when he found out Gravitation manga was featured in the the Scholastic Book Fair cataloge.... ^^; Rich also said something about not liking 'milk' and strawberry...which meant that strawberry pocky was not his thing. *gasp* But someone gave him strawberry pocky anyway. Another fan gave him blueberry pocky. After the panel, I rushed for the front and asked Rich to sign my dvd. His reward? Regular chocolate pocky since everyone should at least try it at least once. ^.^

naptime!

After the panel, X and I had instant noodles back at the room while watching ep. 1 of Trinity Blood on my laptop. I needed to take a nap afterwards since my head was hurting like crazy. I set my alarm for 9pm but we didn't leave until close to 10 since I was so sleepy. *yawn*

Why! Why! Why!

The RENTRER EN SOI concert was well underway and I went straight for the moshpit since that is where I always go. ^^V The guitarist (I have no idea the name) at the rightside of the stage is my fav. *drools* I loved the intros to the pieces. There are at least 3 pieces that I will definitely find and fangirl over. ^-^ Of course, there was tons of spewing water at the audience, throws of empty water bottles, drumsticks and even guitar picks. *sigh* I didn't catch anything but I had fun dancing through the concert. ^^; Yay! This is technically my second concert as Ritsuka!

pictochat lol

The concert actually ended on time (11pm) with no encore and I headed back to the room to shower and change. The 'Anime Hot Seat 18+' panel had already started when I arrived, but I knew what it was before I even arrived. The panel had various VAs who could say whatever they want, we can ask whatever we want and NO electronic devices allowed. Not even cellphones. Except for DS. That is important since people had their DS out (including me) and we were chatting it up in pictochat. There was even a DS among the panelists. ^^;

The rules of the game at the panel was this: out of a deck of cards, if it is even then the person asks the panelists a question, if it is odd then the panelists can ask the person a question. There are other rules, but these are the basic ones. X wanted to ask a question...but I didn't want to draw a card since I didn't want the chance of them asking me a question. We posted the question on pictochat making sure the question wasn't asked before we arrived. When we confirmed that it's okay, I prompted people to ask. ^^; Finally, the last question was called and someone asked the question. 'What is your festish?' lol The questions of the evening were mostly sexual questions so this shouldn't be a problem.

No more info since this was a 'secret-type' panel and all I remember was the hilarity that ensued within the doors.