Let me be able to smile...
I woke at 8am to Pearl-chan asking me questions about CLAMP girls. Such fun... ^.^ After my breakfast of tuna sandwich and soup, I dressed in my Kikyo cosplay. I headed out to the con center with camera in tow. This convention marks the beginning of my photography position at vidgle (though at Otakon, it's an unofficial position. ^^;) I started snapping away on the skywalk and all the way to to my first panel.
...and open my eyes to the sun.
I found animemiz at the front of the Tadano and Matsushita panel. She presented me with my JAM Project cd and the novel Fafner which I accepted with glee. ^.^ I joined her in the front of the room for the next panel. Husband and wife pair, Tadano Kazuko (right) and Matsushita Hiromi (left) have been character designers for many series, my fav being Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. The panel opened with Q&A and they spoke about a current running series with animation director Matsushita-san for Keroro Gunso aka. Sgt. Frog. Kawaii!
They shared an experience that occured while they were working on the Sailor Moon R movie. Since they needed to work on the film as much as possible, the animation staff rented an apartment next to the studio. Bad news is...the apartment was filthy beyond imagination. They spent alot of time cleaning up which resulted in them being tired even as they were working on the movie. ^^; Of course, the movie as awesome and they didn't have to live in that apartment afterwards. lol Matsuhita-san noted that at the beginning, the producer didn't like how short the mini-skirts were. However, Matsushita-san wanted the shortness of the skirt to emphasize on the long legs and height of the senshi. We're not objecting to the length. ^.^
Of course, a Sailor Moon fan had to bring up the behind-the-scenes/inside joke of episode 21. Sailor Moon fans will recall the story of two girls working at an animation studio where the next
'Sailor V' anime is being made. The two girls? Their names are Matsuno Hiromi and Tadashita Kazuko, play on the names of the actual animators. Apparently Hiromi's glasses and hair mirror his anime counterpart. lol
Tadano-san and Matsushita-san do have their own studio (like in the anime episode) and they have their own merchandise...usually for their own staff and animation students. One of the three prizes that they have to give was a bag with an original girl mascot on it. Kya...I want! Alas, the name of the game is jun-ken-po and I already knew the results of the game before it even started: not me. ^^; The other two prizes were Char Aznable and Gundam headsets for the computer. It was a fun way to end the panel.
I'll let my voice fly...
I left animemiz who will be covering Peter Fernandez's panel (which was next) and headed to 'Dub Acting Leading Ladies' which was a panel starring (from left to right,) Tara Platt (Temari, Naruto, Willow Johnson (Kikyo, Inuyasha) and Mela Lee (Shinku, Rozen Maiden.) The panel featured the usual questions of how-to-become a VA advice and even had Mela and Willow showing off their vocal cords in singing. After the panel, Willow signed my Kikyo with Inuyasha pic and I presented her with pocky. (BTW, since green tea marble pocky has faded out of existence, all pocky gifts are Men Pocky and the super-thin chocolate pocky. Yumm...)
I decided to head back to my room and drop off some things to lighten my load. Turns out, my string to the bow broke and I glue-gunned it to fix the problem and headed back out to the con...thoroughly missing the JAM Project panel. >.< Oh well...I made it in time for the opening ceremonies.
...without any hinderance.
 There was of course a line for the opening ceremonies. I joined the mob and even found a seat close to the front. (It actually helps going around by yourself...it's so much easier finding single seats then room for two and more. ^.^) The opening ceremonies started with the JAM Project gracing the front and screams of fans (including me) filled the room. Then they show the BEST ANIME OTAKON HAS...actually the ONLY anime Otakon was ever given. Basically, frequent Otakon congoer, guest and producer, Maruyama Masao-san of Madhouse Studios created the anime short which featured Otakon mascots, Hiroshi and Hiroko. O.O It was awesome! The plot shows that Hiroshi and Hiroko is trying to get to the con center (yes, the Baltimore Con Center) and a slew of anime characters are trying to stop them...including EVA 01. lol I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness of this thing, but they'll be uploading it somewhere where I will proceed to pimp it. ^.^ Oh yeah, Hiroshi as Sailor Moon...no words. *is speechless*
Most of the guests are introduced including a short vid clip with a message from previous Otakon guest, Nishikawa Takanori-san...TMR! Yay! Peter Fernandez (Speed, Speed Racer) was asked to do a line...'Trixie! Shut up and let me drive!' which brings back hilarious memories. ^.^
I just want to stay here.
 At the end of the panel, I re-joined animemiz in the front row. Turns out, Anthony from vidgle was there and we shook hands, intros were made and business cards were exchanged all around. ^^; The guests were still hanging around on the side so I caught an awesome pic of Yamaguchi Kappei-san. *fangirl squeals* While I was taking pics, Maruyama-san's interpreter called me over. Paraphrasing.... Interpreter: Would you like a drink with us? *points at Maruyama-san* Me: O.o *looks at Maruyama-san* Maruyama: *grins* Interpreter: He is the one who brough Kappei Yamaguchi over here you know.... Me: I know...and I always love his works. Interpreter: *translates: He likes you, you're his type...go and kiss him! Me: O.O I couldn't...I'm too embarrassed! Interpreter: *translates* Maruyama: *grins some more* Me: Could I possibly...take a picture with him? Interpreter: *translates: Sure! Animemiz: *takes pictures* Interpreter: Closer together, like a couple! Me: *blushes* Um...can you sign something? Interpreter: *translates* Fine! lol that was the funniest thing ever...totally made my day. Maruyama-san signed my Clover pic and I got an awesome picture with him. *dances around the room*
  The reason why Maruyama-san was hanging around the room was because we were of course waiting for his panel to start. They first show a dvd of clips from the recent anime he is working on...including Kaiba and Chii�s Sweet Home which is the cutest anime ever about a kitty. I want Chii plush now! (BTW, Chii is a mascot prior to getting an anime deal so there should be tons of merchandies around. *goes shopping*) Old fan fav Ninja Scroll 2 will be coming out with Kawajiri-san writing the script. Yay! But no word yet when it'll be released. There will be a Trigun movie which is total squee-worthy. What surprised me was realizing that Kaiba was one person wrote, directed, and animated it...Iwasa-san. O.O Kaiba is such a unique style of anime that he was the only one that could accomplish that seamlessly. *applauds his work* One of my fav answers to the question of how Maruyama-san chooses his directors and anime is him going with his instinct. Also, he likes his directors to do a variety of things. If someone is working on something dramatic and slow paced right now, their next project will most likely be fast and action packed. Maruyama-san saids that he tends not to watch other works from animation studios because he if he liked the work of another director, he might want to take the director away from that studio. ^^; Maruyama-san...kawaii!
Don't push me away...
Animemiz and I literally ran for the next panel which was..Yamaguchi Kappei! When we got to the panel room, it was already packed. Voice requests were made and Yamaguchi-san greeted everyone in his cute voice with a 'hi' and 'konnichiwa' depending on who was speaking what. *fangirl squeals* Since I can't even begin to recall the greatness that is Yamaguchi-san...only his cute voice... *swoons* ...check out the vids. ^.^ I asked the Diego (Phoenix Wright) cosplayer in front of me (who recorded the entire thing) for linkage and she happily gave me her youtube sn. ^.^
Animemiz headed to her next location while I decided to drop in on the Media Blasters Yaoi and Yuri industry panel. It was short since I was already late, but I was able to ask a question: Different manga publishers have different age requirements for the characters like they have to be at least 18 years old...or they 'are' 18 years old. (Quotation marks gesture with '18'.) I wasn't able to get out my question so eloquently but the person bringing around the mic rephrased my question. 'Are the characters 18 years old or '18' years old?' Managing editor of Media Blasters, Frank Pannone: *smiles* They're '18' years old. Me and audience: lol
...I want to be here with you.
After the Media Blasters panel, I gave my regards to Mr. Pannone and decided to head back to the hotel room rather then join the mob aka. Yamaguchi-san's autograph line. However, I stopped by the ID check booth near registration so that I can pick up my 18+ bracelet so that I can attend the 18+ panels. ^^; At the hotel, I changed out of my Kikyo cosplay and into my usual black attire. As I was finishing my dinner of noodles, animemiz came over to drop off her laptop and stuff (as press, she was lugging all her things around. o.O Don't know how she does it...) so she wouldn't need to bring it to the concert. We then left for the First Mariner Arena where the concert was being held. I bumped into Brian who was also part of vidgle and then walked with animemiz to the press area. I left her there and seated myself at the bleachers on the right side. I have a pretty good view of the stage. ^.^ I struck up a convo with people around me as the screens on the side show clips from previous JAM Project concerts. It was kinda sad knowing the bad wasn't going to be there since we were greeted with an empty stage. (But the energy of the room filled with fans was enough even without the instruments.)
 JAM Project came in and opened with the song 'Rocks'. Intros were made and I totaly love Dani aka. Kitadani. Kawaii! *faints* There were many songs where the audience knew the words and chanted along...so much fun. 'No Border' was done in English and the screens featured the lyrics which was awesome. The solo acts were fantastic, one of my favs being 'Yuusha-Oh Tanjou' with the entire arena singing along to 'Gagaga Gagaga Gaogaigar!' The set list is as follows:
The encore had the entire band in yellow tour t-shirts. Fukuyama-san even pulled out a camcorder and recorded while singing. It was sad to see the concert end and miss the thrill of shouting with the crowds. Screams of 'JAM, JAM, JAM!' and 'Motto! Motto!' filled the stadium. From what I could tell, the only things thrown into the crowds were Fukuyama-san's guitar picks. Awesome....
Hold me in your arms...tightly.
I met up with Brian and animemiz outside of the arena and we walked back to the con center together. Brian reminded me that the Gundam panel was that evening which I definitely wanted to go. First, animemiz and I returned to my hotel room so that she can pick up her stuff. I headed back to the con center while she called it a night and returned to her hotel. I headed up to the Gundam panel.
  Christine-neechan and Theresa-neechan met up with me. Christine presented me with the cutest thing ever...a Kero-chan plushie that she made! O.O Kawaii! *hugs* I will treasure this forever. ^-^ She is making a Hello Kitty one now. Oneechan is so talented! They left for the 'Your VG Character Sucks' panel while I absorbed info about Gundam...and there is a ton of info and hilarity. The panelists even created songs (to popular tunes) and everyone sang along. There were 'Gundam products' that include 'Gundam Seeds' and 'Red Comet' aphrodisiacs. o.O lol Of course, we ended the panel with hails of 'Sieg Zeon' while pumping our fists in the air. ^.^
*Warning* Don't continue reading if you're not interested in yaoi or you don't know what it is. Nothing is mentioned graphically, but if you rather not know, please scroll ahead until you hit the next subject.
I want to stay like this...
At the end of the panel, I headed up to the growing line for the 'Yaoi Aesthetic' panel. The panel opened with a music video featuring a mixture of anime and manga scenes that basically painted out what 'yaoi' and 'BL' means. *fangirl squeals* Awesome. The panel went into detail about terms that we associate in yaoi, giving names like 'classic yaoi' for angsty story plots and steamy sex scenes like in Ai no Kusabi or 'boys love' for story plot with no sex like Gakuen Heaven. Then we have the definitions of seme and uke and the panelists went into detail about what they think constitutes seme and uke roles in terms of top and bottom 'ranking'. Confused? Check out their website and download the media file which is what they displayed as they spoke. (It's a huge file, but it's a fantastic presentation. *gives pocky to creator of said file* ^.^)
 Some rules of ranking include height with the taller man on top and the effeminacy rule with the manlier one topping the other (making note that long hair does not always constitute feminine traits.) And of course, stories are usually about the uke with the 'co-star' as seme. They went into the power struggle that displays masculinity and angst that displays the uke role...but I won't go into that too much. ^-^
My fav point? Japanese has different ways of writing that includes kanji, hirigana and katakana with kanji being the more complex method of writing. In the midst of sex, the uke always fall into a ecstasy while the seme seems to retain his shirt/paints and (they pointed out) shoes maybe during and after the act. Well, it seems that in the midst of sex, the uke lapses into speaking in 'kana' (the simpliest form of writing) while the seme is still able to speak in 'kanji'. Of course, that example is from manga and it holds true for many scenes. lol
They went into slashable series and even created a chart of degrees based on 'evidence' that can be found in different series. BTW, the panelists noted that series creators drop hints for people to pick up and go with the more popular 'pairing'...but we knew that already! Trowa and Quatre? Touya and Yukito? lol We also know that shounen creators do so to reach more female readers/watchers. ^.^ This is evident in official art...like in that Get Backers pic with Ban holding Ginji and Ginji wearing no pants.... o.O In short, the panel held a very informative discussion. Yay!
...no words.
After the yaoi panel, I headed back to the hotel. I washed my hair, prepared for the next day and slept like a log.
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