Breakfast, boo-boo and rain drenched otakus

My dad woke me up (unintentionally) when he came back from his walk at 8am. Even though the first panel was at 10, I wanted to wake at 8:30 so I can look around and maybe watch some anime. Fortunately I had the extra time? A piece of wire/spring was poking out of the mattress (at the side) and it scratched me when I walked by. I didn�t realize I was bleeding until my mother pointed it out to me. (Another scar to add to my injuries�what else is new? ^^;) I spent the next hour contacting the front desk, telling them about the bed and requesting for band-aids. Meanwhile, my father succeeded in freaking out the handyman (that came and trimmed off the poky wire) as well as the other guy who got me my band-aids. After reprimanding my father for freaking out the hotel employees, I got dressed in my Kikyo/miko outfit, grabbed my stuff and headed out. My parents walked with me to the convention center with an umbrella since it was literally pouring outside (and poor me and my sandals. ^.^) Otakon announced that they had an attendance cap of 25,000 ppl. There were about 23,000 pre-reg, which meant only the first 2,000 people that register at the door will get in. Even in the rain, there was a huge line of people waiting to get in (umbrella, cosplayers, everything.) My father told me that the line stretched all around the block�there are some very dedicated Otakus. ^.^

Panelathon

It was a panel filled morning? The first panel was �ADR Directors?which had Mike McFarland (Havoc, FMA) and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Motoko, GiTS) and even director Toshifumi Yoshida (Inuyasha.) Vic Mignogna and various other ADR voice actors were also there, but not as panel speakers. (But I was so thrilled to see the back of their heads? ^.^) The next panel was about �Doujinshi?but there was one guy talking at the front�and no matter how I tried, I couldn�t understand him. >.<; I skipped out to a neighboring panel, �Fans on Fans.?At the next panel, I was able to get the autographs of character designer, Kawamori Yoshinori-san (X) and MadHouse producer, Masao Maruyama-san (CCS.)

Yoshinori-san

Mizushima-san

*jumpy* ^.^ Next, I graciously saw director Seiji Mizushima-san (FMA,) but I wasn�t able to get his autograph. ^^; Mizushima-san said something funny concerning how he became a director. "I actually became a camera operator at an anime studio. When you're the camera operator, you get a lot of instructions from the director. They were usually sloppy instructions, and I figured I could do better than that, so I wanted to become a director. So, my motivation for becoming a director wasn't something that was so profound." When Mizushima was asked if anime directing was hard, he responded, "If it weren't hard, anyone could do it and there wouldn't be job security." Hee, hee? (There was only one interpreter of all the Japanese panelists and he was so nice. I so want to learn Japanese? ^.^)

Shopping break

After all the panels, I went to the dealer�s room and looked around. That place was huge! I got lost every time I went there, but it was enormous fun walking around and checking everything out. There was definitely a lot of variety and the prices were pretty normal (good for us poor otakus. ^-^) I actually found an Alphonse plush for $20, but since it was getting close to the opening ceremonies, I decided to go back later and buy it. (Stupid me�but oh wellz. ^^;) Also, I saw Fred Gallagher at the Megatokyo booth signing/drawing for people. The line was too long, so I thought to go back later for that too? <.<

Is that your final answer?

Opening Ceremonies was funny. The opening skit had some old school anime like Kuno (Ranma) and Hagard? (Voltron.) It was a game show setting with the protagonists of anime /w Raven (TT) and co. against the antagonists. Chaos filled the stage as the characters threw insults at each other while questions were asked about con etiquette and various other topics like �Evangelogy.?^.^ (Like: how long does it take for the EVAs to get to Disneyland? ^^;) Later, the special guests were introduced and each made their welcome. I was literally screaming along with the other fangirls. (Surprised my voice lasted the entire con. ^.^)

Weapon Inspection

At the end of the Opening Ceremonies, I was stopped by the con staff while someone was taking my picture. I was doing my Kikyo pose, with my arrow and bow drawn. Since the staff was iffy about my arrows (with the plastic tips,) I went to the safety patrol and they tied a pink strip to my bow and quiver so that others would know that my weapons have been given an OK on inspection. ^.^ Afterwards, I headed back to the hotel for my lunch/dinner.

Puffy time!

After Korean ramen and pizza, I headed back to the convention for the evening events, the major being?dramatic pause* ...Puffy AmiYumi! *screams* There was a looooooonnnnng line of people outside the room and there was a limit of those that could get in. I was literally one of the last 5 to get into the room. O.O I stood on the side and spotted Kaz, the group manager. (His cartoon counterpart kinda does look like him, but the real person was taller. ^.^) Even though there was no singing, all of us AmiYumi fans were just thrilled to see them. When they entered, the room exploded. The J-pop singers only had about an hour to ask/answer questions. Among the basic questions, we found out that they like performing in Los Angeles the best and said their favorite U.S. band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They gave out prizes for answering trivia questions and even gave out a pair of tickets to the Puffy AmiYumi concert in Washington D.C. (It was the following monday, 8/22 They were on tour so that was why they weren't able to stay.) We also saw the newest episode of HiHi Puffy AmiYumi. ^.^ It was so funny.... At the end, we were given AmiYumi souvenir files.

Voice Actors Mania

I headed over to 'Anime Parliament' and checked out people debating over topics like the minimum age of anime. Next was 'Evening w/Fun' aka. the Funimation panel and caught the showing of various clips of anime that they are coming out with. They showed a dance sequence from Kodacha and everyone started dancing to the video. (Hee, hee...me too. ^.^) It was a good thing that I got in at that time, because afterwards the same room held the 'Late Night Voice Actors' panel. As expected, there was a loooooonnnng line waiting to get in, but since we were already there, they couldn't kick us out. ^.^ As they started to let people in, I noticed the person in back of me. My mouth opened in shock. "Mr. Toshifumi?" He was! (I nearly jumped out of my seat. He was so nice and we talked a bit and I got his picture.

The panel was chaotic. When you put over 10 voice actors in a room, there is pandemonium. The highlights include:

- Monica Rial made all the voice actors fling food around like frisbees...which resulted in food flinging all over the room.
>- Vic sharing his b-day cake, a gift from Hellcon ppl.
- Hellcon ppl asked: �What does your character smell like??Some of the answers were: �Ed smells like milk.? �Hyatt smells like blood and vomit.? �Yuusuke smells like cigarette smoke.? �Piccolo smells like cucumbers!? �Inu Yasha, on certain days, smells like Kagome.?^^;

It was just too funny. ^.^

Eeyore-ness: over 21 only

The last two panels of the evening were 'Yuri' and 'Otaku no Sketcho' which required everyone to be carded because of the contents of what will be discussed. ^-^ On the line of the Yuri panel, I spoke with some fellow otakus and saw something I never thought I'll see: Eeyore's tail. I literally squealed and confirmed with the person (holding the costume) that it was indeed Eeyore. His friends said that now he was recognized, he must oblige by putting on the costume. (It was like a pj: just slip it on and zip. ^-^) To be polite (and pushing my fangirlness aside,) I said he didn't have to, but he pulled on the suit and I got his picture. He was soooo cute. ^.^ I'm such an Eeyore fan, but I was good...I didn't glomp him. ^^;

The politics of yuri was discussed and majority agreed that Haruka and Michiru (Sailor Moon) was one of the best yuri couples ever. �Otaku no Sketcho?showed crazy videos that were made by three japanime fans. There was a parody of Initial D, an interview about a man who thought he was Hercule (DBZ ^^;) and a girl who gets to choose a date from 3 guys based on their rooms. Con staff kicked us out because the center was closing, (close to 2am ^^;) and I headed back to the hotel.