Katsucon 2016 was KatsuCOLD!

Another President's Day weekend has come and gone, and I spent it as I have every year since 2003...by attending Katsucon with my Hubby! As usual, there was some drama, but I'll get to that later.  Friday, Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and I drove down to the Gaylord with our friend, Marvin Aristide.  I wore my Totoro kigurumi and was fully decked out with the matching slipper feet, earrings, purse, and backpack!
 Having finally figured out how to use my IPhone properly, I was able to view the schedule and  attend almost every event or panel I wanted to. I made it a point to attend the Funimation industry panel.  I am really looking forward to getting the 2 "Black Butler" movies that were mentioned.  "Black Butler: Book of Circus" will be released on April 19 this year, and "Black Butler: Book of Murder" is set to come out on May 17, 2016.  I can't wait!  "Black Butler" is one hell of a series about "one Hell of a butler!" (I reviewed it in a previous blog post.)
As for my cosplay outfits, I wore the following: my "Totoro" kigurumi on Friday, my "Rainbow Brite" costume on Saturday, and my hamster kigurumi on Sunday. Needless to say, I had appropriate and cute accessories for each outfit! 
Of course, I managed to snag some great souvenirs!  I bought some accessories for my kimono, as well as a few DVDs I wanted.  I had to replace my copy of "Kiki's Delivery Service," because the one I already had got scratched (Don't ask me how!  I have no idea how it happened)!  I also found the "xxxHolic" movie (which was sold as a CLAMP double feature--along with the "Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles" movie), "Haganai Next" (I got the first season at a DC Anime Club Swap Meet), "Lupin The Third: Bye Bye Lady Liberty," and some hentai titles (Don't judge me!).
As I mentioned before, there was some drama.  A fire forced everyone to evacuate the Gaylord on Saturday (2/13/16). I was wearing my Rainbow Brite outfit, and was FREEZING outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I felt really sorry for the guy (I don't know who he was) who, unfortunately for him, was in the hotel's indoor swimming pool when the fire alarm went off.  Apparently, the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the kitchen. (Though, there were rumors flying round that someone pulled the alarm as a joke!  If that had been true, I suspect that a bunch of cosplayers would be in jail for murdering the alarm puller!)  Sunday was Valentine's Day and the last day of Katsucon. I wore my hamster kigurumi, which, in hindsight, I wished I had worn on Saturday when we were evacuated.  I'd have probably been a little warmer!  Nothing much to report about Sunday.  I did my table shift as part of my duties for the DC Anime Club, which was founded and is presided over by my husband.  Sunday was also the day I bought (or had Hubby buy) some of the DVDs I wanted, as previously mentioned in this post.  All things considered, I had a great time at Katsucon and can't wait to attend MAGFest over the coming weekend!

Me dressed as "Rainbow Brite," holding my trusty Sprite & sidekick, "Twink!"

Otakon 2012

Post-con fatigue has prevented me from posting the details of my weekend at Otakon 2012 until now. July 27-29, 2012 represented the pinnacle of the summer for me. Over the weekend, the city of Baltimore was overflowing with OTAKU! The biggest highlight for me was getting the interview with Peter S. Beagle that I was unable to get last year. I even managed to get someone to videotape it for me! Unfortunately, somebody cancelled the interview I was supposed to have with Jason David Frank, best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in the long-running TV show "Power Rangers." Dammit! I had even remembered to bring my VHS copy of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie" for him to autograph! Of course, I spent (or rather my Hubby did) a few dollars in the Dealer's Room! My purchases included several DVDs: 1. Season 2 of "Black Butler," 2. Discs 3 & 4 of "Fairy Tail," 3. "Unico In The Island Of Magic," and 4. 2 discs of "Princess 69." (Don't judge me because I like hentai!) And, yes, I did cosplay! Once again, I donned the personas of Toad from the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise, and also Rei Ayanami from "Neon Genesis Evangelion." I also picked up a new cosplay outfit in the Dealer's Room. I plan to debut it at Anime USA this year, which is being held from November 9-11, 2012! As usual, I made it a point to attend the Funimation industry panel on Saturday. I was ecstatic to learn that there would be a second season of "Fairy Tail," as well as a movie based on the series! I also made it a point to attend the Cosplay Masquerade. However, I was not impressed by the entries this year and left before the skits were done. Clearly, I had a good time at Otakon 2012 and can hardly wait for Anime USA to get here. In the meantime, I think I have enough anime to keep me occupied and to keep this blog interesting!

Katsucon 2012: Exhiler-18-g!

I spent President's Day Weekend 2012 as I have since 2003--at Katsucon with Hubby Christopher Wanamaker!  (and the rest of the Otaku!)   Friday (2/17/2012), Chris and I cosplayed as Jem & Rio.  Saturday, our alter-egos were Mario & Toad (Super Mario Brothers), and on Sunday, Chris was Ben 10 and I was Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)!  Of course, the Dealer's Room had me feeling like a kid in a candy store! LOL!  Chris bought me most of the items on my Wish List.  2 discs of "Fairy Tail," "Taro The Dragon Boy," part on the the TV series "Squid Girl," the complete collection of "Witch Hunter Robin," and "Princess 69: Lesson 1" (a hentai!).   I bought a few DVDs for my cousin Lonnie and my friend Amber.  (Don't make me have to beat you down like Stewie Griffin beat Brian....I want my money!)   I also found a stuffed "Ponyo!" (I've been wanting one since I bought the DVD when it first came out!)  Sadly, I could not find "Princess Mononoke" for my niece, Anaiya!  I guess I will make a trip to Best Buy to see if they have it!  Or wait until Otakon this summer!  Aside from the Dealer's Room, I also enjoyed attending the Funimation panel.  It was there that I learned that the second season of "Black Butler" will be released on DVD in April!  Of course, I'm going to check it out!!!!!!!!!!  I blogged about the first season of "Black Butler" in 2011.  (see the post "Black Butler: One "Hell" Of An Anime About "One Hell Of A Butler!")  Not surprisingly, I managed to get some great photos!  There were cosplayers dressed as characters from "Fairy Tail," "Black Butler,"  and several people cosplayed as characters form the "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" series.  I think my favorite cosplayer was the woman who was dressed as Satsuki and carried a doll of Mei (from "My Neighbor Totoro)!  There was also a guy dressed up as Totoro himself!  Needless to say, I had a great time, and can't wait to attend Otakon   this summer!!!!!  In the meantime, I have plenty of anime to keep me busy writing this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know what I'll be doing on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!  Watching anime (hopefully) uninterrupted!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woe unto those who dare disturb this "Anime-niac!"  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah! My Goddess! Ah! What A Movie!

I am so happy! I was FINALLY able to watch "Ah! My Goddess: The Movie" from beginning to end without nodding off!  It was fantastic!  The feature, released in 2000,  is set three years after the end of  "Ah! My Goddess:Flights Of Fancy." (Season 2 of the series).  Keiichi has grown more attractive and less awkward, less clumsy.  Belldandy remains essentially unchanged--until she encounters Celestin, her former "mentor."  For centuries,  Celestin has been imprisoned on the moon for betraying the kingdom of Yggdrasil. Released by the fairy Morgan Le Fey, Celestin travels to Earth to reunite with his former pupil, the goddess Belldandy. Things go awry as Celestin erases Belldandy's memories of her boyfriend Keiichi and uses her as a catalyst to wreak havoc on Earth and Yggdrasil.  Will Beldandy get her memory back and stay with Keiichi???  Will Celestin be returned to his prison on the moon?  That I cannot and will not say, for fear of spoiling the movie!  I will say that the movie featured characters from the original anime, including members of the Auto Club--of which Keiichi is also a member-- as well as new characters like Celestin & Morgan.     I can FINALLY say that I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and may have to re-watch both seasons of the original series (which I watched before I started this blog)  and "The Adventures of Mini-Goddess"  (which I covered in a previous blog post) !   It will be a while before I'm able to do that, though!  I have more anime to get through before Anime USA in November!  "Daphne In The Brilliant Blue,"  "Rumbling Hearts,"  and "Fruit's Basket"  were all purchased for my by my Hubby at Otakon 2011, and I can't wait to watch them all!!!!!!!!!!  (And  no, Chris, you do not have to watch "Fruit's Basket" with me!  I know how you feel about that particular series! LOL!)   All in all, I'd say finishing the movie was a great way to end a great anime marathon that started off black--"Black Butler," that is!!!!!!!!!!!  (You can find out what I thought about that series in another blog post!)

 

"Black Butler": One Hell Of An Anime About "One Hell Of A Butler!"

After checking out a few episodes of "Black Butler" via the Funimation Channel, I decided to add it to my Anime Wish List.  I was happy when my Hubby was able to find it in the Dealer's Room at Otakon 2011!  I spent most of a rainy Saturday watching the first season on DVD!  It was very entertaining, in spite of the fact that I found myself comparing it to "Hell Girl," an anime that received a less-than-favorable review from me.  (See the post "Is Hell Girl A Hell No?")  "Black Butler" tells the story of Ciel Phantomhive.  The most powerful boy in all of England, he bears the scars of unspeakable suffering. Forced to watch as his beloved parents were brutally murdered, Ciel was subsequently abducted and violently tortured. Desperate to end his suffering, the boy traded his own soul for a chance at vengeance, casting his lot with the one person on whom he could depend: Sebastian, a demon Butler summoned from the very pits of Hell. Together, they'll prowl the darkest alleys of London on a mission to snuff out those who would do evil. They're a rare sight, these two: the Butler who dismembers with dazzling cutlery,  and the Young Master who carries the devil's marking. Rest assured that wherever they may be headed, it'll be one Hell of a ride!   I liked Sebastian, the demon butler.  I especially liked the way he protectd Ciel.  Yes, I know he was contractually obligated to do so, but it was still interesting to watch.  All in all, this dark anime was thrilling to watch, and I will probably pull it out again!  However, it probably won't be anytime soon, as I still have more anime to finish before I attend Anime USA in search of new anime!!!!!