Anime USA 2014: Ani-mazing Con!

First off, I just want to thank the AUSA staff for not following in Otakon's footsteps and making their schedule available only on SmartPhones!  The paper schedules are so much easier to work with!  That being said, I had an interesting time at Anime USA this past weekend (October 3-5, 2014).
I cosplayed, of course.  With my "Toad" (Super Mario Bros.) costume out of commission until further notice, I had to search through my cosplay wardrobe for other alternatives.  I didn't realize how many costumes I actually own!  On Friday, I was a Japanese schoolgirl.  I think I've only worn that costume maybe about 2 or 3 times.  On Saturday, I donned my Totoro Kigurumi complete with matching paw slippers, Totoro purse, Totoro earrings, and a Totoro plushie. Sunday's cosplay outfit was Rei Ayanami from "Neon Genesis Evangelion."  Honestly, I'm not really into that particular anime, but it is what it is.  I sat a few shifts at the DC Anime Club (www.dcanimeclub.org) table. (The DC Anime Club is the organization that my Hubby, Christopher Wanamaker, founded and over which he currently presides).   I also attended a few panels--"School Days!  A History of Japanese School Uniforms," "Nintendo History 101," and "AHHHH!  Video Game Cartoons" to name a few.  Sadly, I missed the screening of the live-action "Black Butler," but I'm sure that it will be released in the United States sometime in the near future!   I stated before that my "Toad" costume is unusable, so I found someone--Ginger Woods of "Gbee Fabrics" (http://gbeefabrics.com/) -- to make me a new one.  I'm hoping to have it by Summer 2015.  I've already got my cosplay outfits for Katsucon 2015 (www.katsucon.com)  planned out.  I plan to be Wonder Woman, Rainbow Brite (once I order a new wig), and to keep warm with my Hamster Kigurumi.  I guess I'm jumping the gun slightly, as I might get to attend Annapolis Comic-Con (http://annapoliscomiccon.com/)  and MAGFest (http://magfest.org/)  before Katsucon in February.  But, back to Anime USA!  Money was a little tight, so I wasn't really able to splurge on much in the Dealer's Room at Anime USA; but I did purchase one DVD, "Parade Parade" (a hentai).  I'm hoping to be able to catch up on "Fairy Tail" at Katsucon, since it occurs a few weeks after my birthday (January 28)!  My cash flow should be a lot better by then!  In the meantime, I don't mind re-watching some of the many anime DVDs in my collection: "Wolf Children," "Grave of the Fireflies," or one of the films directed by the cinematic genius Hayao Miyazaki: "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," or "Kiki's Delivery Service" (which is supposed to be adapted into a live-action film) to name a few.  Anime today, anime tomorrow, anime FOREVER!!!!!! 

Otakon 2014--The Story of the Wardrobe, The Writer, & The Wallet

Another Otakon has come and gone.  Sadly, I won't be around for Otakon 2015.  Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and I are planning to venture to a con on the West Coast next year, just for a change and a standard of comparison.  Hopefully, we'll be around for Otakon 2016.... But, back to Otakon 2014!   I was planning to cosplay as Toad ("Super Mario Bros.") all 3 days--August 8, 9, & 10, because Hubby was doing a different version of Mario for his cosplay outfits: Fireball Mario, Cape Mario, & Classic Mario.  Unfortunately, a wardrobe malfunction  rendered my Toad costume unsuitable for public wear after Friday.   Mercifully, I had--as I always do-- packed a pair of jeans a and few t-shirts in case of emergency.  On the upside, I did replace my copy of the DVD "The Last Unicorn." (Note to self: Stop loaning your stuff out to people who are likely to ruin or lose it!).  I even got it signed by Peter Beagle, who wrote the book that inspired the animated film adaptation.  I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with him.  That was the highlight of my weekend, though I did purchase some DVDs to add to my collection--"Garden Of Words," "Dragon Pink" (a hentai), and the aforementioned "The Last Unicorn."  I also walked away with a free disc of  "The Ping-Pong Club."  Aside from the DVDs that I got for myself, I was also thinking of my friends who were unable to attend Otakon.  I bought my friend Curtis the complete DVD set of "Deadman Wonderland."  I wish I had had enough money to catch myself up on the "Fairy Tail" anime, but 5 DVDs threatened to put a strain on my finances!  Oh, well!  There are plenty of cons where I will have an opportunity to catch up, right?  I do plan to attend Anime USA from October 3-5 of this year, and Katsucon during President's Day weekend in 2015.    I normally attend a few panels at every con, but I had a problem with the schedule. Unfortunately, someone on the Otakon staff thought it would be a brilliant idea to make the schedule available only via a SmartPhone app!  In other words, because I was too brainless to properly use my IPhone, I missed out on most of the panels.  Oh, well!  I still had a relatively good time, and I am looking forward to attending Anime USA this autumn. It is being held from October 3-5, 2014 at the Washington Marriott--Wardman Park, though I will probably not have a hotel room for that con. I'll probably just commute from my apartment.  For further details regarding the upcoming Anime USA, visit www.animeusa.org

Katsucon: 2 Decades of AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent yet another President's Day weekend with my Hubby Christopher Wanamaker and hundreds of fellow Otaku at Katsucon. It's the only con I've been to every year since I became interested in anime and Asian culture in general. Hubby and I roomed with another couple (Hi, Renee! Hi, Matt!) I'm kinda ticked because I left some of my essential cosplay accessories at home. I was supposed to be Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion) & Toad (Super Mario Bros. video games), but ended up wearing my Domo hoodie and my hamster Kigurumi. On top of that, I lost a few things over the weekend: a tote bag with the book I was supposed to be reading, as well as my Nintendo DS Lite and a few video games, not to mention my journal. On the up side, I saw Steve Bennett--a great artist and a good friend to both me and Chris--for the first time in quite a few years. (Hi, Steve!) I also bought a few DVDs for myself--"Wolf Children", "Fairy Tail: Phoenix Rising" (movie), and, yes, some hentai (hanging my head in shame)! I watched "Wolf Children" with Hubby when I got back Sunday evening. It was AWESOME! Hana is a 19-year-old student who falls in a "fairy-tale like" love with a "wolf man". Over the course of the 13-year story Hana gives birth to two children—older sister Yuki, and younger brother Ame, or "Snow and Rain". At first the family quietly lives in city trying to hide their wolf heritage, but when the "wolf man" suddenly dies Hana makes the decision to move to a rural town, far from their previous city life. I must be burnt out on the anime con scene. I barely attended the panels at Katsucon, and I hardly took any photos. Or maybe, I've just attended the same cons over and over again. I guess it's time for a change! Which is why I'm looking forward to attending Awesome Con for the very first time this year. That will be happening April 18-20 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Details relating to that con can be found here: http://awesomecondc.com/