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!!!!!!
