Far be it for me to let Geo have the last word on our Anime Expo 2011 adventure...
You lunatics have all already seen our cosplay pics and our shenanigans, but there are still a couple of videos to come. Expect a montage of cosplayers and industry folk getting interrogated by the fellow sometimes known as sora_thekey, as well an interview I did with the creators of the cool new 2D, anime-styled fighting game, SKULLGIRLS. The videos are edited and ready for airing, but we wanted to parse them out to give each one its proper breathing room. So hang tight.
For the record, scheduling AX on July 4th weekend is one the best and worst ideas I’ve ever encountered on the convention circuit. If you had family events for the holiday (like I did,) then your time was conflicted quite precariously over the convention days. However, if you didn’t have such concerns tugging on your availability - - hell, if the event itself was a family event in itself for you - - then you got an uncommonly bountiful marathon of fan fun. In my case, I was so spread out trying to give my diligence to all the corners it was due in this messy whirlwind of a week that’s just passed. That’s why all this content was a delayed a little. I give all you lunatics my guarantee, however, that I did my best to get it to you as quickly as I could.
So yeah, you’ve all already heard the announcements that came out of the show. I was at least present for the acquisition and re-issuing announcements that Viz and Funimation made at their respective panels. Out of everything I saw, I'm most eager to check out BAKA & TEST: SUMMON THE BEAST, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, the new iteration of LAST EXILE and (just for the title, alone) DEADMAN WONDERLAND. [C] - CONTROL's finally coming stateside, as well, so hopefully a dub's just around the corner that'll kick that series up in the popular consciousness in the way I've been hoping for throughout this latest leg of Watch & Learn. STEINS GATE's announcement also got a hell of a pop from the crowd, so maybe I'll have to give that another look.
Also, as icky as B-GOTA H-KEI sounded by its sexed-up description, I do want to take this space to say that it still didn't seem to be in as horrible taste as HETALIA: AXIS POWERS. I'm not easily offended, but I couldn't help but be perturbed by the increase in kids dressed as the cheeky "cute boy" analogs of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan this year. It honestly felt like I was walking into the middle of a bad joke.
Anyway, I’d describe my coverage of AX2011 as an expression of my experience at the show instead of straight-up reporting. Think of it as a more task-focused episode of WEIRD WEEKENDS. And despite bomb scares, evacuations and a trip to first aid, AX2011 was even more fun for me than the already amazing time I had at AX2010. Having been a guest at comics conventions over the past three or four years, it’s refreshing to attend a show for comics and cartoons (by any other name,right) where I’m not there to sign or speak on a panel. The greater percentage of females, cosplayers and distributors (rather than original producers) made the whole affair feel like Comic Con reflected through a dark mirror. From my perspective, the focus is distinctly more communal, with fans engaging in the kind of activities they’d partake in at an anime club back home - - but on a macro scale, of course. The fantasy's truly all-surrounding when the cosplayers aren't just striking poses, but also waging mock battles and seriously-skilled dance-offs.
And speaking of communities, I was glad to see some members of Whiskey’s at the show. Geo was my partner-in-crime, of course, but I also ran into LoveNuggets, Apathylad and a mysterious user who actually recognized me out of the crowd. The sense of community extended beyond our sites, too as I was kindly invited to hang with the people of eigoMANGA, Digital LA and Funimation at their respective after-parties. The best take-away from the event, without doubt, was the copy of TRIGUN: BADLANDS RUMBLE I got from Jackie Smith of Funimation. You can all expect a review of that soon.
I'll run out of superlatives pretty quickly if I continue to say what a rad time Anime Expo was. Suffice it to say, I'm already eager for another go, and I hope all this coverage helps you share the enjoyment I had.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
