PinkuBentoBox

So, last weekend was AWA12, supposedly hailed as the largest anime convention in the Southeastern United States. As I’ve done for the last four years, I naturally attended, and of course had a helluva time. This year, though, there was something very different to AWA than in years past. It’s tricky to explain, but it just seemed to have a different feel to it. In terms of events and panels, there seemed to be a distinct lack of things to see and do. But in terms of being a social event and mingling with people, AWA seemed to shine more than any other year I’ve gone.

It’s probably due to the fact that there were like, three other conventions going on in the Cobb Galleria Center at the same time this year that there was a shortage of events. Some baby thing right next door and two other smaller events stationed elsewhere. Probably cramped AWA for room, which is kinda stupid given that this is the single largest event the Cobb Galleria has each year. Anyway, for whatever reason, there was a distinct lack of many of the convention’s yearly mainstays. Some of the fan-favorite panels, like Dubs that Time Forgot (where we all gather around and laugh at shit like Angel Cop’s dub and some Call of the Wild animu with this super-powered dog), were cut completely, as were many staple industry panels. No Geneon presence this year, same with Bandai. Though that may also be due to Bandai getting sick of me asking (nagging ) about Gundam licenses every year in order to win free stuff during their Q&A. Even the big yearly dance party on Saturday night didn’t take place this year. Something about them not being able to get the DJ (like Atlanta has any shortage of starving DJs, fuck, just get Caz from The Masquerade and have an 80s-themed dance!). Luckily, though, the lack of a dance enabled them to schedule something much, much better, which I’ll get to in a sec. Also, the viewing rooms were a letdown, as they were playing stuff I’d either already seen on my own time, didn’t want to see, or DID want to see but were scheduled at the same time as something else. There was also an odd proliferation of Fullmetal Alchemist-themed panels. I didn’t attend them, but they had weird names like “Mustang’s Miniskirts” and “Rizenbul Rangers.” I think one of them was a Q&A with Vic Mignogna, Ed’s dub voice actor (who’s super-cool, but that’s beside the point), but still. Odd names, probably odd events, and it’s slightly vexing that they just bumped off some much better staple events for this sort of thing.

And no, those of you who went, the AMV Dance was not the same thing as the yearly dance party. They have the AMV Dance in that room every year, it just sucks so bad you’ve never noticed it before.

The few events I did go to, though, were fairly interesting. I won free crap off the ADV panel again, as I do every year (Godannar volume one, which ironically I had hoped to win last year). I asked about Utawarerumono’s retarded title change while I was there, too. Apparently “Shadow Warrior Chronicles” is just some working title because no one at ADV can pronounce “Underwater Ray Romano.” Well, either that, or fan outcry’s forced them to change their story. Hard to tell, and because I was getting free stuff, I didn’t wanna press it too much. As usual, everyone else just asked the same five Evangelion and Anime Network-related questions ad nauseum. Also some Guyver questions, since there was some big deal about that. They also announced the license to Monthly Loli Ragtime Show along with some stuff nobody’s ever heard about, which earned a massive “meh” from me. Also reinforced their plan to slow and further delay thinpack releases, which earned a massive “rrgh” from me.

I wanted to go to FUNimation’s panel, too, which was right before ADV’s, but unfortunately parking on Saturday was so bad I couldn’t find a spot for a full hour and a half. Note to any Cobb Galleria and Renaissance-Waverly staff that may be reading this: A) fix your parking lot so that it doesn’t automatically dump people off onto the freeway that try to turn around, and B) frickin’ mark that tiny little recess of extra Event Parking by the hotel entrance a little bit better so people actually know it’s there.

ANYWAY! What else did I attend? Oh, right, Anime Hell and Panel of DOOM. Basically, AH and PoD are complete nonsense. Complete and completely hilarious nonsense. Anime Hell is this collection of embarassing or otherwise unintentionally hilarious clips from various anime and Japanese film (also some stuff like this fucking hilarious German forklift safety video) that was aired on Friday night, and was worth at least a few laughs. Wasn’t as funny as last year’s; in fact, the only really funny stuff was last year’s rehash (like…the fucking hilarious German forklift safety video). Panel of DOOM was early Saturday evening, and it’s basically the same sort of thing, only much raunchier and, typically, much more hilarious. This year they showed a bunch of clips from this awful ninja movie about some guy stealing headbands from rival ninja clans (did I mention these guys are all blonde caucasians fighting in someone’s backyard?), and some other Japanese movie about spiritually-endowed chefs wielding black and white knives (for all I know, it could very well have been Iron Chef: The Movie). There were also some embarassingly bad BBC clips about otaku subculture, and some episodes from this truly bizarre anime series called Ippatsu Kikimusume (roughly, Miss Critical Moment), which involves this clumsy chick getting into all of these life-or-death situations and finding some weird loophole in physics to escape (often with some bizarre ecchi overtones).

I downloaded the entire series when I got home that night. Will update later with my impressions of it. Expect them to be both favorable and bewildered.

The only other event I really bothered to attend outside of the big main event on Saturday was the 4Chan meetup in the main hotel lobby on Friday. Ironically, this year’s Moot-less 4Chan meet was bigger and better than last year’s Moot-ful meet. Lots of Afros, and of course the massive Longcat that we all paraded around the convention for about a half-hour while screaming “POOL’S CLOSED!” and chanting “ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!” Apparently some people complained, because the hotel staff started bitching at us to be quiet and had security and a couple police shadow the meet for the rest of the night. Ah well, it was worth it. Though unfortunately they banned Longcat and kicked out the guy who brought him when he showed up Saturday morning. Lame.

So finally, there was the main event on Saturday night. Now as I said, they didn’t have their big rave thingy, so what they did instead was book a free concert in the main ballroom. You see, last year they ended up booking Peelander-Z to come perform, and it went over so well that they invited them back, gave them more room, and gave them a bigger time slot. Also gave them an opening act, some adorable trio called Tsushimamire. I say adorable, because they were (well, the drummer was smoking hot, but that’s beside the point, the other two were cute), but all the same, they played some pretty heavy music. \m/ -_- \m/ Damn good stuff, too. Then came Peelander-Z. For those of you unfamiliar, Peelander-Z are this off-the-wall Japanese punk rock group (actually, I think they’re from New York originally, but that’s beside the point) who sing these bizarre songs about lawsuits and hungry tigers. Their biggest hit is about cooking steak (”How do we like our steak!? MEDIUM RA~AAAAAARE!”). They also dress up in these bizarre sentai costumes and invite fans on-stage to participate in various bizarre activities. In terms of sheer fun to be had, it’s the most amazing concert you’ll ever go to, especially if you’re up front near the stage. Or on the stage at some point. Like I was. :3

Anyone interested in concert pics, though they’re not really good quality for the most part, can check them out here.

Unfortunately, the concert took a lot out of me, and I was too tired and achy the next day to bother attending the convention on Sunday. But then, Sundays never were AWA’s strong suit. They never schedule any worthwhile events (well, okay, last year they screened Cromartie on Sunday, but that aside…), and it mostly just consists of a slow exodus of tired and unwashed con-goers throughout the day and people in the Dealer’s Room trying to get good deals on the C-grade leftover scraps while the vendors all pack up. So I didn’t miss much.

Speaking of the Dealer’s Room, I managed to pull quite a haul this year. Only had about $150 on me, and I managed to stretch it out quite a bit. Landed the Cromartie box set, the Fullmetal Alchemist movie, finished off Azumanga, managed to get THE VERY LAST Stratos4 box set in the entire convention (did the same thing last hear with 08th MS Team), and managed to get a couple trading figures from this one vendor that’s there every year who actually lets you pick out which specific figure you want, instead of handing you a random box and saying “good luck.” Got a Touka from an Utawarerumono set (set lacked Karura, or else I’d've bought one of her, too), and a Ren (the last one they had) from a Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu set. Also managed to land the 1/100 Gundam Astray Gold Frame Amatu, which I was happy about (about damn time the single best mobile suit design in the Cosmic Era got some model kit love). Probably the most unique thing I bought was this SOS Brigade armband that some Kyon cosplayer was selling. Not an exact replica of Haruhi’s by any means (actually has the logo instead of just “SOS Dan” scribbled in Sharpie on it as with her’s), but all the same I get the feeling it’ll become my equivalent of the typical animu fanboy’s Naruto headband.

Pics of everything I bought/won/got for free can be found here. The postcards and poster were free items from FUNimation’s booth in the Dealer’s Room. Like hell I’d actually spend money on Spiral merchandise (and the only reason it’s on my wall is because Rio’s cute). Not pictured is a free peach I got from FUNimation’s booth advertising their license of Peach Girl. I ate it.

What else? Oh, right, cosplayers. AWA always interests me when it comes to cosplay. You hear about other anime conventions where it’s always “ugh, it sucked, everyone was a 200lb Sailor Moon,” but that’s not always the case here. Typically, the cosplay I see tends to either be one of three things: really good EGL, a Naruto/Inu-Yasha/Final Fantasy character of varying quality (though usually bad), or an at least commendable rendition of a character from something more obscure. Not very many Man-Fayes or Sailor Bubbas in Atlanta, I guess.

Some of the better cosplay I saw can be found here.

Anyway, there’s really not a whole lot else to say. I spent most of my time just wandering around and hanging out with friends. Had a lot of fun, and I plan on doing it all again next year. Tentatively planning on cosplaying as Dr. Tenma from Monster, unless a better idea comes to mind.

For those who’re interested, some random leftover pics (including Longcat) can be found here. And some photos I took of me standing around, bored out of my mind, waiting for Peelander-Z can be found here. And yes, that Laughing Man logo was my “cosplay” this year; I had originally designed some Utawarerumono costume (a generic Evenkuruga, to be specific), but people not getting the reference and just thinking I was some dog boy pissed me off, so I ditched the idea and went with a quick and easy Plan B. Though, for being such a lazy cosplay, it managed to get a LOT of compliments.

P.S. - I also hear rumors (rumors my ass, I saw the photos on LiveJournal) of a Gundam SEED-themed wedding that took place at the con in some private room. Weird. And the bride and groom were cosplaying as Kira and Lacus. Weirder. And sad. I mean yeesh, so many far superior Gundam SEED characters they could’ve chosen from. Murrue and Mwu, Andy and Aisha, Lowe and Kisato, even Mina and Ghina if they wanted to get all kinky with it. :3

Ah well, whatever floats your boat. Or your Archangel, in this case. I’m happy for the lucky couple all the same, and at least they didn’t host it in the middle of the convention.

Anyway, Nagi out.