Japan Expo USA

[Anonymous No.7044580]

Anyone going to Japan Expo in Santa Clara, CA? Semi-decent guests and a good convention pedigree but so far I've been unimpressed with what the con has to offer. Opinions?

[Anonymous No.7045048]

I'm going! We had a thread last week too and it seemed like quite a few from /cgl/ were also attending

[Anonymous No.7045081]

I wanted to. But my friend who reserved the room suddenly cancelled and I have no money for my own.

[Anonymous No.7046145]

Schedule's out. Hoooowww does this work. I have no idea how early I should get in line, if it's better to do FCFS or draw for the autographs...

[Anonymous No.7046152]

>>7046145
I'm gonna try to go FCFS, but Friday with Kozaki's panel so early in the day will make my schedule a little tight since I'm just about arriving into Santa Clara at around the time the panel is suppose to start...

[Anonymous No.7046796]

I'm confused about how the draws are supposed to work? Do you get in line and then draw or is there two separate lines - one for FCFS and one for draws?

[Anonymous No.7046800]

>>7046796
I found this link from one of their other cons. No idea if it'll be the same policies but it seems similar.

http://www.japan-expo-sud.com/en/menu_info/signing-session-systems_235.htm

[Anonymous No.7046815]

>>7046800
So I have a premium ticket.

>Premium Ticket owners already have a Premium passport where marks are set.

The fuck does this even mean? Maybe I'll just e-mail them and ask

[Anonymous No.7046819]

if i see a single dr.who or homestuck panel at fucking JAPAN expo i am going to shit everywhere on the convention floor

[Anonymous No.7046830]

I'm still cosplaying Akashi/Miria/Benten. I wish I could have made a Maya Fey cosplay or something I could meet up with other people in. The cosplay gather groups sound fun! Unfortunately, I have a feeling that I won't be recognized in any of my costumes and it makes me a little sad when I think of the work I put into them, but they're all characters I love and this is my first convention so I guess there's always next time. My costumes aren't very well made either considering they were all first sewing projects, haha so maybe it was for the best

[Anonymous No.7047069]

I really hope it's as big as fanime ish

[Anonymous No.7048483]

>>7047069
I doubt it, at best it would be half the size of famine. New cons are new cons, they have to build up a name. Realistically I bet Japan Expo USA would get around 8,000 unique and 13,000 turnstile. With that said, it should beat Anime Boston's record for largest opening first year for an Anime Con.

[Anonymous No.7048836]

Considering going, though the only reason I want to go is a bit ridiculous. Haven't yet decided if it's worth it to drive two hours and get tickets for the soul purpose of buying a $40 simple print sweater by this one artist, instead of waiting a couple of weeks to order one online.
I don't know what to expect from this con, but I really fucking want one of those sweaters.

[Anonymous No.7048847]

>>7048836
Which artist? Which sweater?

[Anonymous No.7048861]

>>7048847
omocat. I've been drooling over these since the mockups were posted.
I'm selling some of my lolita in the buy/sell/trade thread so I can get both. I don't know why I want them so badly.

[Anonymous No.7048864]

>>7048861
There's a chance these won't even be at their stand, though, if the stock doesn't arrive by then.

[Anonymous No.7048995]

>>7048861
Oh holy shit those are really cool! Now I want them too

[Anonymous No.7049010]

>>7048861
Fuck me those are bitchen...

[Anonymous No.7049149]

going, this will be very fun

[Anonymous No.7049173]

Going for two days, hoping to get an autograph by Sadamoto, but I don't have anything on hand for him to sign...any ideas?
>>7046800
Awesome info, thanks!

[G !!QgnSsnxDvmq No.7049653]

I'll be going to check the event out just to see how it will end up. Mainly I'm motivated by all the Phoenix Wright buzz and I even went as far as to help out with the ACP event.

[Anonymous No.7052697]

I want to go this for the gainax co-founder and stuff but no place to stay outside a buddy who doesn't really wanna go. But The guests just seem really awesome, but I also wanna attend sac anime which is a week after and my buddy who is in sac is being a bit grumpy so debating on going to any at all which would be very unfortunate because Raj is going to sac and raj is amazing

[Anonymous No.7052859]

Anyone going to the concerts? I'm kind of interested in going to see Dempagumi.inc.

[Anonymous No.7052881]

>>7049653
Same reasons I'm going. Maybe waste a bit of money on interesting junk.

[Anonymous No.7052980]

>>7052697
Raj from DAC?

[Anonymous No.7054177]

Pic made for fb, so yeah.
It's my birthday weekend, so I'll probably be out of it if you happen to see me flopping about.

[Anonymous No.7054462]

There isn't much to eat in the area

[Anonymous No.7054747]

>>7044580
Will be attending, mostly as Press. Not telling you which site I'm working for though.

[Anonymous No.7054749]

Any homestuck meetups?

[Anonymous No.7054760]

Nope, and thank god too.

[Anonymous No.7055557]

>>7054462
Yeah, I noticed a Carl's Jr. about 1/2 a mile away.

[Anonymous No.7055570]

Going
It's going to be different going to a convention that basically shuts down early

>>7048861
oh shit I kind of want them and I'm a guy
wish they were on white or something else neutral though
yellow and blue aren't really the best colors...

>>7055557
cue employees of Carl's Jr being swamped and not knowing why

[Anonymous No.7055659]

>>7054462
I think I'm going to order pizza for all 2 days

Is there anywhere else to eat?

[Anonymous No.7055695]

>>7055659
If you go a little bit down the road there is an IHOP. There are also more places to eat like In 'n Out if you head towards the college/movie theaters. There are more places to eat, but you just have to drive for like a few minutes.

[Anonymous No.7055725]

>>7055659
I scoped google maps and there's a Togo's and a pho restaurant within walking distance as well. And there's a pretty reasonably priced sushi place in the Hyatt.

[Anonymous No.7055921]

Is anyone going to ditch the con for Great America?

I mean it's literally right there

[Anonymous No.7055936]

>>7055921
Had to look that up, never heard of it before.
Might possibly go there instead.. I'm kind of dragging my boyfriend to Japan Expo last minute just because, and he'd probably enjoy going to a theme park way more.
But then again, we've got a ton of other options if we do decide against the con, so this just adds to the list.

[G !!0KLJYlknxts No.7055938]

>>7054462
>>7055557
>>7055659
There's a quizmo's within walking distance. It's where I went during CAX

[Anonymous No.7056004]

Watch out, those faggots running this show won't refund you if you back out even if it's out of your control.

Also, the hotel is booking rooms that is less then the con rate.

[Anonymous No.7056163]

>>7056004
Faggots running the show? Why the animosity?

[Anonymous No.7056167]

>>7056004
No con does. this is nothing weird.

[Anonymous No.7056714]

>>7056167
I got an email response saying that there are no refunds and now I'm out of $100. I can't go due to a last second change.

inb4
>Buying a Premium Ticket

[Anonymous No.7056967]

>>7056714

Sorry you can't go, but that's your problem, not the con's. Most conventions don't give refunds after you've bought the badge. If you're lucky, they might give you credit for the following year. In Japan Expo's case, who knows if they'll hold the event again next year.

[Anonymous No.7057043]

>transfering to next year

Same person here, I forgot to also mention that they wont even transfer to next year.

[Anonymous No.7057247]

>>7054462
This anon here

Found some food

[Anonymous No.7057769]

in so cal debating heading up if anyone is down to split a hotel, im just some anon but I like anime.Don't care if i have to sleep on floor

email in email line
Email if interested timeline is 8 oclock

[Anonymous No.7057827]

I love how they have to scan your badge in order for you to leave then come back in
LGTSS
>The City of Japan Expo
>European Conventions in America

[Anonymous No.7057828]

>>7057769
are you a girl or boy

[Anonymous No.7057879]

>>7057828
male
21
I wanna check out raj/ Eva char/manga designer

[Anonymous No.7057902]

>>7057879
wow this is rude but, race?

[Anonymous No.7057905]

>>7057902
Caucasian

[Anonymous No.7057917]

>>7057879
well shit just found out raj is for sac anime but I still am interested in going to this one seeing as its the debut

[Anonymous No.7057966]

>>7057769
>>7057879
>>7057905
hey bucko you left your sage on, might wanna turn it off

[Anonymous No.7057967]

>>7057966
you're stupid

[Anonymous No.7058002]

Looks like I'll be there tomorrow. Hope it's good, I honestly don't know what to expect.

[Anonymous No.7058154]

Probably a dumb question, but do you have to buy the tickets online? Can you buy them upfront at the con and will it cost more than buying them online?
I can't make heads or tails of it on the website, and the only conventions I've been to were small, local ones where there is no option to pay online and you pay upfront as you enter.

[Anonymous No.7058166]

>>7058154
typically, buying tickets upfront is more expensive than buying tickets online at an earlier date.

[Anonymous No.7058209]

>>7058154
>http://www.japan-expo.org/art-1326-en-ticketing.html

If on site means upfront it looks like it's regular price but you get in an hour later than presale which I'm guessing means online.

But I'm assuming you live in CA so it looks like the pre-sale deadline ended an hour ago so I guess you can't buy tickets online anyway?

[Anonymous No.7058402]

Wow fuck European systems, you can pay more to get in early but wow that's really inconvenient on vendors/artists.

[Anonymous No.7058766]

>>7058402
just think of it as a 9am start time since there's going to be a bunch of people able to get in at then anyway. other conventions have exhibit hall start times around then too. heck, at least with JX you know that there's a larger pool of potential customers. with AX's early entry (premium badge) there's like what, 250 of them?

[Anonymous No.7059982]

I wasn't able to attend day 1 today. How did it go for you guys?

[Tim No.7059995]

>>7059982
First thing I've heard so far is that someone in the AA is selling bootlegged original AND official art.

Lolque

[Anonymous No.7060000]

>>7059982
>Japan Ex
It's quiet. This may have something to do with the fact I arrived at five PM, so the panels were winding down. Pretty much all the Fanime art regulars are here.

From the con staff I've talked to, it sounds like at-con reg was way less crazy than Fanime. It seems to be pretty low-key, so far.

Saturday might change things, I dunno. Everyone's going up to their rooms or discussing dinner plans atm.

[Anonymous No.7060010]

>>7057247
If you are taking light rail, get your ass off at Lick Mill, there is a Carl's Jr. Otherwise, get something from home. The Hyatt usually has a microwave (they had one for California Extreme), but it's not up, and I doubt it will be for the weekend.

For the love of christ, either get something from home or make yourself suffer at a McDonald's before hand!

[Anonymous No.7060014]

>>7048483
Nowhere as huge. This is literally 1/4th the size of Fanime, not helped by the con center itself being 1/4th as big as McEnery.

I can't wait until Japan Expo USA probably moves to San Jose proper and the shitstorm between both constaff.

[Anonymous No.7060017]

>>7046819
cry more weeaboo fuckbitch. Or don't, there's just weeaboo shit here.

Actually, wait, there's a Western comic book artist who managed to get a manga published in Japan and he makes fun of weeaboos, so shit on that floor retard

[Anonymous No.7060197]

>>7059995
They've been hitting every con this past summer. They need to fucking stop.

[Anonymous No.7060200]

>>7059982
day 1, where da ppl at

[Anonymous No.7060294]

From what I'm assuming Friday seemed to be like a slow day. Is it worth going tomorrow since it's a Saturday?

[Anonymous No.7060309]

It was super deserted today. Hoping it picks up tomorrow...

[Anonymous No.7060316]

I had a fun time and a couple of people recognized me. I'm hoping tomorrow will have more people though.

[Anonymous No.7060320]

Anyone get any decent pictures? My camera's memory card became corrupted so I lost everything ugh

[Anonymous No.7060380]

I'm not going to say who I am or what I'm working for, but the French don't give a fuck about anyone here that isn't Japanese. Expect shit to explode tomorrow.

[Anonymous No.7060386]

>>7060380
That is if the dealers don't band together and set the French on fire first.

[Anonymous No.7060391]

>>7060380
Why would shit explode tomorrow? Did something happen?

[Anonymous No.7060407]

>>7060391
Staff implosion.

[Anonymous No.7060457]

It seems okay on the surface, just lacking in attendees. Of course AX seems okay on the surface too and we all know how bad it is

I'm hoping more people show up Saturday since it's the weekend but since school just started that means less of that particular group of people. No out of towners on a last final trip and maybe not even the locals.

[Anonymous No.7060487]

>>7060457
Most cons under the surface are pretty ugly. There's a lot of egos and a lot at stake. I personally don't know of any con where there isn't at least some stupid staff conflict. What matters is how invested everyone is in keeping the outside looking fine to attendees, because that affects how the con runs.

[Anonymous No.7060514]

>>7060380
I thought that the higher-ups for this con had experience running Otakon and other high-profile cons

[Anonymous No.7060516]

>>7060487
>>7060514
A few had French accents and sounded like they came directly from the main con.

The few staff I talked to were cool, or at least tolerant and not like the AX folk. If anything, I doubt the JEU folk are freaking out, it's a test con.

What's up with the huge buttload of Japanese guys who came in after the Expo itself closed? I was in the lobby and I see LOTS of Japanese come in. They're not constaff or roadies for the idols, as far as I can tell.

[Anonymous No.7060520]

>>7060380
How was that Felipe dude, anyway? I'm actually surprised he came down, because he has a comic book whose main character is a gigantic mockery of weeaboo shitlords. He's about the only non-Japanese dude around, and he got in because he's actually published in Japan.

[Anonymous No.7060522]

>>7060457
Yeah, people were coming in and going up to their rooms on Friday. tbh santa clara's con center is really low key, it's a tiny building, like, 1/4th the size of fanime

[Anonymous No.7060529]

why the fuck would they start a con the weekend before classes start for college students is beyond me

[Anonymous No.7060531]

>>7060529
joke's on you de anza students start a month from now

[Tim No.7060539]

>>7060520
I think he's been getting pretty big recently. I remember him from Rising Stars of Manga, then he kinda disappeared, and now he's back on the radar.

Is he selling Peepo Choo at the con? I've been wanting to read it for ages.

[Anonymous No.7060558]

>>7060529
They probably didn't realize it.

They probably didn't figure Kcon into the equation.

Just imagine if AM2 was still around because their dates are at the same time. Three events in California, all sharing an overlapping segment of fans.

[Anonymous No.7060560]

>>7060539
I didn't see him on the market list. He's on for all three days, though, and I'm definitely going to pick up a copy if he has issues, MBQ was fucking great.

[Anonymous No.7060563]

>>7060558
Five bucks says JEU sets it mid-summer. At this point, JEU is basically for SFBA folk and AM2's for the Socal folk, and no one is going to go batshit crazy over either one (as cool as AM2 looks).

Given how little advertising JE did and how it really seems more like a testbed for future stuff...

[Anonymous No.7060919]

friday was a absolutely pleasant experience. lots of interesting guest to keep the day busy along with the decent panels. fast wide open walkaways through the exhibit/event dealer hall area and not any homestruck as far as the eyes can see. was a bit over priced compared to other cons I've went to this year but didn't care too much for getting more shopping done.

[Anonymous No.7060928]

>>7060919
I really wanted to go to the FE gathering but I just couldn't attend day 1 ;_;

[Anonymous No.7060956]

>>7060928
here is Yusuke Kozak with the male cosplayers. With how deserted the place looked in the early hours the cosplayer turnout for the fe gathering was great to see.

[Anonymous No.7060959]

>>7060563
Early/mid August might work. July 4th is AX, SDCC is late July next year. J-Pop Summit is a floating date, late July this year, August (both early and late) in other years. That leaves sometime in August. Now they could put it around SDCC's period since the two don't really overlap much anymore and it's not like a lot of people in our demographic get to go anyway (although it'd make me sad since I go to SDCC every year) but I'd like some time earlier in August just so they avoid the start of school.

[Anonymous No.7061339]

Much better turn out today.

[Anonymous No.7061795]

>>7060457
Actually, my boyfriend and I from out of town (Oklahoma). We missed the first week of classes to be here! Friday was deserted but today was much better.

[Anonymous No.7061895]

>>7060959

I was going to suggest mid-July, but then I remembered SDCC. June might work, but I'm guessing everyone is either gearing for AX or suffering from post-Fanime.

Early August would be better.

[Anonymous No.7061897]

>mfw when the masquerade presenter accidentally said "Anime Expo" at closing

I felt really sorry for him when he had to read "yolo #swag"

[Anonymous No.7061999]

So how much does Homestuck, video game, K-pop, My little Pony, and western stuff infest >*![JAPAN]!*< expo?

[Anonymous No.7062022]

>>7061999
Plenty, faggot weeaboo. There's only three Nepetas and one troll who I don't know the name of, but there was a bitching Alex Mercer and Captain America.

[Anonymous No.7062028]

>>7062022
>Captain America at Japan Expo

Wonderful.

[Anonymous No.7062039]

>>7062022
>troll who I don't know the name of
Yea those faggot homestucks would make their own original trolls.
>Captain America
AMERICA FUCK YEAH! REPRESENTING!
But seriously though you'd have to be a huge fucking douchebag to be Captain America at Japan Expo.

[Anonymous No.7062091]

>>7061999
Homestuck: I didn't see a single one. Maybe I got lucky?
Video games: enough
K-pop: none
MLP: a couple
Other western: some

I enjoy the 501st being at everythingeverheld.

>>7062039
French convention about Japanese culture held on American soil. We can probably further complicate it somehow.

[Anonymous No.7062096]

>>7062091
French contention about Japanese culture held on American soil about western internet culture.
We just did.

[Anonymous No.7062100]

>>7062091
French convention about Japanese culture held on American soil about western internet culture.
We just did.

[Anonymous No.7062140]

>>7062091
I didn't see MLP dudes, but I saw at least five trolls. There's also the Master Chief and the Edward Scissorhands from Fanime.

>>7062039
I'm incredibly surprised the guys from Fanime who go as Imperial Japanese from WW2 didn't show up.

[Anonymous No.7062177]

Stuff I watched in the last two days:

1000say: good show. Recommend going to it tomorrow morning.
denpagumi (twice): inexplicably fun. Then again I used to do otagei so it's kind of in me to begin with.
Iwadare and band: even though I'm not a huge fan of the games he's done work for I liked the show.
Gamushara Ouedan: first time I've seen one of any sort and kind of entertaining.

[Anonymous No.7062205]

>>7062177
Ouedan were getting random people at the main hall and just doing cheers around them as they got frightened, it was fucking amusing

I can't believe i missed denpagumi's sabotage :(

[Anonymous No.7062218]

>>7062205
I watched it twice
It was glorious

[Anonymous No.7062231]

Japan Expo should move during Spring Break

>Wondercon
Yeah, but not too many people from Nor Cal would head south and would wait for their show instead

>Anime Conji
LOL, what a shit con.

[Anonymous No.7062278]

>>7062022
>calling someone who wants a convention focused on Japanese culture to be focused on Japanese culture a faggot weeb

[Anonymous No.7062282]

You all should go to the crunchyroll livestream camera so I can type insults at you.

[Anonymous No.7062283]

>>7062218
Did anyone get actual video? I saw them doing discussion on Friday and didn't know they'd fucking cover the Beastie Boys. :(

>>7062231
ot but they had a replacement con at SF, they were advertising it at jeu. I forget the name.

[Anonymous No.7062287]

>>7062282
I passed by a couple of times and got confused for a female Santa a bunch (as opposed to Miria from Baccano)
Is there a way to see the stream after the con? I'm kind of interested to see what was going on, there were a lot of people crowding it.

[Anonymous No.7062313]

>>7062287
Same, I want to see how sad day 1 was.

[Anonymous No.7062363]

>>7062287
Oh, that was you? I was wondering why Santa was at the con @_@ I really need to go watch Baccano, now.

[Anonymous No.7062374]

How was everyone's day 2? I actually enjoyed myself quite a bit. Lots of booths with free candy and my tiny bag was filled with fliers and other things at the end of the day. Highlights for me were getting Sadamoto's autograph (although I saw lots of people upset that they didn't win the draw/lottery, especially in the morning) and seeing Gamushara Oendan cheering everywhere.

[Anonymous No.7062378]

>>7062363
yeah, that was me! And no worries. A lot of people thought I was just some random Santa haha. I had an Isaac with me but we ended up getting separated a few times.

>>7062374
I enjoyed it a lot too. Gamushara Oendan has actually been the highlight of the con for me, hahaha.

[Anonymous No.7062424]

>>7062374
It was pretty cool. The drawing battle was amusing, Masquerade was alright (but alright is HELL of a lot better than this year's Fanime masquerade), the concerts before that were cool, and constaff were friendly (or at least professional). The random Japanese performances going on throughout the hall was really nice, too.
>>7062378
Oh, no wonder. I mostly saw you during Masquerade.

Wondering if tomorrow's Masq will be better.

[Anonymous No.7062487]

>>7062283
>Did anyone get actual video? I saw them doing discussion on Friday and didn't know they'd fucking cover the Beastie Boys. :(

currently uploading it, will be at ready in about 10 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swpvXY7ZSBg&feature=youtu.be

[Anonymous No.7063425]

Sounds like Japan expo is covering their ass for overpricing their tables or something

[Anonymous No.7063576]

Sitting at the Sadamoto panel now. It's so fucking awkward. Short video, short Q&A, now he's inking something he already drew "live on stage" while 2 other guys try to stretch out the time. The French guy is trying to make some kind of point but he doesn't understand Englih enough. He's also translating (poorly) for Sadamoto because I guess the French staff can do everything SOOOO much better even though this place is a ghost town today.

[Anonymous No.7063621]

>>7063576
The french translator is a huge fucking dickwad too. Seriously, FUCK that guy.

[Anonymous No.7063623]

>>7063425
How so?

[Anonymous No.7063673]

>>7063576
Oh, dear god. I'm now glad I lost my badge. The Sadamoto panel was the only thing I was looking forward to, today.

I think I'll just hang out in the lobby and watch people go by.

[Anonymous No.7063690]

>>7063576
My girlfriend walked out so I just kind of sat there getting progressively more irritated with the French 'interpreter' (who was a dick when I ran into him earlier, too). Especially when they started talking about how Gainax is 'above' crowdfunding. I stayed for the 'surprises' which were just..some predone drawings.

Do you think this explains why he was ~40mins late for his autograph session? He was fucking drawing the stuff for tonight? Because holy shit that was annoying.

Iwadare was incredible today and every other guest's panels were all amazing, so...whatever! I had fun! I feel bad for everyone who came to get Sadamoto's autograph and got totally fucked over by the combination of their stupid "first come first serve" (aka Premium/Presell Customers Get First Dibs) / "Draw" system. We had premium tickets and we didn't even have to use our stupid 'draw again' tickets because we were there before anyone else anyway. So they went to waste, because of fucking course I can't just give them to someone else.

Honestly these guys are lucky their guests were so adorable or I'd probably be pissed

[Anonymous No.7063746]

>>7063673
you probably could have just waltz in badge or no badge. They only check at the outer doors, or such was the case for Friday/Saturday

[Anonymous No.7063752]

i had an overall good time this weekend

[Anonymous No.7063767]

>>7063752
Same. It's kind of small but I was okay with that for a first year.

[Anonymous No.7063768]

>>7063673
I showed up an hour before closing, because some drunk whacko was touching a girl at a VTA station and got tackled and beaten for his troubles.

I was actually able to get in yesterday, because someone left a door open into the concert hall.

>>7063690
oh my god seriously? No wonder Trigger split away from Gainax. Who said it, Sadamoto or that French dude?

[Anonymous No.7063774]

>>7063623
I heard artist alley signup was Kafkaesque, but not overpriced. Way better than Fanime, at least :V

>>7063767
>>7063752
Yeah, same here. Saturday was alright to hang out, the concerts were cool, and Masquerade was WAY more organized than Fanime, even if the costumes were alright.

Think it was a bit better than Fanime.

Everyone attending should go to Big Wow Comicfest, it's a week before Fanime and lowkey as well. No concerts, though, amerikanskis hate concerts

[Anonymous No.7063780]

>>7063690
Wait, how was he a dick? And why did the French only come out on Sunday? The only French dude I ran into was a girl manning the at-con register on Friday, and she was cool.

[Anonymous No.7063789]

>>7063774
heard it was $200 for a table
considering the fact they were in the back corner and the number of people who came, a bit high

one table thanked me for spending $20 profusely

[Anonymous No.7063792]

>>7063774
also fuck that shit, I love concerts
#1 reason for me to go to anime conventions

[Anonymous No.7063839]

>>7063768
It was the French interpreter. While Sadamoto was inking his sketch he didn't speak at all. It was the interpreter and I believe the US editor for whoever holds the rights to the Evangelion manga over here just trying to chit-chat to kill time.
No mention of Kick-Heart or Yuasa being the first ones on Kickstarter, but whatever. There was so much pretentious wankery in the air that I could hardly breath - the French guy said that "Gainax likes to create something THEMSELVES and THEN present it to the fans, not involve the fans in the creative process" as if that somehow dilutes creativity.

I really didn't get any bad vibes from Sadamoto. He was just quiet. I wish he could have answered more questions. The panel felt way more like it was about the French dude's opinions than anything else.

>>7063780
He was just an arrogant pos. He was cutting people off and being super strict about everything, and just generally being a dick to the really passionate people who waited not only ~an hour for a CHANCE at an autograph this morning but ~2hours for a fucking autograph when he and Sadamoto finally showed up "fashionably late." Meanwhile the staff were looking for excuses to kick people out of the autograph line at this point, since they were so far behind their schedule.

The French girl running the desk was super nice. In fact, a lot of people on staff were super nice. There were just a few dickheads that kind of left a sour taste in my mouth for the whole thing.

[Anonymous No.7063855]

The concerts were great
The game shows were fun
The drawing battle was really funny

Very chill con

[Anonymous No.7063911]

>>7063789
The table I went to seemed really tired and unexcited, the ones manned by two Asian girls from Canada. They did good work, but they seemed so wiped out and disappointed.

This is a really terrible year for con artists, wasn't it

[Anonymous No.7063916]

>>7063839
ahahaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa holy shit. I hope the board of directors or whoever is in charge of handling conshit at JE gets Studio Trigger next year, just to piss this shitwad off.

Sadamoto is a pretty quiet person, from all accounts, he sounds like Anno, but somehow shyer.

[Anonymous No.7063919]

>>7063792
They do have a live horror show, which is pretty chill.

[Anonymous No.7063920]

>>7063916
he's 10x the shy. You know why they didn't have a photo of him on the site? Because he didn't want one. His main event was also supposed to be "no photos"

[Anonymous No.7063948]

>>7063920
oh god i feel sorry for the fucker.

[Anonymous No.7063961]

>>7063920

He's definitely shy. He showed up briefly at the Sadamoto works cosplay gathering today but didn't announce his presence. He and his manager just quietly took a photo of the cosplayers and left.

[Anonymous No.7063966]

>>7063961
haha wow
all the other guests with gatherings got up onstage and took some shots

[Anonymous No.7063979]

>>7063920
They also suddenly put up "NO PHOTOS" signs and started barking at people with cameras when he finally showed up for his autograph session.

Hearing you guys talk about how shy he is makes me feel slightly bad about being as annoyed as I was at his interpreter. Maybe he needs a douchebag like that to keep him comfortable.

[Anonymous No.7063995]

>>7063690
>Do you think this explains why he was ~40mins late for his autograph session? He was fucking drawing the stuff for tonight? Because holy shit that was annoying.

atleast that sea lion sadamoto drew was super kawaii <3

[Anonymous No.7063996]

>>7063966

Yeah, he didn't come up at all. I was slightly saddened since I brought along my Sadamoto-designed-character costume to this con specifically in hopes for a photo with him, but I understand if he was just shy. I'm just happy he even showed up.

[Anonymous No.7064008]

>>7063995
very true ;;

[Anonymous No.7064009]

>>7063979
you know what you do then? telephoto from across the room!

[Anonymous No.7064167]

>>7063979
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he was aggressive to keep the nerds at bay. I DO wonder how the Japanese feel about overseas conventions, at least.

[Anonymous No.7064171]

This is seriously the most surprisingly fun con in a long time. The rest of the cons around the Cali area are really run by the cosplay to enjoy, this one you can stick around main stage in normal clothes the entire day all days and be completely entertained by what they bring up.

1000Say: got late Saturday and morning Sunday. The monring sunday one obviously had a less turn out, these guys still rocked the hell out, 'get out your seats, come near the stage, this is a rock concert!' All of them took turns fiving everyone, male singer would run around the audience while still singing, they sound iffish on radio but they're solid performers.

Ouendan: thes glorious bastards are the most personable people there. Rather than waiting to show their shit on stage, they go to an empty corner near the entrance, wave their huge as 2 story tall bright orange flag, and cheer the shit out of everyone. Hour later they're on stage doing more stuff, give a motivational speech about how the creator made it because he missed out on doing Ouendan in high school, and then during signing, they moved their fucking table so its right next to the autograph booth. Everyone that got a signature from they they gave a personal cheer to, took a photo, and a signature. Floor staff of the con made the snap decision to let them pull this off and took pictures themselves, awesome shit.

Con was a bit of mish mash as far as market floor goes. Center was a bundle of tourist booths, around them was Japanese cultural booths, then surrounding them were the sellers, and on the far corner was the artist alley which at least was in the same building. Artist alley got the shaft again, seriously unless its Comic Con its been a tough artist alley year.

Worst part really was like everyone was saying: French guy at end translating Sadamoto. Still, Sadamoto being there and doing final inking on a pic was cool enough.

tl;dr: Finally a fucking con where cosplaying isn't a requirement to enjoy.

[Anonymous No.7064176]

>>7064171
>unless its Comic Con its been a tough artist alley year.

That's the second comment about Artist's having it tough this year. Are you saying the entire year was filled with cons giving them the shaft?

[Anonymous No.7064183]

>>7064176
I don't know about any of the other California expos, but Fanime's artist alley was separate from the con proper, thanks to construction and dealer/food sponsors getting the best space. The food court was just LOADS of fucking empty space.

Given how I've heard plenty of AX's staff attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if they fucked their artists over, too.

[Anonymous No.7064206]

>>7064176
Its generally a problem between location and pricing and all the cons as far as what I've been hearing from friends in staff had problems with one or the other. The smaller cons around west coast I can't speak for, and as for AX the layout of the place is just hard to do anything with in general.

Japan Expo was a bit strict about who they let in to showcase in general - the fanmade panels were dropped as to what I heard and anyone that set up got a free full pass instead, which isn't bad as staff people were restricted from getting autographs from the guests. Artist alley for Japan Expo specifically was just overpriced and stuck in a corner: due to the size of the con and thankfully all being in one building, no one really missed it. Some of the booth were literally unmanned with all their stock still present: it was really unfortunate.

Deleted earlier post as didn't want this con to sound like anti-cosplay: its just nice to go to a con that doesn't require it. Wherever its hosted next year, this is seriously a really good con that deserves more attendees. The guests were awesome and while upper management can be questionable the floor people are really good sports.

[Anonymous No.7064220]

>>7064206
Yeah, floor staff, even if you could tell they were having a bad day or were petered out from dealing with concrap, kept professional. I saw a few cops and security shooting the shit with random congoers. When staff were moving people out of the main hall, they were pretty friendly.

[Anonymous No.7064224]

On Saturday I waited in line for an hour and half for Sadamoto's autograph. I was fist in line in fact. I did this cause I heard about people being turned away who had won "tickets" for his autograph. And yeah, instantly some snotty French fag was being a dick to everyone. Set a bad tone. I was disappointed to see him usurp the whole Sadamoto panel just so he could try to speak English while he babbled about Macross and French animation, and talk down to fans like you'd expect some French fuck would. But it was worth it when Sadamoto sketched Shinji and gave his autograph in my Der Mond art book.

>>7063576
Yeah that was pretty terrible.

>>7063621
Agreed.

>>7063690
Iwadare was such a delight! He came into Sadamoto's panel at the end and sat near me. When the panel was over I got a photo with him. Iwadare was the highlight of the con for me. Saw his show & his panel, got him to autograph my soundtrack to Lunar SSC, and then the photo at the end. He had a big smile on his face where ever I saw him too. He made my con.

>>7063752
Me too. I actually quite liked this con, despite the flaws it had. I especially liked that there weren't massive crowds. But had I not won the lottery twice (for Sadamoto and Iwadare's autograph) I would have felt differently.

[Anonymous No.7064232]

>>7044580
>>7044580

I didn't bother going this year due to the fact I had plans for Sac-Anime but from the feedback from the other people outside of 4chan was pretty positive. There were a few minor complaints though, with the most noticeable one that the convention was nearly vacant and for vendors/artists there, it didn't go too well for them.

The reason why it had low attendees was due to the fact that many people have already spent their money with Anime Expo/SDCC or are planning to attend another Anime con. Japan Expo happened to arrive at the wrong time of the year, especially when California already has too many Anime cons.

[Anonymous No.7064239]

>>7064232
Sac Anime also has the benefit of taking place during a holiday If the con was held during the Fall then things could have gotten better

[Anonymous No.7064243]

>>7064232
Don't forget that they had little advertising, even at Fanime and AX, and first-time cons, even if the organizers have worked on other cons, are always a gamble.

I'm fairly certain vendors and artists always have terrible times at cons. :(

[Anonymous No.7064248]

>>7064239
OT, but how do the anime cons that take place during winter work out? I know there's a small one in LA that takes place in January, and I think the replacement for Wondercon in SF is in March, or something like that?

[Anonymous No.7064255]

>>7064224
Were you waiting in line at the autograph desk or at the autograph stage? I waited for 40 minutes at the autograph desk on Saturday for first come first serve but when I got to the front it was already into the draw system and the chances were quite slim. Later my friend showed up and asked if I wanted to try her ticket for the lottery. This was a few hours later, the line was only around 10 people. The success rate was a lot higher at this point, and I only waited a few minutes for my ticket. While I am happy I got an autograph, I feel pretty bad for the people who waited for more than an hour only to lose the draw.

[Anonymous No.7064256]

>>7044580
>>7044580

Also, I'm very doubtful of the Japan Expo's success. The reason being is because the con's name already alienates some people thinking its a con for Japanophiles(and we all know being a japanophile is apparently taboo because some 4chan /a/b/tards/Youtube said so).

It may have surpassed Comic-Con in attendance in France but than again, the French have always been fascinated with Jpop so its no surprise. I hear they even had Anime far more earlier than we did in America(Speed Racer does not count as it was localized and hardly distinguishable as an Anime). The French grew up with Anime in the 70's and eventually manga in the early 90's. Hence the con's success.

[Anonymous No.7064267]

>>7064255
On Saturday I waited for the doors to open. Went directly to the autograph booth (3 lines being run by only 2 people). Waited for my turn. FCFS ran out. Was lucky enough to win the lottery. Went to his 3:00 signing. Also won the lottery for Iwadare.

[Anonymous No.7064269]

>>7064248
SacAnime Winter and Otakon Vegas are on the same weekend (the 1st weekend of the new year) followed by ALA the week after then AOD a couplf of weeks after that

[Anonymous No.7064272]

>>7064248
ALA does well in January but its overall costs are way lower than JX as they don't get a con center or big name guests.

Sac Winter does well too

[Anonymous No.7064289]

>>7064224
Iwadare is the best ever aaaaaa. I can't even handle it. I ran into him and Yuka while eating and they took a picture with me and my girlfriend and gave us a card for their band. They introduced each other as husband and wife!!

Despite some problems with a few of the higher ups, I do think this was a good con. They could change a few things, but maybe if they do it next year they'll read some feedback and things will be better.

[Anonymous No.7064294]

Highlights for me were the game shows, the Iwadare concerts, the Iwamoto drawing panel, and the sale at the uniqlo booth on sunday.

The vidya room was being very iffy with how they wanted the lighting, it changed every time I went. A lot of the space in the middle for the art gallery went unused, I felt they could have switched those with the artist alley. The theater was fine, but the screen was a bit small for how many seats were available.

I appreciated the smaller con feel, though it was weird not having things to do in between panels, concerts, etc.

[Anonymous No.7064295]

>>7064256
Anyone that went to the con would agree with you, but its not to its detriment.

Like what others said, the con's center was Japanese tourism and culture, there was a mini gallery for fine art works and live performance with traditional instruments.

That said, cosplaying was just as normal as any other anime con and wasn't to anyone's detriment. Saturday night was still masq night, rooms were still devoted to anime film, people were still doing photo meets, and all the general con stuff you'd expect in any other con around the state is still the same.

Its the first con they had here, yes is geared for more about Japan in general but its still heavily anime and game influenced, and by Japan in general, it also means their music venue which is part of the con and not something that you have to get another ticket for. The survey staff was also out in full force so come next time they'll at least havve firsthand numbers as to what to expand on.

[Anonymous No.7064312]

>>7064167
I could buy this, except he was probably way worse than most eva nerds himself. Just the sheer aura of pretension around that guy, ugh. "Oh you poor, poor American bastards and your 'Robotech.'" Take it elsewhere, man. After the incredible positivity of literally every other panel, he was such a downer.

[Anonymous No.7064319]

>>7064295
The music performances from the various booths were really good, and I'm kinda weirded out they didn't put on a concert for traditional Japanese music.

>>7064312
Oh, great, don't tell me, the sort of snooty fuck who likes anime but goes on and on about how anything that isn't weird Gainax stuff or Miyazaki is otaku trash made for racist sexists.

[Anonymous No.7064322]

>>7064294
>>7064289
>>7063690

Herro, I m Noriyuki Iwadare and I come to you frm Japan to play keytar Lunar and Grandia tunes. Enjoy.

[Anonymous No.7064327]

>>7064322
We did very much enjoy. That keytar shit was bitching

[Anonymous No.7064328]

>>7064322
I'm slightly off camera to the right :( Fuck that guy who made us back away from the stage

[Anonymous No.7064336]

>>7064319
Traditional music weren't on the main stage, but if you roamed the con floors they were performing on both, microphone, filming camera, and all.

Aside from Iwadare all the main stage performances were people that had some sort of major label contract/support. 1000Say I know for certain sold out their music and advertised their itunes album for anyone that missed out, Yu Kozaki was being promoted near the bluray booth smack dab at the front of the entrance, and dempagumi had ads and merchandise in the Kinokuniya booth. It would be nice if they had more traditional music presence, at least on the con floor stage like what Ouendan did, still they did perform, and those that were next to that con floor stage were playing throughout every session so everyone heard it anyway.

[Anonymous No.7064342]

>>7064327
I also recorded all the Lunar songs. I'ma upload em to YouTube this week so be on the look out.

>>7064328
Yeah that guy was (french) fag.

Also, without a doubt my favorite cosplayers of the con were Asuka and Mari who made their own plug suites, which looked amazing. Asuka told me they had been sewing for 10 years. Sorry for another shitty cell phone picture; snagged this while waiting for Sadamoto's autograph.

[Anonymous No.7064345]

>>7064336
Oh, I know, I saw a bunch of them walking the main floor.

Ouendan were freaking hilarious, I saw them ambush a Barnaby and he was so freaked out.

[Anonymous No.7064361]

Sorry for the shitty panorama - hall stage featuring Ouendan group with artist alley to the right, autograph registration to the left, and rest of con behind camera. blurry woman in white dress near the cafeteria, slightly covered by Asian woman in glasses in the foreground, that's Kyoko Hikami and right next to her is Iwadare. All the guests were super chill with the con goers.

[Anonymous No.7064362]

>>7064342
THAT WAS THE GUY?
It all makes sense now.

[Anonymous No.7064364]

>>7064342
I didn't see that Mari. I saw both that Asuka and the one from Saturday's masquerade walking around, though.

How was Sunday's masq, anyway?

[Anonymous No.7064371]

Ouendan signing booth - they asked the floor staff to give them a table and some random backing that wasn't being used, and covered one of the entrances the autographers used to get to their tables. They had the center line and floor staff just kept it as is, ran smoothly and everyone waiting in line for autographs had these guys as entertainment to their side.

Best part was when a bunch of cosplayers went up to them with light sticks and gave them a cheer.

[Anonymous No.7064389]

>>7064371
seriously that ouendan group was the best thing ever, it's something I never thought would be so fucking cool just watching live. and their huge flag was ridiculous. I was cosplaying an oldschool gainax work on sunday and they recognized me and I got a photo and cheer with them, almost made up for not winning a Sadamoto autograph.

Also agreed on Sadamoto's translator.. It also took me a second to realize they were pronouncing "Homminaise" so fast in Japanese accent I was lost for a bit... and when he started talking about French animation influencing Miyazaki or how he was with Kawamori at Japan Expo in France, I wasn't surprised at all. Sad that not too many people got to ask questions, but I did love seeing the sketches at the end

>>7063576
Of course Sadamoto won't do a live drawing from pencil work and up, he's not a speed artist at all nor would I ever want/expect him to. Doing the black inking and watching him pen was still really amazing though and I loved the finished works!

NADIA WITH SEA LION

[Anonymous No.7064401]

I might have been one of the few people who really enjoyed seeing the art gallery and traditional culture stuff alongside all the pop culture booths. I dont get to see that kind of mixed media and there were some really unique displays and exhibits. My favorites was the painting that used pressed flowers in the figure's dress and sakura in the sky/frame. the hand sewn quilt with all the theater faces.. and that upcycled fashion accessory booth.

I didn't really do the tourism/travel/consulate booths, did anyone go through those? anything particularly interesting in there?

[Anonymous No.7064434]

>>7064371
Aw man, I saw them walking around and I asked for a picture, and they got SO excited about our costumes, and after they posed with us, they asked us all our names and gave us each an individual cheer. It was amazing.

[Anonymous No.7064503]

>>7064401
I love culture booths and displays. Shit, the culture stuff is part of why I love the Cherry Blossom Festival so much. I'm glad Japan Expo has culture because most conventions don't.

>>7064328
He wasn't too bad as long as there was a one-person lane (basically the width of his body) around the stage and an area clear for the cameramen nearest the stage so he could move around . Yeah, if you did keep going too close he'd keep coming around but if not he'd just sit there and watch. Friday him and the rest of the staff were kind of a stickler for keeping the aisles clear but Saturday on he was a lot more laid back and those areas in front of the seats were okay.

It was better than the AX staff killing all wotagei during Aya Ikeda's concert, that's for sure.

[Anonymous No.7064609]

>>7064434
After they find out your name there's no escaping them. They will scream at you and expect you to scream back every time they see you. It's fucking amazing and I love them.
>>7064503
It just sucks to be called up to cheer next to an artist at a show and have administration go 'nuh uh thats a hazard' but maybe that kind of wet blanket bullshit is common in CA? I'm from far away so I don't have an AX experience to compare it to. Also I'm referring to the Sunday Iwadare concert during the encore :(

[Anonymous No.7064677]

This con was such a disappointment, and it was all because of stupid shit that was easily fixable. Why stick registration in a hidden room in the hotel, then make people walk outside around the hotel and 2 sides of the convention center before they can get in? Never mind that there was a hallway connecting the hotel directly to the con that we "couldn't" use. Or that the bridge that connects the parking lot directly to the con center was also "off limits". Why? They had enough people at the main doors, they could've spared a few at the other doors. The whole ticket vs badge thing was so inefficient I can't even.

The autograph thing was so shitty - VIP, press, staff all were not allowed get autographs. My friend chose to volunteer because she didn't have the money to spare for a regular badge, and wasn't allowed to even try for the autograph "lottery". Way to reward the volunteers who sacrificed their time to make your con go smoother.

My buddy in Artist Alley was in despair because he dropped the money for a table and got almost no sales all weekend. There was good art all over the place but no one was buying anything.

The culture booths seemed pretty desperate too - on Sunday I had people almost throwing brochures at me cause hey guess what - most weeaboos aren't super interested in traditional art, martial arts or music. I felt bad, I wonder if Japan Expo told them they'd reach a whole new audience. Too bad con goers would rather photograph cosplayers than sit for a lecture on traditional shit.

[Anonymous No.7064703]

>>7064401
I loved the Wabi-Sabi section. There was some beautiful art. My favorite was the ink painting of the flying wing. I also bought a ring for $35 from one of those vendors, as well as a pot holder that looks wicker (not sure since nobody spoke English, it was hard to find somebody to even pay for the thing). Also, the people selling purses made from recycled materials for $300 made me feel bad. I looked at one, asked the price, and then walked away. They guy said, "please don't go" all sad like. So much stuff in the Wabi-Sabi section was extremely expensive; artwork that pushed close to $20,000, creepy baby dolls that were like $700, etc. I'm sure most of those vendors sold nothing. Did they really expect anime con goers to drop that kind of cash for those kinds of products?

Expensive crap aside, it was a nice addition to the con and I greatly enjoyed the art works.

I was a little surprised too to see this element at the con, as well as all the travel agencies (I really enjoyed both though). It's as if the French said, "hey Japanese people, you can make lots of money on these Californians by getting them to buy very expensive art and then travel packages to your country." I had one staff ask me if, "Is your wallet getting light? Are you spending lots of money?" And then I took his survey which basically kept asking about how much I'm spending and on what.

>>7064677
Yeah, many of the vendors appeared very desperate. You know that many probably didn't make a single dollar. I'm sorry, but US anime con goers don't go to cons to drop $15,000 on traditional art. I spoke to one of the "normal" anime junk vendors and she was not happy with how the con was being run, said that they weren't making any money either.

Here are fetish hooker versions of Asuka and Rei.

[Anonymous No.7064709]

So happy to see all you Iwadare fans here! Here is the last Lunar song he played. Would somebody be so kind as to tell me the name of the song and I'll add that to the title.

I'll upload the other two today or tomorrow.

http://youtu.be/oQMoi4fwRZY

[Anonymous No.7064712]

>>7064677
Friday they let you use the attached structure and the bridge. Saturday they locked it down period and made you use the parking next to the 49ers stadium. I can only assume that was because it was easy to slip into the convention without paying via those routes and had multiple friends do that. Initially on Friday I had declared the free attached structure as being one of the best parking situations for a convention I've ever seen.

For the culture stuff I thought they were just for display purposes/exhibition and not for actual sales. Ridiculous price tags and all like you see at art galleries. If they were here to sell their stuff... They came to the wrong venue. I hadn't even thought about buying anything minus the art from ninja arts.

[Anonymous No.7064713]

>>7064709
Did anyone go on Saturday to his concert? Anyone know what the second to last song was? I think it was a theme of some sort from Grandia 2 and I want to hear it again...

[Anonymous No.7064749]

In order for this con to survive it needs a few things

>More panels/events for fans to get involved in
The main stage and autographs are great but there just needs more stuff to do in between big events where people can get involved in.

>Late night programing
Closing at 7 is way too early.

[Anonymous No.7064756]

>>7060197
Which artist is this so I can avoid buying anything in the future

[Anonymous No.7064802]

>>7064712
>For the culture stuff I thought they were just for display purposes/exhibition and not for actual sales. Ridiculous price tags and all like you see at art galleries. If they were here to sell their stuff... They came to the wrong venue. I hadn't even thought about buying anything minus the art from ninja arts


This, I was there to see/appreciate the art and I spoke with a few of the artists. For sure I never asked about prices or anything, i know all those items are upwards of $300+ and I just tried to be polite and ask the exhibitors about the process and took some printed brochures etc. Engaging the actual artist is something I rarely get to do at a gallery or online. It's a good experience, but I can see why most people wouldn't know what to make of that WabiSabi section.

tl'dr, I'm also fairly certain they were there to exhibit rather than to sell anything. so I tried to just really verbally and visually appreciate the works (easily done, I love that stuff) because wow the creators are like.. right there.

[Anonymous No.7064892]

>>7064703
I feel bad, because this is the sort of shit "normal" people bitch about, nerds only caring about pop culture instead of art and music, but we're all a bunch of high schoolers and college students who can't drop more than a hundred dollars and running around panels and concerts. I really wish I'd have seen more of the Wabi-Sabi, my dumb ass kept thinking it was off limits to certain people.

The travel advertisers seemed kinda... I don't know. They were advertising colleges and studying abroad, which, though it would appeal to any weeaboo, wouldn't get any packages out of them, because, as I said... high schoolers and college students who, if they're lucky, work double jobs JUST to go see a convention.

If they set up an honest to god expo that solely focuses on art and music, I would definitely go and it'd be more successful. Most people get scared away by their fear of nerds (which may or may not be justified), and nerds get scared away by the fear of "normal" people being elitist twats (which may or may not be justified).
>>7064713
I swear it was another Lunar song.

[Anonymous No.7064909]

>>7064677
It wasn't so much as hidden as just a really bad location. If they had ANYWHERE the attendees they were expecting, it would have been more obvious, because that line was built for something like Fanime's population, but I come in and it's dead quiet. It helps I was there for California Extreme a while back.

I'm sort of not surprised they didn't allow staff/press to get autographs, because they already have special privileges (well, SOME, since you do get to go to the con for free).... but it's still sort of lame, and that system was lame in the first place.

[Anonymous No.7064917]

>>7064749
Yeah, I agree. It's alright for people like me, who have to take light rail or bike, but for those staying at the Hyatt, seven PM is too early. Hell, I'd be fine if it closed at nine or ten.

I really wish they'd put up more traditional panels, I saw the Ikebana demonstration and it was interesting.

[Anonymous No.7064953]

>>7064917
7pm end time really encourages the local people to just bounce when its over so if you're staying at the hotel there's nothing much to do besides drink up and go to parties. Since the concenter closed you couldn't really roam around the place and had to stay at your hotel and with the low attendee count , there were a lot of non con people on the main floor lobby parties were out of the question.

[Anonymous No.7065076]

Sure wishing this thread had more pictures of cosplayers...

[Anonymous No.7065079]

>>7064953
There was also a wedding, wasnt there. Most people I know who partied went to friends's houses away from the concenter.

Though I heard some guests were drinking in the hyatt lobby, like how it usually goes at SDCC. Anyone spot any?

My biggest "woah what" is the exhibitors and professionals attending not being eligible for autographs. Also Staff. What a really odd system that closes opportunities off to people who create content and keep the show going!

[Anonymous No.7065095]

>>7065079
I didn't see them in the lobby, but coming back to the Hyatt Sunday morning we passed by Kozaki and Iwamoto just chilling right outside the doors.

[Anonymous No.7065146]

>>7064749
definitely needs more content both during the day and an evening section

>>7064909
you actually got very little benefits besides saving $50. in the main events they let you in early/had a seating area but honestly the press/vip seating was empty as fuck (i had rows to myself, and half the time i was moving around for different angles for shots). there were no restrictions like "press only" for photos/video. you also have access to guests if you had a dying wish to interview them or take a photo with them. seriously it would have been fine to just pay the $50 and you would be able to get autographs.

[Anonymous No.7065149]

>>7064917
Sounds like you'd enjoy a visit to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in April. Ikebana, folk dance, taiko, geisha performance. Don't know if that's feasible for you or not but I enjoy going every year for the two weekends.

[Anonymous No.7065176]

>>7064371

Technically, we weren't cosplaying, we're just a bunch of wotas there primarily for Dempagumi.inc and You Kikkawa. But we did convince the stormtrooper to join us because what's more awesome than a stormtrooper with a glowstick cheering on a cheering squad?

[Anonymous No.7065181]

And yeah, this felt like a really bad con for exhibitors/artists. I spent a lot of money, but it was all on the Japanese guests' merchandise. I mean, I go to a lot of cons, and I see the same exhibitors/artists basically every con. The guest merchandise in comparison are pretty exclusive. They just need to pick a time that's not squeezed in by all the other cons in the area or even the same state.

[Anonymous No.7065199]

>>7065079
I dropped $200 for a table, some dropped $900.

I'm still so fucking pissed I wasn't allowed to get autographs, that is BULLSHIT.

[Anonymous No.7065209]

>>7065199
$900? what the shit?

[Anonymous No.7065304]

>>7065149
Oh, I completely forgot about that. LA has one as well, doesn't it?

If anything, Japantown does host Spirit of Japantown and a Buddhist festival where they have taiko and music demonstrations. A few people on cgl bitch about Japantown being infiltrated by dirty Koreans, but whatever.

>>7065209
You've never heard of spending sprees at SDCC, have you.

[Anonymous No.7065314]

>>7065304
"For a table" means the price for the artist to get his spot, correct? I can understand SDCC's booth prices because it's SDCC but this is nowhere near that level. $900 for a first-year convention is bizarre. Unless you meant they spent $900 buying items from a table?

[Anonymous No.7065318]

>>7065199
>I'm still so fucking pissed I wasn't allowed to get autographs, that is BULLSHIT.

I'm guessing it wasn't disclosed in the fine print when you signed up for an exhibitor spot???

I mean it may have been, but if it wasn't then yes, that is real bullshit. Many people who were non "run of the mill" attendees were denied autograph, or I think had to jump through hoops to attempt one. Sux man. There one of the WabiSabi women in line with (I think) her son right in front of me during the Sadamoto ticket draw on Sunday morning, but they were escorted out of line by a JX staff who spoke Japanese (I couldn't understand what they had said but it was explaining something about not being able to do the draw) it was RIGHT when they approached the computer, aka after they had been been standing in line a good deal of time like many of us.

which is bullshit, because staff can see their bright orange lanyards/badges very easily.. why didn't they notify them they couldn't do the draw earlier??? What a waste of their time... felt so bad for them but maybe they were able to get an autograph another way. I never knew.

[Anonymous No.7065328]

>>7065318
certainly makes you want to buy a badge, doesn't it? or maybe that was the point

[Anonymous No.7065377]

>>7065328
I talked with one vendor (Niche cel/poster/vintage anime merchandise) at SDCC and he said he bought a simple attendee badge for JX because the prices for booths were ridiculous, he wanted to just enjoy the convention. He really wanted to see Sadamoto. Not sure if he knew about the not eligible for autographs part, but there is at least one potential dealer who nope'ed out of exhibiting even before the con..

just so weird that those who are more involved (press, professionals, exhibitors, staff, volunteers) etc have a much MUCH harder time getting autographs by guests (if able at all) than normal attendees. without these people. there is no show at all....

[Anonymous No.7065408]

>>7065314
>>7065304
No, 900 for a table. NOT in spending money

[Anonymous No.7065412]

>>7064953

I saw a group of people playing beer pong in the area near the on-site registration on Saturday night as I was walking out to my car to get food. I came back an hour later and they were still there playing beer pong and blasting music.

[Anonymous No.7065425]

>>7065408
Not sure how SDCC exhibitor spaces run but at least for that money and commitmet you DO get extra perks like being in the hall early for exclusives and, if you have a good team, possible to go to an event/guest signing you really want.

Blanket default exclusion for exhibitors, even if the booths were cheap, is still a huge downside

[Anonymous No.7065438]

>>7065079
I spotted Iwadare and Yuka Hoshio in the hotel lobby! They saw me staring at them, waved, walked over and Iwadare took my picture. I nearly fainted.

[Anonymous No.7065486]

The draw system was fucking stupid and I don't think I could be convinced otherwise.
As a premium badge holder, you get 15 'redraw' tickets. This allows you to draw up to 6 times (with your initial draw) for one autograph. Most of the time this meant if you used 5 tickets you were guaranteed an autograph. However, premium holders were also on the floor much earlier than anyone else - so we were getting First Come First Serve tickets. Couple this with their policy that you only get to visit each guest once...Those 'redraw' tickets were useless unless you overslept. I tried giving my tickets to a really nice person who wanted Sadamoto's autograph and they told her she couldn't fucking use them because they weren't hers?? So I ended up having to throw the fucking things away. Really great. Couple this with Sadamoto's interpreter being a complete dick to everybody and man just fuck that shit, the autograph system was a goddamn mess and I don't think it made the artists happy either. Fucking Felipe Smith told me they were like rushing the artists to 'draw faster' and its just like man maybe they actually want to see their fucking fans?

The Bones president was the sweetest of sweethearts.

[Anonymous No.7065499]

>>7065486
The whole draw thing was just dumb. The autographs for Dempagumi.inc were great though, they really spent their time talking to you, not just signing a picture and waving goodbye. So cute aghhhh

[Anonymous No.7065529]

>>7065499
I missed them and I feel bad. The ouendan autograph was incredible, Kozaki drew me a bunch of shit (and I didn't even have a ticket but I was told to shhhh!), Iwamoto is fucking adorable and signed a bunch of my Okami stuff, Iwadare signed a AA cd for me and I thanked him for Langrisser as I left (which seemed to surprise him), I didn't even go through Felipe's line but when I bought all three volumes of Peepo Choo from him he signed them all on the spot and spent like a half hour talking to me about just whatever (what a cool guy aaa). Only really Sadamoto's line on Sunday was irritating, thanks to a combination of the lateness and what a dick the interpreter was.

[Anonymous No.7065562]

>>7065076

[Anonymous No.7065566]

>>7065562

[Anonymous No.7065572]

>>7065566

[Anonymous No.7065576]

>>7065572

[Anonymous No.7065579]

>>7065576

[Anonymous No.7065584]

>>7065579

[Anonymous No.7065586]

>>7065584

[Anonymous No.7065588]

>>7065586

[Anonymous No.7065591]

>>7065588

[Anonymous No.7065594]

>>7065591

[Anonymous No.7065596]

>>7065594

[Anonymous No.7065598]

>>7065596

[Anonymous No.7065602]

>>7065598

[Anonymous No.7065611]

>>7065602

[Anonymous No.7065618]

>>7065611

[Anonymous No.7065621]

>>7065602
>there was a Nyaruko
>and I missed her
SON OF A BITCH

also I took too many concert photos

[Anonymous No.7065626]

>>7065618

[Anonymous No.7065631]

>>7065611
IS THAT MOTHERFUCKING MRS FRIZZLE GODDAMN

>>7065618
wwwwwow those titans are special

[Anonymous No.7065630]

>>7065626

[Anonymous No.7065635]

>>7065630

[Anonymous No.7065641]

>>7065635

[Anonymous No.7065644]

>>7065641

[Anonymous No.7065649]

>>7065644

[Anonymous No.7065653]

>>7065649

[Anonymous No.7065655]

>>7065641
>that zipper tab

Shouldn't it be at her neck?

[Anonymous No.7065661]

>>7065653

[Anonymous No.7065664]

>>7065661

[Anonymous No.7065666]

>>7065661
if I could only know who this Madoka is...she's super cute (minus the skirt)

[Anonymous No.7065663]

>>7065655
i feel like it's one of those with two zippers....if that's the case....fetish catsuit....

[Anonymous No.7065669]

>>7065664

[Anonymous No.7065671]

>>7065669

[Anonymous No.7065676]

>>7065671

[Anonymous No.7065677]

>>7065676

[Anonymous No.7065678]

>>7065666
>she

[Anonymous No.7065680]

>>7065677

[Anonymous No.7065682]

>>7065680

[Anonymous No.7065684]

>>7065678
that's a guy?! EVEN BETTER! Another person to be my idoru-sama

[Anonymous No.7065686]

>>7065682

[Anonymous No.7065688]

>>7065686

[Anonymous No.7065693]

>>7065688

[Anonymous No.7065696]

>>7065693

[Anonymous No.7065699]

>>7065696

[Anonymous No.7065702]

>>7065699

[Anonymous No.7065704]

>>7065702

[Anonymous No.7065708]

>>7065704

[Anonymous No.7065712]

>>7065704
oh god she is perf!

[Anonymous No.7065716]

>>7065708

[Anonymous No.7065719]

>>7065716

[Anonymous No.7065720]

>>7065719

[Anonymous No.7065721]

>>7065720

[Anonymous No.7065728]

>>7065721

[Anonymous No.7065730]

>>7065728

[Jacuzzi (and sometimes Maou) No.7066551]

I had a really great time. It was small, but lots of my friends were there so I always had someone to hang out with, and I kept streetpassing the same people, so they were good levels for Find Mii. Loooooved the drawing battle between Kozaki and Felipe, probably the most fun I've had in a panel in a long time.

>>7065486
I actually really liked the autograph system… at least the first come first serve, because I could get my tickets in the morning and not have to worry about being in line all day for a signature with no guarantee I'd get one. But the draw system was… weird? I think things depended on who you got for the line keeper person. My premium badge friend gave me his redraw tickets in case I couldn't get the Sadamoto one (was like 6th in line for regular pass holders and they were already on the draw system when I got to the line), and they said I could definitely use them if I didn't get it, so…? I think there was a lot of general autograph confusion among the staff. I thought I could only get one autograph from each guest, but it turned out I could get as many as I wanted, provided I could get the tickets.

As for the guests:
-Sadamoto seemed… sad? And his handler/translator was kinda harsh?
-Iwamoto seemed awesome, loved his sketches. I think on the last day most of his sketches were more SD-ish and sooooo adorable. Plus he'd take pretty crazy requests.
-Kozaki was awesome, he signed two things for me at the first session because I wanted to let him decide which one he wanted to sign and then I couldn't decide which I wanted a signature on more. He had his 3DS with him too, so I kept streetpassing him and it made me feel awesome.
-Felipe Smith was AMAZING and his autograph/sketches were incredible. And he was really easy to talk to, very kind and interesting.
-Finally, totally agreeing with >>7065486, the Bones president was the sweetest of sweethearts.

[Anonymous No.7066629]

>>7066551
>My premium badge friend gave me his redraw tickets in case I couldn't get the Sadamoto one (was like 6th in line for regular pass holders and they were already on the draw system when I got to the line), and they said I could definitely use them if I didn't get it, so…? I think there was a lot of general autograph confusion among the staff. I thought I could only get one autograph from each guest, but it turned out I could get as many as I wanted, provided I could get the tickets.
Yeah, this was my problem, too. I'm pretty sure the staff wasn't clear on their own rules. I gave my tickets to someone who waited in line to use them and was told she couldn't because she wasn't premium (sorry for wasting your time strangerperson :() and I also waited in line with another friend to try to use my premium tickets to redraw for her and was told, again, she couldn't use them unless she had a premium badge herself. Seems like the people running it just weren't consistent at all - kinda like how, depending on what time of the day you tried, you could get in and out easily through the connected hotel lobby with your ticket/wristband or you'd have to go all the way around.
I think the system sounds good in theory and I agree with you about getting the tickets early and stuff, but I just think it's dumb that premium holders both used up the FCFS autographs AND had redraw tickets.
Maybe Sadamoto had fewer autograph tickets available idk
The sign very clearly said 'one visit per guest,' but maybe it was just confusing language? In that case, I wish I had visited Kozaki again. On Friday the guests were autographing 2-3 things for like everyone! But then the most popular guests (Iwadare and Sadamoto) seemed really strict about one autograph per person. Not so bad, but if it's true that you could get multiple tickets for one person, I feel kinda bad about not visiting Sadamoto again for a second autograph or Kozaki again after I bought the FE artbook.
Well, live and learn.

[Anonymous No.7066691]

what do you guys think of the entrace/exit practice of the con? (ignoring where the staff members were)

For those who didn't attend JX had a designated entrance and exit area where your badge was scanned in and out. as to prevent badge sharing. The staff was also present at all entrances of the con center so you could not even walk through the hallways without a badge.

[Anonymous No.7066708]

>>7066691
I thought it was fucking stupid that I had to go ALL THE WAY AROUND as a premium member with a wristband to come back into the con after eating in the hotel lobby. Like dude, they aren't even going to scan me. I guess a little fresh air doesn't hurt.

For non-premium members, I can only imagine it was a hassle, but it'd be a bigger deal if food hadn't been so far away.

[Anonymous No.7066718]

>>7065641
>>7065644
Oh dang. Photog anon noticed me. Gracias for the photos.
>>7065655
What >>7065663 said. I got the suit from a mostly sex-related site. I'll find a way to cover the damn thing in the future though.
>>7065671
>>7065676
These guys were amazing.

>>7066691
I swear I couldn't understand the purpose of that. I thought it was for keeping track of how many people were in the convention for next year attendance list or something. It was kinda lame, but for this, it made getting those tickets 10x easier then any convention I've ever been to. I walked in, paid my money and they handed me my 3-day all in about 1 minute. The opposite of Fanime.

[Anonymous No.7066806]

>>7066691
Friday you could just waltz in without a badge because of the numerous entrances. Saturday not so much. Would have been nice if they had let Premium/VIP just walk in without having to use specific entrances and/or use the Hyatt/Convention Center parking lot like on Friday.

[Anonymous No.7066845]

how were the masquerades? There as one each day, wasn't there?

[Anonymous No.7066944]

>>7064183

Due to local noise ordnance laws in San Jose Swap Meet couldn't be located in South Hall as originally planned, unfortunately Artist's Alley which closed much earlier was the only other option. It all stemmed from one of the Exhibit Halls not being available Fanime weekend, but with the expansion set to open in September hopefully everything will be centralized again as before.

[Anonymous No.7067313]

>>7066551
>Sadamoto seemed sad

If I recall, he's depressed like Anno, just a bit more bitter.

>>7066691
Yeah, I wound up just spending all my time in the con. Food wasn't as huge of an issue, since I was on light rail and just got food downtown.

>>7066806
I got in on Saturday, because someone left a door into the concert hall propped open. Sunday was like Friday - deserted, no people manning anything.

>>7066845
The first one was decent - a majority of the costumes were alright, GODDAMN THAT WOMAN IN THE ANIME MASK WAS CREEPY and the MC had to read "yolo #swag". However, decent is lightyears away from the trainwreck of Fanime's. I didn't see Sunday's, though.

The MC managed to accidentally say "Anime Expo" at the very end, instead of Japan Expo USA.

>>7066944
Jesus, if it was fire ordinance, I'd understand, but /noise ordinance/? Dealer's hall was way more crowded.

I'm just hoping the expansion's finished before next Fanime, because it still looks about 50% done - they still need to finish the rooms and get the fountain up.

[Anonymous No.7067319]

Complimenting the videos and photos done so far (thanks, photo anon!), a guy from the local magazine was there. It's not all cosplay, but still:

http://photos.metroactive.com/Events/Japan-Expo-1st-Impact/31456784_V6VG3p#!i=2724498511&k=xbwvzQn

How the FUCK did that Space Marine move around?

[Anonymous No.7067334]

>>7067319

[Anonymous No.7067341]

>>7067334

[Anonymous No.7067357]

>>7067319
Where should I upload my photos so people can see? I have some pics that can't be upload due to the limit on this site.

[Anonymous No.7067416]

>>7067357
That's a sign that they should be resized

[Anonymous No.7067926]

>>7067357
Hard limit is 3 MB, resize 'em, as anon said.

[Anonymous No.7068119]

>>7067319
>http://photos.metroactive.com/Events/Japan-Expo-1st-Impact/31456784_V6VG3p#!i=2724498511&k=xbwvzQn


thanks for this link!

[Anonymous No.7068653]

>>7068119
Yeah, the shame is that Metro didn't advertise it until, like, the week before. I remember when Fanime used to put out print ads in Metro.

[Anonymous No.7070598]

>>7068653

Full page ads at that! And the one time they had a brief TV commercial run during adultswim the week of.

[Anonymous No.7070697]

I am here to post that the French guy with Sadamoto was a dick. That is my contribution.

[Anonymous No.7070774]

>>7070598
...Was it anything like GIRUGAMESH guy?

Also, was it last year or 2011 when they ran an article on Fanime?

[Anonymous No.7071055]

>>7070697
I am here to post that every French guy I met that con was a dick. There was a French photographer that wouldn't leave the female cosplayers alone. I saw him following one of them through the con for over 15 minutes, even when it was obvious she was just looping back and forth through the lobby over and over.

[Anonymous No.7071075]

>>7071055
People underestimate the extreme weeaboo neckbeardness of the average french nerd.

They are way further into their nerd culture than we americans are. You'd have to live there to understand.

[Anonymous No.7071114]

>>7071055
the dude at the help desk was, fittingly, helpful

well, the only thing I asked him was "how do I get back to the parking garage?"

[Anonymous No.7071161]

>>7070774
Nah, it was more done like an adultswim-style bumper. I'm having trouble finding it on Youtube, I'll ask a friend what his channel is for the link.

Was this the article you meant? http://www.metroactive.com/metro-santa-cruz/05.26.10/FanimeCon-1021.html

[Anonymous No.7071520]

>>7071161
Yeah, that one. Damn, that was the year I wanted to go, but at that point, it was already happening.

[Anonymous No.7071521]

>>7071055
>>7071114
For non-guys, the French girl at at-con reg was nice and professional.

[Anonymous No.7071750]

>>7071520

And here is the FanimeCon TV commercial, it aired as a local cable commercial on adultswim. I can verify that it legit aired as I was at the producer's house waiting for it to pop up after so many commercials for that Poseidon remake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iwP4CqkF3k

[Anonymous No.7071786]

>>7064342
They look amazing! hnnng.

[Anonymous No.7072053]

>>7071750
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iwP4CqkF3k
Who was that artist for most of the bumper images? Oh, and thanks for the link!

[Anonymous No.7074463]

>>7072053

Hmm good question, I'll ask the producer and see if he can recall. Incidentally my favorite is the one of Ultraman and his kid, yours?

[Anonymous No.7078098]

Alright finally uploading some pictures. These two were fucking amazing and adorable. The Owain just ran up to this Lissa cosplayer as I was taking a picture and screamed "MOTHER! I HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS TIME AND SPACE TO SEE YOU!" and they hugged and it was brilliant.

[Anonymous No.7078101]

[Anonymous No.7078103]

best Redline cosplayers

[Anonymous No.7078104]

itty bitty babby Yotsuba made me smile

[Anonymous No.7078107]

I'm like 89% sure this Yuki browses /cgl/ and they were also cosplaying Maou one day of the con. Their Tsuritama group was amazing (one of my favorite shows) and the Yuki/Maou was also very kind - I think they recognized me because I was taking their picture the day I was wandering around as Miria, hahaha. The apron was a nice touch to Yuki and the Coco cosplayer is really cute too!! I wish I hadn't been such a spaz because they seemed like a cool group.

[Anonymous No.7078112]

I don't even like this character that much but this cosplayer did a great job!

[Anonymous No.7078116]

group of Ghiblis

[Anonymous No.7078119]

>>7078104

Someday I will find a Calvin cosplayer and a Yotsuba cosplayer and get them to pose together.

[Anonymous No.7078122]

Here's Maou

[Anonymous No.7078124]

Dat Kozue

[Anonymous No.7078135]

And some Shingeki no Maids

[Anonymous No.7078138]

Does anyone have some more Evangelion pics from the weekend?

[Anonymous No.7078145]

>>7078138
I do, but all the cosplayers I caught were already posted in this thread so

[Anonymous No.7078669]

>>7072053

Found out that the artist is SNK character designer Tatsuhiko Kanaoka aka FALCOON, you can find more of his works at the following:

http://www.japanator.com/featured-fan-art-falcoon-13305.phtml

[Anonymous No.7079606]

>>7078138
there's a ton posted from >>7067319
and also the ACP gallery has lots of photos form the sadamoto gathering

[Jacuzzi (and sometimes Maou) No.7081127]

>>7078107
>>7078122
Awwww, yeah, these are me, thanks for taking them!! It was nice to meet you at con, and I don't think you weren't being a spaz (if anyone was, it was me!)!