Anime North 2012 Coverage
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I dropped off the face of the planet from Friday to Sunday this week in order to attend Anime North all weekend long. I took time off work, I abandoned 600 chemistry questions waiting for me to finish, and I spent all my time (and money) blitzing through the con. I had a great time, as per usual, and I’m here to share more of those amazing moments with you. That, and cosplay photos. Lots and lots of cosplay photos. |
Friday
Anime North is a big convention. How big? Over 20, 000 people spread out in a huge congress centre, at least 2 hotels, and a parking lot big enough to fit quite a few football fields in. Despite this, I’ve never had a problem getting my ticket. This year I had to wait over 2 hours in line, which was probably due to the new attendance cap that was set in place. Day 1 was mostly tiring and uneventful, so I just posed for pictures most of the time.
Luckily, I had the Moonlight Ball in the evening to make up for everything. Krizzlybear, owner of the aniblog Baka Laureate, invited me to go so I decided WHY NOT?! It was a gamble since I’d never met anyone from online in real life, I hadn’t even talked to Kriz very much beforehand, I was going to be trapped in an enclosed area with no excuse to leave early, and I’d never been to the ball before. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it turned out being an incredibly fun-filled evening. Krizzlybear didn’t kill me, and we got along like we were secretly old friends in some past life. The ball had an 8-bit video game theme going on, and they had little games for you to play. If you won a game, they’d give you tickets to enter a raffle for various video game controllers, games, and the grand prize of an SNES with a bunch of games. Pretty sweet, eh? Did I mention everyone had to dress FANCY? We were all quite dashing that evening. (NOTE: THERE WAS FREE CANDY)
Saturday
It was only on day 2 that I actually went INSIDE the convention centre. There are 3 basic sections (minus the rave room, which I don’t care about) that include a showroom, artist’s alley and the dealer’s room. The showroom has a bunch of booths and tables for people to play card games and such, the artist’s alley sells art-related things, and the dealer’s room is where you empty your wallet for expensive anime merchandise. The manga is super cheap at AN, since they sell it at US cover price, so I bought 6 manga all in one go. Now I’m finally done Nora, which is impossible to find in real life! I also bought a lot of accessories because…not gonna lie…my favourite part of the con is buying cute earrings and frilly chokers…<_<
The inside of the convention centre is hectic enough with people selling real swords, huge crowds, live wrestling events and human chess. Stepping foot outside into the massive parking lot is just as insane. There are concerts, raves, games (such as tag or weird fighting things…) and above all – tons of cosplayers. This is where you’ll find the bulk of cosplayers just standing around and waiting for you to take a snapshot of them. People without tickets will often loiter around just to take photos, because they don’t have to pay and yet they still get to see the glory of AN’s planned photoshoots. I was actually asked to be in quite a few photos! I was flattered! It’s a shame I missed the Fate/Zero photoshoot though. They didn’t put it in the photoshoot listings so I must have been buying stuff when it was going on D:
I apologize for the blurry picture, but I couldn’t let you guys miss out on Elmo’s newfound pro wrestling career…
I ended the day with free ice cream from a friend and a panel/anime watch in the Doubletree Hotel. It was called “Totally Lame Anime” and it was the best thing I’ve ever seen in that building, oh my gosh. I don’t feel bad attending zero panels because most of them suck, especially if it means watching gloriously bad anime with a huge group of people instead. It’s like SCCSAV’s Terribad viewings, I would imagine, but on a larger scale. That, and the guy running it had only cut out the best parts from a selection of bad anime to keep the laughs constant. The guy hosting it did official translations for most of the stuff he showed, and he added his own commentary to make it even more hilarious. Garzey’s Wing, Machine Robo, Call of the Wild…it was all there and it was all PURE GOLD.
Sunday
The most sugoii people in Swiss Chalet
I met up with Starburst and Orange from the adorable aniblog Daifuuku! for lunch! There were even other people too, like a kind of surprise bonus toy you never knew was included with your meal. They were really nice (and cute! so cute!) and listened carefully as I went overboard voicing my pain about how strict my university is. They seemed fairly unfazed by my horror stories of 40% class averages though, so that’s good! We parted ways because they were going to watch Haruhi and I don’t like watching things twice, but I would definitely force them to hang out with me again for another AN! I was starting to get tired by then so I just bought some more kawaii junk to wear and then left after making a final lazy circuit of the convention area to take photos.
Now let me shove all the merch I bought in your face to flaunt my material belongings.
Cosplay
A complete album of all my con photos can be found on my Facebook page or on Photobucket if you click here!!!
SO CUTE, SO PERFECT!
Potentially my favourite cosplay at the con this year. He LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT.
Jrow…this is for you.
Then I found a One Piece photoshoot, and life was good.
Just a few of the hardcore people from the BRS photoshoot
After I stopped these two, like 5 people came out from the bushes and asked them for photos as well
And Bass…this is for you!
Last but not least, me posing (and forgetting how to show my gems to the camera) with a rather fetching Gilgamesh
Thanks for reading (or picture-viewing?) my AN coverage post! There will be more con posts coming up soon from Jrow and Karakuri, so stay tuned! Your retinas will be treated to more cosplay photos than your occpital lobe will be able to handle. It will cause permanent blindness. If that glowing recommendation hasn’t convinced you, then you’re stuck waiting until my 2013 post of AN. Trust me, I’m not going to stop doing this anytime soon. See you then!
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: 500-599 with 519 comments
OMG, I remember seeing you walking around at the con. I was going to take a pic but my friend wanted to run to the dealers room so I didn’t.
I agree with the amount of people running about. It was a ton of fun in the end though. ^_^
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
You did? Even amongst all the huge crowds of people running around? Aww, that’s a missed opportunity D: Were you in cosplay as well? Maybe I saw you too.
POWUH: 500-599 with 519 comments
Yup. I was Yuzu from Devil Survivor on Friday with a pink frilly dressed Chii from Chobits, Minako/FeMC from P3P on Saturday with a Yukiko from P4, and Sunday I was Mozaik Role Gumi.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Wow, that is a lot of cosplaying! I actually didn’t see any of those aside from potentially a Gumi on Sunday. Karakuri actually cosplayed as Minako at her local con too!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
EYESHIELD COSPLAY GROUP?!?!?!!!!!¡1¡!!!!!¡ EPIC
Oh man AN looks so fun and all the cosplayers are so awesome!! And you are soooooo cute! Rin!!!! Now I want to visit Canada during Anime North for all the cutie pies haha
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
and man DAT KURITA WHOAAA
hehe Daifuuku crew, as cute as always !!
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Props to the ES21 cosplayers. Man, they sure did the whole dealio~
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
YEAH, AN ENTIRE GROUP! I was so surprised. I didn’t see ANY last year at all. They were the most organized photoshoot I’ve ever seen at AN too. It was great!
Aww, Vivi, thanks! >w< The Daifuuku! crew were a pleasure to meet up with. If you ever come to Canada, we'll welcome you with open arms. :3
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~CRYING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO MEET STARBURST IN PERSON AND I CAN’T BECAUSE I LIVE DOWN HERE IN THE US
*wallows forever in the sad fangirl corner*POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Save up for a road trip and surprise Star one day? I..I don’t know what to tell you…I’m sorry? lol
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 338 comments
Jealous~~~ I haven’t been to an AnimeCon in years!!! I want my next Con to be either Comic Con or Sakura Con. Loved the Saber from you’re album and you make a great Rin!! I loves Rin XD Oh good old Snake and his box!! A con I went to one year there was a Snake running around chasing other cosplayers and hiding in his box, it got better when a Sephiroth decided to chase Snake and his box XDD Oh Anime Cons.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I was planning on going to Comic Con, but I haven’t gotten a ticket XD Plus, I’ll still be in MCAT prep classes when it’s going on, so I can’t suddenly go on vacation then. Anyways, hopefully you get to go to a con soon – any con – because they’re just so much fun.
Thanks! I’m glad my Rin turned out looking NOT terrible. Haha, Snake was chasing people around? At AN, this Snake was trying to sneak up on people, and got into a mini fight with Hibari. A lot of crazy things happen at cons…XD
POWUH: 400-499 with 410 comments
Why is wrestling doing here? Ohh dear Elmo is pawned XD
The venue was so big. It’s hard to get a venue this big in Malaysia… It’s really cool to meet up with people of the Aniblog sphere in RL.
The Black Rock Shooter group is awesome. Looking at that Strength cosplay makes me wanna cosplay it as well.
How’s your new experience as a cosplayer? Spending most of your time getting photoshooted must be hectic. Anyway the important thing is to have fun and you seem to have achieve it.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I DON’T KNOW! We’ve had wrestling at AN for at least 3 years now! o_o
I think AN is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) cons in Canada, so we have no choice but to book a gigantic venue. It’s a miracle that this is run by fans and still works out okay. Hey, at least you get multiple, little cons in Malaysia. We only get one shot!
The BRS cosplayers were incredible. I don’t know how they do it. I’ve actually cosplayed before (you can check last year’s AN post) so this isn’t actually new to me. ^^; It’s fun though! Some people seemed genuinely delighted to bump into a Tohsaka Rin at the convention, and they told me so quite readily. It was a nice ego boost, I will admit XD
POWUH: 400-499 with 406 comments
YEAAA Anime North! I had to stop watching anime for a while so I could work on my cosplays for this event D; I went with a friend as Double H (Penguindrum) on Friday and Saturday, and an alternate outfit Alice (Madness Returns) on Sunday!
I didn’t really buy much this year, I didn’t really see things I wanted… though the things I did want ended up being sold out when I decided to go back and buy them D;
Awww yea the BRS photoshoot! The maid ver Black Gold Saw and Black Rock Shooter are my friends!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Oh my God, I think I saw you then. Twice. I saw a Double H in artist’s alley and was going to ask for a picture, but I as headed to the dealer’s room at the time. I really liked your Double H cosplay (unless it was someone other pair of people)!
Aww, that kind of sucks. What did you want that got sold out?
POWUH: 400-499 with 406 comments
It was probably us! I heard from other Penguindrum cosplayers that we were most likely the only pair of Double H there! Thanks hehe!
It was a Sengoku Basara artbook! I’m still wishing that I decided to buy it sooner…..
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Great job with the Double H cosplay. 😀
If it’s the official one, I’ve seen scans from it and it’s GORGEOUS. Then again, fan artbooks are equally amazing for that show. Hopefully it’s there next year…?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Nice Rin outfit. How was your first experience as a cosplayer? You must have become photogenic with all those pictures taken.
Cosplayer groups all around!! The best one is the Black Rock Shooter group. So many Black Gold Saws. I want to get my hands on the BRS cannon.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I actually cosplayed last year and even posted a picture in my AN coverage post. I was a female Izaya last year (the one on the right) and attended a big Durarara!! photoshoot. It’s okay, I don’t expect you to remember every single thing I’ve tried before LOL. Cosplaying as Rin was fun though! I’m not very talented at making costumes, so I’m glad I could put together something like this with my limited skills.
The BRS group is pretty baller, I will admit. THOSE WEAPONS..!!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
SheIzaya….. need to looks more troll looking, but otherwise rather oky. (They did hv a “official Shezaya though, ppl say Hime of YQ looks lk long hair Izaya….)
Sorry but the twintail needs fixing lol.
POWUH: iLurker with 10 comments
OH DANG!
So /that/ is why Orange and company ditched us for poutine on Sunday. Poutine! One does not refuse poutine.
Ahaha, just jerking your leg. Nice photos, and looks like you had a great time there! We should, like, meet up next year or something.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Canada: Land of ice and poutine. Anyways we, like, totally should meet up next year then. :3
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 25 comments
Best opening photo ever.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I’ve been waiting for the day I could have dinosaurs on Metanorn’s front page, and that day has finally come!!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular and Bassun-yo~ with 118 comments
Omg Eyeshield XD Sounds like you guys had a blast XD
(Wonder where they bought that helmet :P)
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It was really fun! I always have a great time at AN.
The helmet looked like it was custom-ordered or something…I really don’t know how they managed that o_o
POWUH: 500-599 and The Trapolicious Treasurer with 599 comments
Oooo looks like so much fun! And your Rin cosplay looks cool XD Lucky you got to meet Starburst and Orange :3 Yeah, I’d be nervous too to meet someone from online but it’s not as weird to do so nowadays.
Saw you got the Whistle manga. <3 the anime. Hi5~!
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I think I spy Serene and Dai there too.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
@Ness: Thanks, Ness! Meeting up with internet friends isn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. You just kind of act like you’ve known them all your life and it’s all good. If you’re naturally shy though, that might make things…difficult XD
My friend bought me volume 1 of Whistle! and I’ve been putting off reading volume 2 for ages. I figured WHY NOT?!
@Kyokai: Haha, nope, the two other people are tag-alongs that have nothing to do with Daifuuku! XD
POWUH: 400-499 with 489 comments
ahhhh anime north what a wonderful time i had. walking around the place with a pepsi bottle on my head and taking random peoples pictures (without them knowing) like a boss. now I got to wait another 300+ days for next years.
the cosplayers where way better then last year
POWUH: 400-499 with 406 comments
I think I may have spotted you! I remember seeing someone balancing a bottle on their head!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Ah, I didn’t see you. :B I try to ask before I take photos, although pretty much everyone in costume is alright with getting their picture taken XD
I think this year’s cosplayers were better too. Not that last year’s were BAD or anything, but there were more impressive people that I bumped in to.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
It looks like this was even better than the last year! So many cosplayers! Very fetching Rin cosplay and man, that Gilgamesh sure acted well. ‘Cool’ job on the post. xD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It was! I’m so sad that hardly any of my real life friends went, because it was so great this year. Well, aside from waiting in line.
Thank you Kyokai! I’m a super amateur cosplayer, but I did what I could XD I saw some Archers milling about, but of course I would end up only taking a photo with the crazy, narcissistic one…^^;
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
So what is the price for those manga? When I walked around Animazement, I thought to myself that I would never buy any anime/manga there because of how jacked the price is, even if there’s a constant barrage of “20% off!” yelling going on. That and also the vidya are just absurd.
Wrestling is there why?
Anyways… looks like a fun time, thanks for the OP/Nami cosplay :), and great job with the Rin cosplay! (I’m completely thrown off by your hair looking like that)
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
$5-$10 each, compared to the normal price in the bookstore of about $8-$15. The thing is, you’re in the US. They sell them at AN for US cover price, which is cheaper for us. On top of that, they have a deal where you don’t pay tax if you use cash AND the 6th manga you buy is free. However, the games have inflated prices since they’re imports…:/ I’ve only ever bought Pokemon Puzzle League because it was a cheap, used N64 game. If you’re trying to buy something from Japan, you’re gonna be broke T_T
I really wish I knew why they had a wrestling ring. They just do. It’s pretty intense too.
Haha, no problem! I love me some One Piece, so it was a pleasure to take all those photos. I don’t straighten my hair all that often, so people often don’t recognize me right away with straight hair. The twintails don’t help either. XD Thanks, though!
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
fufufufufu I died laughing at the raptors! THOSE TWO ARE AWESOME! I am jelly you got to hang with Krizzly, Star, Orange and so many cool people OC! I am glad you had a great time.
Also great Rin cosplay! ;D
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I was actually afraid of those raptors, because they were moving around like REAL RAPTORS (well, uh…from what you see in movies) and started stalking towards me.
Yeah, I bet you’re jealous ;D I got to hang out with the cool kids.
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Great Tohsaka cosplay! Especially nice to get one with Gilgamesh, but was there no Archer or at least Shirou?
You know what, Toronto isn’t too far from Boston, and I know some people from around here who went; I’m gonna have to take some time off and go next year and meet you and Krizzly and all.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Thanks!! I saw some Archers, but they were always halfway across the parking lot, and I didn’t want to run over to them and ask for a photo. I didn’t see any Shirou’s though. Just Archer, Saber, and Rin.
If you come to Anime North next year, let me know! We can meet up and at least have lunch together or something!
POWUH: iLurker with 7 comments
Forgive the lateness of my reply here, as I was busy with my move-in as well as writing my own Anime North post for Anime Diet. I greatly enjoyed the company on Friday, and I’m glad you had blast this year. You’re definitely on my short list for candidates to attend the Moonlight Ball with for next year (fwiw, the list only has one person on it thus far).
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I’m glad that our meeting wasn’t awkward! Amazing how smooth meeting a complete stranger in real life can turn out. I’ll see you next year then, one way or another XD