This year, I was able to attend Anime Expo 2016!! I've been wanting to go for a long time and wow I was just really excited!!!!
AX Day 0:
Since Vance and I arrived early ~8:00 AM on June 30th, we had some time to kill until pre-registration badge pick-up started, at 12PM.
We dropped off our luggage at our very hip and LA-esque airbnb and checked the rooftop.
Checking the drop...
it's a big drop!!
Then we walked to a very hip and hipster-esque restaurant. I don't have a picture, but there were vintage windows hanging up on the walls!!
I ordered an expensive yet delicious bagel and Vance ordered an omelette with toast and salad. They were both pretty tasty, but I preferred mine (hehe). It had avocado, yellow tomatoes, and a fluffy bun.
It was around 10:00 when we checked on the badge line, but decided we didn't want to wait in the heat for two hours and walked around instead.
Couldn't really believe we were actually going ^^
This is actually the only picture I took while sightseeing (lol)
We returned to the airbnb to check in and shower because we were rank (lol)
We had a pretty gnarly view from our room, and we were able to see fireworks from here the night of July 4th.
Today was June 30th, and actually Vance's 19th birthday, so we went to Sugarfish after picking up our badges. It was a ~10 minute walk from our airbnb.
The Real Vancer Boy
The fish and ambience were really nice, but the ponzu was a little strong for my taste. Home girl is weak. The portions were also tiny. And expensive. I honestly would not go again but it was a pretty neat place, and fitting for a special occasion. Happy Birthday!!
We walked here for dessert. Vance actually bought these because I spent so much money today (lol). Very delicious!!
I'd like to say I went to sleep right away to prepare for AX Day 1, but I stayed up until 2AM chatting with Matt (lol).
AX Day 1:
Today I learned the meaning of Line con. SO MANY LINES!!
Line to enter the exhibitors' hall. All the other conventions I've been to had a "Dealers' Hall" so this was one of the things I was really looking forward to.
Once I got in, my first mission was to get ~$200 worth of Nekopara merch for Matt. I made a beeline for the Sekai Works booth but it was really overwhelming and I ended up buying the wrong thing (sorry Matt).
I ended up doing three separate trips because that booth was so busy all the time lol.
Very lewd, but the art is cute. I wish I got myself an acrylic keychain.
Second mission, get the producer of Shirobako's autograph. I totally misunderstood and thought you didn't need an autograph ticket for this particular signing, but you did. I was pretty bummed since I cosplayed CANAAN for the autograph (lol). Luckily, Vance was around the Sentai booth when they announced they were passing out extra autograph tickets so he was able to let me know.
Happy Vance!! And look how determined Producer-san is. He really appreciates his fans.
So I actually threw this CANAAN cosplay together for his autograph (lol). It was really ghetto and I relied on a tube of fabric glue for 80% of it and started a week before the convention but I'm really glad I did it. I'm surprised it was recognizable.
The kind lady gave me her chair to sit next to him!!!!! I was so nervous I was shaking but Vance said you couldn't tell, thankfully! I also forgot my poster and another kind lady returned it to me (lol).
Male Kaori cosplayer that played violin very well!! Vance told him he had good intonation.
Two Love Live cosplays, Nico and Maki. I love Love Live cosplays, they're always so vibrant and cute. I think I'm too mannish for that lol. This was in line for the welcome ceremony which started an hour late (lol). It was worth it for Lia singing Tori no Uta though.
For dinner, we met up with my sister and her boyfriend. She moved to LA this summer after graduating. We had delicious spicy pork at a low-key Korean BBQ.
AX Day 2
I heard Saturday is the day to bring out your -big- cosplay so I wore Lal'c Melk Mark from Diebuster.
I prepped my space boots...
...using super high level space level technology, fit for the best space pilot.
Turns out another con goer was staying at the same airbnb as us in another room, so we shared a Lyft to the convention center.
I went to the Chika Anzai panel, though we couldn't take any pictures.
Returned, and changed out of Lal'c for the Anime Matsuri Super Japan Live Concert. In cos, one person asked if I was from Gunbuster and I was honestly pretty happy, nobody else said they recognized me (lol). More people need to watch Diebuster even if Gunbuster is superior lol.
Friends, this concert was FOUR HOURS!!
IT WAS AMAZING. I think SPHERE stole the show. 10/10
We went to a restaurant afterwards near where the concert was. Everyone around us was drinking (lol). I'm excited to turn 21......... 2 more years to go.
AX Day 3:
Today we watched Makoto Shinkai's newest movie, "Your Name" at its global premiere.
I also revisited the PA WORKS exhibit, which I saw on Day 1 as well.
PA WORKS holds a special place in my anime heart. I love most of their titles!! (Their other titles I haven't seen yet)
Unfortunately I somehow missed all the times PA WORKS gave out freebies. I didn't festival it up, sorry Ohana!!
Today we also experienced the shitshow that was the non-clearing room. Many people stayed in the main events panel room so quite a bit of people couldn't get into the FLCL panel even though they waited for 3+ hours! Vance and I were going to the studio TRIGGER panel anyway, but it was pretty hectic.
Fun fact, I sat behind TEDDYLOID. (Also these names are all capitalized like that, I'm not doing it for fun lol). TRIGGER was amazing. I feel born again.
He's wearing the cute hat.
We returned to the airbnb afterwards!
AX DAY 4:
Last day sad day! Also July 4th.
There was a really cute Aria cosplay! I've been meaning to watch this series.
Vance and I went on our own this day. In retrospect, we should've split up more during the convention lol.
I waited in line for another TRIGGER panel today, of the artists drawing. 2+ hours!! I was able to see Koyama-san though. He was wearing a shirt with his obake-chan character and I was really happy.
Sorry these pictures suck, they're not Vance's haha.
Then, I ran to the main events hall for the closing ceremony! Chii Sakurabi performed which is hilarious because I actually saw her perform at Nebraskon 2015. She's coming this year (2016) too!
Thank you for making it through my con report!! I'm thinking of attending AX 2017. See you next year, maybe!!
