A report from Colossalcon by Andy Floyd

Thursday: I wasn't told until I found out about it, but the Colossalcon staff in charge of getting things going decided to have a half-day Thursday night. I know Anime North did this before, so I'm not surprised to see other anime conventions doing it, too. That means, me being on the Tech Crew, that we had to schlep 3 sets of equipment down to the 3 video rooms. Computer with keyboard, mouse, power cables, projector, and screens. I'm glad to say we managed to get things up and running by the time shown on the schedule. Each computer used had to have the media updated for most of the convention. I hope Adam just gets bigger and additional drives in the systems along with good cooling fans. I basically kept an eye on the systems for most of the weekend, with me actually sitting in Video 3 to run some stuff off DVD which I wanted to see anyway like Giant Robo and Gunbuster 2: Diebuster. Awesome.

 
Thankfully we thought ahead and put a schedule next to each of the video room computers, so in case they get off schedule or otherwise lock up and stop playing for whatever reason, I can get them going where they're supposed to be at that time I catch it.

 
I managed to get into the dealers room when it first opened on Friday. This is one of my "things to do" at any anime convention. Get in there at the first opportunity lest it be gotten by someone else. I had only an hour on Friday since I was the only one who seemed to be taking their volunteer role seriously. One or 2 other guys who were supposed to be on Tech ended up doing other things. And then I had to almost fight for my staff badge because for some reason I was "left off' the list of volunteers who were supposed to get staff badges, apparently some confusion because I was doing panels as well.

They were supposed to have a simulcast of the Friday character portrayal portion of the cosplay on the in-house hotel channel, but some difficulties in dealing with the technology the hotel provided and what the con staff had turned it into a simulcast AIM chat instead, which in some ways was more interesting than seeing the actual event.

 
If I had known they needed my high speed USB video capture box, I would have brought it along with my SNES and the Sailor Moon S fighting cartridge I recently got off eBay. One of the guys in the gaming room thought Sailor Moon fighting games are cool. ^_^

But they had things figured out for Saturday, borrowing someone's laptop with a built in webcame for the main even Cosplay which I'm told worked rather well.

I had a generally good time. Plenty of lovely ladies in china dresses to see. I need help getting the courage to do more than just take photos of them. T.T

Turnout for my Japanese cooking panel was pretty good. It would have run on the in-house hotel channel for the convention had someone kept an eye on the computer for that. At least the con-chair and a friend of mine, Adam, did come to see my panel and left hungry. ^_^

Considering how long it is taking me to recover my energy from staying up almost all weekend 2 weeks ago, next year I will pay for my own room if I have to and do panels only. I would also like to see if there are other conventions who'd be interested in having me appear to do a cooking panel with the ability to do a live demonstration.

 
Hopefully I'll get one friend to finally get a usable copy of my DVD on his system and dressed up with snazzy effects and slightly better editing. I have been offering copies of what I've got now, though.

It's rewarding to volunteer to help run a convention, but get your own room and plenty of sleep. The staff managed to kill at least but probably more than 16 pizza boxes during the course of the weekend.

 
Oh yeah, Saturday, when waiting to get in line for the dealers room, while security was performing crowd control, they were telling people to get their badges ready. I decided as is my habit to make light of the situation and added "and your money, credit cards, dna sample" - something I considered a light hearted attempt at humor. This was not appreciated by the jerk in front of me who promptly told me to shut up.

People - don't be THAT GUY at any convention. A good rule to follow. Because I did what anyone would do when armed with video equipment - I got video of the jerk.

Don't be That Guy. Be Excellent to Each Other.

Colossalcon 2008 goodies:

Magic Knight Rayearth Hikaru fashion doll - now to find her upgrade armor. I already have both Fuu and Umi and their armor.

DVDs - Kashimashi #2, Doki doki school hours (aka Sensei no ojikan) #4, Air TV #2, Scrapped Princess #4 (need #3 and any others), Banner of the Stars 1 #1.

Loads of GACHAPON figures, including a Haruhi set with a Bunny Haruhi, one of girls from Namco games like Kosmos and Telos. PGSM Venus figure, and some others (Rishu from Mamotte Shugogetten).

Ame-comi Catwoman figure that I've modified to remove the stupid skirt.

Bunny Yuki 1/6 scale figure (yum)

Manga needs filled: Ichigo 100% Though I thought I bought #4 I can't find it. All of Pretty Face that I didn't already have, Some Eiken books.

2 Futago Hime candy toys. Talking Sumomo figure (actual size - episode 18 where they clean the apartment building is suitable to show to my nieces so they know who she is).

Some small Sailor Moon magnets for the fridge. They go nicely with 2 I got from Digi Charat. ^_^

2 Kia Asamiya mini figures

I just need some place to display my gachapon figures.  

Moon Chase is pushing for Sailor Moon fans to watch tomorrow's premiere of Flashpoint on CBS, a new series with Stephanie Morgenstern of Sailor Venus dub fame. Please support the series!

Also, several fans sent in Sailor Moon sightings.

Anton writes of a detective series called "K 11" on German channel Sat 1. A Sailor Moon poster appeared in the background in one of episodes.

Cordelia LeFay notes In Season 2, Episode 17 of Entourage the main character, Vincent, has been offered the part of Aquaman. For publicity, he vists San Diego's Comic Con. In the crowd, I spotted Eternal Sailor Saturn and PGSM Sailor Mercury.

Lastly, several days ago ANN reported that Otakon will host Kazuko Tadano and Hiromi Matsushita, designers and animation directors of the Sailor Moon anime.

 

 

 

Later on that day they had the Seiyuu concert. All the Sailor Moon cosplayers were hoping for a performance from Mitsuishi and Han but instead all the other voice actors performed. Akira Kamiya did a great job with the opening to Kinnikuman. The voices actors from Sgt Frog performed the intro to the Keroro as well. We managed to get seats right behind the VIP people which made it more amazing.

Overall I must say this was a great con. About 5000 people attended and the Sailor Moon presence was strong. Sailor Moon cosplay included an amazing Seiya, Tuxedo Mask, Manga Sailor Moon concept art with grey hair and a cape, Beryl, Sailor Kakyuu, Michiru, Sailor V, Sailor Jupiter and many others. The dealers room had a bunch of the Sailor Moon bottle caps and a $70 Cutie Moon Rod as well.
 
If Keiko Han can convince Naoko Takeuchi to come, I will certainly attend animazement next year. Also I'd like to give a special thanks to William Donaldson and Lizzette Johnson for some of the pictures and video.

Kappei Yamaguchi, the voice of Artemis from the live action will be attending Otakon, time to attack him for an autograph.

And now watch Kotono Mitsushi as she transforms and says our favorite catch phrase.
Moon Prism Power MAKE UP!

Genvid contributor Yoshimoon attended the Animazement 2008 Mitsuishi Kotono panel and came back with this video of a "live dubbing" of Sailor Moon.

Fresh from Otakon 2007, the PGSM panel hosted by Lilly-chan. Video was taken for Genvid by members Moon Jump and Yoshimoon. Thanks guys!

Part 1

The Otakon convention in Baltimore later this month will be holding a Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon panel! The panel information is as follows:

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Fan Panel
Date- Sunday July 22, 2007
Time- 9:00am - 10:00am
Location- Panel 4 (Ballroom 2)

For more, see this forums thread or the panel's homepage. The panel will be run by Lilly-chan of BSSMLA. Please attend and support the series!

WoL photographer Yosenex will also be there to discuss aspects of Japan in the series. It should be very interesting and fun.

Time for another heads up on cheap anime on DVD, and once again Dollar General stores, at least in my local area, have another crop of cheap anime DVDs for $3 each! It seems most of these are Bandai Entertainment or Pionner aka Geneon stuff. A short list of titles (because sometimes I can't remember a whole lot) includes more or less...

Tenchi Universe - At $3 a pop, these horribly mastered Geneon DVDs, as part of their "Signature Series" titles, is likely the most you need to pay. I found and bought V.2 and 3.

I figured it would be good to say at least something this month.

First off, thanks to Adam Kanal and Jon Mays for notice on the following. There's an unsubstantiated rumor (note the link) that Japanese magazine Animage has announced that Fox has picked up the rights for a live action Sailor Moon flick starring Lindsay Lohan. I'll pick up a copy of Animage this weekend and see if they actually say anything, but I'm currently rolling my eyes at this.