Otakon 2011 Recap

Another Otakon just ended a week ago. There's really nothing else that can be said about the event. It's such an overwhelming experience that you just have to be there to understand it. It was my first time wearing three costumes for the event. I don't think I'll do that again unless I'm volunteering for promotional purposes. (All of my Otakon 2011 pictures here)



Of all the costumes I wore, I only have pictures of one. I was having so much fun walking around, going to panels, dealer's room, game room, video rooms, that I didn't have as many photos taken this year. While in costume, I didn't get to take photos of myself. I've been trying to find photos of myself online from people who took them, but no luck so far. It's partly the my fault and the weather's. It reached 102 degrees on Friday. I only wore my Nyan Cat costume for about 2+ hours. I went back to my hotel, showered, and changed to my 2nd costume for the day. Still, I had numerous con-goers stop me for a picture. At least one of them should be posted online.

My biggest surprise was on Thursday. I was doing last-minute preparations with my luggage and costumes when I got the text message by my friend. She was volunteering at Otakon and saw the Otakon booklet in advanced this year. My costume last year was included. Never did I ever think of such a thing happening. I was floored.

BLACK AND GOLD, BABY!!!

I wore the Nyan Cat and Fullmetal Alchemist Roy Mustang costumes on Friday. Of the short 2+ hours wearing Nyan Cat, I was approached numerous times to have my photo taken. I even had a photo taken with another Nyan Cat cosplayer. My 2nd outfit for the day was of Roy Mustang. It was a button-down version. I was carrying my Shiba-Inu dog (Black Hayate) along with my briefcase which contains my Flame alchemist gloves and flasks. Here's a group picture with the military:

Black Hayate (dog)? Check. Briefcase? Check. Gloves? Check...

Uncanny resemblance? Priceless...

On Saturday, I wore my Eddie Riggs costume from the game Brutal Legend. I wore it for about 3 hours, before deciding to change in my regular clothes. Sadly, no photos of my costume. Not even online. I'll probably model this out in the near future. A future filled with cool air and less sun.

I was this guy. Minus the broadaxe.

Besides dressing up, I went to the Nobuo Uematsu Q&A panel on Friday. That was as close as I can get to one of the greatest composers of all time. I don't talk as much about my passion for Final Fantasy games, but I was a huge fan. I literally taught myself to play the piano so I could play Mr. Uematsu's game compositions. I've been less active on my piano/guitar hobby, but they're always there.

Nobuo Uematsu trying his hardest to answer the fan questions.

The line was long, but manageable. I got in fine and found a seat at the edge near the middle. It's too bad that when they started the Q&A, people rushed in to line on both isles blocking my view. So I stood in the back and took a photos and video. He was asked by a fan on whether he plans on immigrating to the US in the near future. His answer, according to the translator, was, "Well, I'm a small man, so I probably should immigrate to Mexico." Another question was brought up on how long it takes him to write a piece of music. Ironically, when the translator was talking my phone rang. It was the Final Fantasy VII Victory Fanfare. I was laughing and sort of happy/sad/embarrassed at the same time.

On Friday Night, I watched 13 Assassins. The last 40 minutes was well worth it.

This movie should make you forget "The Last Samurai."

I was planning on watching the Anime Music Video Contest on Saturday, but the line would have been too long for the next movie, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. I could have seen @emily_shannon 's music video (If you have the link, I wanna see it). She said she won her category. That's very awesome.

Anyway, this Fullmetal Alchemist movie just came out within weeks in Japan. They translated the movie and premiered it at Otakon. We were the first people to see the movie outside of Japan. There's nothing quite like watching a movie with fellow con-goers. The experience is just so different. You have this sense of unity and belonging. I enjoyed it, thoroughly.

The line for Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos.

On all both Friday and Saturday, I danced my ass off on Pump it Up and the dance floor. It's a surprise that I'm still standing. After walking most of the time on the convention floor, walking back and forth, to and from the hotel and dancing, I'm surprised I was still standing on Sunday. My feet/legs were hurting by Monday and I chipped a toe-nail. Otakon Dance was awesome. The music on Friday was more hyper, with the songs no less than 170+ beats per minute, I think. It was still fun. Saturday was where it's at. The songs were just enough for pop-locking sessions and, of course... SHUFFLING.

I was the only one our circle who really knows how to shuffle. So I stepped up doing the Michael Jackson side-glide, pop-locked for a bit with my glow-in-the-dark color-changing gloves, made a fast spin, then started shuffling. You really don't need to grind someone to enjoy dancing. The best part was when they played a remix of "Party Rockin'." Everyone erupted with cheers. I shuffled away with a bunch of shufflers on another side of the floor. Greatest way to end the night.

I enjoyed the overall experience just as I did the past two years. However, I got to experience more of Otakon this year than before. There are just too many things that you can do at Otakon that it is literally impossible to go to every single one of them. The best thing that you can do is do what you enjoy doing and you'll have a good time. The heat, the weather, the aching muscles, legs and feet. They were all masked by the euphoria that is Otakon...

... and probably this guy:





I wish you guys could have been there with us.

I'm done.