Anime convention survey.

[pacificpikachu]

From hitchi:

1. How did you find out about anime conventions? I don't really remember--I'm going to guess it was almost certainly through the internet, but it's been a long time.

2. What and where was your first convention? Paracon, at Great America in Santa Clara (?) in the fall of 2003. It was a one-day convention, but it got Nicole and I into a lot of anime that we're still big fans of, and overall it was a fun experience. Even if it was a small/unconventional convention.

3. How old were you at your first convention? 15.

4. Did you cosplay at your first convention, and if so, as who? I didn't cosplay at my very first convention, but I did at my first four-day convention (Fanime 2004).

5. How many conventions have you've attended presently? Somewhere in the low 20s. I think it's about 21, but I'm not sure. I keep forgetting to count conventions. Many of the conventions I've been too are reasonably small, though.

6. What was your favorite convention and why? I could never answer this question... Fanime and Anime Expo are always unbeatably awesome, every year, and I could never choose between them. In addition, I've been to some absolutely wonderful small cons that make me so nostalgic to think of. Fanime and Anime Expo always take the cake, though. The three Fanimes and three Anime Expos I've been to are some of the best days of my life.

7. List all your cosplays that you've cosplayed in the past (that you can remember) and what one is your favorite? Pikachu (from Pokémon), Kumagorou (from Gravitation), and Akamaru (from Naruto). The Akamaru costume is my favorite. My costumes tend to get better and better every year, so I imagine whenever I finish it, the Teto costume is going to soundly beat the awesomeness of the Akamaru costume.

8. If you have a dream convention that you want to attend, what is it? In addition to my usual Fanime and AX, I would love to attend Otakon someday--and if I'm allowed to dream big, Comiket in Japan would be...*swoons* I can't even describe how cool that would be.

9. Do you attend convention events, such as panels, karaoke, etc.? Oh, absolutely! I go to panels all the time, screenings, watch the karaoke, participate in the games, etc. I try to do a little bit of everything at the conventions. :D If it's available, I'll try it or at least check it out. I tend to create complex schedules that keep my group of friends and myself busy most of the time while we're at the con, and that way we don't usually miss out on much and end up getting the Full Convention Experience.

10. Have you've ever entered masqurade? And if so as who and did you win? No. Maybe someday, but I'm kind of stage-shy. ^^;; I mean, I wouldn't mind going up just to show off my costume, but when it comes to actual skits and such, I'd be too nervous.

11. What do you usually buy in the dealer's room? If so, what do you buy? Plushies. Lots of plushies. Um...soundtracks, DVDs, manga, merchandise from whatever series I'm into, randoms stuff... I don't know, I buy a LOT. Probably too much. XD;

12. Do you buy anything in the artist alley? If so, what do you buy? I don't buy a LOT of stuff in the Artist's Alley, but I certainly buy things from time-to-time. I love fan merchandise. :D I tend to buy doujinshi, the occasional art print, buttons, bookmarks, etc. Actually, the shirt I'm wearing right now ("Yaoi Fangirl Society: Because Real Men Don't Cut It") came from the artist alley at Fanime 06.

13. What was the longest-traveled convention you've driven to or flown to? I wish I could brag about going out of state for a convention, but thusfar I haven't. AX is a nice ten hour drive, though, so that's reasonably hardcore. XD;

14. Have you've met your favorite English seiyuu? And if so, did you get their picture taken/autographed signed? I've met a hell of a lot of English voice actors and actresses. Though I'm not really into English VAs, my favorite is probably Steve Blum, and, yes, I've met him and have his autograph, in addition to a lot of other VA autographs. I tend to be more into the autographs of the original Japanese staff of things, though.

15. Do you generally go to conventions with friends? Or your special someone? Or both? I ALWAYS go to conventions with friends. Sometimes just one or two, sometimes with a whole gaggle of them (~15-20).

16. Have you've met a special someone at a convention and then hooked up there, or after? No. I have lots and lots of con-friends, though, that I see at most of the conventions I go to.

17. Do you regret going to any specific convention? And if so, why? What was so bad about it? I don't regret a single one. ^^; AOD 06 was slightly rough because I couldn't sleep there for some reason and my emotions were all screwed up as a result of sleep deprivation, but there's no way I regret it. I had a lot of fun there--especially with the Pictionary game, singing along loudly and badly to Hare Hare Yukai at karaoke, and the Piano Squall and Ramen & Rice concerts. :D Going out to dinner in Japantown and such was a lot of fun, too.

18. What conventions do you have planned for next year? Absolutely Fanime and Anime Expo, and then probably a bunch of smaller cons (YaoiCon for sure, JTAF, Sac-Anime if I can remember it, and whatever else pops up). I tend to just go to what I can. There seem to be some new conventions on the block this year (Tales of Anime, Con-X-Treme, and MikomiCon), so I might check those out.

19. Have you've cosplayed your dream cosplay yet? If so, who? I don't really have a dream cosplay, as whatever I'm working on next becomes my dream cosplay. I'm really looking forward to Teto.

20. Do you go by your forum name/pen name/nick name at cons? Or do you go by your real name? I generally have my fan name on my badge and/or what I'm cosplaying as (I'll *always* answer to what I'm cosplaying as), but I generally just go by my real name when I introduce myself to people and such.

21. Do you have a convention that's on your birthday? Sac-Anime did once (and that was fun!), and AOD--back when it was a spring, all-anime convention--came close.

22. What is your current favorite anime/manga? Have you've cosplayed it yet? I don't have only one favorite series. I have about...thirty favorite series.

23. Do you make your own cosplays, thrift them, or get them commissioned, etc? I make the parts of the costume I can (ie, I made the whole head for Akamaru and the gloves, along with designing the costume), but I do have a seamstress to handle all the intensive sewing. Sewing fur is hard! I collaborate with her, and usually about two or three weeks before the convention, I'll go in after school every day and work on my costume.

24. Do you have any retired cosplays? If any, why are they retired? The Pikachu costume is sort of retired, as it isn't that good (other than the tail) and it's hard to sit in, uncomfortable, old, etc. I love wearing the ears, though.

25. What cosplays do you have planned for next year? Or if there's alot of them, what series? Teto from Nausicaa. There's no way I have the money or time to make more than one a year--this one is probably going to be upwards of $250, and sooo time-consuming.

26. Did you like this meme? Yes. I love talking about conventions (as anyone who has spoken to me can surely testify).

27. Are you bored out of your mind because your not at a con? Nah, I'm too tired to be at a convention at the moment. Plus, I've barely even started my costume. :( I love being at conventions, though, and always really, really miss them when I'm not at them. Anime conventions are like home.

28. When is your next con? Sac-Anime appears to be in January, and I may or may not go to Tales of Anime (it seems to be a primarily shoujo convention, and my shoujo interests are pretty much limited to Honey & Clover, Ouran, and shounen-ai, so I don't know) in April, but Fanime is my next big convention.

29. Have you've started any of your cosplays for your next con? Slightly. I've done some designs and have been working on the eyes, but other than that...no.

30. Anything else I should know about you? No.

Comments

[centimetre.livejournal.com]

oh, oh, i have to do this. lol XD

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Please do! :D

[centimetre.livejournal.com]

ALSO did you ever make it to yaoicon!?! i didn't see you so i assuemd you didn't... :<

PLUS your akamaru = DA BOMB

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't. I was very sad about it, but I just couldn't organize it. :( I'll be there next year, though--I'm absolutely sure of that! We'll totally have to hang out and splurge on doujinshi and such. XD

Thank youuu~! I absolutely adore your Naruto costume, too! ♥

[centimetre.livejournal.com]

haaa i might not make it to yaoicon next year..

NO matter, for we shall see each other at several cons coming up~

[stuckinnowhere.livejournal.com]

btw, what are the chances i can get a t-shirt like your yaoi fangirls one? i'll but it off you.... or is there a website/mail address/way i can get you money and you buy me one? because that is awesome.... and my roommate would get irritated everytime i would wear it as he is gay and would be all "god rae, you're so weird." so please please please let me know, because you rock! love to you from me ~rae

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

The only place I know of to get them at is Fanime, which means you should GO THIS YEAR!

Oh, and I'm sure you can find them at YaoiCon, which is next October. :D You should DEFINITELY go to that.

I'll tell you if I find it online, though. :D