Candy Candy

Damn! That Candy Candy anime is real! No! I learned something from SNL.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=545

Another Wing Commander?

Rumors are going are going around about another Wing Commander game.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112888-New-Wing-Commander-Rumors-Start-to-Swirl

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/715384/back-on-the-flight-deck-an-interview-with-wing-commanders-chris-roberts/

Brave trailer

AMV: Euphoria

Anime Music Videos (AMV) can be amateur fan fiction types made just for fun. Or a more professional looking, technical video to enter into contests at conventions (Anime Expo) like this one.

AMV "Euphoria" 

Rahxephon anime with music by Frou Frou - Must Be Dreaming 

J.P.'s Artwork

J.P. mentioned meeting the creator of one of his favorite anime series, Excel Saga. He wished he had time to ask him questions about his creative ideas and character design. J.P. is interested in a career in character design. He enjoyed taking the character design class at Mt. San Antonio College, "coming up with the story ideas, thinking 'ok how do these characters look, what are their personas.'"

What anime company would you choose to work for?

“I would not mind working for Bandai. Because then hopefully that would get me in the door of Bandai Japan. They handle all the Kamen Rider stuff out there.” 

Here is some of J.P.'s artwork.

http://zombiesupreme.deviantart.com/

Convention Interview with J.P.

The prepaid pick-up ticket line at the
Los Angeles Convention Center the day
 before the first day of Anime Expo.

 Anime Expo is a large convention about Japanese animation or anime and Japanese pop culture held annually on Fourth of July weekend. It is a four day event filled with special guests, panels, concerts, contests, gaming, an exhibit hall and more. Some of the attendees dress in costume or in cosplay during the convention. http://www.anime-expo.org/

J.P. has been a fan of anime for years and has attended and participated at Anime Expo. He is a Mt. San Antonio College graduate 2008 with an A.S. Degree in Advertising Design and Illustration. He was also a member of the Mt. Sac Anime Club.

How long have you been going to conventions?

“I’ve really only been to three conventions.”

Did you spend all four days there? Have you stayed over?

“Each time. The first time I did. It was back in ’02 or ’03 when I was in the anime club.” He talked about staying over with friends at a friend’s time share which was in Anaheim.

Anime Expo has moved to different locations; Long Beach, Anaheim and now Los Angeles. Is there any difference in location? 

“I liked it in Anaheim because one, it was closer to my house. And two, there was better parking. And from what I remember, the space was a lot, lot bigger and they had a lot more stuff going on."   

Was it too crowded with Disneyland nearby?  
"No, it didn’t seem like a problem at all…If you wanted to go to Disneyland for the day or just go to the walk way outside, that was pretty much fine.”

Why do you go to Anime Expo? What do you do there?

“Well the first time, it was like I had never done that, so it was new exciting kind of adventure. In 2010, 2011, I was really focused on school so much I hadn’t been in anime or anything like that for the longest. I like going to the exhibit hall but I guess mostly to see the cosplay. I like seeing the people with their homemade costumes, all dressed up and actually putting effort into it. Like there are some people that don’t and it’s kind of obvious.” He described how people would simply write on a piece of paper that they are in cosplay and wear it around the convention. “And then the other people that go all out, especially those really elaborate ones where they make those giant mannequins and go around with them." I asked him if they were the type that takes two people to carry them. “It takes two to three people to work it. Even the groups, I love the large groups of people that say, ‘Let’s like everyone pick a character from this anime and go as them.’ I like seeing that too.”

Is there something you have to do every time you go?

“Probably the anime music videos. That’s the thing I know I have to go to. Just to see what anime that they use, like what music they pick for it. See how they do it. See if it syncs up right.” 

Anime Music Videos (AMVs) are a contest where people can enter in music videos they created using scenes from anime. There are amateur and professional entrees. There are different categories like drama, comedy and action. I asked him if there is a favorite AMV he liked and J.P. said the Comedy AMVs. He named this one: FLASH! by Vlad G PohnertPros.

 

Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann 
Music by Queen - Flash Gordon Theme

Have you ever cosplayed? Did you perform in any events?

“I did at the 2002, 2003 one. We were going as a bunch of random people… I was Terry from King of Fighters. We did some weird random skit. It was just a random meet up of all these characters and then they got into a fight. And then it was a Dragon Ball Z to-be-continued.” J.P. said the group “enjoyed it, we had fun with it.” He said the audience enjoyed it as well.

What did the staff tell you? What goes on back stage?

Well, they pretty much told us it will be all black so try to remember where your standing when you walk out there. Or at least mentally count how many steps it is. And then remember to look at the crowd because they won’t see you if you’re not looking at them. And if you can’t remember your lines correctly, just say watermelon and it should sync up. It did work because I did forget a couple of lines. After that, there was an area where we took a group picture of us.”

Was everybody nervous when they went up there? How did you feel?

“Yeah, we were all pretty much ready to go. It was awesome…It was more fun than it was nerve racking.”  

What do you think they should add in the panels?

He wants to see a live action panel. There are anime that have been made into live action television shows in Japan. He also thinks that a person going to the convention for the first time should wait on cosplaying. Observe first, and then participate the next year.

How would you describe Anime Expo to someone that has never been there? If they were going for only one day, which day should they go?

“Bring your camera; bring your own water and get ready to walk around a lot.” Saturday, or the day of Masquerade he said is the best day. “That’s when everyone gets their best cosplay outfit on. That’s probably the most crowded day of them all because everyone is there to see everyone else’s cosplay pretty much. And probably since it’s also the weekend, more people have time to go.”

J.P. informed me that next Anime Expo, he wants to be part of staff. But he is not sure what area he wants to work in.Thanks to J.P. for this personal interview.