Scenes From The 2008 Anime Expo
Admittedly, I haven't attended a convention in quite a while. For better or worse, it's just been my reality. But with the Anime Expo just up the freeway, I had no excuse. Frankly, as a fan from way back, there was a kind of gravitational pull, dragging me away from a holiday weekend of sitting on my surfboard off the Laguna coast.
Be that as it may, I had to take an extra breath on the morning of July 3 when I strolled into the Los Angeles Convention Center. Immediately I was submerged in a sea of costumes, both makeshift and elaborate. Just about every anime character had seemingly jumped off the TV screen (Lucky Star, Final Fantasy, Rurouni Kenshin, etc., etc.), and were now oddly conversing with one another, having coffee, fumbling for their cameras, and quickly growing tired under the weight of their weapons.
As I began to explore the crowd, it was almost like being in the land of Bleach and Naruto, so much so that I began to feel self-conscious about some critical reviews. But the anime crowd is perhaps the friendliest around. Everyone is so happy to be there that the word "stranger" seems not to exist; striking up a conversation becomes as natural as laughing.
Nevertheless, it wasn't long before I was reminded of the unavoidable "comic book guy" (à la The Simpsons), who never seems to get my humor -- or irony -- in his quest for perfect knowledge of all things anime. Indeed, at certain times I was definitely in the land of otaku! But everything turned out just fine. I quickly reached out to one of the many ladies -- in their Japanese school outfits -- roaming the Exhibitor's Hall; a life preserver was thrown my way every time.
At any rate, this is an indispensable part of the Expo; character fantasy and display of one's anime prowess is as important for fans as rubbing shoulders with actors, directors, and animators. And with the exception of being shaken from a sleepy state at 9:30 a.m. by a hairy man in a blue Speedo, as well as the sight of a very tall cross-dresser jumping vigorously on the "Dance Revolution" machine (you have to love their boldness), the festive atmosphere was not only intoxicating, but nearly transcendental, as the reality of a hot L.A. day merged with the fantasy world of anime.
Unfortunately I can't go into everything I saw, did, and that happened to me; it was a four-day event. Instead, let me simply focus on four personal highlights.
First, J-Pop was omnipresent at this year's Expo. Specifically, Jyukai and Shoko Nakagawa were guests of honor, and each gave concerts at the Nokia Theater. On top of this, there was a battle of the bands, an anime music video contest, and the highly anticipated "AX Idol" -- yes, much to my dismay, American Idol knows no bounds.
What's the anime connection here? Well, some have often overlooked the fact that many J-Pop and J-Rock bands lend their talents to nearly all anime soundtracks. The American audience, however, seems to have caught on. Western fans came out in full force, and many were dressed in that quintessential J-Pop fashion -- a blend of punk and harajuku style. Consequently, there was a musical beat underscoring all the action at the Expo, and, like any good concert, it kept the attendees moving for all 82 hours of the show.
Here, I have to make one small confession. After stealing just a few minutes with her, I'm rather smitten with Shoko Nakagawa (a.k.a. Shokotan). The undisputed "It Girl" of Japan (singer, blogger, actress, illustrator, anime enthusiast par excellence) is a ball of energy compressed into a small, feminine frame. Visually speaking, her body language is typified by humility and playful innocence, and this is only compounded by the way she praises her friends, fans, and her cat, Mamitasu; she's a never-ending source of endearing catchphrases such as "Giza Cute!" But I can't help but detect a sharp wit lurking behind that smile and those large eyes. Perhaps it is more accessible to Japanese speakers, or maybe it's just me. But her first manga purchase was Hentai, and she later remarked that "all the people here are good at making weapons." Anyway, though I've never been a J-Pop fan, after hearing her sing, I am "bewitched, bothered, and bewildered."
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