ANIME NORTH 2002

Pan's Journal of Events

Friday, May 24, 2002

Anime North 2002


Welcome to Anime North - an event that happens once a year and attracts people from all over the globe. It's Canada's largest and best known anime convention. Even though you're only getting my journal of events, maybe you'll realize how much fun conventions really are. I encourage you to go out and have fun. Anyway, here's my journal of events for the Friday of Anime North 2002.

Let me give you a little background information to insure this entry will make some sense to you. I run an Anime Club at my school. A total of twelve people from that club came with me to the convention.

We decided to take the TTC (Toronto's public transit) down to the hotel that the convention was being held at. That itself was an experience of its own. My friend PA and I both have Saber Marionette J costumes (Lime and Tiger respectfully), but we decided to wear them on Saturday. Instead, we both wore tails from my old Halloween costumes. I wore a Renamon tail and she wore a Gatomon tail. Also note that we wore these tails walking around Toronto. *heh*

After PA nearly got hit by two cars... and a bus(!), we were on our way. I'm not the best at understanding Toronto's transit system but that's another story. We had to take three buses and the subway to get there. Needless to say, people were staring at us. The best moment occurred in a subway station. We walked out to the bus area and everyone standing there turned around and stared at us simultaneously. It was a Kodak moment! Too bad I didn't have my camera out...

We arrived at the convention and proceeded to sign in. In line, I spotted a cosplayer of Vash. Before long, some of my friends, PA, Eddy (Evil_Draconian) and Rem (all girls, if you were wondering) started jumping up and down - especially PA since she's know for walking around with a sign reading "Vashie-poo owns me" on her back. After rushing through the line and gaining our passes, PA ran off in the general direction that Vash went in, with yours truly in close pursuit. In front of Vash were a bunch of people taking pictures of other cosplayers.

PA didn't even stop. She ran straight through the people taking photos and hugged the cosplayer as Vash as hard as she could. This guy wasn't get surprised, but the force PA put into her running leap almost knocked him down. *heh* I snapped a few pictures of him and PA, then got one of just him. I thanked him for being such a good sport. If he only knew what we coming...

I was walking around with forms. I figure that if you spent time making a costume, and I take a picture of it and post it on the internet, you might as well get credit for your hard work. Speaking as someone who spent over a month on her Lime costume, they deserve credit!

From there I grabbed Chapel (he was known as "Mister X" in my CN Anime 2001 convention report, but I am now using his username) and we headed for the main convention office. I had registered us as members of the press. We found the media director and he gave us our media passes. The media director's name was Chris, and let me tell you, he's a really nice guy! *smiles*

I ran around taking pictures for the next few hours. In this time, more than a few interesting things happened. I have selective memory, but I can tell you about what happened. Please note that this may not be in exact chronological order, but it is close enough.

Throughout the night, I introduced myself as "Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gumbigobilla Blue Stradivari Telentrent Pierre Andre Charton-Haymoss Ivanovicci Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser III". If you're wondering, I got it off Trigun, but it's a great way to make a first impression, wouldn't you say? ^^

I ran into a man and had a very interesting conversation with him. His name escapes me right now, but he turned out to be a panelist. He commented on my tail. He was very knowledgeable and I ran into him numerous times throughout the night.

At some point, I headed into the Dealer's Room. I am not allowed to take photos in the Dealer's Room, but I saw a lot of people dressed up. I did buy an Evangelion tape featuring episode 23 and 24. 24 is my favorite Evangelion episode so I just had to pick it up (Kaworu, anyone?).

We started a conversation with the dealer that I got the Evangelion tape from. He was friendly and had some interesting stories to tell about previous conventions.

I ran into a Renamon and Rika. They were just plain awesome! Renamon's outfit was so good that my little Renamon Halloween costume pails in comparison. I, of course, jumped at the chance to get a photo of them.^^

Actually, Digimon wasn't doing that bad this year. I ran into a girl dressed as the Digimon Emperor and had a small conversation with her. I got a picture too. Digimon wise, I also saw a girl dressed as Davis (Daisuke). I talked to her for a little bit and got her and her friend's photo. When I gave her my URL, she surprisingly recognized it. Wow. *smiles* If I see her again tomorrow, I'll go start a random conversation.

I chased around so many people, it's really hard to remember them all now. I got a ton of photos though. And I mean a ton! I went though two and a half rolls of film today alone! *heh*

I saw a girl dressed as Lime and took her picture. I'm going as Lime tomorrow, so it should be interesting. I wonder if anyone though she was me. *heh* That would be really interesting to see.

If you read my CN Anime 2001 report, you may recall that I chased a guy dressed as Amiboshi down the street. Well, today I found some people cosplaying as Inuyasha characters. Like always, I tracked them down and got a photo. When I got closer to them to ask them for their user info, I realized who this Inuyasha was. It was the exact same guy I chased down the street last time.^^ He recognized me too. I got another pic of him. If I get a chance, I'll try and talk with him tomorrow. I have some explaining to do... He's such a good sport! *hugs*

Actually, I've realized that most anime fans are good sports. A lot of them have relaxed easy going, slightly off-kilter personalities. It makes everything more interesting. Actually, I really like anime fans. Most if the time, they're a perfect mix and easy to talk to. They're friendly too! *smiles*

There was a group of girls cosplaying as the Weiss Boys. I got their picture right away. I just luv Weiss Kreuz!

I saw some Evangelion characters and got photos with him. Near a guy cosplaying as Shinji was some guy with a shower cap on his head. I though it was funny and creative so I took a picture of him. *heh*

While I was running around, my friends were at scattered around. We lost four of the guys, Miaka and this guy she was with disappeared, Chapel and Miaka's little brother snuck off to the snack room to stuff their faces, and PA, Eddy and Rem ran around looking for the guy cosplaying as Vash.

There were other Vash cosplayers there, but the guy we were chasing around looked freakishly like Vash and had the coat and everything. Rem and Eddy wanted their pictures taken with him too. They found him watching a show, but me being a member of the press knew that I couldn't take pictures in that particular room.

I ran into people I knew every few minutes. This other girl who came with us ran off with my schedule and my package, but I'll recover that from her later. *heh* This was completely irrelevant...

PA's parents offered to pick those of us remaining at 10:30. Closer to this time, we all met near the lobby. I still ran around taking photos. This will be obvious once I get them up on this site. PA ran off to get her parents. As soon as she left our sight, that Vash cosplayer came walking by. Before you knew it, Eddy and Rem were standing up and I got my camera ready and walked towards him.

"Excuse me. My friends would like their pictures taken with you. Is that alright?" I asked.

Vash was with who looked to be his friend. He agreed and I took a picture of him with Rem. I asked if I could take another picture of Eddy with him.

Vash looked at his friend, but his friend responded, "Why not? This is the only time you'll get three girls in one night!"

I think the Vash guy was thrown off guard a bit by that comment, but it was all in good fun. I got a pic with him and Eddy. I then handed my camera to Rem and she got a pic of me hugging Vash. Technically, if you include me, four girls chased him around like maniacs. All of which happen to be my friends. *giggles*

I made some comment about getting more pictures tomorrow, but Vash informed us that he wouldn't be dressed as Vash tomorrow. Eddy made some comment about how sad PA would be. I thanked Vash once again and he walked off down a small hallway towards the Game's Room.

We went to where two of our guy friends were sitting confused. PA ran up telling us that it was time to go. I felt that a RAI (Random Act of Insanity) would be in order.

I turned to PA and said, "That guy looked like Vash just went that way. Want to run after him?"

Within thirty seconds, PA, Eddy, Rem and I had thrown our bags at our two guys friends and were running down the hallway after Vash. PA and I still had our tails on and I was struggling to balance my camera, run, and avoid hitting people or tripping them with my tail. PA ran up a few meters ahead of me and Eddy and Rem were hot on our tails. (Get it? It's a pun! ^^ Err... never mind.)

PA and I saw Vash go into an elevator and many people entered the elevator after him. The elevator had at least ten people in it and was full. Vash was near the back completely innocent and oblivious to what was going on. PA and I thought about stopping the elevator, but that would have been too weird and it's not our style.

Eddy and Rem caught up and I think Vash spotted us just as the elevator doors were closing. For some reason, the elevator doors re-opened and PA and probably the other girls yelled "Vash!" He stared at us and I took this opportunity as a photo opt and snapped a photo just as the elevator doors were closing for the second time. What can I say? I'm a member of the press first; fangirl second.

Eddy, PA and Rem waved at him as the elevator doors closed. Everyone else in the elevator starting giggling and I think poor Vash was embarrassed and confused out of his mind. You should have seen his face! It was priceless!

After that, all four of us ran back down the hall acting like total fangirls.

When we returned to the boys, they were confused, but that's OK. We then proceeded to grab all of our stuff and head for the door.

Just before we left, I turned to the girls and made a comment.

"Don't worry. Just because Vash isn't in costume tomorrow doesn't mean you can't chase him around."

Smiles broke out on to their faces as we headed out the door.

I can't predict the future, but I can tell you is that tomorrow will be one heck of an interesting day.

*heh*