CN ANIME 2001

Pan's Journal of Events

Sunday, August 26, 2001

Canadian Nation Anime Expo 2001

On Sunday, I went back to the convention for a few hours. I had very little time though, so I decided to make the best of it. There was a little boy with me at some points. His mother was kind enough to give me a ride. That little boy was "Togepi" if you're wondering. He kept on calling me Sora. Whatever. So if you saw a little boy following me at any point, that's who it was.

Why exactly did I go back? A few reasons actually. I wanted to see any cosplayers and see if I could photograph them (cause I wasn't there on Saturday). I also wanted to finally meet Scott McNeil. And honestly, I was looking for that guy I scared on the street dressed as Amiboshi. Why? Cause I half wanted to apologize for acting like such a baka.

I was walking under the sheltered area outside of the convention center when I swore I saw the guy that was cosplaying as Amiboshi in front of us. He wasn't wearing a costume though. I shrugged it off. After all, I was wearing pink sunglasses so I couldn't really see straight.

Oh, for those of you wondering, I was wearing blue jeans and white tank top with a white shirt over top. Lots of strings... and at certain points I had pink sunglasses on.

When I got inside, I was watching people go up the escalator and something caught my eye again. It looked like it was that guy who I thought looked like that guy that cosplayed as Amiboshi. I can't remember people very well, so I still wasn't sure. If this was him, the odds were amazing! He was wearing a blue shirt.

Later, I went up escalator. I ended up around the autograph area for some reason. I was looking at the weapons nearby. I actually bought a small interesting dagger. It's only about he size of my hand, but I liked it. It's not like I'm even going to use it, ne?

After I bought it, I turned around. There was that guy in the blue shirt! He was standing there talking with two girls. For some reason, that part of my brain that thinks all the time decided it was time for another vacation. Yay for temporary insanity... *sigh*

So, I walked up to him. He looked a little different this time. I realized my earlier descriptions were a little off and that if he read it, he'd probably want to kill me. That's what I get for writing about something that happened for like 3 minutes in the middle of the night. Like a complete baka, I poked him on the shoulder. He turned.

Mental note: They could be reading this. Shut up Pan!

"Excuse me. Umm... this may be a strange question, but were you that guy cosplaying as Amiboshi the other day?"

He turned completely around and so did the two girls. They were looking at me. I felt kinda short.

"Yes, I am," he replied a little confused.

I offered my hand. He took it and we shook hands. "I'm that strange girl who ran up to you on the street on Friday." I got a strange look from all three of them. "Umm... sorry bout that. I was wondering what your name was. Also, would it be alright if I posted your picture on the internet? If you don't want it posted, that's fine. I'll respect that."

"Oh," he replied. "My name's [not going to tell you]." He also said it was alright to use the pic. He seemed sorta shy.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Pan."

*shrugs* I think I was shaking. Why in the world was I shaking!? It's not like I was nervous, or was I? I almost never get nervous! Why the heck was I shaking? You know, I don't get it...

I talked to him and the two girls for awhile. Turns out they met Mr Sabat and Eric-sama on the street. All of us agreed that they were great guys. Very patient and kind towards there fans. (Some of the Sci Fi and Comic convention's guests were charging for their autographs! Huh?)

At some point I took out a sheet of paper and scribbled my URL roughly on it. I handed it to Amiboshi. We talked a bit more. They were very nice people. I was glad I got the chance to meet them. They reminded me of my friends in a way.

Then Togepi was signaling me for some reason. I thanked Amiboshi again. Then walked off. Turns out Togepi and his mother were looking for some area. I walked them to it. On the way, I saw two cosplayers. They were dressed up as Hikari and Miyako from Digimon. I stopped and flagged them down.

"Excuse me? Yolei and Kari, right?"

They nodded. "Yes."

"Miyako and Hikari from Digimon Adventure... could I get a picture?"

They agreed and I took the pic.

I talked to them for awhile, then asked if it was alright if I could post the pic on the Internet, they agreed. I took out that sheet of paper I had on me (it was the same one I ripped a piece off of before - I use it throughout the day). I asked them to write down who I should credit for the costumes and everything. So they wrote it down.

I then ripped another piece off the other side of the paper and wrote:

LELOLA.com
-Pan

"This is my URL, and this is my name." I showed them the paper. They turned to walk away and so did I. Before I did completely, one of them asked me something.

"Are you the webmisstress?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Really? I love your website! I visit it all the time!"

I was honored at this. I smiled.

I shook one of their hands. "Thanks! It's nice to meet you! My name is Pan."

That was an indescribable experience. Some strangers just told me they liked my website. I can't help but smile at that! To you girls, wherever you are: Thanks! I can't remember what happened now, but I figure those two girls might be reading this and they can always bug me to change it.

This isn't exactly the first time his has happened, but you never really get used to it. It's still an amazing feeling.

I took Togepi and his mother to the Gameboy Advanced area and left them there. Then walked off again. I wasn't going to see them for at least an hour. Time to get some work done…

I'll spare you most of the details of my wandering around and talking to people. I've wasted enough of your time already.

Even though I didn't get to meet Yumi Touma (voice of Yui on Fushigi Yuugi, Deedlit on The Record of Lodoss War), I found of her autograph cards and picked one up. At the same table, I grabbed a Utena pin. Across from that table, I got a free Sailor Moon card.

I ran into two girls dressed as Mimi and Sora from Digimon. I asked them the same questions I asked the other girls before. I took a pic, asked them if it was alright to use it, got their info, and gave them my URL.

About 10 minutes after that, I ended up at KikiWai again. I was looking at their CDs. I couldn't find Fushigi Yuugi this time. It seemed like it was moved. I asked the nice lady, but before she could answer, a girl next to me told me and showed me where they were. Yep, they were moved over a bit. This girl looked familiar. Then I noticed that I saw her on the street on Friday night. She was dressed up as Yui from Fushigi Yuugi. Even though she wasn't dressed up now, I could tell by the hair. She has the perfect hair for Yui. I started to talk to her. She was nice. She showed me her favorite Fushigi Yuugi CD. I told her about the one's I just bought. She suggested some animes to me and a few CDs. I showed her the Initial D CD with Hotohori and Chichiri's voice actors on the back. Her friend (or a girl next to her) was interested. I talked with them for awhile. I also found the GLAY CD I was looking for. I didn't buy it though. I did, however, buy the Initial D CD. I don't know squat on Initial D. I like the music though.

The girls I were talking to disappeared before I could gave them my URL. I shrugged it off and continued on my way. I was stopped almost every cosplayer I saw and/or recognized. Walking for awhile, I saw a lady dressed up as Yui from Fushigi Yuugi (different person). I walked up to her. I heard the last bit of a conversation her friend was having with a man. It seems she won some DVDs or something in the masquerade on Saturday (Which I couldn't attend and wear my little Gatomon outfit to…). I asked the questions, permission thing again and got a picture.

I was still using that one sheet of paper. People signed one side, I ripped pieces off the other. Great time to run out of business cards, ne? (Yes, I actually had business cards at one point. Why didn't I get more made?)

By now it was about 1:30-45 in the afternoon. Scott McNeil was signing autographs at 2:30, so I headed in that direction. On the way, I met a girl dressed as Duo. She made a pretty good Duo. Scary, ne? Actually, she made a great Duo! She had the hair and everything! I did the question thingy again and got another photo. I noticed the line for Scott McNeil was already there and it was fairly long. Turns out I just missed the line cut off. I found out later that he was sick so he couldn't be there to sign autographs that long.

In the line were two people dressed as Lady Une and Zechs. I recognized them. I met them at Anime North (another convention in Toronto I attended earlier in the year)! There are actually pictures around with me and the guy I went with standing with them. I went up and said hi, then walked off again.

I saw a man dressed up as the Great Saiyaman from DBZ. Yep, you guessed it. Asked the questions, got the pic, gave him my URL.

Somehow I ended up looking at posters, manga and more CDs. I ended up talking with the lady who was running that booth. She was very nice. Also talked to the people standing there. I turned and walked down an isle.

I spotted two girls cosplaying as characters from Card Captor Sakura. I chased them down and did my standard routine. I got their pics and gave them my URL. One of the girl's recognized it. I smiled and introduced myself again. I think I talked with them very briefly. Anyway, as I turned a corner, a younger girl stopped me. She introduced herself and said that she couldn't help overhear that I was Pan of LELOLA. What happened next was kinda shocking. The girl started to hug me. What the? I smiled at her and talked to her. This was weird. There was a little girl hanging off my leg. Another girl showed up who seemed to be a friend of the girl around my leg. She dragged the girl away from me. As she was being pulled away, I heard something like "I love you Pan-Chan...!"

O… K… That was definitely strange. I wasn't expecting that! I couldn't help but feel a little honored. I really didn't know what to make of it. I guess I too acted that way in front of a few other people myself. Man, I was a total baka at times. I'm a nice and easygoing person. I'm almost always smiling and I'm always willing to help. Even at time when I shouldn't be. For some reason, this place was making me feel a little weird. A little too crazy for my own good. Then again, everyone around was slightly off kilter as well. I guess I can't complain...

I walked by where Eric-sama and Mr Sabat were. I didn't go see them again though. There were other people in line. I figured it wouldn't have been fair to them.

In the line I saw a few cosplayers. One was of Pan from DBGT. They were busy though. I made a mental note to find them again later and walked off. I was wandering around more. I seem to be a wanderer, ne? Actually, I was collecting information. You know? Asking questions, getting answers, learning things. Heck, I'm a reporter! That's my job!

While walking by the poster place I went to on Friday, I spotted that girl who cosplayed as Pan. I went up to her and did my standard thing. I took a picture. The lighting was bad though. That's one of my pics that didn't come out. Gomen! You can sorta see who it is, but it's not a good pic. Found out later that she's a friend of my pal, GLAY. What are the odds?

Actually there was bad lighting pretty much everywhere. I should have taken one of my good cameras. I have some awesome cameras, but I took the little one I could hide in my pocket. Next time I'll take a good camera and get better pics. And my little camera centers wrong. I kinda forgot that when I took the pics though. *sigh* Pan no baka.

Anyway, some time after that, I ran into a girl in a Card Captor Sakura kitty outfit. She had a clow card and wand. A very nice costume. I got her pic and everything. It was about now that I remembered I had to meet Togepi and his mother to leave. Before I headed back, I stooped in at KikiWai one more time. That was such an awesome place and the staff were very nice and helpful. I figured I'd give them more free publicity. I took a pic of their booth. The lady behind the counter asked what I was doing. I explained. She was kinda happy about it but asked if I could take another one when she was ready. I was about to, but then she got sidetracked. I realized that girl from earlier (the one who was Yui on the street on Friday night) was standing there again. Before I left (I completely forgot about the photo) I gave her my URL.

Did I mention that "LELOLA.com" was scrawled on a ripped piece of paper in green ink? Next time I'll actually be prepared.

I only had a few pics left in my camera and I wanted to use them before I left so that I could develop the film tonight instead of three years from now like everything else. I took a pic of the lobby escalator area from the top. Did I mention I hated the lighting? It was now I also realized it was raining outside. I also strongly dislike what humidity does to my hair. *sigh* Oh well. I was never one for appearances.

A girl past by. She was cosplaying as Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion. I stopped her too. She had a well-made costume. I took a pic. When I asked her the questions, she said that she thought she blinked didn't want a pic of her blinking on the Internet. Makes sense. And by this time, my pen was out of ink so she kindly took one out of her bag and used it to sign her name. I told her we could take another pic if she wanted, so I took another picture of her. In the background, I spotted Togepi and his mother. I thanked the girl. While I was finishing my conversation with her (why am I so friendly?) I spotted Amiboshi and his friends walk by behind Togepi. Then disappeared into the corner. I shrugged it off, then went to meet Togepi and his mother. It was time to go.

Before I left, I found out what was going on with Scott McNeil. Only those people in line could go see him. A lot of security/volunteers were blocking people who weren't in line from getting to closer. I told Togepi's mother that I would be back in a minute. I'm small, so I snuck through a crack in security and approached Scott McNeil. I asked him if I could get a picture. He said sure, looked my way and smiled. I took the pic. I was going to ask him for an autograph or something, but those security people realized I wasn't suppose to be there. So, being the baka I was acting like for some reason, I thanked Mr McNeil and ran out into the crowd leaving a lot of people confused.

I didn't get his autograph or get to talk to him, but I got a photo. *smiles* And that was good enough for me. By now, I had disappeared into the crowd. I was walking in no particular direction when I noticed Amiboshi and those two girls.

Someone once told me to think three times before I do anything, and then if it's still worth doing, go for it. I don't think I was actually thinking at this point...

My brain did that vacation thing again. I walked up behind them and I poked Amiboshi in the shoulder again. I asked him if I could get a pic of him without the costume. I got a confused look, but he agreed and stood to the side I snapped a pic. Without thinking (again), I handed one of the girls the camera and asked if I could get a pic with him. He looked a little shocked (again), but for some reason he agreed. I don't think anyone has ever done that to him before. Well, I guess that's a given. What kind of idiot would do that!? Wait... nevermind.

She took the pic of us and I thanked them. I talked to them again. One girl asked Amiboshi if he had gotten my URL. He said he did. I took out a shed of paper that had my e-mail address and everything on it. I handed it to him saying that that's how he could find me. Somehow I ended up telling them what LELOLA was about, how many hits it got on average, etc.. I also told them to let me know if they wanted anything posted. That itself is rare. I don't even let my staff do that.

It was now I realized that I should be leaving and that I left Togepi and his mother standing there. Pan no baka baka baka. I talked to them a little more and told them to feel free to check out the website. I started to leave. Before I got too far, I turned back around and warned them on what they would read about the convention on LELOLA (ie: the journal from Friday, and all my comments at the end about them, that I really should edit out but won't for some reason)

"Please don't kill me..." I told them as I turned for the final time and headed back towards the exit.

In the lobby, I got one more pic of a cosplaying volunteer. That was it for the film in my camera and it started to rewind itself. I looked out. The rain had stopped. It was time to go. I looked back one last time at the convention, then went out the door.

That was an amazing experience. I acquired a lot of information, got some awesome pics, met some of my favorite voice actors, and had a great time. I didn't get to meet everyone I wanted to, and I didn't get to see and do everything that I was planning, but sometimes it's the random strange stuff that makes the experience memorable. And to the guy who I've been referring to Amiboshi, you have no idea, but you just made a little girl smile. Thank you very much!

And that was it for the convention.
But you know what?

I'll probably be back next year...