Big Apple Anime Fest 2001

October 26 - October 28

Day Two

Eternal Sailor Mars

Back to the Dealer's Room:

I got into Manhattan early because I knew Tim was leaving early and I wanted to hang out more. Plus, I hadn't spent any money in the Dealer's Room yet! I had my eye on two Card Captor Sakura artbooks (Illustration books, whatever you call them.) Yet more people photographed me and interviewed me--I tell you what, if you ever have problems with your self esteem, go to a con, it'll boost you right back up! I met up with Tim and scouted the various dealers's booths, I bought my artbooks, and was looking around.
Miki from Utena
Boys will be boys, of course, and they heard that a "porn star" was going to be at one of the booths. Of course, we staked out that booth.

Aska from MKR 2 and Ascot (older version) cosplayed by Rei-chan and her cousin.

We noticed a gorgeous Asian woman standing at the booth. Tim and I both stared at her. But how do you go up to someone and ask if she is a porn star? Answer? YOU DON'T. Well, sure enough, after poking around the other booths, DJ Ranma S caught up with us, who turned out to be the leading hentai authority among the three of us, who confirmed that indeed that was Kobe Tai, of hentai fame. We headed back to the booth.

She was so nice! She signed autographs for us, and even came out from behind the table to take a picture, two just with me, one just with Tim, and one of the three of us.
DJ Ranma S as Duo Maxwell
Sadly, however, all good things must come to an end, and at about noon Tim had to pack up his stuff and leave. We walked him back to his hotel, hung out for a while, and said goodbye.
Anthy from Utena

The Raffle:

I left soon afterwards, taking the train home. It's like an hour trip, three trains, but that's actually not too bad. Now, I had just arrived home, and was looking forward to FINALLY getting out of costume (I felt like it had been 76 hours straight! and in high heels!) As I put my hand on the door, my aunt flings it open. "You won a DVD player!" she shrieks!

"I what?" I shriek in return.
The dancing Iori!
Before I had left the con, I had absent-mindedly filled out a slip of paper and dropped it into a fishbowl.
He was SOOOO cool!
I didn't give it much thought, really, I never win anything. That had apparently changed! They had held the drawing at 1, just after I left. Kobe Tai had even called my cell phone (I'm kicking myself for erasing that message!) to try to catch me before I got home, but because the subway ride was mostly underground, I didn't get it.
Chichiri from Fushigi Yuugi
I had to claim it by 5, though, or they were going to have another drawing!
Tim and me and KOBE TAI!!!

Back I went into Manhattan. Luckily, I was able to guilt my father into driving me into Manhattan, waiting for me, and driving me home. I posed for a few more pictures, both for fans and for NuTech, the company that gave away the DVD. They also threw in quite a few free DVDs to boot, so that I could actually USE the DVD player. I would've bought more, in fact, I'm dying for a Fatal Fury DVD, but I discovered too late that I had left my wallet at home. Baka Crissy!

Overall Impressions:

As I've stated a couple of times, this was my first con. I'm sure that everyone's first con always has a special place in their heart. Also, I had no previous experience to compare it to. But even saying that, I can honestly say, this was one of, if not THE, coolest weekend of my life.
I think his costume is from Oceania. He won Best Performance.
It's not even just winning the DVD player, I had declared October 26th-28th the coolest weekend of my life. It was the people I met. The fact that I was recognized in costume. The people running up to me, calling me Mars-sama and begging for a photo. It was seeing anime on the big screen.
Movie Utena
It was watching anime in a big group of people, feeling surges of emotion around you. It was seeing other people in costume, and how they acted like my favorite characters. It was finding such a large group of people who were all interested in what is, in all other circumstances, a pretty unique passion. It was getting to wear the costumes I had loved so much and had barely worn before. It was seeing how much money I could spend on anime merchandise, if I actually had any money. Yes, it was winning the DVD player, too. But really, it was the anime.
Me winning the DVD!

More Photos (not taken by me)
Hugging Kobe Tai
DDR boy as Iori
The front view of Iori's costume
Posing in the dealer's room
More shots of me with the DVD
The winner of Best Costume at the masquerade, Kaoru from Rurouni Kenshin.
Kaoru and the chain-smoking Sakura
B-chan as Anthy giving Kunihiko Ikuara (director of Utena) roses