Fanime 2016
Belated Fanime post! Fanime was back in May, during Memorial Day Weekend. Overall, it was a relaxing convention for me. I didn't have any major events planned, just shopping and meeting up with people. The complete opposite of AX, which was hectic, haha.
Day 1, Friday
It was unfortunate, however, that 2016 was the return of LineCon for Fanime. (What happened??) Last year, registration went so smoothly, the space allocated for registration seemed like a waste because no one ever needed to use it for very long. Instead, it was just a lot of tape that people had to zig zag through. More like, get your exercise, haha. This year, something was changed, and it didn't work very well. Also, they got rid of the separate Artist Alley registration for helpers, so I had to pick up my badge with the regular attendees. Last year, I definitely didn't need a beautiful separate Artist Alley pick up location (but I had it), yet this year, now that I needed it... gone!
Anyway, Day 1 thus ended up being "pick up my badge" day. Other than that, nothing much happened.
The end of the line.
After curving around the building, we got to stand in this line. I ended up chatting a bit with the person in front of me, who had also attended Fanime for several years. We commiserated over the LineCons of the past, especially the year with the blackout, and then the year when registration was in the hotel and people had to wait 6 hours. I think I waited 4.5 hours that year... If only I had known that year that I could've gotten a badge from Clockwork Alchemy, the sister convention to Fanime, I could have saved a lot of time. I had to do at con registration that year, so I didn't even get a pretty badge. This year, since I wasn't in a hurry, I decided to wait in line. I really wanted a Fanime badge instead of a Clockwork Alchemy one. :'D Thankfully, the wait didn't take 4 hours. But as a result of the return of LineCon, a lot of people had Clockwork Alchemy badges instead. Seemed like more than usual. (To this day, I've yet to check out Clockwork Alchemy)
More of the line. After we got through the doors. There was a flight of stairs that we took to go into the hotel. It was really warm and stuffy up on the 2nd floor, so I was glad they kept most of the line outside.
Here are the Fanime characters in their 2016 themed outfits.
It took around an hour and a half to get my badge. Not... completely terrible, I guess. I did some writing in line but it was pretty difficult doing that standing. And with the sun shining off the page.
The Opening Ceremony was under way on Stage Zero after I got my badge. Saw when they introduced Da-iCE. I'd never heard them before, but they were pretty cool. They sang and danced one song during the Opening Ceremony. Made me look forward to seeing them at the MusicFest on Saturday!
gem2niki's table in the Artist Alley, and me as Yoon behind the table. The AA was in the same room this year as last year's, but with a different orientation for the tables. Pretty good lighting there. I also like that badge check is done before getting on the escalators at the main entrance, so they didn't have to keep checking our badges at each door. So, we could just stroll into these rooms now. It made the traffic flow a lot better. Also, the wanderers and people who didn't have badges were cut, so the hallways were much less congested. I hope this will solve the crowded feeling of the con for at least a few more years! G2n's newest prints since last year--Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, Mushishi, Osomatsu-san, and Sailor Moon. (Wait, why are most of the new prints stuck on the side and not displayed in the front??)
There was an Akatsuki no Yona gathering on the schedule, but sadly, only three of us showed up! We had a pretty good turnout last year despite last year's gathering being an unofficial one that we told everyone about through word of mouth. Maybe it was the timing... Friday isn't the best day to have a gathering at Fanime. I also barely saw any Akayona cosplayers on Friday, though I did see them throughout the rest of the weekend. Anyway, I recognized the girl on the left from last year's gathering~. I guess Yoon got to hang out with Yona.
On the way back inside the convention center.
Saw this cosplayer in the badge pick up line earlier in the day. :3
The guy's shirt was pretty cool. XD
Went to browse the Dealer's Room. Bought some stuff and saw a Shirayuki! I was cosplaying Yoon, so she mentioned to me that she cosplayed Kija too. She was quite tall. XD Then again, I'm not very tall, so many people are tall to me.
G2n, her sister, and I got some dessert after Artist Alley closed, before heading to check out the Swap Meet. Got green tea kitkat. It wasn't "green tea" kitkat, but rather green tea popsicle + normal kitkat bars inside. XD I was, like always, the last to finish.
Swap Meet was in the South Hall, like last year. It seems to be an okay location. As a shopper instead of a seller, it was easy enough to navigate with lots of space. I remember not liking the Artist Alley being in there because of the lighting and ALL THE DUST. I wonder what it's like for Swap Meet sellers. I didn't come across anything I was interested in though. Someone was selling Akayona merch that came with the magazines, but it was really overpriced.
Day 2, Saturday
Met up with my young master Trespasserby and did most of my Artist Alley browsing on Sat with her! I had quite a battle with eyeliner in the morning. :') My brother helped us take some pictures, but we weren't serious for a single one of them.
Happened to pass by the entrance during the Owari no Seraph gathering. I had briefly considered cosplaying Mika, but it'd be more fun if someone cosplayed Yuu with me if I did so.
Love the green. ;)
Boku no Hero Academia. First guy I saw was the face-palming guy. XD Then I saw the rest of the cosplayers.
Sometime during Sat, I attempted to get an autograph from Cristina Vee for jen_kat, as she's a fan of Miraculous Ladybug, and Cristina Vee voices Marinette/Ladybug in the English dub. Got in line around the time the autograph session started, which was way too late. We were advised to be there an hour beforehand. Apparently, the line we stood in wasn't even the autograph line, and it wasn't even a standby line either, just some random line that people began forming. :'D Anyway, we went back to the Artist Alley, and I told g2n to hurry and go line up if she wanted her autograph, which was for the next person. She was successful with getting her autograph.
Meanwhile, Tres and I manned the table in the AA. I got myself a square donut for a late lunch.
As well as some takoyaki.
After g2n returned, Tres and I went off again. No longer do I remember exactly where lol, but the dojo was one of the stops. They were already in session. We instead took a few pics to the side. Here was me as Charles from No Hero~~~~. I really sank into that couch... Makes me look short even while sitting down, lol.
A very daring Jigglypuff. So, so pink.
An Akatsuki no Yona group! Too bad I wasn't Yoon that day, and that they weren't around on Friday. I laughed at how Jae-ha and Yoon are both represented by puppets to each side.
After Tres left and the Artist Alley closed, g2n and I went to the MusicFest where Da-iCE performed. As always, we chose bleacher seats near the front. I liked their dancing a lot, though I didn't know any of their songs. At one point, they said something about how we would know the next song very well. I really doubted their words. And then, right after that, they came out singing "A Whole New World." Lol. It was great. Seeing two guys doing a duet with A Whole New World was pretty great.
Day 3, Sunday
Dressed up as Sun from Legend of Sun Knight. o/ (Decided to go without eyeliner. It was a pain hahahaha) Met up with Dahlys and Trespasserby, a small Prince Revolution! meetup. ;) Took some pics together with Tres as Dark Sun later in the day.
Selfie with An.
He remembered my outfit from last year. XD And he told me he was going to cosplay Tomori from Charlotte. :OOOO
Haikyuu~~. Really amazing hairstyling. And those eyebrows!!
Got in line, 2nd try, for Cristina Vee's autograph. Got there an hour beforehand, so I managed to get into the room, but I was still one of the last ones and almost didn't make it!! The session ended a few people after me. Phew. All the waiting didn't go to waste. While I was in the waiting room, a girl and her friends came up to me and asked if I was Sun. Yay, someone recognized me! She took a pic with me. Though I wonder where she came from since that was an autograph waiting room. Was very confused. XD She left the room after that. I was stopped more than I thought I'd be throughout the day, though for some reason, most of them wanted pictures with me instead of just of me. XD;; A bit different from what I usually get with my other cosplays.
I had no idea what Miraculous Ladybug was, but when Cristina Vee asked what my friend's fav character was, I said Miraculous Ladybug, and she drew a cute pic of Ladybug to go along with her autograph. :D (That night, when I went home, I watched three episodes of Miraculous Ladybug. I'd waited so long for the autograph. I wanted to know what the series was all about, hahahaha. Man, Chat Noir is cute.). Guy who was waiting in line before me had Cristina Vee sign a digital autograph on his iPad.
After I finally got the autograph, Dahlys, Tres, and I went off to take photos, yay! Walked around to find spots. I was sad that even with my boots and the extra padding in my boots, I still wasn't taller than Dahlys.
Fire Emblem Fates, the younger brothers. That armooooor. So amazing. I very briefly entertained cosplaying Leo, but all that armor on the Nohr side is just no. And then I briefly considered Takumi. But that pineapple hair is just no. XD These two really pulled it off well. I can't imagine it'd be comfortable.
While waiting to cross the street, a bunch of people were making a lot of noise. We looked up and saw...
This window with post-its, lol. I was amused then, and when I returned home.... THEN I realized that the guys were actually posing by the window. I hadn't even seen them since I wasn't wearing my glasses. XDDD;;;; Oops. (Just how long were they posing?)
Some people walked in front of us, not knowing we were in the middle of taking photos, lolol.
After a late lunch/early dinner, we headed to the Masquerade. They were already halfway through it. Tres and Dahlys left in the middle. From the skits I got to see, I enjoyed the Sengoku Basara skit where Date Masamune was practicing with six swords while being really hungry. One of his swords broke, so he gets a negi that is grown with much care as a replacement. He wondered how he could use a negi, but it turned out really powerful. And then he wondered if he could eat it. XD
There was this Shin Sekai Yori skit that got cut off in the middle. They got a redo at the end, thankfully! Though, I think they still had difficulties, because the screen was stuck on a mountain the entire time instead of showing the video they had prepared. But at least they got to finish their skit.
The Sailor Moon skit was really well put together, with a full cast. The Epic Rap Battle skit between Ouran High School Host Club and Free! got a lot of cheering. The Epic Rap Battles are always something to look forward to! (was pretty amused by the choice of series.)
At Fanime's Masquerades though, my favorite part is usually the intermission, lol. I saw that they were setting up music... and Five Stories was going to play in Akatsuki no Yona cosplay!! :OOOOOOOOOOO And then... they took a break. OTL. But I wanted just to see them play in Akayona cosplay. :'D It took a lot of time before they finally got on stage. A lot of people left before then.
So cute~~ Hak and Yoon were the singers. Kija occasionally sang as well.
Zeno was the MC.
:DDDDD
I just find it so funny that Kija was sitting there, just nodding along a lot for a good amount of time. XD
They performed several songs. For their final song, they performed the ending theme from Akatsuki no Yona. I loved it. :D
I didn't stay for the award ceremony, so I didn't find out who won Best of Show. But the young brother duo from Fire Emblem Fates won a few of the awards. I think one of them was for their costumes.
Day 4, Monday
Last day, I didn't cosplay. Just shopped and sat around Artist Alley doing nothing. XD;;; Just two pics from Monday!
An as Tomori!
Fishy~~. Thought I might not run into her, but I got to see her in the Dealer's Room. XD
And that was a wrap.
Stuff I bought at Fanime.
20th anniversary! Movie guide to the right and this reaaally thick color works. I have an older version that goes up to the early 2000s lol. This one is up to 2015. It's like an encyclopedia. XDDD
Charms of the Kominato brothers from Daiya no A!
My dear Kurama. Both artists didn't understand or hear my pronunciation of his name. :') (they really stressed the ra when they said his name)
Slaine. Maybe I have a thing for blonds (Chat Noir is my new favorite blond). But I still can't get over Slaine.
My plushies. :DDDD That expression on that cat is just priceless. The birds are super cute. And I managed to get the two Pusheens I wanted from the blind boxes, the cup and pizza ones!
I also got myself a Kaitou Kid plushie. He sits! :D
Kaitou Kid charm~.
Sample inside page of the Color Works.
Both back covers feature Shinichi.
Close up of the Pusheens.
My birds.
Best cat.
Kaitou Kid. I'm considering buying the Conan one too, even though I already have a different Conan plushie. :3;; This one sits! (yes, it's very amazing that he does) The other plushies are much harder to display because they don't sit.
Day 1, Friday
It was unfortunate, however, that 2016 was the return of LineCon for Fanime. (What happened??) Last year, registration went so smoothly, the space allocated for registration seemed like a waste because no one ever needed to use it for very long. Instead, it was just a lot of tape that people had to zig zag through. More like, get your exercise, haha. This year, something was changed, and it didn't work very well. Also, they got rid of the separate Artist Alley registration for helpers, so I had to pick up my badge with the regular attendees. Last year, I definitely didn't need a beautiful separate Artist Alley pick up location (but I had it), yet this year, now that I needed it... gone!
Anyway, Day 1 thus ended up being "pick up my badge" day. Other than that, nothing much happened.
The end of the line.
After curving around the building, we got to stand in this line. I ended up chatting a bit with the person in front of me, who had also attended Fanime for several years. We commiserated over the LineCons of the past, especially the year with the blackout, and then the year when registration was in the hotel and people had to wait 6 hours. I think I waited 4.5 hours that year... If only I had known that year that I could've gotten a badge from Clockwork Alchemy, the sister convention to Fanime, I could have saved a lot of time. I had to do at con registration that year, so I didn't even get a pretty badge. This year, since I wasn't in a hurry, I decided to wait in line. I really wanted a Fanime badge instead of a Clockwork Alchemy one. :'D Thankfully, the wait didn't take 4 hours. But as a result of the return of LineCon, a lot of people had Clockwork Alchemy badges instead. Seemed like more than usual. (To this day, I've yet to check out Clockwork Alchemy)
More of the line. After we got through the doors. There was a flight of stairs that we took to go into the hotel. It was really warm and stuffy up on the 2nd floor, so I was glad they kept most of the line outside.
Here are the Fanime characters in their 2016 themed outfits.
It took around an hour and a half to get my badge. Not... completely terrible, I guess. I did some writing in line but it was pretty difficult doing that standing. And with the sun shining off the page.
The Opening Ceremony was under way on Stage Zero after I got my badge. Saw when they introduced Da-iCE. I'd never heard them before, but they were pretty cool. They sang and danced one song during the Opening Ceremony. Made me look forward to seeing them at the MusicFest on Saturday!
gem2niki's table in the Artist Alley, and me as Yoon behind the table. The AA was in the same room this year as last year's, but with a different orientation for the tables. Pretty good lighting there. I also like that badge check is done before getting on the escalators at the main entrance, so they didn't have to keep checking our badges at each door. So, we could just stroll into these rooms now. It made the traffic flow a lot better. Also, the wanderers and people who didn't have badges were cut, so the hallways were much less congested. I hope this will solve the crowded feeling of the con for at least a few more years! G2n's newest prints since last year--Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, Mushishi, Osomatsu-san, and Sailor Moon. (Wait, why are most of the new prints stuck on the side and not displayed in the front??)
There was an Akatsuki no Yona gathering on the schedule, but sadly, only three of us showed up! We had a pretty good turnout last year despite last year's gathering being an unofficial one that we told everyone about through word of mouth. Maybe it was the timing... Friday isn't the best day to have a gathering at Fanime. I also barely saw any Akayona cosplayers on Friday, though I did see them throughout the rest of the weekend. Anyway, I recognized the girl on the left from last year's gathering~. I guess Yoon got to hang out with Yona.
On the way back inside the convention center.
Saw this cosplayer in the badge pick up line earlier in the day. :3
The guy's shirt was pretty cool. XD
Went to browse the Dealer's Room. Bought some stuff and saw a Shirayuki! I was cosplaying Yoon, so she mentioned to me that she cosplayed Kija too. She was quite tall. XD Then again, I'm not very tall, so many people are tall to me.
G2n, her sister, and I got some dessert after Artist Alley closed, before heading to check out the Swap Meet. Got green tea kitkat. It wasn't "green tea" kitkat, but rather green tea popsicle + normal kitkat bars inside. XD I was, like always, the last to finish.
Swap Meet was in the South Hall, like last year. It seems to be an okay location. As a shopper instead of a seller, it was easy enough to navigate with lots of space. I remember not liking the Artist Alley being in there because of the lighting and ALL THE DUST. I wonder what it's like for Swap Meet sellers. I didn't come across anything I was interested in though. Someone was selling Akayona merch that came with the magazines, but it was really overpriced.
Day 2, Saturday
Met up with my young master Trespasserby and did most of my Artist Alley browsing on Sat with her! I had quite a battle with eyeliner in the morning. :') My brother helped us take some pictures, but we weren't serious for a single one of them.
Happened to pass by the entrance during the Owari no Seraph gathering. I had briefly considered cosplaying Mika, but it'd be more fun if someone cosplayed Yuu with me if I did so.
Love the green. ;)
Boku no Hero Academia. First guy I saw was the face-palming guy. XD Then I saw the rest of the cosplayers.
Sometime during Sat, I attempted to get an autograph from Cristina Vee for jen_kat, as she's a fan of Miraculous Ladybug, and Cristina Vee voices Marinette/Ladybug in the English dub. Got in line around the time the autograph session started, which was way too late. We were advised to be there an hour beforehand. Apparently, the line we stood in wasn't even the autograph line, and it wasn't even a standby line either, just some random line that people began forming. :'D Anyway, we went back to the Artist Alley, and I told g2n to hurry and go line up if she wanted her autograph, which was for the next person. She was successful with getting her autograph.
Meanwhile, Tres and I manned the table in the AA. I got myself a square donut for a late lunch.
As well as some takoyaki.
After g2n returned, Tres and I went off again. No longer do I remember exactly where lol, but the dojo was one of the stops. They were already in session. We instead took a few pics to the side. Here was me as Charles from No Hero~~~~. I really sank into that couch... Makes me look short even while sitting down, lol.
A very daring Jigglypuff. So, so pink.
An Akatsuki no Yona group! Too bad I wasn't Yoon that day, and that they weren't around on Friday. I laughed at how Jae-ha and Yoon are both represented by puppets to each side.
After Tres left and the Artist Alley closed, g2n and I went to the MusicFest where Da-iCE performed. As always, we chose bleacher seats near the front. I liked their dancing a lot, though I didn't know any of their songs. At one point, they said something about how we would know the next song very well. I really doubted their words. And then, right after that, they came out singing "A Whole New World." Lol. It was great. Seeing two guys doing a duet with A Whole New World was pretty great.
Click to viewDay 3, Sunday
Dressed up as Sun from Legend of Sun Knight. o/ (Decided to go without eyeliner. It was a pain hahahaha) Met up with Dahlys and Trespasserby, a small Prince Revolution! meetup. ;) Took some pics together with Tres as Dark Sun later in the day.
Selfie with An.
He remembered my outfit from last year. XD And he told me he was going to cosplay Tomori from Charlotte. :OOOO
Haikyuu~~. Really amazing hairstyling. And those eyebrows!!
Got in line, 2nd try, for Cristina Vee's autograph. Got there an hour beforehand, so I managed to get into the room, but I was still one of the last ones and almost didn't make it!! The session ended a few people after me. Phew. All the waiting didn't go to waste. While I was in the waiting room, a girl and her friends came up to me and asked if I was Sun. Yay, someone recognized me! She took a pic with me. Though I wonder where she came from since that was an autograph waiting room. Was very confused. XD She left the room after that. I was stopped more than I thought I'd be throughout the day, though for some reason, most of them wanted pictures with me instead of just of me. XD;; A bit different from what I usually get with my other cosplays.
I had no idea what Miraculous Ladybug was, but when Cristina Vee asked what my friend's fav character was, I said Miraculous Ladybug, and she drew a cute pic of Ladybug to go along with her autograph. :D (That night, when I went home, I watched three episodes of Miraculous Ladybug. I'd waited so long for the autograph. I wanted to know what the series was all about, hahahaha. Man, Chat Noir is cute.). Guy who was waiting in line before me had Cristina Vee sign a digital autograph on his iPad.
After I finally got the autograph, Dahlys, Tres, and I went off to take photos, yay! Walked around to find spots. I was sad that even with my boots and the extra padding in my boots, I still wasn't taller than Dahlys.
Fire Emblem Fates, the younger brothers. That armooooor. So amazing. I very briefly entertained cosplaying Leo, but all that armor on the Nohr side is just no. And then I briefly considered Takumi. But that pineapple hair is just no. XD These two really pulled it off well. I can't imagine it'd be comfortable.
While waiting to cross the street, a bunch of people were making a lot of noise. We looked up and saw...
This window with post-its, lol. I was amused then, and when I returned home.... THEN I realized that the guys were actually posing by the window. I hadn't even seen them since I wasn't wearing my glasses. XDDD;;;; Oops. (Just how long were they posing?)
Some people walked in front of us, not knowing we were in the middle of taking photos, lolol.
After a late lunch/early dinner, we headed to the Masquerade. They were already halfway through it. Tres and Dahlys left in the middle. From the skits I got to see, I enjoyed the Sengoku Basara skit where Date Masamune was practicing with six swords while being really hungry. One of his swords broke, so he gets a negi that is grown with much care as a replacement. He wondered how he could use a negi, but it turned out really powerful. And then he wondered if he could eat it. XD
There was this Shin Sekai Yori skit that got cut off in the middle. They got a redo at the end, thankfully! Though, I think they still had difficulties, because the screen was stuck on a mountain the entire time instead of showing the video they had prepared. But at least they got to finish their skit.
The Sailor Moon skit was really well put together, with a full cast. The Epic Rap Battle skit between Ouran High School Host Club and Free! got a lot of cheering. The Epic Rap Battles are always something to look forward to! (was pretty amused by the choice of series.)
At Fanime's Masquerades though, my favorite part is usually the intermission, lol. I saw that they were setting up music... and Five Stories was going to play in Akatsuki no Yona cosplay!! :OOOOOOOOOOO And then... they took a break. OTL. But I wanted just to see them play in Akayona cosplay. :'D It took a lot of time before they finally got on stage. A lot of people left before then.
So cute~~ Hak and Yoon were the singers. Kija occasionally sang as well.
Zeno was the MC.
:DDDDD
I just find it so funny that Kija was sitting there, just nodding along a lot for a good amount of time. XD
They performed several songs. For their final song, they performed the ending theme from Akatsuki no Yona. I loved it. :D
I didn't stay for the award ceremony, so I didn't find out who won Best of Show. But the young brother duo from Fire Emblem Fates won a few of the awards. I think one of them was for their costumes.
Day 4, Monday
Last day, I didn't cosplay. Just shopped and sat around Artist Alley doing nothing. XD;;; Just two pics from Monday!
An as Tomori!
Fishy~~. Thought I might not run into her, but I got to see her in the Dealer's Room. XD
And that was a wrap.
Stuff I bought at Fanime.
20th anniversary! Movie guide to the right and this reaaally thick color works. I have an older version that goes up to the early 2000s lol. This one is up to 2015. It's like an encyclopedia. XDDD
Charms of the Kominato brothers from Daiya no A!
My dear Kurama. Both artists didn't understand or hear my pronunciation of his name. :') (they really stressed the ra when they said his name)
Slaine. Maybe I have a thing for blonds (Chat Noir is my new favorite blond). But I still can't get over Slaine.
My plushies. :DDDD That expression on that cat is just priceless. The birds are super cute. And I managed to get the two Pusheens I wanted from the blind boxes, the cup and pizza ones!
I also got myself a Kaitou Kid plushie. He sits! :D
Kaitou Kid charm~.
Sample inside page of the Color Works.
Both back covers feature Shinichi.
Close up of the Pusheens.
My birds.
Best cat.
Kaitou Kid. I'm considering buying the Conan one too, even though I already have a different Conan plushie. :3;; This one sits! (yes, it's very amazing that he does) The other plushies are much harder to display because they don't sit.