OOkanemochi ja nai!
Hontoni Ja nai! I would write in japanese, but among the problems from my computer 'explosion' a few weeks ago, I lost my character set. Super lame...something else to fix.
So last week was the dreaded otafest. I've discussed it with a few people, but we think that the programming seemed to have deteriorated this year. The 'fun things' to do seemed to have grown; but I'm interested in just watching and shopping. And both of the watching and shopping activities are what shrunk. We didn't go to any shows this year (a first); but between my sister and I we own or had seen more than 3/4s of it. The rest didn't really appeal to us. 'le sigh'.
We spent our time shopping and socializing with our people in the vendors area. Seriously, we seem to be very well-known with the shop-keepers. (Funny how that is) The vendors area seemed to be missing about 4 or 5 booths (at least). But we talked to 'Red Skull' and he suggested that it was due to the comic expo -- (I wonder if even he'll bother coming next year...)
We think we may have hurt the poor guys feelings too. You could tell he really was trying to get our business. Totally upping the 'salesman' tactic (but he was suggesting titles that he only had partials of...and well, we aren't interested in partials). He was also doing a favour for another booth (one of our favs), by ringing in CC transactions for them. So, umm... we spent "A LOT" of money at the booth (which we needed a CC for) and well...He was literally choking when I asked him to ring it in. Poor guy... heh. He got me back by making me talk to his customers (and offer suggestions), the fink!
The other booth that we spent our life savings at *cough* gave us a few free things (cards and posters). He also offered us one of his staffers as my personal manservant. That poor kid...the horror on his face...didn't know why he was being called over...heh. :D
Anyhoo... I can hardly remember what my sister bought (a bit of a blur)...
but I bought the entire series of "Cheeky Angel" by Hiroyuki Nishimora. It's a bit older (1990s transitional style); but it's entertaining in its own right. It's about a boy that makes a wish to be the 'coolest/baddest' boy ever. He is then transformed into the coolest 'girl'... Then of course, the baddest kid falls for 'her'; which really sucks for her, because of course he's exactly what she had wished to be. It sounds like it, but it really has no elements of shonen-ai or yaoi -- perfectly harmless. It's cute enough -- but I wouldn't normally recommend this type to most people. It doesn't have that unversal appeal.
I also bought V. 1-25 of "Red River" by Chie Shinohara. This one is drawn in late 1980's old-style (characteristic of thin noses) -- but I believe it was written in 1995. About a young Japanese highschool girl who is drawn into a puddle and lands in the Old Testament (Hittite empire). She takes on the persona of the goddess 'Ishtar' (of war and love) and falls in love with the Hittite prince. It does seem to have a bit of 'mature content' but overall the story is quite developed and carefully researched. I was especially impressed with the story behind the bust of Nefertiti's one painted eye. Hontoni Omoshirokatta da ne! ne! I would really appreciate more volumes; more faster...
I also bought a few movies...umm...Last 2 volumes of Kamichuu, and...ummm... I can't remember. I left them at my sister's place.
We decided to host our own 'thon at her place. I brought all my 1st volumes and she had all hers, we made a pool with all of the titles names written on papers, and then drew them randomly. We ended up watching a seriously bizarre mix of shows. I hope we'll get to see a few more. I like the line-up that included a first episode with 'heads exploding' next to a children's show with sticky sweet voices. The only thing that would have made it more entertaining is if we were smoking something.
So last week was the dreaded otafest. I've discussed it with a few people, but we think that the programming seemed to have deteriorated this year. The 'fun things' to do seemed to have grown; but I'm interested in just watching and shopping. And both of the watching and shopping activities are what shrunk. We didn't go to any shows this year (a first); but between my sister and I we own or had seen more than 3/4s of it. The rest didn't really appeal to us. 'le sigh'.
We spent our time shopping and socializing with our people in the vendors area. Seriously, we seem to be very well-known with the shop-keepers. (Funny how that is) The vendors area seemed to be missing about 4 or 5 booths (at least). But we talked to 'Red Skull' and he suggested that it was due to the comic expo -- (I wonder if even he'll bother coming next year...)
We think we may have hurt the poor guys feelings too. You could tell he really was trying to get our business. Totally upping the 'salesman' tactic (but he was suggesting titles that he only had partials of...and well, we aren't interested in partials). He was also doing a favour for another booth (one of our favs), by ringing in CC transactions for them. So, umm... we spent "A LOT" of money at the booth (which we needed a CC for) and well...He was literally choking when I asked him to ring it in. Poor guy... heh. He got me back by making me talk to his customers (and offer suggestions), the fink!
The other booth that we spent our life savings at *cough* gave us a few free things (cards and posters). He also offered us one of his staffers as my personal manservant. That poor kid...the horror on his face...didn't know why he was being called over...heh. :D
Anyhoo... I can hardly remember what my sister bought (a bit of a blur)...
but I bought the entire series of "Cheeky Angel" by Hiroyuki Nishimora. It's a bit older (1990s transitional style); but it's entertaining in its own right. It's about a boy that makes a wish to be the 'coolest/baddest' boy ever. He is then transformed into the coolest 'girl'... Then of course, the baddest kid falls for 'her'; which really sucks for her, because of course he's exactly what she had wished to be. It sounds like it, but it really has no elements of shonen-ai or yaoi -- perfectly harmless. It's cute enough -- but I wouldn't normally recommend this type to most people. It doesn't have that unversal appeal.
I also bought V. 1-25 of "Red River" by Chie Shinohara. This one is drawn in late 1980's old-style (characteristic of thin noses) -- but I believe it was written in 1995. About a young Japanese highschool girl who is drawn into a puddle and lands in the Old Testament (Hittite empire). She takes on the persona of the goddess 'Ishtar' (of war and love) and falls in love with the Hittite prince. It does seem to have a bit of 'mature content' but overall the story is quite developed and carefully researched. I was especially impressed with the story behind the bust of Nefertiti's one painted eye. Hontoni Omoshirokatta da ne! ne! I would really appreciate more volumes; more faster...
I also bought a few movies...umm...Last 2 volumes of Kamichuu, and...ummm... I can't remember. I left them at my sister's place.
We decided to host our own 'thon at her place. I brought all my 1st volumes and she had all hers, we made a pool with all of the titles names written on papers, and then drew them randomly. We ended up watching a seriously bizarre mix of shows. I hope we'll get to see a few more. I like the line-up that included a first episode with 'heads exploding' next to a children's show with sticky sweet voices. The only thing that would have made it more entertaining is if we were smoking something.