KH3D hesitations

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance releases today in America.  But as awesome as the story, gameplay, and everything else is, I find myself hesitating to buy it.  Very odd.

I asked around the gaming stores, and they had no news of a Nintendo 3DS bundle pack for KH3D.  ;-;  Not that I really wanted to spend that much money for one game, but now knowing that I'd have to buy a less awesome, regular 3DS system---a whole other system!---I just couldn't take the plunge anymore.  x_x; 

My sister asked why I couldn't bring myself to buy a whole other system, when I already did so for Birth by Sleep.  A very good question.  But if I had to explain it...I guess it's because I already did it once for Birth by Sleep.  And I have a much tighter budget these days, than I did back then. 

But the PSP turned out to be one of my most valuable purchases.  I didn't realize how much I'd enjoy portable gaming.  I had always carried manga in my purse before, but the PSP allowed me to game AND it could hold doujinshi scans for me to read, much like a book of manga.  Gaming is nice in a public place, especially when I'm trying to take a breather from the stress of interacting with people.  But for some reason, people see you with a book and think that the quiet is just as boring to you, as it is to them.  Nevermind that you're trying to enjoy your book.  But no one interrupts you when they see you absorbed in a videogame.  ^-^  I used that to fend off the annoying flirty guys at a party once, and annoying chatty people I've had to stand in line with.  By the time I bought my PSP, I could use it for Birth by Sleep, Final Fantasy Dissidia, and Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core; it wasn't just for one game.

But with Nintendo's library---let alone the further limitation of the 3DS---I don't know what else I would buy the 3DS for, except for Dream Drop Distance.  A whole other system, just for one game?  Without any other interesting games for the forseeable future?  I just can't do it.  Not now.

So my sister suggested I wait a year or so, for the system to get cheap.  Maybe if I wait long enough, they'll port the game to a home console... *.*  Ha-ha, right.

manga from 07/27/2012 mail

Some of my favorite series came in the mail today!  ^U^

wishes for more Devil May Cry anime

Re-watching the Devil May Cry anime right now. 

When it first came out in 2008, I remembered not expecting the anime series to cover the main story that we all wanted:  Dante and Virgil.  The Devil May Cry videogame series was still going with its original storyline, so there was no way that the anime could cover that same storyline.  If they did, it would either spoil the videogame's story, or they'd run into contradictions.  (Even though the Devil May Cry 3 manga managed to cover the game's storyline, without any conflicts...)  The only logical options for the anime would be to use the DMC novel stories, or, in the same vein, do a bunch of side-stories that have nothing to do with the main story of Dante and Virgil.  So I kept my expectations realistic.  The anime series not only used references from the DMC novels, but they also used the "broke freelancer" genre type of plot (similar to Get Backers, Phantom Quest Corp., Green Drug, etc.), wherein each episode (or set of episodes), could almost be watched as one-shot stories, without the entire series as a whole, acting as an unbroken, overarching plotline.  You could basically, go in, watch any episode, in any order, without really missing anything.  The advantage to the writers, about these one-shot, anthology type of series, is that they focus more on the one-shot characters of each case, rather than on the background conflicts of the main protagonist.  (Also see Mushishi, Nightmare Inspector, Ballad of a Shinigami, Category Freaks, Mermaid Forest, Petshop of Horrors, etc.)  The DMC anime did just that. 

But now there's a reboot of the Devil May Cry videogame.  Sure, the gameplay looks awesome---I practically drool over the gameplay trailers.  But as a fan of the original storyline, I'm already invested in the previous version of Dante.  If the DMC fanbase that shows up at conventions and online is any indication, the DMC fanbase is made mostly of girls.  That equals "fangirls".  And fangirls are obsessed with storyline and characters.  Even if the rebooted DMC takes off, I hope that there's still something for the original version's fangirls. 

In fact, if the DMC videogame series settles into the reboot's storyline, that would create the perfect opportunity for another medium to tell the original storyline!  *o*  I wouldn't have to feel guilty about playing the reboot, if another medium took over telling the original version's story.  Sure, the manga-ka who drew the Devil May Cry 3 manga dropped the project, but Madhouse anime studio has seemed so eager to pick up pre-existing, non-manga, licensed titles, lately:  Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy VII Last Order, Supernatural, Batman: Gotham Knight,...  If a second Devil May Cry anime series was created, covering the storyline that we fangirls all came to love, then I'd buy it in a second.  (And if they re-released the first series with Kari Wahlgren dubbing Lady, like she did in the videogames, then I'd re-buy that too.  ^.~ )  Oh, to dream...*_*

Disney USUK event for 2 weeks

Right now, I'm getting caught-up in a LiveJournal community's summer event:  A Disney themed, USUK fan-work, everyday for 2 weeks. 

The challenge, I'm discovering, is realizing how unfamiliar I am with Disney.  ;_;  So far, each time I've read the day's theme, my mind just goes blank.  ~_~;  "Adventure Is Out There"?  "True Love's Kiss"?  And tomorrow's "I See the Light"?  Thank goodness for search engines and YouTube.  It's so sad that I can't just instantly know what movies these songs are from, as I'm sure everyone else can.  I'm so behind.  x_x; 
But the challenge is exciting.  I feel like, with each day, the difficulty is raising, for each new level of this game.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII cancelled?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woPR1qQCQBo&feature=g-u-u
And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth...

Thankfully, the cancellation of Final Fantasy Versus XIII is just a rumor, for now.  Kotaku said they had 2 good sources that say the game is being cancelled.  But Square sounds tentative to call an official game cancellation.

 Maybe the fan support for FFvs13 can turn the tide.  With just the trailers, these past 6 years since FFvs13 was announced, there's been so much fan-art in Artist Alleys, as if FFvs13 was already a released and established FF game.  Even with just the small sample of opinions, through comments on the above video, I was surprised to learn how many people bought a PS3 in anticipation of FFvs13.  I mean, so did I, but I also got it for Kingdom Hearts and Devil May Cry 4.  I guess I wasn't the only one, drooling over the idea of a Final Fantasy action-RPG.  *.*

 But if Square really is cancelling FFvs13, my hope is that they're just doing away with the name.  The fail-safe scenario, in my opinion, would be for the name "Final Fantasy Versus XIII" to be scrapped, and for this game to get its own roman numeral in the Final Fantasy panthenon.  For all I know, FFvs13 could be the FF15 that the development team is being rolled into.  Maybe it's just wishful thinking.

 I just hope Noctis's story and that awesome action-RPG gameplay we saw in all those trailers comes true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE 07/26/2012:

So glad to find out that the cancellation of FFvs13 was _just_ a rumor.  So often these things can turn out to be the wiff of something real, but this time, we all got lucky.  ^-^

Though, some part of me wonders if this was part of someone's elaborate scheme to bring Square's attention back to working on FFvs13, instead of their current focus on making more FF13 sequels.  A big publicity stunt to garner public outcry and rekindle demand for FFvs13, to the Square executives...!  *o*  A conspiracy theory!---I need to lay off the Code Geass...  ~.~;

kowai!

You know that feeling when people threaten to throw out your collection, when you're not looking, just because it's not important to _them_?

07/18/2012 update

Recently uploaded video of Anime Expo 2012's 2nd Hetalia gathering.  Sorry I was late!  ;.;  I dashed from Artist Alley as fast as I could!

Today was all about re-organizing my room.  Which is how I ended up with this awesome column of plushies! 

Instead of doodling one Nekotalia drawing, I doodled a fancomic page. Though it's supposed to be a stand-alone, with the option for later pages, I've already started imagining what happens next.  Americat finds an orange tail, then Iggycat asleep in the rose bushes.  But with the way successive comic pages can loom over me for months (like "Alter Ego"), let's call this a stand-alone page for now.

Now, back to painting decorations and Photoshopping pics for my mom's fundraising party.

Germany/Austria flag pairing pendants

I made my first Germany/Austria pendants last night.  ^_^ (Also Austria/Germany on the reverse.)

Too bad I didn't have any ready for Artist Alley at AX2012.  It seemed like the logical choice too:  the millefiori canes were already made, there were no complex details (like crests or stars) to add on later, not even complex designs in the flags that would mess up while I worked the clay...  But I knew Prussia was more in demand, so I put all my time into Prussia/Hungary and Prussia/Austria pendants.  So I didn't have any time left for other pairings, until now.  Hopefully, I'll have a bunch ready by PMX2012's Artist Market.  *_*

AX2012 feedback forum

I was just reading Cosplay.com's Feedback forum for Anime Expo 2012.  I usually don't read those Feedback threads, but I guess since I missed a lot of the usual Anime Expo experience, while stuck at my Artist Alley table, I wanted to know how the con was for everyone else.



Lindsay Plaza taken over by X Games.  Oh, Lindsay, how I missed you for cosplay gatherings!  ;o;

 Though the majority of criticisms for AX2012 were about the X Games and crowds, I was surprised to hear so many people call the programming "meh".  Over the years, I had begun to feel the same dimming excitement about AX, but I thought that was caused by my jadedness increasing with age.  So I took it upon myself, to proactively make AX fun again.  I took on more copslay, I became a gathering videographer, and now I'm doing Artist Alley.

No matter how lackluster the programming may be some days, you can always rely on the cosplay community.  Especially AX is jam-packed with cosplay gatherings.  A lot of cosplayers use AX to premier their best cosplays.  And because of AX's massive size, the chances of seeing cosplayers from obscure, underrated series, goes up.  This year, I saw several Natsume Yuujinchou cosplayers!  ^u^  The gatherings are a lot more huge and playful, compared to some other cons.  For a few years, the gatherings took up so much of my time, that I barely attended official AX programming.  Even that time leading up to AX, gets revived by cosplay.  Instead of the days before AX seeming so unbearably long, out of anticipation, when there's cosplay to be done, they seem way too short.  Even as just a cosplay photographer, the gaps between good programming are alleviated.  My brother barely goes to any programming, because he has too much fun photographing cosplayers.  In fact, having so much to do at AX, just in terms of cosplay, is the reason why I was reluctant to do Artist Alley again.  Cosplay can really make AX fun, no matter what else in the con changes.

Not that I haven't seen some unsettling changes with AX over the years. 

Figueroa Blvd being closed off by X Games in 2012, and causing attendees to detour into twisting, unknown streets in the middle of the night, reminded me of the Long Beach venue.  That was scarey.  Especially when your cosplay or huge bag of artist alley stuff won't let you run if there's trouble.  It was nice that event staff (for LA Live?) were dotting the streets, so they weren't desolate.  But I did get lost and end up in a much scarier street, with no staff.  Maybe better detour signs are an order?

Last year, my problem with the programming was running to a room, only to be turned away because it was too full.  I thought I got away from that, after leaving Comic Con.  I was afraid it was still going on at AX this year.  Thankfully, I didn't see any comments like that (so far) on the forum.  I just hope that AX solves the cramped space problem better than other cons, for both panel rooms and exhibit hall.

And after AX went "corporate", they suddenly started charging for things that used to come free with general admission.  Like main events, including AMV contest and Masquerade.  So I dropped them.  Besides, I was getting tired of the hairpins under my wig, setting off Nokia Theater's metal detector.  And my brother isn't even allowed to take his tripod in there.  ;_;

I hope that the "red carpet" for Guests of Honor will be on stage from now on.  At 2012's red carpet, obscured by photographers, it was hard for the audience to get excited or be aware that the GoHs where there.  On stage, the GoHs immediately interact with the crowd, instead of just the photographers, and the room doesn't go unusually stale, like it did this year.

Something AX can solve right away, is that unnecessary clearing of the Charity Auction audience before Closing Ceremonies.  It would make more sense if Closing Ceremonies was a packed event, but it never is.  And most of the people in the Charity Auction are just waiting for Closing Ceremonies, with nothing better to do anyway.  But if I knew they were going to kick us out, just to get in line, to end up with the same seats again, I would have gone back to the hotel instead. 

And it was sad to hear on the forum that some staffers are still being too rude about informing cosplayers about peacebonding.  Some of them need to understand that we _just_ set foot on the con, after getting on the cosplay made us unreasonably late, and we haven't been able to go to the peacebonding station yet. 

But thankfully, a lot of the problems with AX are things I've been able to speak about in the past tense.

In other ways, AX has been improving, over the years. 

This year, they just stumbled upon the brilliant idea of having Opening Ceremonies on Day 0.  Everyone keeps saying the general registration line was unusually fast/short this year.  I suspect more people were drawn to pick up badges on Day 0, to attend Opening Ceremonies too, and that may have alleviated the line on Day 1 and on.  Just a theory.  But I did like the idea of having time for more panels on Day 1, instead of Opening Ceremonies (even if I was stuck at Artist Alley instead). 

AX also seems to be dedicating a block of panels to more scholastic lectures about anime and manga.  Very reminiscent of the Comic Arts Conference Sessions, which I miss from Comic Con.  I await the day when Crispin Freeman's anime and mythology lectures return to AX.  *u* 

As many problems as increased attendance causes, I do love AX for its massive number of attendees.  Fandom is just more fun with more people.  Whether its the cosplay gatherings, the panel discussions, or even just everyone laughing at the same parts of a video together---The comradery makes fandom more enjoyable. 

As long as AX doesn't become unnecessarily pricey and cap off the attendee number, I won't have to drop it, like Comic Con.  I'd hate to drop AX.  I've been going since 1996, and I'm too sentimental to give up on my first con.  In fact, even if it got bad, I'd probably still attend (at least 1 day), for the cosplay and exhibit hall.  You can always be sure to see interesting stuff at AX because _everyone_ goes to AX---both cosplayers and industry companies.

(too many) tips for Cosplay Friday

According to Tokyopop's Facebook page, it's "Cosplay Friday".  o.o?  So they asked, "What is one indispensable cosplay tip that you think everyone should know?"  Before I knew it, I was making a list.

Keep a pack of safety pins & masking tape on you.

Take advantage of holiday sales in non-costume shops, like Target/Kmart: 
Halloween sales,
St. Patrick's Day green wigs,
Easter bunny ears...

Keep a toolbox of cosplay repair supplies in your hotel room.
Here is my toolbox:

Sewing needs, yarn darners, pins, safety pins, thread, measuring tape, buttons, thimble. The staples and stapler are when you reeeeally don't have time to sew.

Squares of white felt and black felt.  Scissors, long-nose pliers, exacto knife in a tube.  Pencils, eraser, permanent markers, paintbrush, foam brush.  Razor comb, feathering shears, make-up.

Glue sticks, fabric glue, white glue, glue gun, sticky-backed velcro (in a sandwich bag), snap buttons, a TicTac container filled with hooks eye buttons.
22-guage craft wire, tie wire, sandwich bag filled with mini paddles of yarn.
Fabric freshener (travel size), hairspray, quilt/hair clips, hair pins.
Fabric crayons, wooden block for dapping/cutting, a cloth rag, and a T-square.
(Don't rely on the hand-held sewing machine. It's too tempermental.)


But since I was only supposed to post _one_ indispensable cosplay tip, I wrote, "Believe no prop is out of your skill range". 

Seriously.  If you believe this one thing, about props, wig styling, costume sewing, etc., you'll find a way to make any cosplay you want.  (Or at least make the 1 prop or detail that just *makes* a costume.)  Maybe I should have wrote something encouraging about one's ability to learn any arts or crafts skill.  Or, you can watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16p9YRF0l-g

Really, that's what it's about.  Taking that step to TRY to learn a technique.  As indimidating as a cosplay looks, there's lots of tutorial videos and books about techniques, that can be re-purposed for cosplay.  Once you build up a library of skills, you can mix and match them in your head for anything you want. 

Of course, it makes for an odd trip to the hardware store, when you ask a clerk where something is, and they ask, "What's it used for?"  ^^;  *Now* I know liquid silicone is used to seal window edges, and can be found in the sealant aisle.  It wouldn't have helped the clerk to know I was going to use it for resin molds.  #^^# 

And you'll spend hours, walking around craft stores, daydreaming multiple ways some supply or tool can be used, in unforseen ways.  Like luau necklaces as rainbow "feathers" on wings.  Or elastic jewelry string for bowstrings.

But like one cosplay panel said, there is no wrong way to create a cosplay.  ^_^

[for the insanely long list of tips, go to the full version of this entry, here:  http://mysticdragon3.livejournal.com/41340.html  ]

YouTube post denied

I tried to post video of the Hetalia Truth or Dare game from Anime Expo 2012.  But YouTube keeps giving me error messages.  I've tried a bunch of stuff, but nothing's worked.  My last hope is to chop up the video into more manageable lengths, and upload multi-part coverage of the game.  ~_~;  Which is exactly the time-consuming nonsense I wanted to avoid by uploading it all in one shot.  And it's not like I'm not allowed long videos on YouTube.  They gave me that capability a long time ago. So I don't see why a long video is a problem.  It's only 2.46GB, and their limit is 20GB per video.  And I've seen lots of video, like Comic Con coverage or the Avengers red carpet premier, which were over 2 hours, like mine.  In fact, longer. 

So, maybe length is not the problem.  Maybe there's something wrong with the video file itself, and I may NEVER get it uploaded!  O~O!!!  Bum-bum-BUUUUUUM! 
Naw, that can't be completely true.  The file plays fine on my computer.  I'll just try uploading it in chunks.  ...Which may take some time to get around to.  x_x; 

things I did today

Uploaded this photo of Anime Expo that I took last week.  It struck me because I wasn't used to being outside, on the street, during the con...Unless I was walking back to my hotel.  But the X Games took over Figueroa Blvd.  So a lot of the cosplay gatherings which usually take place in Lindsay Plaza, got kicked out to Pico Blvd.  Which is where I ran into this glowing scene.

The past few days, I've been tending to a gathering thread I started at http://www.cosplay.com/ for a Natsume Yuujinchou cosplay gathering.  I immeditately stated that I was willing to hand off gathering moderation to someone less shy, but the more it grows, the more attached to it I feel.  It's still, comparatively, such a small thing, but for a series that isn't very widely known, the gathering seems to be growing rapidly.  Even though I actually saw *several* Natsume Takashi cosplayers at AX this year, when I was used to seeing none in person, I wasn't sure the thread would find enough people to make a group, let alone, a gathering.  But several people have jumped on board, and I'm taking even the "maybe" Natsume cosplayers.  ^_^  Now we're planning Nyanko-sensei's drinking party, with real food, and a game of kagehumioni.  So happy!  Now to work on that cosplay!

http://myfigurecollection.net/

I also joined My Figure Collection today.  I don't know how it works, but I've been meaning to catalog all my figurines, for a while.  Though, I'm not sure it'll allow my Rement miniatures, which I also need to catalog.  I may end up making my own HTML file, to catalog my entire collection. 

Speaking of cataloging my collection, I need to figure out what manga I swapped with the other vendor at PMX2011's swap meet.  (The photos above are from the LA sakura festival's swap meet, but they're the best swap meet pics I have.)  I'm so obsessive compulsive that I always carry a little booklet, listing my manga inventory, and my swap meet ledgers list each volume I've sold.  But that swap with the other vendor happened so fast, right before the con had to kick us out of the room, that I didn't write down what he took.  Now that I've had so much more fun at Artist Alley, than swap meets, I've begun to consider no more swap meets and settling into keeping what I have...and regretting what I've sold away.  I was so happy, when I went through my swap meet box today and found the volume of Meru Puri that I keep referencing in essays, and thought I had already sold.  (Though I didn't find that Strawberry Panic volume 1 that I thought my brother didn't want.  That was a bummer.)  Even though I may not love the manga in my swap meet boxes, I do reference them in essays.  And now that my lifestyle must be more frugal, going through my personal library for something "new" (at least, unfamiliar) is better than buying new books.  But most of all, I'm sentimental.  Even to series I didn't completely love.  At one convention panel about gender-bending series, they mentioned Memato Kiss, which I had, and how rare it was to find now.  That just awaken's my collector's blood.  Mixed with my sentimentality, now I can't let that book go.  ...Even if I didn't really like the characters... ~_~;  So now I'm haunted by "What did I swap with that guy!?"  And, "I should have swapped for his Variant volume!"  I think he had volume 3.  I have volume 2 at home.  I wasn't totally into the series, but it is another example of the "Universal Mother Goddess" as "persecuted monster" archetype, the cursed/monster arm motif, and female Hero Journey.  When that guy offered to swap and I saw his volume 3, I wanted it.  But I told myself that I was at the swap meet to sell, not to acquire more stuff.  Although, if I don't do anymore swap meets, then I've been laden with several volumes of Shaolin Sisters, which was a sequel to the Juline series that I disliked.  ~_~;  Ug.  I always regret stuff...  I wonder what I swapped....? 

Hetalia personality quiz

I got this, while cuddling my Americat plushie.  #^^#


Hetalia! What Country Are You?
Hosted By theOtaku.com: Anime

The last Hetalia quiz I took, at another website, I got Japan.

Nekotalia dubbed

Today, I realized that I hadn't yet listened to that Nekotalia World Conference episode of Hetalia, in English.  So I immediately grabbed DVD 4 and watched it.  So hilarious!  Americat's "American" meow was so unexpected but fit so humorously well.  And Iggycat's meow was dignified and awesome in English, just as much as "mao".  Also, Germouser's "das meow!" and Japan-neko's "konichi-meow" were just too funny.  I loved the original Japanese version, but I love this too!  I watched the dub of that clip, over and over again, still laughing each time. 

Again proving that switching up languages really revives the enjoyment of something, like the first time all over again.  ^_^  I hope the videogame business catches onto that, especially since they're so obsessed with lengthening "replay value".  Please make the re-release of FFX and the new FFvs13 bilingual!  *u*

5 drawings for DeviantArt

Since I forgot to upload my daily Deviation for yesterday, I did 5 today (including today's daily Deviation). 
A little happy with myself because I managed to do 5 drawings, all in 1 day.  And not just some quick, sketchy doodles.  I did pencil drawings, inked those drawings, then I used nothing but illustration markers.  No more washable markers for me anymore (...unless I bleed/blend them with a wet brush).  Gotta start thinking about better brush stroke quality for Artist Alley prints.

http://mysticdragon3.deviantart.com/#/d56wjgr

http://mysticdragon3.deviantart.com/#/d56whum

http://mysticdragon3.deviantart.com/#/d56udsv

http://mysticdragon3.deviantart.com/#/d56udff

http://mysticdragon3.deviantart.com/#/d56ubnl

favorite AX2012 loot

So I went up to one of the doujinshi booths at Anime Expo, asking for Nekotalia.  "Y'know, the cat version of Hetalia?"  Totally expecting another "sorry, we don't".  But the lady at the OTP booth strode right over, pulled out this doujinshi, and slapped it down in front of me.  ^u^  And it's US/UK to boot!  Totally worth the $41!  ^o^  An anthology, so it's like buying 3 books at once!  Americat and Iggycat travel around the world with America/England, visiting the other kitties.  ^_^  Much adorableness ensues for both couples.  ^______^  Can't stop re-reading this book!
(I'll post to the LiveJournal USUK community when I scan this adorableness. Hopefully, it'll reach someone willing to translate. *.* )

obento cutters to polymer clay

Yesterday, I found these awesome cutters in Tokyo Lifestyle (at the Northridge mall).  I know they were meant for food, and awesomely cute obento lunches, but they're just perfect for polymer clay!  I don't know what pendants I'll make yet, but these are an interesting variation compared to Premo!'s Mini Metal Cutters. 

I bought those before, and they are nice, but $8 for 12 pieces?  Especially when I only really wanted 1 or 2 shapes in a set?  These food cutters are a much better deal.  I think I just went a little collector-crazy, buying one of each kind that the store carried.  ^^;;;  Still, even comparing both versions of the same shape, like the oak leaf or rose leaf, there's just something cuter about the obento cutters. ^_^

Hetalia arrivals - AX2012

A day before I left for AX2012, I got the Hetalia volume 3 manga in the mail. 
The day I returned from AX, Hetalia DVD 3 was in the mail. 
^_^  Lovely before & after surprises on top of an anime con! 

Now, if you love Nekotalia, like me, then the inside of DVD volume 4 was awesome.  And if you love Americat/Iggycat the way I do, then the DVD label itself was even better.  ^u^
Actually, Americat and Iggycat both made their first appearances inside manga volume 3, as well.  So much Nekotalia love---even on the DVD spine!  ^-^ 
And it was a pleasant surprise to see that Nekotalia World Conference anime episode included in DVD volume 4.  ^u^  I thought that episode was an OAV, that I would have to wait for a later release.  I was even planning to wait for the inevitable re-release of the Hetalia movie, probably bundled with the OAVs.  I'm so glad I don't have to wait to see Americat and Iggycat animated.  ^___^

next Artist Alley

Think I found my next Artist Alley:  Pacific Media Expo 2012.
http://pacificmediaexpo.info/2012/

It's perfect.  It's a small con, so I won't miss a bunch of stuff, while sitting at my table. 
The only catch is that they have a minimum requirement of original, non-fan-art.  Fortunately, I have a bunch of wire jewelry, not based on any series.  And, I could make some prints of my original art (I don't think they'll sell, but it's just to pad my stock).  If I could fulfill a dream, I'd like to sell figurines of original characters.  Lolitas, maybe.  ...Now getting that done in time is another wish.

And this time, I can spend my time drawing on my business cards.  I was surprised how much of my first Artist Alley was a big arts-and-crafts time.  I wished I had gone with my notion of drawing on blank business cards, instead of just using the template designs on Vistaprint.  They do say that having samples of your own work on your card, is best.  I almost wanted to use my Prussia-eagle stamp on my previous cards, so people could better remember my products.  So my next business cards will be blank (except for my info), so I can add my own designs.

Anime Expo 2012 Artist Alley

I'm back from my first Artist Alley!  ^_^ 

It's so odd to be admitted early for Artist Alley set-up.  Exhibit Hall is so empty.  O.o!  My table was behind aisle 700. 

Artist Alley turned out to be soooooooo awesome!  *u*  Unlike swap meets, where people come up to you, to haggle and be a little confrontational, people only come up to artist alley tables when they have something nice to say.  ^_^  And I could feel pride in my work.  A much better feeling than trying to sell off old manga, that I turned out disliking---And what's more?  Knowing I was going to lose money on.  But even if no one buys my stuff at Artist Alley, I could feel pride that I had the guts to dare.  And, I chose my best stuff (as much as I could).  Even if my techniques need some work, I could always feel confident about my concepts.  I'm a fan-girl too, and I knew I could fulfill what the fangirls wanted.  Artist Alley was a fun, creative, luv-fest. 

Anime Expo was a great place to get my feet wet selling my own art.  The crowds are so big, that it feels impossible to not meet someone who loves your art, enough to buy it.  Though, with 16 years of enjoying everything Anime Expo has to offer---and still not having the time to do it all---I did feel a little bad just sitting at a table all day instead.  That's why I've chosen to not pre-register for AX2013 Artist Alley.  I can get that experience at any anime con with an Artist Alley.  But Anime Expo's panels and cosplay gatherings are things I can only get at Anime Expo.  ...Of course, if I can find a table helper who can sit at my table all-day for me, then I'll be returning to AX's Artist Alley.  I really hope I can, because I really loved the AX Artist Alley experience.

In fact, Artist Alley may be what made 2012 my most enjoyable Anime Expo in years.  I spent all day, sitting at a table.  I didn't get worn out, running around, in the hot sun, meeting with closed-capacity panels, or missed cosplay gatherings.  Usually, I get so tired, every day of AX, that I wake up late the next day, then I have a whole slew of regrets, about all the stuff I missed because I was too damn lazy to get out of bed.  In fact, in line for Closing Ceremonies this year, I met a guy who was so tired from running around all con, that he was considering dropping a day of attendance from AX, even if he could go all 4 days.  Fatigue does make me grumpy.  What if doing Artist Alley was exactly what made this my best AX is years?  Forcing me to drop multiple cosplay changes per day, rest in an air-conditioned exhibit hall most of the time, and simply resign myself to not over-extending my expectations (and increasing chances of disappointment).  As AX's enjoyment started to decline with the years, I tried more panels, then more cosplay, then videography,...But Artist Alley was the most effective revival.  Maybe AX Artist Alley is something I shouldn't give up. 

And I do want to see again, everyone who supported me this year.  And next time, I'll have all the Hetalia flag-pairings!  Next time, I'll have Spamano and the Nordics!  I'll have more paopu fruit done!  And more bunny tail colors to sell!  I really want to try for an even better next time.  *-*