The other day, a relative of mine asked for advice about what to make for Anime Expo artist alley. Normally, he only attends comic conventions and is only familiar with the tastes of those crowds. But he wanted to try Anime Expo, and since I've been attending for a while, he asked what series he should make art for.
Essentially, he asked which anime series are popular at the moment. A little ironic that he asked me, since I myself am quite behind in terms of current anime series. (Personally, I find a series I like, and cling to it, and only it, for a long time. I can't even watch Go-Busters because I still haven't gotten over Gokaiger. ~.~; ) But regardless of my personal knowledge of the latest trends, there are some very simple ways to know what is popular enough to ensure good sales at an anime artist alley:
- Look up the convention's Guests of Honor. They drive the fans of those particular series to flock to the con. For example, AX2014 has lots of guests from Kill La Kill. Last year, AX2013 had a guest and lots of signing events regarding Natsume Yuujinchou; that drove the Natsume Yuujinchou fandom to come to AX2013 and even form cosplay gatherings. So look up the convention's guest list and special events.
- Figurine producer websites, particularly Good Smile Company (http://www.goodsmile.info/en). They'll only make figures of whatever is really popular (in Japan), and GSC in particular releases figures regularly enough to mark all the different trends. Check their figure release announcements.
- Watch which cosplay gatherings form for the convention. Cosplay.com forums plan very far in advance, so it's easy to see ahead of time which series' fans are coming to the convention. That's the series/audience to aim for.
- Videogames. Videogame series continue for long time so their fanbases are always around. For anime cons, make fan-art for Japanese videogames, in particular. Like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Guilty Gear, Devil May Cry, Sengoku Basara, Persona, Zelda, and visual novels.
- Vocaloid. Hatsune Miku will always sell at an anime convention. Don't forget Crypton Media Future's other characters, plus Megapoid Gumi, but anything with Miku will sell.
- When in doubt, make cute things.
- Try using a unique art style. There's no need to emulate the official art style of a series. A big group of artist alley customers, besides fangirls, are the people who just want to see a different art style. Try a different interpretation of a series's canon art style. Draw a Shonen genre character in the Shoujo genre style. Try your own unique art style. Pick an art movement from art history or a style made common by a specific art medium, like Art Nouveau or ancient Hellenistic pottery. One year, I bought a very bishonen drawing of Inuyasha, just because it was so different from Rumiko Takahashi's official artwork.
- "In jokes" and fandom memes from within a series' fandom is also something that people come to artist alley for, because it usually cannot be found in the exhibit hall. Catering so specifically to the fandom will get attention and be that unique thing that's not in the official merchandise.
- Whatever fandom you are into. When you make fan-art for a fandom you personally love, you know all those "in jokes" and fandom memes; you know what art styles give an interesting contrast to the official cannon. And most of all, there is instinctively more pride to be taken in your work, when it's a series you love and merchandise you would like to see for that series. That's why even though it's been a while since Hetalia was HUGE, I'm still doing it.
But there's one more important thing to remember for making fan-art for artist alley: There will always be _someone_ who will love it. Especially at the big conventions, like Anime Expo, there are too many people and tastes for your work to not appeal to someone. As I used to say to fellow fanfic writers, "Just write and publish your work; it will be just the thing that someone out there has been searching desperately for." So have confidence in your self/work and just make what you want. ^__^
I feel like the fact that most women have been taught everyday, since we were very young, to be always vigilant, always afraid, is something we've become so accustomed to that we forget it underlines all our thoughts. It's hard to articulate, because it's become so natural, it's our blind spot, that now rules our subconscious. So when we cosplay and get indignant about harassment, it isn't just that our moms have imbued us with paranoia, because, considering all the violent news reports and shame heaped on us if we do become victimized, it can actually become very real for us at any time. We walk around in cosplay to be a character we love, not to be treated as something not a real human being. Crossing that boundary isn't just a joke, when it can turn very serious at any moment we let our guards down. Cosplay isn't an invitation to make us feel threatened. Someone may say our boundaries are too sensitive when a "joke" is taken this seriously, but considering all the news and personal accounts from friends, an escalation of danger is always very real for us. Such caution should be regarded similarly to how political correctness is a consideration we always respect for others, regardless of whether we understand or agree that something is offensive; just knowing the other person is not okay with such a thing is enough reason to refrain. It is especially serious, when we go to a convention to have fun, be friendly and polite to people who want photos, or in other words, drop our guards. We hesitate to suddenly turn defensive against possible threats, and even doubt and disbelieve our perception that someone is being threatening. I mean, aren't we all at the con to be friendly? Male friends, when we tell you about a creeper, we may not need you to tell him off for us, so much as we need affirmation that we have a right to be angry and are permitted to shout back at them ourselves. Many people cosplay to cons to make friends. But when it becomes a magnet for harassment, is cosplay just supposed to stop? No. No one should give up cosplay, fun, or making friends. This is why we laser-in on solving the harassment problem. So we can preserve cosplay and keep the open, all-accepting, geek atmosphere of a convention.
I was watching this:
"Cosplay in America" @ AX 2014 (The Road to Anime Expo)
by Cosplay in America http://youtu.be/pzGlgnH3NDo
There's something comforting about watching other people, just as busy preparing for Anime Expo as I am. ^-^
But when did I trade in rushing to make cosplay, for rushing to make artist alley stock? I feel like I've lost something nostalgic. ;-;
I remember when I first started attending Anime Expo in 1996, it was all about the shopping. But that was because I only attended for 1 day. My big collection fetishes back then were limited to anime and manga. So in successive years, my main focus at Anime Expo was to watch anime. There was no reliable internet and you couldn't just watch AMVs on YouTube, so I always printed out the schedule before the con and highlighted all the new series I wanted to check out in the video rooms. Sometimes, I'd watch anime at the con that I had already seen, just to get the experience of watching it with an audience. There's something about watching everyone, especially people new to a show, laugh and gasp at all the show's beats, to revive that initial impact from when I first watched it myself.
I always made sure to get tickets for the AMV contest, no matter how often it delayed and made us wait for 2+ hours. But then YouTube happened and I didn't have to expend all my time at the AMV contests anymore. Eventually, not at the video rooms either.
Which was fine, because now I had time for panels and my manga obsession was in full swing. Just as I had pre-planned and highlighted every hour of the schedule before for video rooms, now I was doing it for panels. And I had an equally regimented plan for tackling the exhibit hall. Since so many exhibitor booths had sales on the last day of the con, I'd spend the first 2 days of the con (back then, AX was only 3 days), scouting out all the booths' stock, asking for prices, making notes, comparing prices, and systematically walking through every ailse of the exhibit hall. Back then, exhibit hall was small enough, that I could even post-pone my shopping until the last day (in order to spend the other days in the panels and video rooms). It used to be you could go through every booth, in every ailse, in one day, and do your shopping during the last few hours of the con, when everyone was dropping their prices...or at least much more open to haggling. But now exhibit hall is just too big. It was a shock, the first time I realized I could no longer go through every ailse in just one day, and trying would leave me no time to shop. Then I started buying my manga online, and so significantly dropped the amount of necessary shopping---and the weight on my hands from holding shopping bags.
But still, that hunting was a big part of my fun at Anime Expo, especially with the video rooms being replaced by the internet. So I focused on other things in my collection to shop for: artbooks and plushies. I even started collections I didn't really need, like pins for my backpack or rubber die-cut keychain charms I could sew to my messenger bag. Then I slowly got into figurines. I told myself that I just needed models to draw, since I draw so much worse without references. And I kept running into the same booth with $4 gachapon, so why not? Little did I know that figure collecting would turn into a huge part of my otaku life, years later, after joining the Figure Photography community on Google+ (https://plus.google.com/communities/102424536798369424860 ). ^_~
Meanwhile, my brother and I started exploring cosplay. He was primarily a photographer and did not even attend video rooms or panels. He spent all his time on the con floor, asking for photos. I started researching cosplay gathering schedules from Cosplay.com, immersing myself into costumes, and striving to provide video documentation of my favorite gatherings. (Behind the camera is a great place to hide. ^.^! ) My focus for cons was now cosplay gatherings and panels in between. Soon, my brother was organizing cosplay gatherings himself, using all his experience as a photographer at gatherings. The gatherings he moderated were very well run. So well, that when series I loved were not getting gatherings at AX, I could feel less timid about starting a gathering myself, because I could lean on my brother for moderation advice. It was very nice. ^_^ So for a few years, I was focused on cosplay and gatherings, to the extent that my exhibit hall time began to regularly include wig shopping.
I had dropped video rooms, the AMV contest, and even the masquerade. Because there is a lot of video coverage of masquerades on YouTube now anyway, and sometimes, there are just some really interesting panels going on at the same time. (But maybe that's just the opinion of a documentary junkie like me. I'm sure other people would never give up masquerade...no matter how strange it is for AX to suddenly be charging for it in recent years.)
But after several years, I think I've come to this point of cosplay burn-out. I'm an introvert, and I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety disorder. At some point recently, I could no longer immerse myself into my cosplay characters. People were starting to talk to _me_, not the character. It was breaking my fourth wall. Cosplay was no longer this space where I could lose all my weaknesses and take on a character's strengths, until I could internalize them. Cosplay was becoming another source of my social anxiety. ;_______; I never thought I would become disillusioned with something I was so dedicated to.
But on the up side, I feel less pressure to make new costumes for every single convention. I no longer have this delusion hanging over me, during the last 2 weeks before AX, that it will somehow not be fun at all, unless I can whip up 4 new costumes, 1 for each day. ~_~;;; Really delusional... So glad I can let go of that stress.
So what does Anime Expo hold for me now? Well, now that they've become the established, biggest convention, Good Smile Company and lots of other official companies are regularly having booths and panels here. I can talk directly to the producers of Guilty Gear or buy exclusive Nendoroid figures.
But the thing that really revived my excitement for AX, was finally participating in artist alley. Sometimes I feel like it's the natural progression as a fan. (If you prescribe to the Joseph Campbell idea that the worth of a story is in finding your own meaning in it.) Obsessing over a story, analyzing the hell out of it, figuring out why you like it so much, internalizing what you learn about yourself from its themes, loving characters, making fan-art, joining online fandom communities, making more fan-art, then selling it off. Now suddenly, my pre-AX crunch is about making artist alley stock, instead of making new cosplay. ^^; Speaking of...I've got less than a week before AX, so I better get back to it! ^o^
I think it's safe to say that I now have the little army of Nendoroids I wanted.
A little while ago, I ran into an influx of photos, showing other people's collections and I was just so envious of the numerous Nendoroids. At the time, I only had Date Masamune, Sanada Yukimura, and maiko Madoka Kaname (plus, my Chibi-Arts C.C.). Even though I had finally crossed the line between gashapon figurines and higher end figures, I had resolved to not buy a figure unless I craved for it with every fiber of my being. Though, maiko Madoka was more about convenience and cuteness, since Good Smile Company happened to be selling her at their booth, while I was also at Anime Expo. At the time, I had barely watched any Madoka Magica, yet I bought her anyway. I suppose she was my first step into buying figures that were not my all-consuming obsession, but did strike my fancy. Then I bought "Nendoroid Itoshiki Nozomu 1.5 Kouji Kumeta color version", because I reeeeeeeally wanted to put my Masamune Nendoroid in a hakama and kimono. Suddenly, it was "goodbye $45!", for another figure from a series I had barely seen any of. But afterwards, it was such a surprise how gratifying it was to switch up outfits on my favorite Nendoroids. That Itoshiki Nendo proved that buying figures from series I'm not obsessed with, just because of their visual aesthetic or practicality in photography, was well worth throwing money at. ^_^
Before I knew it, I was hunting down online stores in California that stocked Nendoroids, Figmas, and Revoltechs. I was clicking partner ads at My Figure Collection (http://myfigurecollection.net/) and taking advantage of Black Friday sales...then holiday sales, then New Year's sales, etc. It was getting crazy. Especially when I found a store I could latch onto.
Plamoya (http://plamoya.com/) was the first Japan-based store I had ever ordered from. I had heard that shipping from overseas was insanely expensive, when considering the necessity of mail insurance, so I never wanted to bother with it before. But Plamoya spelled everything out so well in English, that I had all my questions, doubts, and insecurities answered. They even posted shipping estimates which disproved the warnings of expensive shipping, which I had heard from figure collecting panels at conventions. To tell the truth, sometimes I pay more to ship from northern California to southern California. Plus, Plamoya had so many rare figurines and insanely good sales. I found discontinued figures that I had completely given up hope on trying to find---or finding at a feasible price. So I ended up with several packages from Plamoya, all adding to my figure collection.
So now, not only do I have the Nendoroid army I had been craving, but I've also acquired some nice scaled figures too. ^-^ Figure photography has a lot more possibilities for me now. ^u^
I have to admit that I've been avoiding writing posts for this blog. Even though so much has been happening in the otaku side of my life, I feel too self-conscious to post about it. Maybe it's the realization that I had this blog's address on all those business cards I passed out at Artist Alley. Or maybe it's because some job offers have come up, and I realized this blog is the closest example of a website and writing that I could refer someone to.
But that's not what this blog is about. Reading through old posts, I was reminded that this is my personal blog. The tone is personal and casual. I'm here to post any little thing that runs through my otaku mind---Because heaven knows, I'm not going to say it out loud.
So, here's to single-sentence posts with photos, and long rants speculating on series. Here's to every little re-arrangement that happens in my collection. And thus, a return to this blog.
After a month of putting off writing some big essay about my experiences at Anime Expo 2013, I realized that I've already written a lot about it, with every little social media post. So, I might as well gather those all up and mix in my photos.
My AX2013 cosplay plan come to fruition. ^-^
Accomplishing some new cosplay in time for Anime Expo is great, but cosplaying with my siblings is the best! ^_^
The official AX cosplay photographers grabbed my sister and I for their backdrop on day1. ^_^
Lugging around all those props and my bag(s), in footwear that my feet dislike, was exhausting! My apologies to the girls who asked for our photo after we had finally found a place on the floor to sit. But my sister and I have done seated poses in these cosplays before. We could have totally done a nice seated photo for you! ;0; Please don't give up on seated poses of cosplayers! ;~;
Did anyone else check out the "photo location" sets from the AX cosplay dept.? That sakura/shrine set was so popular, that photographers were waiting in lines for each specific portion of that set! O.o And you'd think that only the miko or sengoku era cosplayers would want this setting, but EVERYONE did. I even saw comic book superhero cosplayers posing there. I guess flora is just too nice of a backdrop. ^.^
Sci-fi set is lonely and sad. ;_; Please come visit me!
I hope the other sets got more use on other days, because when I took these photos on Saturday/day3, those other sets seemed empty and lonely (by comparison). ;.;
Anyway, do you think the sakura/shrine set should be expanded, even if other sets have to be dropped to do it? Or do you think that waiting in line for 10+ minutes per section of a set is negligible?
My first time watching The Funimation Show. Nice to see the stuff I missed while I was running around doing other con stuff. ^_^
This was the first AX in a long time, where I didn't meticulously plan out every half hour of my con days. And it was really nice! 0.o!!! Just walking around, cosplaying, hanging out with my sister, not trying to attend every single panel and cosplay gathering I could possibly run to... I had finally figured it out: An enjoyable time at con is more about attending whatever catches your interest, whenever you happen to be free; not about jam-packing every waking moment with everything going on at con. That's impossible. No one person can attend everything. It's no wonder so many of my past AXs have been disappointing. If you try to do everything, and not being able to, disqualifies you from a successful time, then of course, you come out of con all disappointed. I don't know why I didn't figure that out before.
And after all the websites and YouTube channels giving such nice quality videos of so many events, I don't stress about being at everything or missing much of anything anymore. ^_^ Ah~ It's nice to have a relaxing con. ^__^
Even though I said I would never host another cosplay gathering again, when it came to Natsume Yuujinchou, I just had to make sure that cosplay gathering happened.
It was awesome! Thanks, everybody! ^U^
Nyanko-sensei: "Where's the sake?!"
I even bought sake sets and cookies for a nice "Dog Party" picnic setting. If AX allowed signs, I would have made a nice nobori that said "Dog Party" too.
So, funny story:
Walking down the con halls in my Hiiragi cosplay, 2 guys passed by me, chatting about a "Bleach version of Mike Wazowski". Suddenly, I realized they were talking about me! O.o Apparently, they had no clue what my cosplay was. Surprising, since there were so many Natsume's Book of Friends fans who came to AX to see Kazuhiko Inoue, and NIS America was promoting the heck out of that series at the con.
The Figure Photography community at Google+ (https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/102424536798369424860) did an interesting "gathering/meet-up" for AX. Since we couldn't all agree on a feasible time and place to meet, Jon Larsen came up with the brilliant idea of each of us taking figure photos at specific landmarks around the con, instead.
checkpoint 1: "Welcome to Anime Expo" in front of Dealer's Hall in South Hall.
checkpoint 2: The top of the escalators on the 2nd floor of West Hall.
checkpoint 3: Good Smile Co. booth
It's not in front of a Good Smile Co. sign or poster, but what better way to show off their booth, than with the new maiko Madoka and yukata Miku Nendoroids they had exclusively brought to AX?
Some people waiting in line for the exclusives, liked my Nendoroid carrying case, so here's some info about it:
Tough Box from Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle store. $3.49
Easily fits 3 Nendoroids & accessories.
A snap-hook lets the box hang outside your bag.
Added some adhesive Velcro to the latch, for extra security.
Velcro is easy to open, yet ensures latch does not get bumped open in a crowd.
Some white felt added to the unnecessary sticky side of the fuzzy Velcro. And another piece of felt covers the excess of sharp/hooked Velcro.
3 fully-assembled Nendoroids fit into the Tough box Oval. There are also the rectangular Tough Mini (6.5"x4"x3" or 16.5cm x 10cm x 7.5cm) and Tough MD (11.5"x3.5"x3.5" or 29.5cm x 3cm x 8.5cm). $2.99 and $2.29 at Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle stores. There are other sizes too. All much cheaper than at The Container Store.
Smaller bags within bags, force you to account for each of your pieces, after each use.
Resealable mini bags from the craft store.
checkpoint 4: Cosplay Deviants booth.
Yes, C.C. is playing dress-up with Date Masamune's helmet at the Cosplay Deviants booth. ^.^
I also did some extra landmarks:
Can Yukimura handle leaving AX?
Hang in there, Yuki! It's just 1 more year!
Date-sama is not pleased to leave AX.
Masamune: "Waiting for a whole year? Cht!"
C.C. has seen the AXs come and go. She'll be waiting for the next one.
Unboxing figurines and figuring out display cases. ^.^ Finally getting around to organizing the loot I bought from Anime Expo 2013.
I used to buy a LOT of manga at cons, but now I have a policy vs buying things at con that I can easily buy online.
Couldn't find the Revoltech Yukimura and Masamune, but found some really detailed static figures. ^.^! Also wasn't planning to buy this Natsume Takashi figurine, since it didn't look that nice on its box, but now that it's out, I think that box cover was just a bad photo, also washed-out by its background. Ran across some other Natsume SD figurines too. And a white chibi Date. I didn't even know they made those! ^o^ I had always thought the white Revoltechs of Masamune and Yukimura looked interesting, but since I really want their original color schemes for figure photography, I thought I'd never get to buy the white versions. Just like I thought I'd never need to buy another other SD Date or Yuki, after buying their Nendoroids. But by pure luck, I ran across that chibi white version of Date. ^u^ Really sad the store didn't have a white Yuki, but now I have a goal to hunt for. ^o^ Also threw away $20 on another chibi C.C., even though I already have the Bandai Chibi-Arts C.C. figurine. Truthfully, I didn't really like the proportions on this KyunKyara C.C., but it was interesting and another figurine I hadn't heard of. Besides, since it was broken, I not only got a big discount, but I bet I could feel free to modify it without guilt. Anyway, those expensive Sengoku Basara figurines are getting dust in their details, as we speak, so I better get to finding a big enough display case for them.
And now, to use that great loot I got at AX! ^o^
For a larger version: http://fav.me/d6ea3zg
As for how I got C.C.'s Chibi-Arts head onto Madoka's Nendoroid body, that's a post for another time. ^_~
And thus ends my Anime Expo 2013 adventure. ^_^ Can't wait for next year!
In the meantime, here's my coverage of the Kingdom Hearts cosplay gathering:
So I just watched one of those trailer analysis videos with commentary, because I wanted to hear some insights that I didn't catch. But apparently, the commentators were low on sleep and just rambled about stuff without really analyzing anything. So, there are some things I noticed about the Final Fantasy XV (formerly FFvs13) trailer, shown at Sony's E3 2013 press conference.
At the beginning of the trailer, we have 2 children holding hands and running through a grassy field. Even though their faces are always out of frame, the voiceover is of a girl speaking to Noctis. Since older trailers for Final Fantasy Versus XIII often featured scenes with Stella and Noctis interacting, we can assume that the 2 children are young versions of Stella nad Noctis.
her dress reminds me of Namine's white dress
Stella's dialogue in this voiceover, though translated as "I can't stay any longer," can more literally be translated as, "I can't not go." (At least, that's what it sounds like to me and my limited Japanese.) Though this more literal translation seems like a less desirable translation, because of the confusing double negative, English speakers have used the term "I can't not do [something]" to express more of a undeniable, restlessness to no longer be passive or to no longer deny an instinctual urge. Whereas "I can't stay any longer," suggests simply a need to run away from a situation. But since the visuals show Stella indeed running, that could be the case. Whether she is defined as a character who is restless to take action, or a character who wants to escape the world, is yet to be revealed. It could still go either way, because even though she is running, she is _leading_ Noctis, and leading is a very proactive position.
The other significance of the (possibly) more literal translation "I can't not go," is that it makes a more obvious parallel with Noctis's reply: "My heart won't let go", through the repetition of the same word "go". Their different reactions to the same subject demonstrate an immediate clash between Noctis's and Stella's motivations. This foreshadows older trailers' brief shots of Noctis and Stella seemingly preparing to duel each other. According to past information, expanding beyond the Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailers, Stella comes from a country that is in need of the crystal and she is given the job of retrieving it, while Noctis is in the position to protect it from everyone. If past Tetsuya Nomura stories indicate any trend, he seems fond of having former friends clash. Like Riku vs Sora, Zack vs Angeal, Axel vs Roxas, Aqua vs Ven, Squall vs Seifer, Tidus vs Jecht, Neku vs Joshua, and (if you count the admiration type relationships) Cloud vs Sephiroth. Personally, I think it's a technique that tests, and thus, emphasizes Nomura's reoccurring theme of emotional bonds transcending barriers (such as geographical distance or separation by death).
The contrast is clear between Noctis's hesitation and Stella's clear proactive character. She is motivated to action, while he (according to his tone) regrets his own inertia. Whether using the more literal translation of Noctis's line "My heart can't do it" or the official translation "My heart won't let go", the same implications are that Noctis's initial state at the beginning of his story include inability ("can't do it") and maybe a sense of helplessness. But the sense of regret and sorrow in his tone of voice, suggest that he is unhappy and restless with forcibly accepting that from himself. Perhaps this "forced acceptance" of unpalatable parts of the world, was the true meaning in the flashback, later in the trailer, when a young Noctis is told by his father to simply accept the unpalatable soup. (Though that scene also served to very effectively establish empathy for Noctis's father Regis and their relationship. Not only because Regis jokes with his son instead of reprimanding him, but because Regis demonstrates he us willing to put up with unpalatable things for other people's sake. Unfortunately, in myths and fairytales, many kings who let stand the stagnating parts of the world, turn into tyrants. It would not be surprising if eventually, Regis's sense of sacrificial acceptance, even for the sake of saving others, would lead to some conflict with the Hero, his son Noctis.) Many mythological based stories follow this initial illusion of entrapment for the hero, living in a false sense of helplessness and ineffectualness, which causes their passivity, nihilism, or reluctant, jaded acceptance of a wrong world/state, until a catalyst event, such as a "Call to Adventure", initiates the Hero's Journey.
And the trailer very quickly brings up this "catalyst event" / "Call to Adventure", when Noctis's home is attacked for the crystal and his father has fled, probably being hunted, as the voiceover of Noctis's friend suggests that they should find Regis before their attackers do.
That red-head in the hat...Doesn't he sound like Keiji Fujiwara? Fujiwara is not only the voice actor for Reno and Axel (both of whom are also red-heads), but he also seems to be repeating the same catchphrase. In Kingdom Hearts, Axel is known for saying "Got it memorized?" But he is also known for complaining, "Why do I always get stuck with all the icky jobs?" Whether Axel is referring to all the underhanded jobs he gets assigned in the Organization, to backstab fellow members, or whether Lea is referring to the more difficult tasks always falling on his shoulders, as in Dream Drop Distance, when he resolved to go search for their missing friends, it's just all too similar. In the E3 2013 trailer for Final Fantasy XV, the hat-wearing red-head is translated as muttering, "This is turning into quite the ordeal." But the Japansese line uses the word "mendousai", which is often translated as some annoying situation or task that just causes too much trouble. This is exactly the same thing that Axel always complains about in his secondary catchphrase. So don't be surprised if Quinton Flynn gets cast in the English dub of this red-headed hat-wearing character. So the question is, will this character turn out to be another "Shapeshifter", as myth scholar Joseph Campbell described as a character archetype having questionable and fluxing allegiances---initially seeming like an enemy, but later revealed to be a friend---just like Axel?
On screen, while Noctis hides behind a corner, his friends Gladioius(?) and Prompto are listed along with his HP, the the same way that Kingdom Hearts arranged its NPC battle partners' stats beside the playable characters'. In the same scene, both these characters, are also seen in the battle: jumping to attack enemies with a sword, and hiding behind cover, occaisionally firing a gun. It should be noted that, taking a cue from Noctis's name being Latin for "night", the names of his listed battle companions are also Latin. (This seems very appropriate since the architecture of the city, with its numerous water canals, appearing to be a city built atop water, and ornate building sculptures, are reminsicent of Venice, Italy.) Gladioius could be a misspelling with my bad eyes and lower resolution viewing, but "gladio" in Latin means "sword". And one of Noctis's battle partners does carry a very large, distinctive sword. The other friend of his, seen occaisionally as the blond boy assisting Noctis in battle with a gun, is presumedly the "Prompto" listed at the bottom-right menu. And in listening to the spunky, childish, and cheerful voiceover, combined with the blond character's energetic, playful body language (headlocking Noctis in older trailers and jumping to glomp Gladioius in the E3 2013 booth/gameplay trailer), he must be "Prompto", which is Latin for "ready". If "ready" in Latin can hold connotations of a spring ready to bounce all over the place at any and all times, then this character fits "Prompto". And so, once again in a Nomura story, we have a trio of friends.
I would also like to note that the left gameplay menu includes "LINK FORM", which sounds similar to Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep's "D-Link". In KHBBS, "D-Link" replaced the previous Kingdom Hearts games' Summoning function, by giving playable characters special attacks inspired by Disney characters, who would have normally been Summoned in the home console games. In FFXV, it looks as if this "Link Form" command may be the same as "D-Link". During the trailer's gameplay when Prompto shot his gun to help Noctis, the top command disappeared, while "Link Form" seemed just as inactive as before, on the menu. Therefore, a whole other character coming beside Noctis to fight for him, like a Summoning, did not activate "Link Form". So it's probable that "Link Form" is something different than a Summon (just as D-Link was). In previous clips, the top command on the menu was "Warp". This sounds reminiscent of the "Reversal" Reaction Command, which appeared whenever Sora or Roxas came close beside Dusk enemies in Kingdom Hearts II. So it's possible that the top action on the Commands menu could be for Reaction Commands. Not just Reaction Commands activated by specific enemies, but also pre-chosen command lists (like KHBBS), to activate special team-up attacks, in reaction to party member allies. Much like Kingdom Hearts II's "Session", in which Sora and Riku joined for a special attack. In the FFXV trailer, "Warp" disappears from the top of the Commands menu, just as Prompto appears to back-up Noctis. This has to be a Reaction Command.
In the gameplay trailer at Square Enix's E3 2013 booth, both Gladioius and Prompto are shown, not only attacking for Noctis, like Summoned characters, but also cooperating with Noctis for special attacks, like the partner type of Reaction Commands, in additioin to acting as support party members, battling alongside him, simultaneously, like Donald and Goofy did for Sora.
Also, if you should see this 2013 gameplay trailer, a lot of the battles are against a large horned creature, which also closes the end of the trailer. Is anyone else reminded of Kingdom Hearts's Behemoth?
But back to the trailer shown at the Sony press conference...
One of the perplexing scenes in the trailer, in regard to story, is the stand-off between Noctis's father (who I assume is named "Regis") and the old man dressed like a priest. The priests draw their weapons and the old man asks rhetorically, "So you've come for the crystal?" Then his tone challenges to contradict Regis's action to come to the priests for the crystal: "I needn't even tell you. The final crystal left to this world..." Then he trails off, smirking, while Regis's expression flinches. It's like they both know something about the nature of the crystal that others in the room do not know. Is the priest threatening to reveal that secret? Why is that a threat? Is Regis flinching at the prospect of that secret being revealed? And why would that reveal be detremental to him? I can only assume that Regis is not completely in control of this "mafia" that he has previously been described as the leader of. Regis went through the charade of confronting the priests, in an "attempt" to retrieve the crystal. He came to the priests for the crystal. Assuming the priests are thought of in that world as protectors of the crystal, it would make sense that Regis go to them for the crystal. But it also contradicts previous information that Noctis's family is a long line of crystal protectors. So perhaps this secret that both the old priest and Regis know, that the rest of the population does not know, is that the crystal is not actually kept by the priests. So where is it? Or rather, what is it that it is not kept by priests? What about its nature is so unfathomable, that their society needs to set up this facade priesthood, so that everyone can feel safe knowing that they are in charge of the crystal? My first instinct is to theorize that the crystal is not a crystal in the normal sense, and its true nature may threaten what/whomever Regis cares about (which, according to the soup scene, are his subordinates and his son). Combined with the fact that everyone seems to be waging wars for these crystals...Could the crystal actually be a person? Their soul? Noctis's soul? But maybe that's too far-fetched. Perhaps just use of the crystal threatens the whole world, even though people who fight to obtain it (like Stella and her country), probably think it will help them. If Noctis's family, including his father, are in the roles of protectors of the crystal(s) (according to old FFvs13 info), then they serve as "preserver" archetypes, while the antagonists can be expected to serve as agents of change (accompanied by destruction of everything in the current state/life). Afterall, the first obvious antagonist to appear in the trailer, starts with a voiceover about how the world is always changing. Perhaps this theme will be repeated in allegorical debates through battle or rivalries between characters. Noctis's father and the old priest could also be "2 sides of the same coin". In mythological terms, the preservation of a world/state can be a positive protection of people's current lives, or it can be the tyrannical maintenance of stagnation. Since Noctis's family and now these priests, both seem to be protectors of the crystal, then they both serve as "preservers". Typcially, representations of 2 polar interpretations of the same idea(l) often become rivals.
One of the last visuals of the trailer is a succession of close-ups of the main characters. On either end, we have Noctis and Stella. One stripe inward, we have Noctis's father and the old man who was threatening him over the crystals, during the stand-off in the trailer. Noctis and Stella were shown in previous FFvs13 trailers to be reluctantly duelling each other. The old priest and Noctis's father drew their weapons against each other. The commonality in both of these pairs is that they ended up fighting in direct opposition of each other. Therefore, this visual could be expected to be a portrait of the archrivals within FFXV. Very appropriate, since this game was originally called "Versus XIII" and the end of the trailer says "A World of the VERSUS Epic".
...Oh, man...Now I'm the one all sleep-deprived and rambling wierd things... x_x;;;
