Summer is usually a pretty busy time for me as I have several conventions to attended; as well as all my traveling endeavors. FanimeCon 2009 and Anime Expo 2009 are the two anime conventions that I make a strong effort to go to each year.
Being the only two anime conventions worth mentioning in California, naturally the ‘Guest of Honor’ list for each convention is usually pretty good. Sorry, all you PMX or AnimeLA lovers, the Guest of Honor list at those conventions usually are comprised mostly of American guests and hardly have any noteworthy international guests.
Usually pretty good…this year was NOT usual, and the Guests of Honor list was less than admirable.
Getting into detail we had guests that would have been awesome, if they had come 5-6 years ago.
So who came this year? I’ll divide it up by convention and I will only list those worth listing. Meaning Japanese guests only…
FanimeCon 2009 Guest of Honor list:
- 桃井はるこ (Halko Momoi) : Known as a the “Queen of Akihabara”, Momoi Halko is a multi-talented performer and creator with experience in music, voice acting, and column writing. Not only does she sing but Momoi-san writes for herself as well as other artists, along with performing her own music.
Well now, this was quite a surprise. Haruko Momoi actually returning to America, after the insane screw up at Anime Expo 2007. I have to give props to FanimeCon staff for getting and convincing her back to even return to the United States. This was one guest that I wish I could have enjoyed more in 2007. Not only was Momoi loved at FanimeCon this year, but her concert was ‘ass-kicking’. The show was smooth and the overall feel with Momoi at FanimeCon was just awesome. I could not be happier with her at FanimeCon.
- Hiroyuki Yamaga : Hiroyuki Yamaga is currently the Executive Director of GAINAX, Inc. Together with fellow Osaka Geijutsu University students Takami Akai and Hideaki Anno, Yamaga-san created the opening animation for the 20th Japan SF Exposition held in 1981. He was the director. Soon after, at the request of Studio Nue, Yamaga-san “went professional,” joining the production staff for Super Dimensional Fortress Macross in 1982.
I wasn’t too thrilled for Yamaga, as the entire GAINAX team was at FanimeCon last year. Not sure why, they keep re-invinting GAINAX people back. I know those people love being in California, but come on. :\ Anymore than 2 times is really pushing it. So much other talent in Japan, why continually focus on a single production studio. I think I’ve heard enough of the new Evangelion movies and Gurren Lagann.
Anime Expo 2009 Guest of Honor list:
- 今石 洋之 (Hiroyuki Imaishi) : Recipient of the 12th Animation Kobe Director’s Award. Mr. Imaishi has worked on Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and many more!
Meh…more GAINAX people. While ‘cool’, but not something new, especially since the GAINAX team was at FanimeCon 2008. Anime Expo, you are WAY behind and trendy in getting guests. If an anime project is popular ‘THIS’ year, get the people who are involved with the project, ‘THIS’ year as well; don’t wait a damn year.
- 石渡 太輔 (Daisuke Ishiwatari) : Video game developer best known for creating the fighting game Guilty Gear. He also provides the in-game voice for the characters Sol Badguy and Order-Sol.
This was a nice guest. I know a lot of Guilty Gear fans, so this was awesome for them. I personally like BlazBlue as well (not a hardcore fan, just “like”), so getting the autograph from Ishiwatari was a pleasant plus.
- 高河 ゆん (Yun Kouga) : Revered manga artist who has garnered praise and acclaim for her current series Loveless. Ms. Kouga is also the character designer for the anime MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00.
Ok, yes Yun Kouga is a nice guest, but she is not the new hit on the block. She is well known for Loveless and etc. If she had come years ago, it would have been better. Since every other fangirl was acting as if they would whore themselves out for her autograph and a yoai sketch, I got her autograph for myself.
- 黒田 洋介 (Yosuke Kuroda) : Mr. Kuroda has been involved in numerous projects including Excel Saga, Gungrave, Hayate the Combat Butler!, Hellsing OVA, Love Hina, etc.
This was a random guest in my honest opinion. He came paired with Seiji Mizushima. Pretty much jack-of-all-trades guest. He’s worked on a lot of titles, a lot of good ones, but he’s never done a crazy important role in any one particular project (eg. Director). While it was nice to have him here, it is hard to relate to his work, since he has done so little of so much. His work on Hayate no Gotoku did interest me however, he was a storyboard writer for a couple episodes. That was enough for me to get his autograph.
- 水島 精二 (Seiji Mizushima) : Famed director of the upcoming theatrical version of MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00. Mr. Mizushima also worked on Fullmetal Alchemist, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and many more!
Again, this guy would have been cool if he were around when the Fullmetal Alchemist movie came out. I was not even thrilled that he came. I still got his autograph for the hell of it.
- Moi dix Mois : Sound project headed by Mana, the consummate guitarist and leader of Malice Mizer.
I don’t care how cool this person might have been or what involvement he had with famous bands/singers; Moi dix Mois creeps me out, and the music only appeals to the wrist slashing wanna-be asian emo kids with flammable eye liner. I didn’t even bother getting an autograph from them.
- Toshimichi Mori : Mr. Mori is currently working on the Aksys Games title BLAZBLUE as its director, lead artist and designer.
What can be said for Mori is the same as Ishiwatari. Awesome these Aksys guys came, and I am happy to get my autograph. I got my autograph on Rachel, the only psuedo-loli in the game.
- Toshiyuki Morikawa : Legendary voice actor who has in many popular anime roles, such as Bleach, Gundam X, Full Metal Panic, Initial D, Inuyasha, and many others.
The voice of Sephiroth, Japanese voice, not shitty American dubbed crap. I DO regret not getting his autograph. Since I was in the overflow line for autographs for this guy, some douche fag weeaboo in the Anime Expo Guest Relations department, would not let me exit the line and pee without losing my spot in the line. I did it the first time and decided “It’s cool, I’ll lose my spot and go to the back, only 15-20 people anyways.” So I did that and returned in line. Then 30 min later, I got a call from my staffer saying he needed me to come down to the Exhibit Hall and pick up a CD for upload onto the AXBackstage server later. So I did that…10 minutes later I come back to the line, low and behold, this faggot-ass japanophile who thinks I am some attendee who stole a Manager badge kicks me out of the line entirely. Being respectful, even though I am higher up on the fucking chain of command from him, I decide to leave thinking I could get his autograph tomorrow. It turns out Morikawa left early and cancelled his last autograph session due to urgent business in Japan or something, so I never got his autograph.
- Morning Musume : Famous not just for being the Japan’s top female group, but also for its unique approach with the shuffling of band members.
Heard them before, liked them when I was younger, but all the original members are gone, so I didn’t care at all for these girls. Did not bother with an autograph. I don’t think Morning Musume has even done any anime OPs. Why the hell did Anime Expo invite them? Freaking, KOTOKO would have been more relevant. Isn’t this an ‘anime’ convention? Not Japanese pop-culture convention? Last I recall, it is call SPJA: Society for the PROMOTION OF JAPANESE ANIMATION, NOT, Society for the promotion of Japanese pop-culture.
- 内藤 泰弘 (Yasuhiro Nightow) : Creator of the highly popular TRIGUN manga that inspired the television anime series of the same title.
Well, I know TRIGUN is getting a remake, but come on now. This shit is OLD now, and even the remake won’t be as popular as the original. This guy would have been awesome in 2003-2004. Why the hell are we inviting him when he is doing a movie remake? Invite people when they are at their peak, not their decline. I still got his autograph nonetheless, surprisingly, Nightow’s english is better than average. If given the chance, I am pretty sure he can communicate fully in English.
- 錦織 敦史 (Atsushi Nishigori) : Recipient of the 7th Annual Tokyo International Anime Awards. Mr. Nishigori has worked many titles and now serves as the character animation director for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann franchise.
Another GAINAX persion, I am not even going to waste any more strength to write about GAINAX. Still got his autograph for “shits and giggles”.
- 西村 聡 (Satoshi Nishimura) : The director of the highly anticipated 2009 TRIGUN movie. Mr. Nishimura has also worked on many huge and popular titles, including Black Lagoon, Rurouni Kenshin, and Street Fighter Alpha.
Ditto, for what I said about Yasuhiro Nightow. “Would have been cool if this guy was invited when Rurouni Kenshin or TRIGUN was popular”. Still got his autograph though.
- Takashi Okazaki : The creator of the popular Afro Samurai manga. Mr. Okazaki has also done illustration works for Spider-Man 2 DVD & Blade III Sound Track CD.
I almost didn’t list this guy. If he wasn’t Japanese, I’d say he was an American guest based on his work history. I did not even bother with an autograph from this guy.
All guest synopsis were taken from Anime Expo Website and FanimeCon Website.
Aside from the poor turn out, I still took advantage of obtaining all the autographs I could.
The exhibit hall had some interesting guests.
- Yuka Kayura : Character designer for Otome in Da Capo II.
- 原田たけひと (Takehito Harada) : Character designer for Disgaea.
- Shinji Katakura (I think) : Character designer for キラ☆キラ visual novel.
I did not get Takehito Harada’s autograph. I was working most of the time and I didn’t have time to run to find him and get his autograph, but hopefully he will return in 2010. I think he has been coming to AX for 2 years in a row now, as with Yuka Kayura.
 桃井はるこ (Haruko Momoi) autograph on cropped Nurse Witch Komugi-chan DVD Cover. |
 内藤 泰弘 & 西村 聡 (Yasuhiro Nightow & Satoshi Nishimura) autograph; creator of TRIGUN and the director for the new remake. |
 今石 洋之 and 錦織 敦史 (Hiroyuki Imaishi and Atsushi Nishigori) autograph; Gurren Lagann directors. They had a 3rd pesron with them, it was some guy from the HR department. Not insanely important, but I still got his autograph! |
 黒田 洋介 (Yosuke Kuroda) autograph; series composition and minor script writer for Hayate no Gotoku. |
 石渡 太輔 (Daisuke Ishiwatari) and Toshimichi Mori autograph; Designers and Composers for BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. Guilty Gear as well. |
 高河 ゆん (Yun Kouga) autograph; Manga artist and character designer for anime MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00. |
 Yuka Kayura autograph & sketch; Character designer for Otome in Da Capo II. |
 Shinji Katakura (I think) autograph & sketch; Character designer for キラ☆キラ visual novel. |
 Oh god, I completely forgot who these girls were. Singing Trio at the Manga Gamer booth @ Anime Expo 2009. *I'll need to change this later. |
 水島 精二 and 黒田 洋介 (Seiji Mizushima and Yosuke Kuroda) autograph; 水島 精二 is the director for Full Metal Alchemist and more. |
Well, if you do not care for Trigun at all, then I would be more than happy to accept/take that Yasuhiro autograph from ya.. As a gift of course..
n_n