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closeIf there's one thing that I love, it's a good story line. Japanese animation provides infinite story arcs that have incredible climaxes. It's no wonder so many teenage geeks are into this genre.
"Isn't that generalizing?" you might ask. Sure. But you try going to an anime convention and say otherwise.
Deep down I'm a big geek. Geeks are more socially accepted than nerds, but the bigger geek you become, the thinner that line separating you from nerdiness gets.
I can't wait for Sakura-Con, mostly because Mr. Big is actually taking two days off to attend it with me. This a huge step, considering he works six days a week. We're about to geek-out for three days straight. I think that fills our yearly quota.
What I'm looking forward to most are the cosplayers. The elaborate costumes people put together are amazing to see. Hard work and dedication are needed in order to pull off a decent outfit. Most people can purchase these goods online through eBay, but a real die-hard cosplayer takes the time to sew one together.
The best costume I've seen was Robo from Chrono Trigger. The giant dude was hard to miss and didn't even say anything or pose, but people loved taking pictures with him. The most hilarious costume was Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid. He posed with a cardboard box, holding a sign that read "What's in the box?" For you MGS fans out there, you'll get the humor.
Of course there are the crossplayers - people who dress up as characters of the opposite sex. I once interviewed a guy wearing a bandeaux top and a miniskirt... that was quite frightening... but I had to give him props for not caring when people walked by grabbing his nipples.
The best and worst thing about Sakura-Con is the Exhibition Hall, where all of your favorite merchandise can be found. There are so many stuffed animals and figurines, it's pure chaos. I bought an over-priced Totoro doll there simply because the consumer energy suckered me into making an impulse buy. Ironically, if you know where most of the vendors' actual store locations are, you'll have no problem finding this stuff... but you try not getting caught up in the moment.
Last year I dressed up as Soi Fon from Bleach. She wasn't my favorite character from the anime, but my hair was about the same length and it was a pretty easy outfit. This year, I'm going as Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2, which is popular at conventions, but hopefully people will appreciate an Asian Yuna.
More than anything, I'll probably enjoy Seattle food the most. I always hit up Gossip for some bubble tea. Last time I was there they were out of tapioca balls. How the hell can you be out? Isn't that like the staple of your store?? Needless to say, I cried a bit in a nearby corner before getting my milk tea, sans tapioca.
I'm also going to snag some onion bread from Piroshky Piroshky and hopefully this time my future father-in-law won't eat it before I have the chance to even taste it. Another example of things that made me cry...
Who knows, maybe I'll finally go up inside the Space Needle. Maybe because it combines both my fear of needles and heights. I've gone up in the Stratosphere in Vegas, but the Space Needle has constantly evaded my plans.
Stay tuned on Monday for my Sakura-Con gallery where you'll get to browse all the highlights from the anime convention!
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