Category Archives: Cosplay

Anime Expo Pasadena 2023

Posted on by
2

I went to Anime Pasadena 2023 on Saturday, and It was like a dream world. You’re transported into a totally different world when you enter the convention. If you have never been to Anime Expo, you are seriously missing out on the most incredible experience ever, especially if you are into anime or anime artists looking for new ideas. This place is like a dream come true for any anime fan. Here’s a scoop on what Anime Expose is about from one teen to another.

Just imagine your dream world-

Close your eyes and imagine you’re in your favorite anime show, and you are one of the characters. Well, Anime Pasadena is like that, but in real life! You are surrounded by the best crowd, a trillion people who love Anime as much as you do. Well, except for a few parents who accompany their minors. 

Cosplay Heaven

Cosplay? What is that? Here is a short explanation for anyone who doesn’t know what this is. Cosplayers dress up as their favorite anime characters from their favorite movie or show. The costumes are mind-blowing and look like they were taken from the screen and even some incredible homemade cosplay outfits that are just out of this world. Some Cosplayers look like they just stepped out of your favorite Anime. You ask for it, you’ll see it all here. Of course, you’ll fit right in if you want to dress up as one of your favorite anime characters. This is not just about looking at things but more like enjoying the experience and having fun. We only have a few years to be teenagers. Besides the seriousness of school and part-time jobs, we need to have fun in a safe environment, and this place is it. 

Shop ‘Til You Drop

Anime Pasadena events have many sellers selling anime products, so get ready to shop for anime art you can’t find elsewhere. It’s like a shopping spree in anime heaven. There’s official merchandise, rare collectibles, manga, and almost everything and anything Anime you can imagine. This is the place for you if you want collectible figures, manga volumes, or even a unique anime T-shirt. If shopping is your game, they’ve surely got you covered!

Hang out with the Pros

Did I mention that they invited real anime pros to Anime Pasadena? Voice actors, directors, and other industry insiders come to meet fans. I was so happy to talk to my favorite voice actor from Bungou Stray Dogs. I would get an autograph from them, but the cost was more than I planned to spend. Of course, I did take pictures with them and even asked them questions. It’s like meeting your favorite characters in person. It was an experience like no other. 

Artist Alley

Artist Alley is where you’ll find many talented artists showing off their talents. The artworks, prints, and handcrafted goodies are original and were crafted by these artists. Of course, they are all anime-inspired.

It’s a goldmine for finding unique and gorgeous anything anime uniquely crafted by an artist that you won’t get anywhere else. I love Artist Alley. I got some stickers and a few other items here, and since my brother knew a few of these artists and sellers, I also got some gifts from them. They were super accommodating.

It’s All About Community

After all the shopping and admiring art from different artists, we went to a community meetup. The best part of Anime Pasadena is the community. Everyone is super friendly and welcoming. Here is a great place to make new friends, geek out together, and create memorable experiences. We went to a Bungou Stray Dogs meetup (a pretty popular anime), and it was entertaining! The host of the meetup group was very kind; she gave everyone Bungou Stray Dogs’ favorite character stickers. We took pictures together.

So, there you have it. Anime Pasadena 2023 is the ultimate experience for anime lovers. Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, meet up with your old friends, shop for unique anime collectibles or T-shirts, or just want to experience the anime world, this convention has got you covered. Check their website if you are still interested in going to a similar one. They have various locations. Don’t miss out on this fantastic experience – it’s the anime adventure of a lifetime! 🎉

Happy Anime!

Bella H.

My Visit to San Diego Comic-Con 2023

Posted on by
Reply

In July, I had the pleasure of attending Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center. For those who don’t know, the event, which is officially listed as Comic-Con International: San Diego on its website, is an annual convention that was first established in 1970 and is held for comic book fans (and really fans of anything in pop culture) to come together to share their interests.

This year, it was held July 20-23, and to get into the convention center, participants must either purchase a badge in advance through the group’s website (https://ww.comic-con.org/cci) months in advance or apply for the free badges that are set aside for professionals who work in the comic book or other related industries.

Since the badges that are available to the general public usually sell out, it can be challenging to get into Comic-Con, but if you’re lucky enough to get in, there is a lot to see and do, including hundreds of informative panel discussions, industry parties (although these are usually only available by advance reservation or special invitation), and sneak-peek showing of upcoming movies, shows, games, and toys.

One of the most popular features is the massive exhibitor area where companies like Disney, Blizzard, and Funko host booths where they showcase their latest offerings. There are also a large number of smaller companies and individuals who come to display their handmade art, fandom apparel, and other related merchandise.

Personally, I enjoyed the panels I attended. I went to one about makeup artistry, where Brenda O’Brien, a veteran makeup artist who has worked on the Lion King musical on Broadway, Saturday Night Live, and many other shows, demonstrated how she creates characters and explained how she had to adapt her skills to work in incredibly fast-paced backstage environments.

I also attended the “How to Make a Minicomic from One Sheet of Paper” with veteran comic book creator Zander Cannon, and another panel that celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Studio Ghibli movie My Neighbor Totoro, which was led by the movie’s original production coordinator, Hirokatsu Kihara, and his interpreter. He presented the original drawing Hayao Miyazaki made of the character that became Totoro, as well as many original, hand-painted animation cels used to create the iconic movie. It was amazing to learn from him that the studio considered these cels to be trash once they were used to make the film. Each one was so beautiful, it was stunning to think that anyone could have considered them rubbish.

In addition to the panels, I also got to see many cool booths, such as the Studio Ghibli booth, where my family and I took our photo in a re-created Cat Bus, which is a character from My Neighbor Totoro, the Marvel booth, where we saw costumes worn by the actors in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and an animatronics company’s booth that featured an animatronic Baby Yoda.

Another highlight on the exhibitor floor was an entire area dedicated to books. There were authors showcasing their own books, and booksellers selling all sorts of science fiction and fantasy. I even spotted a Little Golden Book biography of Taylor Swift, which I personally thought was pretty funny.

I also heard there was going to be a cosplay wrestling match, where people who dressed up as various characters from pop culture would wrestle another cosplayer in an actual ring. I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to see that because it sounded super funny.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to buy any books while I was at Comic-Con, but there were many graphic novels and such that caught my eye and I’m hoping to get some or all of them eventually.

If you can, I definitely recommend going to Comic-Con at least once if you are a fan of comics or anything nerdy. There are so many things to do, things to see, and people to meet. It was a wonderful experience, and I hope I’ll be able to go back

Ultrasabers: Prophecy v3

Posted on by
Reply

Are you a Star Wars fan? Well, if you don’t have one of these, you aren’t. Introducing Ultrasabers, the finest custom lightsaber company out there. With these sabers, you can duel to whatever intensity your heart desires. The site has everything, from double-bladed sabers, to crackling crossguards. While the price may seem a little much, you’ll be absolutely amazed by what you receive.

For my first saber, I chose the Prophecy v3, which is based on the hilt that Anakin Skywalker used in Episode II: Attack of the Clones. This saber was eventually lost during the Battle of Geonosis. I ordered it with Obsidian LITE soundboard, an Ultraedge Heavy Grade blade, and, for the color, Guardian Blue. When I first got it, some factors that surprised me were its weight, color, and volume.

Let me tell you right now, if you think holding a fishing rod one-handed is too heavy, you’ll have one heck of a struggle keeping these sabers suspended in your hand. When I first picked it up, I had to use two hands, but as I practiced with it, it got lighter and lighter. Another thing was the color. On camera, the blade appears white with a blue hue around it. The blade is actually a pure blue color. I definitely recommend the Ultraedge blade, as they allow the light to cover the whole blade, giving it a full look. Finally, the sound. Obsidian LITE is all you need, it sounds great, had motion and contact recognition, and is the best soundboard for its price. Thank you for reading, if you end up buying one, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

-Luke D.