[[HJU Anime Central 2007 Photo Album]]

The best part about the Anime Central gathering is that for at least one weekend you are reminded in a celebration of lights, laughter, costumes and crazies that… you are not alone.

If you’re reading this, you know what I’m talking about. Back on Earth we have a couple close friends that “get it.” We all have our message boards and livejournals that we rock. But when you start talking in real life about how there is none higher than Tendou Souji, how you haven’t quite finished your Fate/Stay Night costume, or pontificate on the latest works of Nightow-sensei; most folk we know will either start to zone out, look at us like we’re speaking some strange alien language or just straight up point and laugh.

When you first walk through the doors of Anime Central and into the costume filled lobby you feel like an estranged elf who after a year long quest finally finds Rivendell for the first time. Like you just arrived at Hogwartz after living with muggles who would know a Hinky Punk from a Bowtruckle. It’s like being called to the Power Chamber by, the now late, Zordon Himself after knowing your entire life you were meant to wear a morpher.

At Anime Central it is not unheard of to hear a newly made friend say, “Brb” as they excuse themselves from the room. If you bust into a Power Ranger pose, there’s a damn good chance someone close buy will respond in kind with one of their own. Got yourself a costume that you spent all year designing and then putting together… join the club and get ready for your close up, cuz for an entire weekend, plus one Thursday, you are a goddamend star!

I can’t say enough good about it and every year I look forward to going back.

I’ve read a few reviews on the cybernet talking about how ACen ’07 was handled quite poorly on a logistic level and that press panels were hard to figure out what was handled when…. the latter of which was true, but I say shit happens and fuck all that.

Sure sometimes you had to be fwickin’ Phoenix Wright to figure out when a press panel was, and as a result of not solving the case of the “Turnabout, Missing Kari Wahlgren” I didn’t get a proper chance to interview her.

I did get in on the Nightow press conference, tho. Wielding questions like some Level 18 Assassin I launched my dagger at the right moment to score a critical hit, causing Nightow to drop the possiblity of Trigun Season 2! The story goes something like this, several people in the room were trying to see what his next project would be and he wouldn’t crack, so I asked the innocent enough question of, “Can you tell us what genre you next project will be in?” I mean… western, gangster, space opera, underwater basket weaving…. Nightow-sensei instead answered with how he was working on a Trigun animated project! With a grin I couldn’t hold back and excitement lighting up in the eyes of everyone in the room I asked, “Did you just say you’re working on a new Trigun series?” Nightow’s eyes went a bit wide, the translator got flustered and we were all rushed on to ask other questions. Now, nothing’s confirmed and it just might have been the Trigun Movie that has already been announced. But if it was that… then why the rush to get us to change the subject? < > Like how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop… the world may never know…. until it is or isn’t announced at least. What IS confirmed is that he’s quite the big God of War fan and is anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Let’s see, I got to sit down and pow-wow with THE Apple Geeks, who are like the Penny Arcade of all Macintosh Fans and good friend with our very own homie, Jamie the Angry Zen Master. Mike was there with me to get some podcast material, but the Apple Geeks are silent geeks and we weren’t able to pick up any audio. I still got a few tricks up my sleave in the form of business cards from people who video taped the panel. We’ll see what we can make happen.

Other than that I hit up Anime Hell this year, missed the Masquerade & Skits, hit up a little King of Fighters panel action, missed the Hentai pane, aaaaand oh! Our very own MegaRanger knocked the Tokusatsu Panel out of the park as well as his always rightfully popular and excellent Gundam Panel. Some other Friends of Justice held a pretty kickass Super Robot vs. Mecha Panel in which we were given the history behind the respective genres and how they’re doing today. Thanks to it, I’ve picked up the latest kickass joint from the crackheads over at Gainax, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann. Infact I’m watching it right now on the screen to my right. You should check it out too. Here’s to hoping for some hot Yoko cosplaying next year. ^__-

And all that I said up there comprises maaaybe 10% of the time I was at Anime Central. The rest was jam packed with walking around, meeting people, playing video games, watching some GaoGaiGar, trading Pokemon, taking upwards of 500+ pictures, chatting up my con buddies and drinking the day and knight away with HJU folk. Every so often… I’d sleep.

Anime Central….. FUCKING SCIENCE, and that’s all that need be said. Save your pennies, sell some toys on eBay…. do whatever you can. Hit up Anime Central next year and party with us. Together… we just might manage to break the heart of God, in a good way.

That’s it for me, I hope you guys enjoyed the videos as much as I did and until next year, so long and thanks for all the fish, ACen!