T5W#183-Top 10 Favorite Conventions Part 2

Previously on Top 5 Wednesday

To celebrate the fact that Katsucon starts tomorrow, I decided to take a look at 10 Conventions ive been to in the last 10 years and split the usual Top 5 into a 2 part Top 10.  If you missed last weeks list, it’s right here for ya (http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/t5w182-top-10-favorite-conventions-part.html).  If youre caught up, here’s the…I guess true Top 5 of this set, the conclusion of my Top 5 Favorite Conventions.  Be sure to check back next week for my Top 5 Katsucon 2019 Moments and see if that has a chances of finding a slot alongside these legends.

#5-Otakon 2018

Talk about welcome to the new world.  I was so devastated when I didn’t get the chance to check out Otakon’s DC Debut Year in 2017.  Thanks to my friends, I was able to come to 2018 and finally put to rest whether or not the grand move was worth leaving Baltimore behind.  It was.  The Walter E Washington Convention Center is amazing and I cant wait to see how Otakon grows within it.  For my first weekend there, I was able to reunite with most of my Otaku family (even a couple I never expected to see) and run into some familiar faces from Katsucon.  The photoshoots were fantastic.  The new Dealers Room and Artist Alley were two underground lost kingdoms of riches.  The Dansu to Pantsu Dance Gathering somehow managed to top the united dance group one I went to at Katsu 2017, complete with probably my favorite encounter with Dejavudea to date (though or random first encounter at Katsu 2015 was still a lot of fun).  Otakon has a second lease on life now and ill be damned if im gonna miss another going forward.

#4-Katsucon 2015

Ever since I started going to Otakon, Id been hearing whispers about its not so far away cousin, Katsucon.  Some claimed it was bigger, some claimed it was better.  When I entered the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center on that cold night in February 2015, for a moment, both claims were correct.   The new setting of the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center was incredible, especially at nighttime.  The Dealers Room might not have been as big but still had just as much to offer as any Otakon Dealers Room.  Plus, Katsucon lived up to its reputation as one of the big cosplay hotspots on the East coast, seeing legends like Fawnina and Dejavudea in attendance amongst many others.  One look no further than the still yet to be topped Sailor Moon photoshoot from that weekend.  It was the beginning of a new yearly chapter for me as a convention goer and Katsucon started it off with the best first impression.

#3-Otakon 2013

Four years in, and coming off of a kind of dismal Otakon 2012, my expectations were dialed back a little bit for Otakon 2013.  Perhaps because of that, it ended up being a huge success for a number of reasons.  You had the guest list including Crispin Freeman; the special screenings including Rurouni Kenshin and Evangelion 3.33; new dance offs, hilarious fan parodies.  But the biggest takeaway for me?  Meeting a group of Otaku who I have kept in touch with ever since and have come to call family.  Some even started attending Katsu as well in the last few years.  This year I learned better than ever: going to cons is fun, going with friends…that’s magic.

#2-Otakon 2011

Otakon 2011 is the Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, Toy Story 2 of the Otakon saga, aka its one of the greatest sequels in history.  It surpassed Otakon 2010 in nearly every way imaginable from guests (Johnny Yong Bosch and Eyeshine), to events (the cast of KON performing the KON soundtrack live), to cosplays, to sweet Dealers Room deals to general atmosphere.  I also got to experience this year with a friend from work and he still looks back fondly on that weekend too, finding his own fun adventures in addition to the ones we shared.  This weekend also had one of my rare “perfect moments” where everything seemed so right I couldn’t help but cry a little bit.  All this and Fanboy Soze too.  Other Otakons would come and be good (as seen above and back in Part 1), but none have yet to fully eclipse the brilliance of Otakon 2011’s pure magic.

#1-Katsucon 2018

I didn’t think it was possible.  Many had tried for years to do this but it never happened.  But the more I thought about it recently, the more I thought…yep it’s time.  Otakon 2011 has finally been dethroned from the King of the Convention mountain top.  To be fair, it’s only edged out a little bit but WOW I did not expect Katsu 2018 to go as well as it did.  More Otakon friends around me, meeting cosplayers I never thought id get to meet (and becoming friends with some of them down the line), martial arts demonstrations, epic photoshoots,  hilarious panels and wanderings with random strangers.  Then there was that Sunday, where every farewell felt like the most caring, loving moment in existence…followed by the last half of Your Name just to make you cry some more.  This was a convention done to near perfection, one of the best times of my life…the best Anime Convention I have ever been to ever…right now of all time.

 

Slayers Next Part 6 Episodes 23-26

The Slayers have suffered their worst defeat.  Though Demon Dragon Lord Gaav is dead, the Hellmaster Phibrizzo has captured Gourry, Lina’s bodyguard and closest friend.  The truth of Xellos’ mission to guide The Slayers is revealed and Lina discovers her magic might hold the key to Phibrizzo’s greatest aspirations: the end of the world.  Unfortunately for Phibrizzo, he just pissed off the wrong Sorceress.  Lina, Zel, Amelia and Martina join forces with some old friends for the most important battle to date.  But The Slayers could barely survive Gaav, what chance do they have against the Demon Lord of the Underworld himself?  What role will the wild card Xellos play in this fight?  And just how far will Lina go to save the person she holds in her heart most dear?  The Slayers have their game faces on for this one, it’s time to save the world…again.

This is the kind of finale where, after the final seconds have passed, you need to sit down and let it all sink in, wash over and pass through like a nice gentle breeze.  It wasn’t perfect and it definitely felt like I was watching a totally different show for a little bit, but damn if Slayers Next didn’t deliver one helluva photo finish as only Lina Inverse could.

My concerns about Phibrizzo held up for the most part.  Though I don’t know if him being a kid either amplified his despicable acts or not.  Either way, resurrecting an entire city to be his soulless soldiers and actually killing each of The Slayers was as low as you could possibly go for a villain (don’t worry, everyone was revived and ok).  So I guess when you hit said lows, the comeuppance youre going to get is going to be…well biblical.  And biblical it was…but I think im jumping ahead a bit.  I guess to finish my thoughts on Phibrizzo…he, like many other foes in Slayers Next, never measured up to the bar set by Rezo 2.0 in Season One, which is definitely going to knock off a point or two in my final grading.

But let’s backtrack and try and break down all the epic and dramatic (shocking) twists of the Slayers Next finale.  Im glad that though Lina tried to fake happy her way past Gourry’s abduction, the others didn’t let her forget it and all helped her get her mind set for the final battle.  These last four episodes were certainly a test of Lina and Gourry’s deep bond over the last two seasons and how far either would go for one another.  Lina ended up almost destroying the world and Gourry leapt into the hole of oblivion to bring Lina back as a result.  Which gave us a much deserved and awesome kiss…which was promptly forgotten by both and suddenly things got back to normal. 

What’s more, Lina and company weren’t alone in their final battle with Phibrizzo.  Zangulus made an overdue but welcome return to square off against a possessed Gourry and continue his underrated streak of being awesome.  It’s a shame he only showed up now and subsequently became Martina’s final main squeeze…cause I could actually do with a whole subplot of Martina and Zangulus or a side series cause they made a great pair, even if they only met in the last couple of episodes and got married…happy endings all around I guess.  Sylphiel also returned…and she was not missed at all.  Not only did she really not serve much purpose in the last act (then again neither did Zangulus but I will always welcome his appearances) but they still didn’t change her voice actress in the English dub.  Sylphiel admittedly does get some big dramatic moments in the finale (gotta talk about drama in a bit too) but the effect feels lost because her voice is one note, one tone, all boring, all the time.  I was really hoping that if she did come back they would amend this cause the rest of the voice acting this season has been stellar.  This goes double for Lisa Ortiz as Lina, who did an amazing job giving Lina some dramatic depth as the sorceress was pushed to the breaking point but never truly broken.  Her voice work is one of the main reasons I love Lina Inverse as a whole.

Let’s talk about the tone of these last 8 episodes.  Balancing the trademark humor of the series and the new, darker storytelling approach was a tough battle for Slayers Next to figure out.  Several early episodes attempted to be more serious with sprinkles of humor but, in my opinion, some of the seasons best episodes were in the middle when it was back to the feel good journeys we found in Season One.  That said, Phibrizzo’s level of ruthlessness left little room for humor.  As I said above, we had to watch each of The Slayers die by his hand before Lina was pushed to unleashing the Giga Slave.  It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Slayers Next but it also ran the risk of totally evaporating the feel good vibes that made the show so special.  Thankfully, the drama did come with great payoff.  Martina especially gets MVP of this set, even the season as a whole.  She finally put aside her petty rivalry and gave Lina the courage to act and save Gourry even if it meant the end of the world.  And when Lina finally unleashed the Giga Slave and became the Lord of Nightmares…WOW.  Not only did Lina look like a legit Super Saiyan but she gave Phibrizzo exactly what was coming to him…his own death but the rest of the world wasn’t coming with him.  The payoff was great even if the villain was uneven.  And in the end, a win is a win.  Everything that makes the Slayers great came through in the end, that being the unbreakable bond between Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis and Amelia.  No matter how dark this show wants to try and go, that will always be the shining star of this franchise.

Guess it’s time for final thoughts.  Slayers Next tried some different approaches from its rough draft first season.  The animation got a major upgrade.  The Villains might not have had a lot of depth but they brought the menace in spades.  The stand alone adventures were more hilarious than anything in Slayers so far and The Slayers themselves brought all of the comedic gold.  Whether its fighting over food or working as a well oiled machine against monsters, the core quartet of heroes endured it all and grew in their friendships (though I doubt they’ll do more with the Lina/Gourry romantic angle anymore, at least for now).  Slayers Next also gets bonus points for fun new cast additions.  Martina and Xellos were incredibly likeable and brought their own crazy and mystery that helped them fit right in with the core team.  I have a feeling we’ll see Xellos again down the line but I also hope Martina returns as her rivalry with Lina was a big highlight of the season.  While not every episode was a total win, I can tell you there was at least one thing to like about every story.  And if you can stand some of the darker moments that both equally shocked and worked, you’ll find yourself enjoying a sequel that definitely surpasses its predecessor.  I knew the best was yet to come…and maybe it still is with Season 3.

9/10

And with that, I’m Katsucon bound.  I’ll be back in two weeks for a new series before we head into the Anime Corner’s 5^th Anniversary.  Don’t think we’re done with Lina Inverse yet either.  I’ll just announce it here that my big Anniversary review for Year 5 is going to be Slayers: The Motion Picture.  After that you can expect the return of The Slayers in May when I review the third season of this epic fantasy comedy, Slayers Try.  I told ya 2019 was going to be the Year of The Slayers.  See ya in a couple of weeks everyone.

FIF#78-Fushigi Yugi

While visiting the library one day, childhood friends Maika Yuki and Yui Hongo discover a strange book called “The Universe of the Four Gods”.  Upon reading the books first lines, Maika and Yui are transported into the story itself, set in Ancient China.  However, Yui is sent back to the real world right away, leaving Maika behind.  Left behind, Maika finds herself filling the role of the chosen Priestess of Suzaku.  Seems it is her destiny to unite a band of legendary warriors, the Suzaku Seven, in order to summon the God Suzaku himself and gain three wishes.  It’s the beginning of a grand adventure filled with action, romance, a little comedy and life changing trials for Maika. 

 

From the golden age of 90s Anime comes a classic that I feel many might consider the precursor to high fantasy Anime, especially Issekai, like Inuyasha and Escaflowne (funny since that came out a year later and animation wise looks leaps above this show).  Fushigi Yugi is a show with a lot of yesteryear hype surrounding it.  Many would call this one of the big gateway titles of the 90s, alongside other legends like Dragon Ball Z, Tenchi Muyo or Trigun.  So it’s kind of surprising that the first episode alone manages to substantiate much of this hype train.  Heck I might even go so far as to add it to my list of “Best First Episodes in Anime.”

 

I really like the setup of Fushigi Yugi: a girl transported to ancient China inside a book and getting into adventures, which her best friend is reading about while trying to find a way to rescue her.  In a way, this is very reminiscent of the classic 80’s fantasy film, The NeverEnding Story (actually more so the second one but the first one is much, much better so ill stick with that comparison).  I wasn’t sure how things would progress when Maika and Yui were both transported inside.  But keeping Yui on the outside seemed like a smart move and a way to open up more storytelling possibilities, though im sure Yui will find a way back into the book eventually.  Maika, on her own, is one of the most fun Anime heroines ive ever seen.  She’s less focused on studies and school and more obsessed with downing as much tasty food as she can.  She can also hold her own against street thugs using wrestling moves she saw on TV, hmmm Maika and Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic could be long lost sisters.  I know Maika is destined to travel this tale with a group of resident Chinese warrior bad asses, including the guy with the Ogre tattoo who I can probably assume is the Inuyasha to Maika’s Kagome, but I feel like Maika is going to, almost rightfully, steal the spotlight from all of them as the show goes on. 

 

Presentation wise, this is vintage 90’s Anime at its best.  Only a couple of years before the glossiness of Escaflowne and Outlaw Star, Fushigi Yugi’s artstyle still feels larger than life and China, as a result, looks really cool.  Maika’s eccentricites are displayed with so much energy you could tell the animators were having a blast animating her freakouts or inner turmoils in her search for food.  The music is also very enchanting, fitting of a fantasy Anime, and the theme music is super catchy.  We might have another case of, the openings and endings are worth getting through an episode.  Only in this case, the episode itself wont be the subject of many complaints. 

 

This is kind of tough.  Fushigi Yugi got off to a very strong start with a neat premise, a fiery lead heroine and a great 90s vibe.  At 52 episodes I wonder if I could find time to commit to it all.  And yet I say that knowing ive blown through 3 seasons of Haikyu, about 60+ episodes in a week and a half.  Fushigi Yugi might be worth a watch…no it is worth a watch and I think im going to dedicate a chunk of 2019 to getting through as much of it as I can.  Could this be worth a review down the line?  Stay tuned to find out.

 

Oh and a quick heads up.  Since im headed to Katsucon next week, there will not be a new First Impression Friday next Friday (just as the Monday after the con there wont be a new review either).  But FIF will return in two weeks and will be running til the 6^th Anniversary of the Gundam Anime Corner (March 31) before taking a bit of a break and returning probably in late summer after Otakon.  Ive got alooooot of reviews coming up and will need all the time I can get.  Still, FIF isn’t going anywhere just yet.  I’ll see ya back here in two weeks for another first episode or two of a random Anime title.

T5W#182-Top 10 Favorite Conventions Part 1

Well we’re in countdown mode.  Katsucon 2019 is in two weeks and I feel like its been a bit since ive done a Convention themed Top 5.  Looking back over almost ten years, ive been to so many, five in 2018 alone (Animore, Katsucon, Otakon, Baltimore Comic Con and Four State Comic Con).  Each one is different, even if the name is the same.  And some have left more of an impact than others.  But, while I could narrow it down to 5 cons easily, I wanted to give shoutouts to others as well.  So this Top 5 is a Top 10 and a 2 part one at that.  These are my Top 10 Favorite Conventions (notice “Anime” is left out of the title cause there will be some non Anime centric cons in this list too, not many but theyre there.)  Today you get choices 10-6 and check back next week for choices 5-1. 

 

#10-Animore 2018

I went to five comic book conventions in 2018, four of which are on this two part list.  Animore is still a relatively new Anime convention, coming onto the scene in 2016 to begin filling the void Otakon was about to leave behind in Baltimore.  It’s not a big convention, not even close.  While I hope it grows by a lot, the smaller, more intimate feel of cons like this one cant be ignored.  2018, the first one I went to for just one day, had the feel of an Otakon or a Katsucon, just smaller.  The Dealers Room wasn’t bad, the couple of screenings I attended were fun.  I even got to go to a panel hosted by some friends of mine.  Animore is the kind of low key convention that defnitley helps tide over those lull times in between Katsucon and/or Otakon.  And who knows, maybe down the line it’ll even grow to their level too, God knows Baltimore needs another Anime convention champion.

 

#9-Otakon 2010

“The beginning is a very delicate time,” Princess Irulan said in David Lynch’s Dune (yes I love that movie and love the book, its ok to like both).  Otakon 2010 was the opposite of delicate.  It was like being yanked right through the looking glass and into a world I only dreamed of.  Thousands of Otaku all sharing the same space, a room full of Anime merch that was basically the Anime Mall of America to me, screenings of all of my favorite shows and the premieres of new ones?  I had found my heaven and it nearly overwhelmed me every single day I was there.  This set the stage for every convention to come.  This was Otakon and it was awesome, a great beginning.

 

#8-Baltimore Comic Con 2018

Though it’s held in the same building as Otakon once was, Baltimore Comic Con is still a smaller convention compared to the two.  Sure it opens both show rooms usually separated for Dealers Room and Artist Alley and merges them, but that’s kind of it, along with a couple of rooms for panels.  Still, even though it isn’t purely Anime focused, it is 100% nerd focused and a good excuse to spend a day of your weekend attending.  For me, that was Sunday and it was better than I could have hoped.  I got to join up with a crew of new friends, all great people and up and coming cosplayers.  I got to meet a cosplayer from the West Coast I have always liked and learned she’s just as cool in person as she is in her photos (shoutout to Riannsynth).  Best of all, I got to enjoy a relatively quiet section of the convention center and reflect on the many con adventures ive had there…and the many more im sure ill have so long as theres a convention there, anime or otherwise.

 

#7-Otakon 2016

We all knew this one was coming, we’d known for years.  But 2016 came and with it the confirmation that this would be Otakon’s last year in Baltimore.  It was a sad thought.  So many memories, so many friendships, so many summers spent here.  But the end times was the last thing on our minds.  Otakon 2016 felt like a regular Otakon from beginning to the end, right down the hellish temperatures of August.  You had hilarious and informative panels, the last hurrah of the Late Night Fan Parodies, many very old friends, the endless wanderings through the Baltimore Convention Center.  Really, there wasn’t anything huge about Otakons last year in Baltimore but that was ok.  I had my family again, that was more than enough for me.

 

#6-Otakon 2015

2015 was a turbulent year for me for a number of reasons (feel like it kicked off multiple turbulent years but im not going into that).  Between family passings, losing a long time job and the aftermath of the Freddie Gray trial that set downtown on fire for a night, myself and many others were questioning if there was even going to be an Otakon in 2015.  Well, there was and it ended up being a much needed hug from a very dear friend.  The Thursday Pre Reg day was win enough as I got to see all of my friends and fill them in on the tough times that id endured, some just right before the con itself.  The rest of the weekend still had some great moments too, including getting a photo with the awesome married Voice Acting couple of Laura Bailey and Travis Willinghem (Lust and Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist).  But this was the year that reminded me, when you’re having a really bad time in life and you get to go to Otakon…a hug is always waiting, along with the reassurance that everything is going to be ok.

 

See ya next week as finish this two parter off just in time to head out for Katsucon 2019.

Slayers Next Part 5 Episodes 19-22

The time for fun and games is over.  Demon Dragon Lord Gaav has appeared and his power is worse than anything Lina and The Slayers have ever fought before.  In the face of overwhelming odds, Lina and her allies must track down the true Claire Bible while battling Gaav and the last of his forces.  The revelations Lina finds will change her view of her magic forever.  But will they also be enough to bring down a man who can take anything The Slayers can throw at him?  And when the dust settles, is the battle really over, or is something worse about to tear Lina’s world apart?

 

The jokes were in short supply this week and with good reason.  While Gaav may never have reached the heights of Rezo 2.0, he did do a serious number on Lina and company.  When anyone can make your beloved main characters bleed for real, its time to get serious.  What went down this week was an epic battle that pitted monsters against dragons against sorcerers against swordsmen.  Basically it was an all out brawl and we haven’t even gotten to the season finale yet…in which case this was definitely a good primer.

 

The big reveal of Xellos being one of the most powerful monsters in existence shouldn’t come as a shock as there were plenty of obvious hints and clues.  Still, no longer needing to “hide” his identity allowed the smiling priest to cut loose a bit more.  Though, for a guy who could mow down an army of Dragons all on his own, having trouble against Gaavs subordinate seemed iffy to me and detracted from the hype of Xellos’ true power.  Thankfully, Gaav destructive power didn’t disappoint.  Cutting off Xellos’ arm and nearly killing Amelia were shocking moments that put everyone on notice.  This is the kind of bad news that makes you think everyones card might be up.  Factor in Lina’s epic use of the Ragna Blade and the fact that Gaav survived it after everyone thought the battle was over for good (very Dragon Ball Z Frieza Saga), and you had to wonder if things could possibly get any worse.

 

Well…they did. 

 

But before we get to yet another superb cliffhanger, let’s talk about the reveals around the battle.  After a season of searching (and failing), Lina finally got to speak with the Claire Bible and find out just what kind of power she’s been using to her own ends.  Finding out that the Giga Slave and Ragna Blade both draw power from the ultimate evil, The Lord of Nightmares, is a big shocker.  It makes me wonder how Lina learned the Giga Slave in the first place without knowing this (the Ragna Blade less so cause she read it in a Claire Bible manuscript…which surprisingly also left out the detail).  Still, this truth, coupled with her scary vision of death from last week, is going to seriously hamper what Lina can do and might even have her questioning her own powers themselves. 

 

Though that kind of questioning couldntve come at a worse time.  Turns out the little boy that helped the Slayers get to the Claire Bible was also the new/true big bad of the season: Hellmaster Phibrizzo.  Im of two minds on this.  For one, the guys power speaks for itself as he blew away Gaav with no problem…but he’s still in the form of a little kid and that could make him more annoying than threatening, no matter how powerful he is.  Idk, having little kids be the bad guy in an Anime usually never works because they end up being more irritating than menacing. 

 

However, Phibrizzo did manage to deal the ultimate blow to Lina and give us the biggest cliffhanger yet: he kidnapped Gourry while a weakened Lina was unable to save him.  This is gonna bring a lot of things to a head: the question of how dangerous Lina’s ultimate attacks are and how far Lina is willing to go to save her best friend and someone she might like more than she’ll admit.  This feels like such a far cry from where we were at this point in Season One.  Even a joke about justice and fake Gods from Amelia and Martina couldn’t offset just how bad things had gotten for The Slayers.  I doubt Lina will take this lying down.  But as we get ready for the season finale, I have to ask: How the Hell are they gonna win this one?  We’ll find out next week as we reach the conclusion of Slayers Next.