Picking Limes ~An Anime Blog~: Anime Expo 2009

Anime Expo 2009. This is my fourth year attending AX, which I have been anticipating for over a year now--since I wasn't able to go to last year's... However, this is by far the best one I've been to yet, in comparison to the '05 & '06 @ Anaheim and '07 @ Long Beach. And it is definitely better to attend for more than just one day!

AX '09 - Thursday, July 2: Day 1 ~ 8:20am

Day 1 AX Registration line, at a distance

I woke up early on Day 1 to catch the MTA 460 bus and volunteer for at AX. Hey, I like volunteering, and if it gets me some free day passes at AX, why wouldn't I? Day 1 volunteering became a bit crowded as it lunching rolled on in, so I was there most of the time waiting for 2-hour shifts to open. For the most part, it was easy though. I got jobs where I checked badges, help pass out bags for registrants, and helped control the crowd (stopping people from cutting in line to enter the exhibit hall). Now that I think about it, when I arrived at the LACC, there was already a good line of people waiting outside for what I think was for the exhibit hall. I had to work on Day 1 and Day 2 to get my two Friday & Saturday badges that I planned on getting.

Volunteer HQ - Room 410

Day 2--straight to the exhibit hall! The line for the exhibit hall isn't that bad compared to the first day. I usually roam the place for the most part and window shop a lot. Also, sticking around to get some free items is cool too! ^_^ Unfortunately, I didn't really get any exhibit hall pics, though if you can call 'busy trying to get free stuff' an excuse and forgive me, I'd appreciate it. xD

Kentia Hall crowd (top) & the exhibit hall entrance (bottom)

There was also a Beatmania-type of game that I saw at the exhibit hall as well as the upstairs arcade. Technika is a touch-screen music game made in Korea. I didn't really pay much attention to the game at first, but by the Day 3 I purchased their $5 platinum crew membership card and actually tried playing it. As a DDR fan, it is a bit harder than it looks!

Someone playing DJMAX Technika

A friend showing off his DJMAX Technika skills

Also on Day 2, I saw Morning Musume!!! It would have been better if I got closer seats and some glow sticks to cheer them on! But I'm not complaining--I saw Morning Musume in concert!!! WAI~! Anyway, I haven't followed on their news for a while now, but it seems there are only 9 girls in the group now. There were over 10 members the last time I checked up on them. But they were extremely cute speaking in English! >//< Happy Summer Wedding, The Peace, and Souda! We're Alive were a couple of songs that I recognized in their medley part. Most songs where new to me though. 3, 2, 1 -- BREAKIN' OUT! was sung as the official AX theme song at the beginning and refrain at the end, which I thought was pretty catchy.

On Day 3, I spent more time at the Artist Alley and looked at the artworks. I then wondered about these 'commissions' that the tables where advertising. I had an idea about what they were, but I was kind of embarrassed to ask just anyone, so I asked some of my friends to confirm my idea. I had passed by one of the exhibit hall booths, (I think she was at the 4th Dimension Entertainment booth) and saw Keiko Sakurai, aka. cika (pronounced 'shi-ka'), drawing chibi art for a child attendee, and I thought 'her art looks so cute!' I paid her $15 for her artwork, which I enjoy very much! ^_^ Her artwork is shown below, along with the other things I got from AX.

I only stayed until Day 3, because I personally don't really think that it is worth it to buy a pass for the last day, with it being a short day and having little to no interest in the events and all. But I'll try and aim for the whole 4-Day pass next year!