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Review of Ani-Magic
Friday 10-5-01
We (Me, my husband, and our friends John and Craig) arrived at the Antelope Valley Best Western Inn around 10am. We stood in the really short registration line for about 10 mins before we got our passes. We checked into our room and left to go get some food. We returned just about noon right in time for the dealers room to open. We bought a cel of Sakura (From Street Fighter Alpha) for $10.00. Then we walked around there for about 2 hours before we headed back towards our room.
On the way to the room, the weather was so nice that my friend Craig and I pulled up lawn chairs and laid out since nothing was happening until 5:30. That was actually a concert and after that was opening ceremonies which were both done poolside anyway so I was fine where I was seated. Anyway... Scott McNeil (VA of the original Piccolo and Duo Maxwell from Gundam Wing) was sunning himself about 8ft from where we were sitting which was cool because he looked so laid back and comfortable. We just chilled and waited for the excitement to start. Lots of VAs and other guests came out to poolside to talk to Scott so we were like 2 ft from everyone. Jonathan Osborn (another VA) was wearing an awesome Rally Vincent shirt from Gunsmith Cats so I spoke to him about his shirt for a few mins and now I lovingly call him "Rally Shirt Guy." After a while, all the cosplayers came out so the VAs took off and Scott put on this really cool robe and a cowboy hat so he looked amazingly like Hawkeye Pierce from the TV show "Mash." (We called him Hawkeye the rest of the weekend)
We saw Kenichi Koshino perform and then opening ceremonies started and they introduced all of the guests. We were sitting way in the back heckling with Scott. After that we saw Koshin Taiko (Taiko drum performance) and a woman came to sit with us, We got talking and she told us that she was the official ani-magic witch. After that, she also told us that she was a dominatrix (which we really didn't need to know) and asked me if I though Scott McNeil had a nice butt. I had to agree because anyone who sees him can agree, he is very very nice looking. Anyway, she went on to tell us that she had a paddle in her room that she'd love to use on Scott. From that point on, we were on a mission to find Scott and warn him. Unfortunately, she found him before we did but thank God he avoided her pretty well.
While hanging out, I got to meet one of my very favorite manga artists in the whole wide world, Tomoko Tamiguchi (author of Call Me Princess and Spellbound) and she seemed just as excited as I was to meet her because we had spoken through email a long time ago.
We then mingled over to the karaoke contest where we were once again kicking it near Scott and a bunch of fan girls. We were all telling jokes and being loud (Especially when my friend John was trying to throw me into the pool) We finally got a chance to warn Scott about the freaky magic chick and I swear to God I will never forget the look of horror on his face. It was priceless. Also the conversations about the cold showers and the suction cup shower curtains. It was great and he even did the Piccolo voice a few times. He is cool! I told him that I would like him to check out our site and he said that he would which thrilled me to no end. The whole day was really relaxed and kicked back and we better than I could have ever imagined.
Saturday 10-6-01
Our toilet started bubbling at 7:00am so we were awake even though we had not gone to bed until 2am. We sat around and watched cartoons until 10am. Then we went and walked around the dealers room a bit before heading out to poolside for the Tomoko Tamiguchi panel. She was very sweet and did her best to understand and answer all of our questions. I had John go to the room and grab my graphic novel of Call Me Princess and we headed off to her autograph signing. We got there, she took a pic with me and when she went to do my autograph, she remembered my name from the night before, She even drew me a sketch of the main character in the manga right next to her signature which was awesome because she did not do a pic for ANYONE else. When I left the room, I was crying because I was so overwhelmed and excited. Then I went to the female VA panel where we got to hear from Tiffany Grant, Amanda Wynn-Lee, Diana Kou and Wendee Lee (my VA hero... she is the best)! When that ended, all the ladies were signing autographs and I was first to get Wendees. I got to tell her how much I dug her work and that she was the reason I had even gone to the convention. She was very sweet and took a pic with me. When I left the room after that, I was so excited that I was screaming! (Can you say fan girl?) Afterwards, I hung out by poolside and listened to Kenichi Koshio again. Then I headed to the meet Wendee Lee panel where I learned lots about her and her various roles in the VA world. She did a lot of her voices for us (Including Umi from Rayearth, Faye from Cowboy Bebop and TK from Digimon) From there I went straight to the Breaking into Voice Acting Panel w/ Scott McNeil and a bunch of other VAs. The we went to the Meet Scott McNeil panel which was really fun and informative until his little fan girls starting asking questions towards the end like: How old are you? (39 but looks 25) Are you married? (Yes, 12 years) What kind of motorcycle do you drive? (Harley) What kind of car do you drive? (99 corvette convertible - Metallic Pewter) Then we followed his heard of fan girls to find an empty room to do a signing. We got in line and had him do 2 autographs from us... One for Tim (Kami of this site) and one for us personally. We spoke to him about his marriage and he wished us the best with ours! (He even wrote congrats in the autograph...LOL) Then later that night we went poolside again to watch the masquerade.
I have got to say that Saturday was one of the best days of my life!
Top 2 Ani-Magic Quotes
Scott McNeil is Hot!
Hot Yaoi Action!
Sunday 10-7-01
This was the last day which was really relaxed. I went to a panel of all the Eva VAs and one just for Tiffany Grant! Then I sat poolside and did nothing. At one point I got a pic with Scott in his full "Hawkeye" gear and just relaxed in a lawnchair and sunned in jeans, T-shirt and my sunglasses (Can you say Farmers Tan and Raccoon Eyes? ;-)
We watched a poolside cosplay fashion show and I basically did nothing but sun until closing ceremonies. After that, I found Scott and I got a hug and a kiss on the cheek good-bye and he did his voices again for our video cameras... Overall, I told him that he made the weekend really fun and I loved it. I am now an even BIGGER Scott McNeil fan then ever because he is just a really cool, relaxed normal guy. It was great and I cannot wait till next year. It was such a laid back, personal and exciting con! I loved it. (FYI... the whole con had less then 1000 people) I am hoping to get Tim out to California next year for it. :) Everyone should go! :)
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