Recollections: Perfect Spin Off Cosplay

Random Morning Musume Thought of the Day:
Happy Merry Christmas!

2002

Anime Expo 2002
Location: Long Beach Hyatt and Convention Center, Long Beach, California

With lingerings of AX2001 on our wings, this year we decided to invoke a 2 year plan derived between me and Henry after AX2000. Movie Escaflowne. It was actually supposed to happen last year but all involved parties had plans set up already so Escaflowne was shelved. But with the US version release this year and screening at AX, as well as increased sewing skills we decided to go for it for this year.

Thursday: @_@ I'm not done with Dilandau yet! I need two more days. hehehehe. So yes, that was planned. I just need to finish Dilandau by Saturday. So I pack all the relevant Dilandau materials, 3 Tsunku outfits, Sinbad, Li Syaoran and almost take Wizard but run out of trunk space so Wizard stays home. Its a good thing since I didn't even have time to wear Li. First ones there from our collaboration were the Neko Twins. I arrived and was sans room since Annie and Hikkles were still en route. Actually Annie had to be diverted to get Henry from the LAX airport and Hikkles was brought in by her brother. So I went with the Nekos to get masquerade registration underway. Cool! Darryl is down there running registration. It was quick and easy. Kiyoshi joined us and got his industry badge qualifications while we were waiting. The twins and Kiyo were hungry so we went up to their room "333" CHU! and decided on the little food place downstairs with the sandwiches. Then we heard about the shootings and airplane crashing on the news but then got calls from Henry and Tiffy that they were safe from coming in from LAX. My swords were sitting in gun case chan up in the neko's room. Soon afterwards, Annie and Henry arrived and then Hikkles so we could move into our room. There was a choice between smoking 2 bed and nonsmoking 1 bed. We opted for 2 beds. When we got in there ewwwwwwwwwww! So we had the place sprayed down with lysol. I claimed the bed closest to the window and left the girls to take the other bed. In a short time, 2 sewing machines were set up and we all wanted to get cracking on finishing up costumes. We just started and Kelly/Allie arrived from Mudd and were starting to get settled in. Henry had basically moved all his construction to our room as well so it was the Escaflowne room. Millerna's rapier was damaged on the airline travel and Henry hadn't finished any of the other swords. Poor Tiffy was having problems with the Westin and not allowed check in until 3 PM. We stopped by the Renaissance to get registered for the karaoke contest which had Dom helping! Then we all retreated back to our room and got ready for Morning Coffee. Henry had the laptop set up but before we got any Morning Coffee in there it was my super Mini Moni Video collection! Hikkles absolutely loves the Hinamatsuri PV. While at the Renaissance we saw a beautiful Peace Karrie! *SQUISH* such a cute Nacchi. Her hair was blue in the back tho ^_^;;;;. Well since USA Musume was in group 2 of the karaoke, we all walked back in the Morning Coffee outfits to practice. The practices for that didn't take too long so Tiffy started to learn the Chu! Natsu Party routine. Before long we had to head back to the Renaissance, but since they were behind, it was still about 30 minutes. I was busy cutting out gold trim for Dilandau. There were some microphone problems, like feedback but the song went off really well. So after that we went to the Rock bottom to eat some yummy food. Hikkles and I split a chicken artichoke pasta since we didn't want to be sleepy when we were sewing the rest of the night. After Rock Bottom all we did was head back and work on costumes. Sometime along the night we heard rumours that USA Musume got past qualifying rounds. That means Chu! Natsu Party is a go! Hikkles was slaving away at the Aibon costume. I completed all the trim for Dilandau and started to work on the vest.

Friday: 4 AM rolls around and Annie's sewing machine is the best! It sewed through the white vinyl so easily! But Hikkles and I were so dead that we slept until 10-11. I poked Hikkles to tell her that she should be painting some 3's. She was so hard to wake up. I started working about 11 after a nice shower and pretty much completed the Dilandau vest by mid afternoon, with collar and all the trim. Now I was just doing minor fixing up such as getting the armor to stay on. I snuck in about an hour of being Sinbad while Kelly took about 3 hours to get into Jeanne. We took revised pictures and I kept my mask up the entire time practically. Then this random girl asked if she could glomp me, and so I let her and then she wanted me to autograph her shirt. @_@ okay! Before we knew it, it was karaoke semifinals time and everyone was cramming to get Chu Natsu Party done. I went ahead of time to get registered and tried to put us as the last entry. We took tons of pictures but my digital batteries ran out. Since I thought there was plenty of time, I went back to get batteries and they had already started the program when I got back. Turns out they wouldn't have let me introduce them anyway. They did so good! They were dancing so hard you could hear the stage thumping through the microphones. Afterwards I sent them back to get changed for the Peace. After the judges decided, USA Musume made it to the final round! So I turned in Annie's Peace CD and retrieved Chu Natsu Party and called the girls to come in. The girls didn't have enough time to prepare the Peace but at least they tried their best. In the end, USA Musume took runner up (3rd place) at the Karaoke. We got Boogie Pop Phantom shirts and scrolls for making it to semifinals and Maison Ikkoku DVD's for making it to final round. It was a very good experience for the girls and I know next year they'll practice harder. We heard what happened at the Music Video contest and some of our friends came down to watch the rest of the karaoke. After Karaoke it was midnight and Hikkles and I went to finish costumes while the rest went to Dennys to eat. R2 dropped by the room when we were there. Hikkles was working on Sora and I worked on Kelly's rapier. Kelly painted the roses on her armor and helped secure the Black Dragon Tribe flag. Matt came over to try on the cloak for Florken and the wig. The wig was super nasty and he was crying. Unfortunately Matt was pretty sick and he passed out on the girls bed without doing any work. Matt watched all our Morning Musume and Mini Moni videos prior to doing that tho. I think we brainwashed him.

Saturday: Whoa there, it's 4 AM again! The horse isn't done, Folken's sword isn't done, Eriya and Nariya aren't done, and neither is Sora. Dilandau, Hitomi and Millerna are complete. I wake up and complete Millerna's rapier and Folken's sword in no time. I just had to disassemble the previous rapier since after all the damage it looked like white poop on a stick. Then I go to 333 to help the Nekos with their spots. Most everyone got their costumes presentable and went to craftsmanship judging to see Char, Kim, Darrl and Melissa. After that was the mandatory masquerade meeting. When AGSMA was called (entry 51/53) Matt had the idea that we all say AIIN. So we did. When that was done, Henry and I went back to finish the horse and bring it back to the convention center. The Neko Twins showed up just in time. So we went back to the room to finalize choreography and some minor rehearsal. The girls put on their make up and we all filed out at 6:10 to arrive at the Performing Arts center. Since there was space they went to the ladies dressing room to finalize their costumes. Henry and I fixed up the horse and explained it to the stage ninja what was supposed to happen. We rehearsed a few times in the dressing room thanks to the CD player brought by AMC. On stage, they let us plant the horse, but didn't do the introduction and they started the music slightly early throwing off everyone's cues. I exited the wrong side and my left leg armor piece fell off. But the shattering sword trick worked. From the audience it looked fine. Henry tripped on a step near the front of the stage and got a few laughts out of it. By the time the masquerade was over i t was midnight. We were surprised to win a Judges award at AX, and AKG North Campus also won a Judges award. Yay! We got an assortment of DVD's and a trophy. We were so happy that this set of DVD's didn't come with any extra Maison Ikkoku. We were trying to leave and took several pictures in the hallway before being forced outside the convention hall. We finally camped out near the water fountain and took a multitude more pictures. Kimi/Phavo and Hikkles were interviewed on the spot. That interview must have been quite amusing. Ah! My Cosplay showed up and we took pictures together and then made plans for the night. Afterwards being super tired, and hot, we retreated back to the Hyatt. I ate cold In n Out burgers for dinner and started to clean up the room. My inner shirt for Dilandau was stained pink. I fixed up some of the loose ends on the costume and packed most of it. R2 showed up totally drunk but Hikkles and I escorted him back to room 516 where he'd crash for the night. The twins were still in Eriya and Nariya so I changed into "end of movie" Dilandau and we took more pictures.

Sunday: I did some more room clean up but then went down to 333 to help poor Paffo. After that was all said and done, it was 4 AM. I had to take a shower afterwards due to all the white dye in my hair and when I got out, Hikkles was already asleep and people were just chatty. Went to bed about 5 AM when all the people left. We woke up at 11. Room check out at 12! Justin's outfit is still here from last night since he let Kelly borrow it. Luckily he came to pick it up. Hikkles and I changed into 3 Nin USA Musume outfits while Tiffy and the Neko Twins got into Ayumi. We went into the dealers hall with Annie and bought tons of Hello Project stuff. I got CD singles of Furusato (10.50) and Momoiro Kataomoi ($5), Hikkles got Daite Hold on Me, Mini Hamuzu, Yeah! Meccha Holiday and Irropoi Onna Sexy Baby. Annie got Chokotto Love and the Love Sentarii Photobook. Afterwards I took Tiffy and Kelly to Disneyland for a bit, rested at home, and then returned to Disneyland to ride Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Teacups and Mr. Toad before meeting up with Allie to have the girls go back with her. Such a fun convention!