Recollections: Perfect Spin Off Cosplay

Random Morning Musume Thought of the Day:
Sentai Melon is sooooooo cool!

2002

AniMagic
Location: Best Western Hotel, Lancaster, California

Animagic has grown alot, but it's still Animagic. Totally random stuff and crazy stuff that I wouldn't do anywhere else is just waiting to happen.

Saturday: Arrive with Kevin on the scene at about 10 AM. Went to Joanns to pick up buttons (which were never used) and scope out local restaurants. Arrive at the Mini USA room to find them all sreeping, and get the keys to the room 283. We find tons of bottles everywhere and Matt out to lunch on the bed. Kevin and I move in all out bags and check out registration (which is all full and about a 30 minute wait). So we decide to get badges later. While going around and scoping out the territory, lunch time rolls around. Since the Mini Moni girls are busy, Kev and I go out food shopping and paint shopping (and hair gel). So Kevin and I got 1/2 lb cheeseburgers for $1.99 and a big box of Popeyes chicken for the girls (with mashed potatoes with weird gravy). Even before I started my lunch, I had to go to masquerade registration in the Vision room and get Mini Moni registered and listened to the rules and regulations and questions. I didn't even get to finish my drink since I was dragged back out to return the CD back to the girls since there was no case and they wanted CD's at 6 PM anyway. The girls were working hard on their respective costumes so I went out schmoozing and networking since they had everything under control. Met up with Lance again, which was super cool. Also went to distribute all the fabric to the other 5 girls on the team and collect monies so I wouldn't be so much in the hole. I managed to track down little Sara and give her a little plushy Mari to match her current Mari JKP outfit. So so so cute! She was so happy. I brought out the Sera Myu Diamond for them to look at but I left it with them since I had just saw Ami and wanted to get the stuff to her. Also seen Ashy and CJ for the first time since AX. I was asked to help name their group but totally forgot. But they got back to me with wanting assistance for their script. So I suggested to the Neko Twins that they use Odoru 11 and hop around and do the butt attack. Instant sell. And of course with the Neko Twins there, I managed to offload 2 more packages. Last to collect was Karrie, who I caught up with about 4 PM. We briefly discussed the script and their scary intro. The script was easily written since the skit was designed to embarass Rey Rey and be completely random. That and the iPLAY girls wanted to use the sexy jujitsu attack from Naruto. My attempts to use Morning Musume or 80's music in the skit were thwarted by iPLAY but at least we managed to use Aqua's Barbie Girl. Which was completely random, but they wanted Sakura to go "Hi Ken!". So I had to get another CD from my car and hand it over to iPLAY (the first one was Odoru 11). Then back to the room where Matto was in and out with horses heads and his various costumes. Matto was having a great time! I did some costume work on my own with the little time I had and went down a few times to check on the girls. Closing to the deadline though, they had to get changed so I went to finish up what they had left while they went judging. They ordered room service which was a bunch of sandwiches and fries and free drinks. Since I was working, I didn't have dinner until about 10 PM. The girls were gone for an hour or so, but then came back to eat dinner (which was cold by then) but hadn't been judged yet. I didn't paint enough white on one of the leggings but when they went back, they had all their costumes pretty much completed. Once they were done, it was time for me to change, so I got into Tsunku and put Samurai Jack over it. iPLAY came over again for a few minutes to see if we could come up with more improvisation and then we headed over. We got an early spot for iPLAY so that there would be plenty of time to go to Mini Moni. So I went on as Samurai Jack and the iPLAY girls in their Naruto outfits in "Let's Naruto" as entry #8. That skit was quite.... odd. Anyways, left and changed out into Tsunku. I had plenty of time so I actually took Samurai Jack back to the room. I didn't get pictures of him but I'll get those later. Regrouped with a tired Mini Moni and scary Bakatono. The girls reviewed their routine and before we knew it, it was time to go! I had one of the most evil intro's ever, and had alot of audience participation which was good. USA Musume (Mini Moni Division) was #28. They did so good! Yay! And Mattokun as Bakatono! @_@. He looked so fruity in his pink yukata. The microphones weren't so good as I found out from skit #8, but the girls were awesome! And Bakatono scared the judges. Then came the award announcing. Allie gave her award to a deserving up and coming cosplayer! Good Allie! So Cal Soul Cal won best group. USA Musume took best Dance so yaaaaaaay! We were all so dead so we didn't take too many pictures. Actually I doubt there will be an Animagic report since I was doing alot of other stuff at this convention. Got kicked out of the girls room again since they were changing back to normal clothes and they pretty much retired to bed after that. While I was exiled I went and talked to Jean and gave her a massage since she was all tired from helping R2 emcee. When they were done changing we chatted for a bit but we were so tired that we went back to our room. It was full of Matt and his buddies but we had to relocate them since we wanted to sleep. iPLAY joined up after we aired out the room fr a bit just until Allie showed up from her dinner with Albert, Ash, CJ, Nekos and Kiyoshi at 2 AM. I did alot of catch up with Allie but we finally conked out at 3 AM.

Sunday: Woke up at 10 after going to bed at 3 AM. I was so hungry I just walked over to 7-11 and had a pair of taquitos and a big gulp for breakfast. When I came back everyone was still sleeping. So I changed into Prince Li and went out for a bit. Before I knew it, we had to check out and I also needed to be in Tsunku for pictures. Met up with Albert and got a copy of the tape. Also met up with Dennis and he took a variety of UM pictures with Mini Moni Division and Lily/Kie in the Peace. Kix and Hikkles took alot of butt shots. ^_^; I left Lancaster about 2 PM and woo, tired. Hee, we went to get some beef jerky afterwards for food.