Growing from its roots as 3-day anime marathon in 1997 with 200 attendees, this little con has grown in to a massive event with over 7000 attendees. Two years ago, it took up residence in the Raleigh Convention Center after outgrowing its previous hotel convention center home. Accustomed to operating with a tried and true system of running the con in a smaller venue for so long, adaptation to a new venue takes trial and error, and Animazement is still experimenting to make the most of its new home. Some of the events logistics are still under construction, but the Animazement experience overall remains a smooth running operation, with few delays, most problems quickly solved, and an eye towards continuous improvement.

The con still has its distinctive mix of events and attractions, with emphasis on Japanese culture thanks to the heavy involvement of various Japanese groups from the community as well as the Japanese School of Raleigh. The bar of costume quality level seems to rise every year, but one of the things that makes Animazement special is that despite its unique and competitive Craftsmanship and Cosplay competitions, the attendees’ primary goal remains above all to have a great time. The Dealer’s Room has grown, and while having many things found at most other conventions, there was also a great deal of items not common to other cons, including a deep love for old-school. The Artists’ Alley has become massive in size, packing a large ballroom almost to the brim as well as spilling out all along the mezzanine rather than the single string of tables in previous years. The Art Auction also had a noticeable rise in the caliber of work available for bidding.

This con continues to grow. While there were a few snags (Craftsmanship Judging was a frequently vocalized example), staff have already indicated they have learned from these experiences and plan to incorporate the lessons learned into running next year’s con. Animazement has grown in 1K increments multiple times now, and has never experienced a drop in attendees. Animazement 2010 was no different, and once it’s settled into its new home, this con is sure to hit the 10,000 mark in no time.

You can view photos from the con here: http://photos.notinterested.org/v/AZ2010/

–Spookloops

From their website: “Southern California’s Live Action Role Play (LARP) convention Wyrd Con welcomes you to an amazing weekend of Live Action Combat, Theatre Style, and Alternate Reality (ARGs) Games, Costume & Weapon Contests, Special Guests and SG Hosted Events, Interactive Panels, Demos, Workshops, Classes, Tournaments, Vendors and Artists, Tavern Entertainment, Wandering Performers, Cosplay, Live Shows, and more!”

Wyrd Con will be held from June 11 through the 13th in Costa Mesa California.

The address for the con is:
Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540‑7000

We hope to see you all there!

L gets a kiss

Death Note took me by surprise. Given that every anime that I’ve watched so far has taken me by surprise, this shouldn’t surprise anyone but me.  Death Note required more absorption time for me than any anime so far. It’s taken me a couple of weeks to figure out whether I really liked it, or if it just annoyed me. I have to say that I mostly like it, but alas I am not over the moon in love with the series. I must admit that for the first couple of episodes I was bored, it seemed to take a bit to get up to speed, but once it got to moving I really enjoyed the ride.

I was skeptical at first that the moral dilemma was really complicated enough and would provide enough fodder for an entire 9 disc Anime Series. I love being pleasantly surprised. The complex relationship that develops between Light and L is fascinating, as is the development of Light’s character as he uses the Death Note. I found myself engrossed in the story and until near the end where it lost me. Death Not is a well worked out moral tale well worth the effort to watch.

3 1/2 Meh’s out of 5

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Katie, I already have an expensive metal ruler with a no-slip rubber backing for drafting patterns, I don’t need this one.” Well, you are wrong, my friend! You have not LIVED until you have discovered the ease behind this ruler’s oh-so-simple design. There’s a reason that they’re sometimes called a Quilting Ruler. Other times, they’re sold in the general drafting and measurement supply sections, or with tools for architecture.

The simple reasoning behind using a clear gridded ruler is that you can draw a line while simultaneously measuring the distance from another line or edge (as long as it is less than 2″). With a standard ruler, you have to make tick marks indicating the distance from the line or edge you wish the line you are drawing to be. Here is an example of the 2x18” clear ruler in action for pattern drafting:

Note that with this ruler, I can easily mark first my 1/4″ hem allowance from the edge, then the casing for my 3/4″ wide elastic. What took me seconds to line up with my clear ruler would probably have taken double the time if I had used my Alumicutter™ ruler. It can also be used beyond pattern making, during the actual garment construction.

Marking a 2″ hem has never been easier!

The one downside to this magical ruler? It’s a slippery little devil. Because it’s clear, a rubber grip is out of the question, so you have to make sure you are holding it down firmly, or it might swing off course right in the middle of drawing a line. Another pitfall? While it’s nice that the numbers are small and unobtrusive, they also can be somewhat difficult to read. And trying to use it on red fabric?? Forget about it! I plan to pick one up in blue for this reason.

So if you don’t own one of these inexpensive drafting Godsends, what are you waiting for? Head down to your local fabric, art supplies, or crafts store and pick one up now! You can thank me later.

1. What is your name, and where do you hail from?
My real name is Shantel, but I go by Shiya a lot more! From Southern California (Fontana) middle of no where.

2. Tell us a little about yourself. Do you have any interesting hobbies outside of cosplay?
Outside of cosplay? I really love photography, modeling, and drawing, but I’m not really good at any of those! haha. I do love spending time with my boyfriend and closest friends. When I’m not at school or sewing,  I feel so relaxed around them.

3. How long have you been cosplaying?
Since early 2005, but with so little inexperience and a lot of frustration.

4. What initially drew you to cosplay?
My best friend mentioned it when I was going to plan a trip to visit her in Pennsylvania. She also asked me to make a costume, so I had a lady make one for me. This was for Otakon 2004, and I had no idea what conventions were like or anything, but I didn’t really start sewing on my own until 05.

5. What was the first character that you cosplayed?
Gunner Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2. That costume no longer exists.

6. What is your favorite thing about cosplay?
I love how much of a reward it feels to have worked so hard on something and get praise for it. I also use conventions to hang out with all of my friends (most of them I don’t get to see throughout the year).

7. What is your least favorite thing?
Drama. I don’t like to hear it. It makes people have miserable times.;

8. What was your most enjoyable cosplay experience?
It’s so hard to say. I’ve enjoyed so many, but he best conventions I went to happened to be with my best friend. She really is awesome!

9. And your least?
Latest would be Katsucon 2009. I had such a miserable time, and I tried not to think about it while I was there.

10. What is the last event at which you cosplayed, and what did you cosplay?
Anime LA, I cosplayed as Princess Kairi from Kingdom Hearts 2. It was an original design, and the only costume I really had time to make for this convention. I originally planned 3 total, but holidays were slowing me down.

11. What is the next event at which you plan to cosplay?
I think So. Cal Spring Gathering and Fanime

12 What do you have in the works for upcoming conventions or events?
I’m trying to figure it out. School kind of makes things hard for me! For sure, I have TouHou Flandre Scarlett, Megaman Zero– Ciel, Misao from Pretty Sammy, and one more CardCaptor Sakura outfit. Everything else will come whenever I have more time.

Thank you so much for talking to us!

Here are two last parting shots for everyone to look at in awe of Shiya’s incredible abilities.

I came to Tokyo Godfathers knowing only that it came highly recommended by both my Google search and the Netflix rating. (Yes I’m that lame.) I must have read the synopsis at some point, but I sure didn’t remember it, I thought it was going to be about the mafia or something. Which come to think of it was really stupid of me, just because the word “godfather” is in the title doesn’t mean that there is a crime syndicate. (Thanks Mr. Coppola for forever tying the two together forever in my mind.) What I wasn’t expecting was an incredibly touching yet incredibly entertaining and exciting romp through the streets of Tokyo with three bums and a baby.  Of course that’s about as close to capturing what the movie is really about as saying Kill Bill is about a chick with a sword.

Tokyo Godfathers is all about human connection, worth, and redemption set in Christmas time Tokyo. Our teacher/heroes in this lesson just so happen to be three bums who find a baby on Christmas Eve. That’s all I’m going to say. Maybe I’ve said too much, you should definitely come to this gem (yes I just used the word gem) of a film with as little forward knowledge as possible if for no other reason than its so much more fun that way.

4 Meh’s out of 5

A full gallery of photos can be seen here: http://photos.notinterested.org/v/yunasouth2009/

A complete gallery of this photoshoot can be seen here: http://photos.notinterested.org/v/totorosouth2009/

A full gallery of images can be seen here: http://photos.notinterested.org/v/buggysouth2009/

A full gallery of photos can be seen here: http://photos.notinterested.org/v/altairsouth2009/