This weekend, July 31st to August 2nd, I was busy being at Otakuthon which was being held in Montreal’s Palais des Congrès. It’s my second year at a con, so I wasn’t as intimidated as last year.
The following post is more of a picture spam rather than an actual post.
(By the way, a lot of pictures courtesy of my friends Hobo-san and Cass. I’ll update the post with mine when I get them from Rosabelle.)
Friday, Day 01 – Registration Line Up
Me and Rosabelle Lavender (the one in the Miko outfit) got to Viger Hall at about 2PM and saved spots in the line for the rest of our crew. We met an awesome Austria and even got some cute fanservice from her and her Hungary. They were so cute! By the way, if you’re reading this, it’d be nice to know your name. Haha.
(Even though we were early, we had to wait in line for one hell of a long time. Especially since two of us had to re-do the line because we didn’t know there were separate lines for the Pre-Regs and the Non-Registered people.)
Friday, Day 01 -Just Walking Around
The Hetalia panel was at 7PM, so we browsed through the Exhibition Hall to kill time. There were a lot of awesome cosplays this year and I was surprised by the wonderful variety. There was much less Naruto than I would have expected, but of course a lot of Bleach considering how Stephanie Sheh and Johnny Yong Bosch were Guests of Honors.
The Yaoi Man who took care of selling the Yaoi doujins was hilarious. You could hear his voice booming from the other side of the Hall! Plus, he somehow managed to make me spend more money there than I should’ve. Grr, good salesmen!
Friday, Day 01 – Axis Powers Hetalia Improv. Panel
I had SO MUCH fun at this panel. Improvisation isn’t easy, but all the skits were funny in their own way. Still, my favorite skit was the Cinderfellow one in which Austria kissed Prussia feet. I loved hearing Prussia go “Kneel! Lick my feet!” There was another skit in which the players had to speak lines written by the audience. I asked my friend to write down “There’s a message in my pants that says I want to sleep with you.” I was praying deep down that France would get it. I was so happy to have my wish come true.
The one where Austria confesses to Germany was hilarious too. Italy was so adorable!
(I took videos, but they’re on Rosabelle’s camera. When I get them, I’ll upload them on youtube and posts links here!)
Friday, Day 01 – Walking Around
After the panel, we walked around the exhibition hall some more. For some reason, there was this boom of Kuroshitsuji merchandise everywhere. There was also quite a number of Kuroshitsuji cosplay everywhere. I wonder how the boom even happened! The Hetalia merchandise was pretty much limited to the Artist’s Alley, but there was a lot of APH cosplay as well. If I had to name the top series cosplay I’ve seen this weekend, I’d say Bleach, Soul Eater and Kuroshitsuji.
I’m just saying that though. There was a lot of variety this year and it wasn’t just limited to the usual overrated series.
Saturday, Day 02 – More Walking around!
Saturday was a LONG day. We got there at about 10AM and, by the time we left, it was 11PM. We attended the Opening Ceremony because we had time. It was funny hearing all the guests comment about how bright the spotlight was. Stephanie Sheh is really short.
Afterward, I waited an hour and almost didn’t get Johnny Yong Bosch’s autograph. Luckily, he sped through the rest of us. I didn’t ask for a picture because I was starving at this point and was basically rushing.
So, me, Hobo-san and Reyzer went up to the Cosplay Café to eat. Afterward, me and Reyzer decided to do some karaoke. I probably sounded so much like shit it ruined Ren’s good voice. Haha.
(For identification purposes, I was the Setsuna and she was the Apollo. Mind you, Ren was the only Apollo at the convention for some reason. Her magical gravity-defying antennae are my wonderful efforts.)
With our throats dead, we left the café and went around the hall again. We basically had nothing to do until the Yaoi Panels later in the evening. We went to some screenings to waste some time. (For more identification purposes, Rosabelle is the wonderful Mio in this pic.)
Saturday, Day 02 – Fanservice + Impossible Positions panel
Fanservice indeed. Needless to say, I had fun at this panel. Pikachu and Yaoi Boy were the best. I’m sorry for still calling them that. I think their names were Miya (uke) and Nick (seme). For some reason, my camera keeps stalking those two. They’re way too cute.
The reason why there aren’t much pictures here though is because I filmed the scene instead. I haven’t uploaded everything I’ve filmed yet though, but you can keep checking my YT Channel.
Pedobear’s surprise appearance at the Impossible Positions’ panel was hilarious and cheered by everybody. You were the bomb Pedobear! And did you see L’s awesome skills?
Sunday, Day 03 – Some Pictures and My Loot
Sunday we didn’t do much. I spent the rest of money and I was left with nothing once again. We attended the Reborn! Yaoi panel, which had its silent moments, but was fun nonetheless. Then, after the Overview of Yaoi and Slash Fandoms panel, we shopped some more before saying goodbye to our three days of Otakuthon.
Total, I blear around 200$. I got doujins which I need to scan and ask someone to scanlate. I got some manga to complete my Buy 10, Get one Free! deal from MC:Mangaya. I got another Light Novel at Sci-Fi Anime for a free DVD (I chose KKM! Vol.01). I got a Lulu bag. A bunch of Pins. A wall scroll of Sebacchan. Two Hetalia Prints. I love my badass Canada. A Hetalia set of keychains (the Allies, the Axis powers and Canada and Prussia). HIMEKA’s Asu E no Kizuna single. And finally, a two-sided keychain of Prussia and Japan because I find that pairing strangely adorable. Mind you, I got the last Prussia! Woohoo!
Anyways, that’s about it for my Otakuthon Adventure. When I get the Hetalia Improv videos and the Impossible Positions + Fanservice videos from Rosabelle, I shall post links to them.
I can’t wait for next year.
(Now to rot for the rest of the summer!)
Looks like you had a great time! I am so jealous of some of the panels that you went to! Next year I am totally going to as many panels as I can! x)
You took some great photos and you’re right that a lot of people weren’t cosplaying as much the absolute obvious ones. I saw a lot of Hetalia and Soul Eater outfits. In terms of Hetalia, it was mostly Canada and for Soul Eater, it was Death the Kid. There was a lot of Organization XIII as well. Some of our shots are actually of the same people and for one or two of them, almost in the same location, which is weird to think about!
Weirdly enough, when I was in line for Johnny Yong Bosch’s autograph (which I left for pretty early due to the fact that I was impatient to the unmoving line), I remember ery clearly seeing your friend who was cosplaying Apollo! My memory doesn’t go as far to remember if there was a Setsuna beside her, but at least I saw your friend at one point xD
In the Dealers Room I was also extremely surprised by all the Kuroshitsuji merchandise. I didn’t expect it to be that popular!
I can’t wait till next year as well!
I found a bunch of doubles in the pictures I took to. It was really odd not realizing you took the same picture of the same person twice or more. @_@ Sometimes, it feels as common sense don’t work in anime conventions. Or at least, that’s how I felt. (Sort of like, if you are rational, then you won’t enjoy yourself as much … or something.)
Anyway, I’m not surprised you noticed Apollo. Her cosplay was pretty memorable, lol. Unlike me who can blend into the air and disappear like Canada.
I’m very excited for next year too. 😀