This was my third Con (my second Zenkaikon) and this time I went in full cos-play for two days as... dun dun dun - Bellatrix Lestrange! But I'll get to that in a follow up post.
I confess, I found it pretty easy to get up in the morning this year. And I'm proud to say that so did my sister. 2014's Special guests included: Musical Guests, Lolita Dark, The Extraordinary Contraptions, Trifecta and DJ Zing; Edo Tsumami Kanzashi artisan, Kanawa Kuniko-sensei; Web Comic creator, Gina Biggs; Authors Jonathan Maberry and CJ Henderson (the latter is a Zenkaikon veteran who returned in spite of ongoing medical difficulties); Geek Specific Comdedian, Uncle Yo; Doug Walker (best known as the Nostalgia Critic); and actors Greg Houser, Mark Swint, Bill Rogers, JIM CUMMINGS (And if you, as a geek or person in general, don't know who HE is, you didn't have a childhood), and the amazingly talented and wonderful Brina Palencia.
After the Opening ceremonies, we attended Lolita Dark's panel... and their concert. And, you guys, let me just say, THIS BAND IS FRICKIN' GREAT. Lolita Dark is a Steampunk influenced EpicRock/JRock/SymphonicRock band from Los Angelis. Featuring the talents of Shibuya native Singer/Songwriter/guitarist (And brand new American Citizen) Rayko, Okinawan native and backup vocalist/keyboardist May (Machiko), bassist Rain Balen, guitarist Patrick Cabrera and drummer Joey Felix; Lolita Dark rocked Zenkaikon 2014 on Friday night and Sunday Morning. Both Concerts (and most of their panels) were attended by yours-truly. They won the hearts of many Zenkaikon attendees by their amazing music and friendly stage-side manner.
After every concert and panel (if possible) they take a picture with the audience (said pictures can be found on their Facebook page).
Unfortunately, the airline lost Rain's beloved, neon green-stringed bass guitar. He therefore had to run to guitar center and buy a new one for the Friday night concert, but it was mercifully returned to him in time for the Sunday morning show. And I would be totally remiss if I neglected to mention Rayko's wicked-cool steampunk guitar. (which I unfortunately do not have a picture of. But seriously, just go to their facebook page).
In between basking in Lolita Dark's amazing awesomeness, we found time (as VIP members) to attend the VIP Meet 'n' Greet with all of the OTHER special guests. And while I was chatting with Brina Palencia (and giving her a hand-crocheted Chibitalia flag, which she adored), my sister was at the next table over, sitting as far as possible from the voice actors sitting there as she could. Until Mark Swint got up, dragged her chair over to the middle of the conversation and decided to fix her anti-social issues. (And you know, I think it helped a little)
We kicked off day two by attending Ask a Nation 2014: Our Beautiful World, which as I'm sure many of you can guess, was a HETALIA Panel. And I was in cosplay as Greece this year. The Panel this year was hosted by: America, England, France, FemKitty Germany, Prussia, Ukraine, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Italy Veneziano, Italy Romano, China*, and... um... I feel like there was another one... who was it... there was a bear... Oh well. Being Greece I asked truly Philosophical questions regarding how safe Prussia's Gilbird was with my cats in the room, and whether Flying Mint Bunny is the TRUE key to the success of British Actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, and also recognized China as a member of a group of Hetalia Cosplayer who hailed me from across the room and asked me to join their picture at SaikouCon 2013. Meanwhile, America consumed almost an entire box of doughnuts.
Then later on Saturday, with nothing else much to do, we dropped in for the Cosplay Masquerade/Cosplay Fashion Show/Hall Cosplay Contest Awards Show/AMV contest awards Show. The Winner of the 2014 Hall Cosplay contest was an Elsa Cosplay (from Frozen, what other Elsa is there?). I'm sure a lot of you are nodding your heads wryly, saying, "Of course. ANOTHER Elsa Cosplayer." Stop. Stop it right now, because This was not JUST and Elsa Cosplay. I traveled in the elevator with this girl about six times over one weekend, and I can personally attest to the brilliance of that dress. She walked away with the Best of Weekend trophy because the bodice of the dress was made of six different fabrics of varying textures and shades of ice-blue; the cape had a perfect gradient dye; and every SINGLE bead and sequin was stitched to the dress BY HAND. Every rhinestone was perfectly in line. (I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE!!!!!)
Some Honorable mentions and minor awards included The Cosplay Mom award, for the mother who made the best cosplays for herself and/or her children; the Neophyte award, for the best costume made by a novice, which was awarded to a very Impressive Miss Notch (from Hollow Fields), and the Award for Best Work with Difficult materials, which was awarded to a young lady who used denim and managed to hem it to within and inch of perfection.
Saturday was rounded off by Uncle Yo's 50 Years of Doctor Who Companions. And at this panel, Uncle Yo delved in deep, to the beginning of the series and highlighted the most important companions ever to be a part of the Doctor's story (Susan Foreman, Jamie McCrimmon, K9, Vislor Turlough, Sarah Jane Smith, Ace, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, Captain Jack Harkness, Amy Pond, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) and glanced over some of the still notable, but more useless ones (Adric, Tegan, Nyssa, Mel etc...) and then there's Plothole (erm, I mean Clara... no, I DO mean Plothole). Uncle Yo also spoke some undeniable truths, such as the fact that Amy Pond was Haruhi Suzumiya all along, and Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart is the best and most important companion in Doctor Who's history. (Followed by Ace and Sarah Jane). I'm also now shipping Uncle Yo and his PowerPoint of Jack Harkness.
Finally, on Sunday, after Lolita Dark's last concert for the weekend, Kagura4221973* managed to swallow her nerves, come up out from hiding under the table and sing some of her amazing songs - Super Saiyan Babies (her tribute to her favorite voice actor and one true love, Christopher R Sabat); Blu-Ray - An awesomesauce rap in defense of the Living Nerdy; And Sugoi kara, Zakennayo! (Screw You, I'm Awesome - the anthem for her campaign to stop the geek-hate.) She kicked off the panel by showing us her tribute to her cat, the late, great Piccolo. And she also read out some of her hate-mail - and substituted all the swear words with fruits. It was Hilarous.
AND THAT ENDS PART I OF MY ZENKAIKON 2014 EXPERIENCE!
My next post will be all about my cosplays for Zenkaikon AND some upcoming endevours that I'll be attempting for SaikouCon 2014!
So until then, this has been your Christian Home-schooled Otaku... even though I know I have no followers and my posts are boring and poorly put together and I never have any pictures and...
Sorry.
China, if your reading this, I'm sorry I made such an ass of myself during the "Dating Game" at the Ask a Nation panel. I should have sung something from Mulan instead of complimenting your hair.
Kagura4221973 is a character from the web-series The Troubadoors and persona of Voice Actress Brina Palencia. Her character is defined by her nerdy appearance, love of anime, and stalker-like obsession with voice actor Christopher R. Sabat, making her first appearance in 2011 when sang her song Super Saiyan Babies in a YouTube video as a prank for Sabat (Whom Brina knows well in real life). It garnered a lot of hate-comments. So she posted another song, Blu-ray in response.
