Hiya all, just wanted to send along first book of Toronto Anime.
Saturday was NOT my dad, it started on the way there, we hit the road at 1am as I was hoping we would... though sadly I wasn't able to get a wink of sleep before leaving, my body just wouldn't sleep. So on the road, SW and Eclipse got to close their eyes here and there, I know they didn't get enough sleep but I'm glad they were able to rest. Though the first thing that hit us with this trip was the Fog! The Fog through most of the night was so thick you couldn't see pass the light of your headlights.
The next problem I realizes is that I didn't bring my cash I left at home for this trip!!! I'm going to kick myself for that! That money I left was suppose to be my fee to get into the con and my food money. Though I pulled money from my account, and lucky we figured out ways around bouncing my bank account. Though that should of been a sign that this day wasn't going to go my way.
SW had her own signs that this was going to be the stinker of the two days. I don't know how many times she would look up and say I smell a skunk! One time it even woke her from a dead sleep. I don't have a good sense of smell, and Eclipse doesn't either... so both of us did not have this torment. I swear there was over 15 Skunks between the US Bridge and Toronto. The skunks were farting that night
I followed Semi's most of the way through the Fog, so it really did slow down the trip there. Though we didn't get lost once, as we drove straight to the convention Center. I parked right next to the main entrance into the convention center, ariving at 6am has its perks. We watched them unlcok the doors so we went in and searched for the anime con, to find it was down stairs (I've never been down there before). We went down and found which rooms the con will be in, though no one, and nothing was there yet.
We decided it may be a good idea to find Breakfast, there was a McDonalds across the street, so that's where we figured we'd get food. Though at 6:30am, they were not open and as the morning went on we got differnet times from different people of when it'll open.... 7am... 7:30am... 8am... 9am.... it just got crazy. I gave up on eatting just hanging out in line for the convention to start, SW and Eclipse were able to get themselves a small bite to eat. Though while sitting down there, first we started to see people show up from the convention to start and set up, than we saw other fans starting to show up.
It was a lot nicer than big con lines, people just seem to know everyone. It was really cool, I talked with a lot of people about anime and Turtles. Made a lot of new friends, there wasn't many people there that traveled far for the con, and really we learned they only had 3 rooms.... the Panel room, Anime Room, and Dealer room (Autographs were done in the Dealer Room). I don't know how many people were there, but it was a lot smaller than the two cons I just went to. They were all very friendly, one even helped me out by giving me a $5 off cupon for the convention! Which was totally nice of her!!!!!
The convention opened at 11am, the convention workers made sure no one cut in front of us and that we were the first 3 in, knowing we've been there for a long time. We looked around the dealer room, I told the others I was going to go and get the Leonardo head from the car, to get ready for Matt's panel that was suppose to be starting at 12 noon. I went to the car and came down stairs, the box was heavy and I was really tired out... though when I got down stairs I saw the thing that I did NOT want to see... a note in bold letters at the panel room.
Matt Hill will be Sunday ONLY.... I was ready to cry, my arm was so sore from getting the box. Thankfully one of my new friends from the con was there, and helped me carry the head back up to the car.
By mistake I left my video camera in the box with the head, as we went back into the convention. I got SW and Eclipse telling them I'm still going to the Scott McNeil panel. We headed out of the dealer room to sit down for a second, than I saw Chris and Luci. I got up and said hi to them, I got Luci to sign my FMA wall scroll since she has played at least 3 characters on the show, she informed us while we were there that she's Wrath. I thought that was VERY cool!! I picked on Chris a bit, but than they had to leave to get something to eat before their panel. It seemed like as soon they left, Scott McNeil appeared, so we went into his panel.
This is when I realized, I didn't have my video camera on me (but I had the tripod...
) So I figured I'd take a lot of pictures of this panel, since I didn't have video. The other person in this panel was Tony Sampson. Tony best known roll is Eddy from "Ed, Edd, and Eddy". Scott ruled the panel, at times I felt bad for Tony cause he would try to say something and Scott would just take lead in the discussion. One of the BEST parts about this panel has to be the life saber fight, as someone from the crowd had two life sabers and had the two go at each other. It was real funny. I was taking lots of pictures, but than the screen on my camera started to flicker and it went off. The battery was low. So I turned it back on, hoping to get some more pictures... just a few more... but instead it said I needed to reformate my memory card. So I lost all the pictures I took that day, and even after doing that the battiers were still too low to take anymore. What really peeves me off about this is that I charged these battiers right before leaving home.
I was about ready to cry with how bad things were going on that hand, ... first money being left home, than no breakfast, than Matt Hill not showing up, than forgetting my Video Camera in my car and than this. Geeze I don't usually run into this much bad luck at one con. I know SW could tell I was upset. She stayed for the two follow up panels, I went on to my car to get my camcorder and to put a few things away. I also just wanted some time to breath, I know I was over tired durning all of this too which I believed played a big factor into how I was feeling at that moment. I ate a few cheetos to not be with a totally empty stomac, and drank some water than headed back in. I got in line with Eclipse, and had a long wait. Of course any line with Scott McNeil, is not going to fast.
One of our new friends joined us in line, I'm going to call her LP (since her nick name is Lady Phoenix). LP was the first anime fan that we met at the con, she was behind us in line to get into the convention. So she was joining us for the panels. She's very cool and knows a lot of different animes, she's also a really good artist. She does drawings of characters that the VAs she meets do the voices for, and has them sign her drawings. She's got a good collection in her sketch book. It was really cool in the autograph line, when LP let Tony know which voice on Ranma 1/2 that he does. He thanked her for that, since he forgot.
While we were in line, which felt like forever I got to talk to Tony here and there, found out he likes TMNT! I showed him a picture of my room, and talked a little TMNT with him. One of the reasons the line was taking so long was because Scott McNeil got stopped from doing autographs, to do an interview. We were all happy when that interview was finally done, but than the lady kidnapped Tony!! *bap the interviewer* That annoyed us just as much, cause now we had to wait for Tony to come back. Though when he came back, he made it up to the crowd by giving away Jaw Breakers to us all! I got a green one.
I was standing there in line I believe this was after I got my free jaw breaker and I looked up and saw Ninjaplease, right away I looked around and saw Blue! I called Blue over and said hi to her, told her about the panel... (this is why I usually video tape the panels, my reviews are so much better if I can re watch them
I know it was a funny panel, but I'm not pulling everything up in my mind right now). They were going to wander around a bit and shop while we stayed in line.
While in line we met Scott's friend, a guy that was sitting there next to Scott.... darn me for blanking out on his name, though he couldn't believe the Bonesteel figure I had, he tried to get Scott's attention to pick on him about it, but Scott was in his own world with the fans up near him. I talked with him for a little to pass the time. He seems pretty cool, and was having a ton of fun sitting up there with the guys.
Once we got up there in line I had Scott sign a Bonesteel figure and a few other things, but the best thing to watch him sign would have to be the animation cel that Eclipse had from T-Rex. Scott went crazy over it. This was a wonderful moment, I'm so thrilled I caught it on video! I'm surprised she didn't have him sign the original art work too. I would of got both signed
And he said that this is the ONLY T-Rex cell he's ever signed!
Right around this time Mily came up and said Hello! Her friend um, I know his name but I don't like using real names. I'll call him M, was with her. I said hi to them real fast though while they were saying hi I noticed Chris and Luci was set down at the table right next to them, being the stupid person I am, I thought that our line would just keep going so we could get their autographs too. So I got them both to sign a few things. Chris liked my Armstrong trading card. So after getting just a few things signed I stepped away from there and went into the hall and we found somewhere to sit.
Mily, M, SW, LP, Eclipse and I were sitting out there talking. I was eatting pocky, which was once again one of the few foods I've eatten that day. Though I got a SHARP pain in my gut, so I slowed down on eatting and just started to rest. I was sitting on my knees, with my legs under me. I know I was having a hard time keeping up with the topic though at one point it seemed like I was listening to them and next thing I knew I was opening my eyes with a sharp pain in my gut again. Everyone was stareing at me, they said I was sleeping sitting up for about 4 to 5 minutes. Not too surprising with how I haven't eatten yet at that point, and that I was also on that much lack of sleep.
Once Blue and Ninjaplease came out we discussed what was going on... they wanted to walk around another time in the dealer room, Mily and M were running to get some food. So we walked into the dealer room, than after doing a little bit of walking around in there we went out into the hall and sat down, sitting over near the pay phones. We talked a bit, one of the conventions workers walked over asking to see our badges, they got theirs out to show, though once Eclipse, SW and I went to show ours they're like "We already know you're with us.." Heh just how well we got known for coming so early.
We got up after a bit of talking and went into the dealer room again. While in there we bumped into Mily and M again. We were getting ready to go to the "Cosplay Idol". So we headed there, stupid me... I didn't realize till the show was starting, but I had only 10 minutes left on my video tape! I had spare tapes in the car but didn't think I'd need any! I REALLY wish I got this recorded! It was so FUNNY!!!!!
Chris is a WONDERFUL SIMON! He stayed in character and Chris was bickering with Scott who was Ryan. It was just GREAT all around. I loved it!!!!!! There was 10 shows, some were just well... um, ok. Though some were really funny. But no matter how the cost players did, the guest always had some GREAT lines to add in to make it one of the funniest things ever!!! I did tape the last bit of it, where they choose their winners. After that the convention part of the night was over...
We went to the bathroom there which was kind of funny, because there seems to be a theatre down there with all these people dressed up all nice and fansy, than you got cosplayers and so on walking through this huge crowd of over dressed people walking to the bathrooms. The LOOKS that were being given were wonderful! After that we hit top side, going to the subway to head to Donatello's. I learned that this was Eclipse first time ever on a Subway.
We took the Subway to the same stop I had to take back when I went to Toronto Con with Fae and Zip, it was great to see that area again, it all made that con seem like yesterday. We walked to Donatello's and posed for pictures. Though sadly, they told us it was reservations only. Which was a bit sad. After that we walked over to Hard Rock Cafe.
The full time at Hard Rock, Blue and I were compareing to Planet Hollywood. Here's my score count.
Catorgy ---- Planet Hollywood ------------------------------------------------- Hard Rock Cafe
Service ----- +5 (water cup never stayed empty) ------------- -1 (Had long waits before waitress came to the table)
Food ----- +20 (So Good I couldn't wait for more!) --------- -10 (The meat was burnt BLACK!)
Noise level -- +2 (At least you could hear each other) ---------- -1 (Had to YELL to be heard)
TMNT -------- +100 (Mikey's there!)-------------------------------- -200 (No TMNT at all
)
Over all Planet Hollywood was a nicer place and I enjoyed my visit there so much more. It wasn't just because Michaelangelo was there, but my food was wonderful I've been craving more since I left, I ordered the same thing at Hard Rock that I ordered at Planet Hollywood. Oh and the wait on the food was forever as well at Hard Rock. So all in all, Planet Hollywood is a good deal and I'll NEVER go back to the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto again!
After that we went down to the subway and sadly had to say good bye to Mily and M. Hopeing to get the chance to see them on Sunday. Than we headed back to my car to get and my meds and a few other things and put some stuff back in the car. Ninjaplease and Blue gave us a ride to the Days Inn we were staying at, than said our good nights. I didn't get to sleep till a little after midnight.
The hotel room was a normal size for a room, it had a TV, a couch (fold out bed), two double beds, plenty of table space and a good size bathroom. The service was good! And there's a trolly from the hotel that goes very close to the convention center that runs 24 hours a day.
There are no pictures from me of Saturday, though I did get some video... so maybe I'll snappy pictures off of that.
Sunday review is coming soon and that will have pictures!
