MC Anime

On-Con 2020 Anime Convention Review

On-Con 2020 was an online anime convention and occurred for three days. Geek Archology was graciously happy to host the anime-themed and advertised it on their website. Geek Archegoloy's founding member, Brent P. Newhall, came up with the idea for COVID-19 relief and convention community's stress surrounding the disease. Geek culture was highly involved in the website and Brent himself, so On-Con was inevitable to happen. YouTube was the method for the live stream and the main video content for Geek Archeology.

Though the event was three days, I was only able to attend the last day on March 29th. It was a Sunday morning, and I caught the end of the Trivia game, discussion, and giveaway #5. I might have been late to the party; however, the day turned out fruitful and yielded excitement. I asked some questions for On-Con in the discussion section and found possibly more On-Cons coming soon. Sunday had over 200 views on YouTube and a growing audience on the live chat. I stay tuned for the Panel: A Brief History of Anime and wanted to see how Brent discussed the material.

He started the stream by mentioning that “History is a Lie” and not always accurate, depending on new evidence and historical perceptive. Then, the picture Great Wave off Kanagawa surfaced on the screen, which has great significance in Japan's Prehistory Animation. Hokusai is a pioneer artist of his time and would paint landscapes and other Japanese life. In terms of animation, people knew him for observing Samurai and their martial arts, which he drew. These could have been early depictions of comic strips later known as manga in Japan. The manga was the prevalent source material for anime and would then influence the term anime. It is essential to understand that early animation after Hokusai's drawings was establishing a foothold for style and other fundamental techniques.

After the Prehistory of Anime, there was a timeline for Japanese history and key anime in the time. The first two anime listed in order was Astro Boy (1963) and Mobile Suit Gundam (1979). Between 1963 and 1979, there were student protests which questioned the older generation authority and lazy government plotlines in other anime. The next chronological event was Akira (1988) and then followed by the collapse of the Japanese economy (1990). This lead to instability in the anime industry once again, and budgets were even tighter. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) had a depressed protagonist who represented some Anti-Mecha anime tropes. Eventually, Japan would exercise extreme fees in American companies and cause the anime industry to cripple overseas. 2000 marked a shrink in America's consumption and revenue of anime due to the rising costs. The last major anime in the timeline was The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006). Audiences alike were enjoying The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya anime because it sparked significant fan interaction. This panel was an overview of anime, and the presentation dove further with one-on-one anime discussion.

After hearing anime's history, the next panel was Cosplay Showcase. Kaminoko and Ladyryu displayed skills for making masks for COVID-19. The activity revealed which fabric to use and the steps to make them. First and foremost, there was the advice for 100 percent cotton only. Cotton presented safe procedures involving the medical industry for its ability to reuse and sterilize, hypoallergenic capabilities, self-insulating, and other purposes. According to their suggestions, any color fabric was fine along as it was cotton and which filters prevented the disease from spreading. They said that certified filters were best, and the temporary situations like tissues worked best when changed. Lastly, along with the mask, they showed some cosplay projects like a dress. A trip to a thrift shop occurred, and Ladyryu bought a sheet to cut down the cost of the dress. Overall, their panel stood out and provided insightful features about cosplay.

Next, I participated in the Charity Auction for the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Brent had some anime merchandise and sold them to benefit fundraiser for the virus. We began this section of On-Con with a preview to each item for auction. I loved the lots and how everyone was competitive with specific objects. The high rollers when it came to bidding was Johnny, Emma, and somehow myself in the process. When I looked back to which objects I bought, I spent money equivalent to a quarter of the total proceeds for the auction. The time lag of the YouTube chat caused some problems with very close bids. Somehow, I placed a request, and the time lag revealed a delay in video and the live chat. On a closer look, I was the winner, and it came to the nose with Johnny and I. I won a Porco Russo original print at a discount than other places. Yeah, this was my favorite moment of the program, plus I benefited the Who COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

In conclusion, On-Con 2020 was fantastic and thrilling to be part of it. The people that I met were anime enthusiasts like me and reflected their passion throughout the stream. I joined the Discord, and now I am an active participant on the server. I hope people a safe time while at home and the ones affected by the virus in many ways. Also, consider giving to a cause to help this crisis and others like I did. Furthermore, everything is crazy at the moment, and everyone's support would form a collective to combat COVID-19. https://i.imgur.com/YpXHORc.png

Stay Home Comic Con 2020 Review

This past weekend was full of fun and established an online convention. Stay Home Comic-Con was a replacement for the canceled Dutch Comic-Con. There were live streams all over the place and was a success given the last minute for a virtual environment. The audience surely made an impact by representing six of seven continents, which included Antaricia but not Africa. Having such a broad international audience was impressive and caused me to look forward to the event even more than before.

I began the day by getting ready for my panel in the morning. According to the program, my presentation began at 11:30 to 12 AM CET. Central Europe Time told me that times zones mattered and resulted in converting my time zone to theirs. CET was five hours ahead, which meant staring the panel at 6:30-7:00 AM EST. I might have started earlier than expected, but I was overly excited about my activity. I titled the live stream with “MC Anime Presents: Discussing Anime Genre.” I did the presentation before, but this time felt different. It marked an experience to my first ever live stream with me as the host. The performance mentioned genres like psychological, action, historical, and others. In the end, My finishing statement was, “Be open to all types of anime and explore the abundance of options for entertainment specific to you.”

I watched other live streams and had to minus five hours from the schedule each time. I looked around and found the Kickstarter for Noobs workshop. Richard Boom discussed aspects of crowdfunding, his mummy collection, the comics, and previous titles such as Bad Press Comics. For those wondering, Kickstarter is a crowdfunding organization dedicated to creative projects and give them money to start a new venture. He was able to get off the ground, and Sisterhood Comics was born. Sisterhood Comics began from a history of mummy sketches and mainly be a story later on. He briefly explained, “Why mummies,” and exposed the truth with Justin Gray. Justin wrote the Vengeance of the Mummy, and that was Richard's first look at mummies as his priority medium in horror. He ventured off with discussing his multiple hats like Comics for Sinners, Facebook Group Founder, and role as an artist. This panel was very informative and created an atmosphere to follow your passion even if it becomes exotic mummies.

The second panel that I attended was “Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?.” Jesse van Willigenburg carried his energy and excitement throughout the lecture. He explained what to do and what to avoid in fantasy writing. In a story, you have many elements, and one is how to begin. Should you have an account with too much exposition or too litte? This question and others in the presentation are found in writing tips and advised strategies. A point that he stated which resonated with me significantly was “Show don't tell.” Anyone can tell a story, but those who show it are more likely for more success than telling. Fantasy is a genre that includes multiple subgenres and results in different content. According to Jessie, “I speak English, I speak Dutch, and I am a very vivid fantasy writer.” For Jessie, fantasy is what he offers to the world and enjoys doing it. He got this passion by simply exploring video games, which showed elements to make beliefs and other features. These graphics predominately shifted him forward and began writing what he learned from gaming. Gaming might be influential in Jessie's life, but you need to find your guiding light. If you are a writer, then never cease from writing and see where your passion takes you.

After Tips for Writers, I stumbled upon a live Studio Tour. Studio Tour was Instagram live and had Gerbart show you around his studio and home. Gerben den Heeten walked you around, and you got a close-up of his collections on the shelf. He goes off showcasing collections of figurines to Gundam kits to various books. The books on the shelf were something to see, for it allowed us to know his interests and career. He was a dedicated artist, and one book in his collection was Disney Animation: The Illusions of Life. It was clear that art was his muse, and as such, we got to observe how he operated. He expressed what inspires him the most throughout the studio was “The small and cozy feeling, and I close the curtains and be in a bubble.” The studio revealed which projects he did and what life was like in his creative crash space. There were numerous depictions of drawing guides like beauties of women to marvel characters coming alive. Gerben followed up with finishing some art commission project. For the first time, we saw him in action before the program ended.

The last notable panel for me at least was Live Glass Engraving. Vandenhoudt Stacey was the visionary behind the Miss Moose glass company. I went to her Facebook page, and my first impression was Krabby and Kingler's glass designs. From first glance, she was an amid pokemon enthusiast and glass designer. She began the stream right away with a glass jar and a drill used for engraving. The design was a flower dragon from 4mimigeeks. She took a break and showed us a little bit around the house and other glass designs she had. All course, the brief tour revealed more Pokemon, Harry Potter, and other fandoms engraved on the glasses. She only does engraving and does not paint or features on glassware. Commissions were available, and her page always has open all hours of the night. After the flower dragon, she began a commission of the electric-type mouse trio. The design revealed itself as Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu in chronological order by Pokemon evolution. When the model came around, I was under the impression of Russian stacking dolls. If these Pokemon were dolls, then Pichu would fit in Pikachu's body and then Pikachu in Raichu's body. I enjoyed the live demonstration of glass engraving and Miss Stacey at work for Miss Moose.

Furthermore, Stay Home Comic Con was a lot more than just a convention. The program had many noteworthy activities and amazing integration of many social media outlets for going live. My only problem probably was the differences in Eastern Standard Time and Central Europe Time. However, it did not take away but served as a reminder for guests far away like the Netherlands and other places. Stay Home Comic Con was four stars out of five stars and reflected the tough times we are going with right now. Be safe and be mindful of where you are and what you are doing during this pandemic.

https://i.imgur.com/7DNOdHi.jpg

Online Comic-Con

Life right now in the convention community, there is a lot of confusion and cancelations. The Novel Coronavirus primarily caused these cancelations. With this mind, large events are either put on hold or not happening altogether. What if I told you if there was a virtual comic con? It is called Stay At Home Comic-Con (SATCC), and it reflects the pride of the convention community. It is a tribute to vendors earning income to fans having an escape from social distancing. Get ready and mark your calendars for March 28th-29th, 2020, for this unique comic con is coming soon.

The organizers capitalized on the public health trend of social distancing and made an online event. Without them, it would not occur, and they are Irene Berbee, Gladys P. Nut & Art on Xodosch. It is a collaboration among like-minded comic enthusiasts coming together and giving back to the community. The idea of Stay At Home Comic-Con might sound crazy, but with everything going on, it is a smart thing to do it online. Everyone is at home, and why not bring a chance for people online to be closer virtually via Discord and Twitch.

Discord is a community where people can chat within a group setting and are invited via a link. You might say it is another Facebook or social media, and while that is true, it is not the whole truth. Initially, the platform was for gaming and soon after exploded for many groups. On the Discord server, SAHCC divides the categories by Cosplay, Comic-Con Memories, special offers, Artists, and other specific channels. I like the names of the voice chats like Stark Tower, Batcave, Cosplay Hangout, and others. Discord is well maintained; the Twitch channel would allow free visitors to view the live-stream. On the live-stream, there are about 60 different programs scheduled according to the website. The line of panels, workshops, and selling times are all available and ready for audiences to view this weekend.

The programming this weekend includes many activities related to comics. Some of the notable programs for me are Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?, Making Stories, and Animation Class. “Lecture – Tips for novice (fantasy) writers?” is hosted by Jesse van Willigenburg from 12:00-12:30. Jesse is the founder of Skilltree Entertainment, a writer, and a gamer by heart. He is live streaming the panel on his Twitch channel, which is SkilltreeOnTwitch. Making Stories is proudly hosted by Willem Ritstier from 14:00 – 14:30 on Saturday. Willem is an artist from CartoonsforBreakfast, which is a magazine and one of the sponsors for SAHCC. He is the creator of the fictional character of Mimoo for the magazine, and his panel reflects this on the CartoonsforBreakfast Facebook page. Finally, the Animation Class is a panel by
Pan-plastique, which goes from 16:30 to 17:00. Pan-plastique is known for his roles as an animator, artist, and YouTuber. He makes original art for 3D looking stretches, stickers, and more on his marketplace on his Instagram.

The Stay At Home Comic-Con is an activity that is like no other and free for attendance online. The guests could connect vendors, other guests, and generally watch the event from their couches. There is a giveaway if you sign up for the free ticket and register for the drawing. I like the Cosplay Contest on the website, and let's see who would be the winner. During this time, I hope you guys are safe in your homes and try to practice good choices for anti-virus precaution. Remember, the times right now might seem eerie, but eventually, there would be a resolution. Also, if you want to participate and see some of the programmings, then click on the programs. The program section is top of the screen and selects the activity you wish, then sees and bravo a live stream on the host's social media.

https://i.imgur.com/esqyRk0.jpg

Puppet Users in Anime Author: Zorez Shahzad

The Japanese word for puppets is kugutsu (人形), which literally means human form. The Japanese are known to take small concepts to their extreme. Puppets are an integral part of Japanese history. They have a 500-year-old heritage with puppets being passed down from generations as a part of family heritage and being gifted to lords and kings for their distinctive design and the significance they held in the Japanese culture. They represent prosperity and are known to take bad luck away from their bearer. They consider puppets as being an actual extension to the owner and according to some folklores, are known to come to life after some time. So being able to manipulate such an artifact has been a long undying dream of the Japanese people. Of Course, we see this culture being represented anime. The fascination does not just stop with just being able to Manipulate another body. They go further and explore this concept in many shapes or forms, adding their own twists and expectations. Rationalizing it in the form of some futuristic innovation or using plain old magic as the answer to everything. So, today we will take a look at some characters in anime who are able to manipulate another body as a puppet or a doll and bend them according to their will. Without further wait, let’s get started. Gowther:

The first one in our list passes all the characteristics of a trap. He has the feminine face and personality, but HE IS A GUY! Gowther is one of the main characters of Seven Deadly Sins. Despite being a doll himself, he can control and manipulate the memories of others. Hence, he is a doll who manipulates other humans. Isn’t this a reverse Uno situation? But despite having such a great ability, most of his power and memories are suppressed. He still is more powerful than a Holy Knight and possesses immense physical strength and magic. He can go toe to toe with some of the most powerful characters in his world and can easily go through a beating from the Giant Diane.
Gowther is not very perceptive of other people’s emotions and tries very hard to understand them. So, he often subjects others to his experiments which can go to extremes very quickly. Kankuro:

Kankuro is one of the most important supporting characters in the anime, Naruto and its sequel Boruto: Naruto Next Generation. The character design has been inspired by the traditional Japanese puppeteers, Bunraku, and being true to this inspiration, Konkuro has an innate desire to perfect his puppeteering techniques. He also likes to collect puppets, modify them and add different mechanisms to them. He is a very strong character, able to utilize his chakra threads to control multiple puppets at the same time and seems to be well versed in nature transformation, being able to use wind, light, earth and wind release. Kankuro is a true master puppeteer. He deeply cares for his comrades and has built a strong bond with his little brother Gaara. He, with his sister Temari, are the two guardians of the young Kazekaage. A duty he took and will follow to his grave. Sugar:

Sugar is a minor antagonist from the long-running anime, One Piece. She, despite looking like a 10-year-old is 22(Anime is weird). She has the power of Hobby-Hobby-fruit that lets her turn any living being into a toy and erase their existence from the memories of others. Her character has a lot of flavors, and despite her sweet name, she is shown to be very cruel. Albeit capable of sympathy, Sugar following her terrifying little girl trope is responsible for playing a very integral role in plunging a country into turmoil. Being a part of the Donquixote family, she is very loyal to Doflamingo and uses her power to aid him in his plans. Although Sugar did develop a fear of long noses and long noses like things at the end of her arc, she is the perfect example of why you should never mess with a little girl. Charlotte Belew:

Charlotte Belew is one of the main supporting characters in the anime, Unbreakable Machine-Doll. She has a tsundere personality and cares deeply for her comrades. She possesses strong mana compatibility and can sustain mana in her body. Charlotte, as a puppeteer, controls her automation Sigmund and with her high mana compatibility, is even able to heal life-threatening wounds. She can even transform her automation into a much larger dragon by giving him a large chunk of her mana and is often left exhausted after doing so. Although she is feared by her classmates, Charlotte is said to be very popular with the girls and the boys also prefer her. But despite this, she is a loner. Her character is shown to possess extreme intellect, able to analyze the situation in the middle of a battle and make the right decision. Jin Kariya:

The last person on this list is Jin Kariya. He is one of the major antagonists from Bleach. Jin is from a unique race called Bounts, who was artificially created by the Seireitei. He has a very manipulative personality as he treats his comrades like pawns and has no attachment to anything be it living or dead. Despite his shortcomings, Jin has a unique doll. His doll is called Messer and is a case for playing cards. Having a weird ability does not stop him from being cool though. His doll allows him to manipulate air, and he can use this ability without his doll being called an extension of his body. Which is a unique yrait in his kind. And he can use this ability to ionize the air and produce electricity. Which somehow lets him turn his box of playing cards into a saber. He has one of the most bizarre and coolest abilities out of everyone on this list.

https://i.imgur.com/iUuUao6.jpg

Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show 2020 Review

The Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show was a relatively small one-day event. It was hosted by Retro Daddio on March 14th, 2020. According to their website Retro Daddio is,”Williamsburg’s one-stop geek shop!” The past Saturday had significantly fewer attendees because of the threat of the COPID-19 virus. During last year’s venue, 400 guests were present. However, during this year’s venue had only 107 attendees.Whilst the number of attending pedestrians was limited, the venue still packed a plethora of vendors, networkers, and a large amount of comics/toys!

I started the day with Amtrak, and then headed to Retro Daddio. I arrived at the store around 11 PM, and proceeded to the sofas in the back. I waited until the starting time and met Mathew, a man who was selling comics at his booth. He was representing Key Issue Comics, but was called off at the last minute. Jen, the store owner, contacted them and gathered a few items to sell. Mathew specialized in selling independent comics, and his attire expressed such. He wore a MadMan T-shirt and a Wolverine hat. The lasting impression about him was his passion for Paul Pope and the THB series.

After my conversation with Mathew, I ventured off and sat on the chairs close to the small stage in the store. I would eventually venture back to converse with Deb, another small business owner. Deb's business was Misfit Geek, who was Perler beads with multiple characters. The fandoms displayed at her booth were Pac-Man, Super Mario, Pokemon, and Harry Potter. She was excited to discuss art, and there was a mini Van Gogh painting made out of beads. This sparked the conversation of the Vincent van Gogh pop-figure around her work. When she first received it, she took various photos in many backdrops at work. Afterwards, she paid zero attention to her judgmental coworkers. Eventually, I bought two items from her. Both of which were Pokemon characters; Gengar and Pikachu. The canvas combined Friday the 13th, and Pokemon, with a Pikachu body. Followed by a Jason hockey mask with an accompanying knife. From speaking with her, I learned that art is universal and speaks volumes to all whom are pleased with it.

Misfit Geek was fun, but Pop iCollectibles stood out in a different capacity. Chris was the visionary for Pop iCollectibles and had items that were Pop and others. The one thing that I noticed was the Dragon Ball set by Bandai. The Dragon Balls were orange and did look like the ones in Dragon Ball, which was the original premise for the show. The legend stated if you collect all 7 Dragon Balls you shall be granted a wish. I asked Chris,“If you were to have one wish what it would be?” He had great difficulty selecting an answer, and asked me for my response. I exclaimed,” World unity and no mindless violence.” Afterwards, Chris met with the ending of poverty to finally realize that it was problematic. He stated, “The dragon curse is indecisive, Shenron has put me down a rabbit hole.” Apparently, he was referring to issues concerning poverty; Those who would determine the disparity between rich and poor. In essence, we concluded that a wish was too powerful and Goku made the right choice concerning the Dragon Balls.

After Chris, I reconnected with the staff from MarsCon and experienced Mad Max cars. The team from MarsCon in January 2020 were making their rounds since the show. Furthermore, their conventions were both in Williamsburg. Previously, I volunteered for Mars Con, and it was refreshing to see some of the senior staff again. Earl was probably the most influential because we had a conversation about photography and Audio-Visual effects for the event. We discussed the process on which DSLR camera to buy for someone's wedding. The wedding couple wanted an album, but they did not realize the substantial cost associated with their choice. In return, Earl took the pictures with a release for the couple to print as much they wanted. The significance of the statement meant that they did not have to go to him and get additional points. Photographers make their money by second-end sales of reprints! This is because they produce original photos, and give the copyright to those pictures. He gave me his business card. Worst case scenario, I will not be able to attend the photography business but maybe taking photos at next year's MarsCon alongside Earl.

Earl had me going, but so did Mad Max Props and Adventures. This group had two people represented in the parking lot with their cars. Both vehicles were fashioned with the classic rustic look, and desert feel of erosion. They were the same model of car, a GT Tornio! However, both models were produced in different years. The GT Torino 71 was painted with a rustic iron pigmentation. It was based on the new remake for the franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road. The other GT was a custom-made model in the Mad Max videogame. I loved both, for they each had their gas tanks on the back.The drivers were kind, and traveled to the Mojave Desert for Wasteland Weekend; A five-day event where Mad Max enthusiasts came out and stayed in character. I hope to see them at Tidewater Comic-Con’s next scheduled showing.

Furthermore, Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show presented new opportunities, showcased grave issues, and served as an example of general public concerns; Such as the Coronavirus. Many people were concerned with taking care of themselves, and actively practiced basic hygiene. Jen said, “What is the point of canceling the event if the store would still be open?” The show proved that having normalcy in crisis is a far better option than giving up/starting to panic. In conclusion, Williamsburg Comic and Toy Show was an 8.5 out of 10! It will continue to facilitate Virginia’s passion for comics and toy-based collectibles for many years to come. Head on over to Williamsburg, Virginia, and take a peak for yourself.

https://i.imgur.com/w7P3HnE.png

General Dos and Don'ts for Conventions

Conventions are thrilling to attend, but sometimes knowing what to do and not are just as important. Today, I am discussing the dos and don'ts while at a convention. The list consists of my experience and common sense. Within these places, people look to information concerning guidance in a program, questions to staff, accessible communication on the web, and other sources for them to know more than before. People should know things and as such here is my list. It includes refreshments, planning, treating people with consideration, and being wary of pictures.

Do Hydrate and Eat!

Refreshments in this environment are vital for eating equals energy, and hydrating equals a properly functioning body. The question is where to get food and drinks, and one place not to get these items are restaurants and concessions at the events. Pricing matters for any business, and their goal is a profit even it means marking up the cost. The reason for this is the same concept at a sports game where prices are high and the demand for convenient food skyrockets. If you pack snacks ahead or purchasing frugally at a supermarket, then saving money is achieved. Remember, a person should eat plus drink fluids if they do not want their day cut short. Hunger and thirst present an uncomfortable feeling, so keep in mind to fulfill those needs at any event.

Do Not Forget the Planning Process.

Planning could mean success or failure for your trip. When you think about the future, you could solve a problem or sometimes earlier is better. Have you ever waited until the last minute to make a reservation or buy a ticket? Those instances are frustrating and making matters worse; you find that a particular price for something was more after the early deadline. Before traveling for any convention far away, consider a checklist for packing and track which items are needed. I always forget a camera for my convention trips, and as a result, my memories of it come in writing. Bring that camera or anything else because nothing is more annoying than forgetting that unique prop or required ticket. Remember, you need money for hotel or BNB, transportation of any kind, convention expenses and other expenditures associated with your stay. Think of a budget and stick to it and implement saving goals adequately for the trip.

Do Treat People with Consideration

Considering the people around you means you are aware of them and your actions. If the venue is overcrowded, then bumping into other guests and blocking the walkway is a no go. Attendees are ones to judge others based on negative impressions like you being rude in the crowds. For example, let's just say the person you ran into was your favorite voice actor, and they might not treat you very kindly. This goes the same way for voice actors or other well-known figures because it only takes one time, and potential fans could participate in cancel culture concerning the person's actions. An infamous case of a voice actor going rude is Vic Mignogna, who is responding very negatively to old fans and still ticking. It goes to show you that anyone can fall guilty to bitterness and crude actions. The most important people to consider are the convention staff and venue workers. This staff personnel is the ones either volunteering or paid by the venue to ensure a convention's success. They are vital, and without them, the primary functions are non-existing; therefore, the event falls apart. Always think of the golden rule of “treat others how you want to have treatment,” for it can potentially reap the rewards for you.

Do Not Think that Cosplay Means Consent!

Pictures are a touchy subject at conventions for reasons dealing with privacy and the photographer's intentions for the photos. Privacy in a public setting sounds complicated at first, but just because a person in costume does not constitute consent. Consent is the permission from someone else for a specific action like photos. Sometimes, cosplayers have to deal with creeps concerning harassment and weird obsessions. Photography might be forbidden from celebrities to private events depending on convention policies. Celebrities sell their autographs and photos at conventions to earn money. They reserve the right to exclude anyone who can not pay for pictures and to be rivalrous when it comes to how many photos are sold. Everyone is not photo-genetic, as you might think they are in costumes or public appearances. Also, when in doubt, always ask no matter what. Pictures are exciting, but be careful what times are good and evil.

Conventions are subjected to many types and composed of lots of activities. These pop-culture pastimes are heavily involved in the American lifestyle and other international events. People come out for they expect something in the programming or go with friends for enjoyment overall. Whatever the reason, just know that conventions are going to be around and then reflect the times for entertainment. Keep in mind the suggestions like refreshments, photos, convention courtesy, and, most importantly, prepare for the unexpected.

https://i.imgur.com/rBcZlFh.jpg

Grave of the Fireflies: Anime Analysis Important Notice: Spoilers Ahead

Grave of the Fireflies is an anime movie of great portions of how war is difficult to handle and deal with. The movie is an emotional roller-coaster that is proudly brought to you by Studio Ghibli. It served as Studio Ghibli's promotion for after 30 years and as a result, carefully told the story of Seita and Setsuko. Seita and Setsuko are caught in tough times when everything suddenly changes for the worse. The Second Great War is on the verge to end, but for Seita it feels like years than months in the film. There are three key areas that drive the film's success includes Japan's uncanny support for the war, the significance of fireflies, and its overall main message.

The Japanese citizens are seen in various ways supporting the war. When the burning of the town occurs, there was a man on a beach shouting “Long live the Emperor!” This suggested the man’s enthusiasm for Japan’s leader and still having hope even in a desperate situation. After the initial bombing, Seita and his sister would eventually go to their Aunt’s house to live with her family. They had to support the war with managing rations and contributing to the household. Japanese public support was high because the Emperor is the symbol of the state and Japanese citizens hold him in such a regard. If everyone did their part even small then the war effort could yield success. When resources are rationed, the war effort is heavily influenced by soldiers having supplies and continuing the good fight. Essentially, any citizen willing to sacrifice even extra food would be seen as a hero.

The fireflies in the movie were symbolic and each one had significance. Firstly, the fireflies at the pond where Setuko had a drop or candy as a treat. This represented a scene of happiness for her and a trip down memory lane. She rejoiced in not having drops in a long time and later those drops would be “drop water.” Secondly, the next important firefly scene was after Setuko crying and leaving the aunt’s house. The transition was key for they were independent and were not bothering the aunt anymore with their in quote ‘selfish behavior.’ They did the transition soon after a bombing raid occurred and made their new home as a bomb shelter. Finally, fireflies when Seita was pillaging for food and supplies in the distraction. The scene involved Seita stealing lots of resources while Setsuko was alone at their home base. Setsuko would fall unconscious and Seita was not there for her which foreshadows the worse to come, death.

The overall message of the film was that war is harsh and merciless. It gave an anti-war message and suggested the impacts of the society and individuals that reside in the aftermath. In the film, we observed Setsuko growing without her mom and Seita taking the role of a parent. The parent role suited Seita at first but Setsuko would be a victim of diarrhea then malnutrition. Life after the war was difficult for many reasons like low amounts of food, destroyed infrastructure, and others. It was this attempt of survival for the siblings that captured this intense moment to how life can change drastically. Once the bombs landed, people’s lives were greatly changed and as a result, they had to adapt and hope for the best. The film portrayed this in people’s actions to support the war effort and their conditions for living. People were under martial-law like air raids being ever-present and taking cover means survival. Furthermore, Setsuko’s death transformed the tone for war and how relentless it can be for either side.

Henceforth, Grave of the Fireflies is a movie where viewer discretion is strongly advised. It might seem innocent but the TV 14 rating is definitely there and needs careful consideration. A young child would misunderstand the concept of war, be left slightly traumatized, or other unknown effects. Despite the possible rating, Grave of the Fireflies would be a movie about how war is a deterrent for conflict and its aftermath. It serves as a testament to such a grave issue in history and WWII in general. So, if you do not mind a tearjerker and depictions of battle then Grave of the Fireflies is for you.

https://i.imgur.com/GNu5bhV.jpg

Super-Leaping in Anime Author: Zorez Shahzad

Super leap is the ability to jump very high into the sky. This ability is a common trope for anime characters who have super inhuman strength. These characters lack the ability to fly, so in order to make up for it, they retort to brute strength. In a fight, in emergencies or just to travel, they propel themselves to great distances with the help of their brute strength alone and use their momentum to their advantage. These characters make walking or running a sport for plebs. Some western examples for this ability would be Superboy from Young justice and Hulk from Marvel. Both have immense strength, but they can't fly. Today, where going to be focusing not on the western characters, but the anime characters. So, let's see which anime characters use this ability to their advantage.

Saitama:

Saitama is the ultimate protagonist in One Punch Man. He is the most powerful character in the series, possessing limitless strength. He, staying true to the name of his series, is able to defeat all of his foes with one punch, that is if he does not restrain himself. Saitama has immense control over his strength. He shows this control by not killing humans when they challenge him. Saitama is an impressive hero but unlike a certain red caped alien, Saitama does not possess the ability to fly. He compensates for this inability through his impressive leg strength. His enhanced leap allows him to hop several hundreds and thousands of kilometers in a matter of seconds.

This ability is ideally portrayed in one of his most iconic scenes, Saitama’s Moon jump. He was able to cover 380,000 km in a matter of mere seconds. This leap left a crater on the moon and most of us fans baffled. The fans are always in awe of this Bald Hero’s invincibility. Saitama is an ideal hero. He is indifferent to the opinion of others. He became a hero for himself. He has the most powerful Super leap in the anime. I guess those 100 squats, 10 pushups, and a 10 km run every day really give you superhuman strength.

Licht Bach:

Lich Bach is the main character of Plunderer. Yes, that is a German name for a Japanese character. His real name is Sakai Rihito. He is one of the 7 legendary Red Barons in this series and is the most powerful Baron as he is the leader of all the other Barons. Licht Bach’s special ability as a Baron is the speed of flash that lets him become faster than the speed of sound. Which makes his movement very difficult to follow. He can also jump very high and cover several kilometers with one hop. This ability often confuses people into thinking that he is flying. However, Licht does not have the ability to fly.

He is a very likable character and is a pervert. He is a true man of culture who is used to girls hating him and rejecting him. He can face their rejections with a stone face. His enigmatic personality makes him a personal favorite of mine and reminds me of Sakurai Tomoki from Sora no Otoshimono. Both shows are the brainchild of the same author Suu Minazuk so it’s no wonder that they have similar main-characters. The Legendary Hero Plunderer and the Great Pervert would get along really well. Overall, the legendary Baron has an amazing character design and a very well tied backstory. He is an amazing character that needs more recognition.

Midoriya Izuku:

Midoriya Izuku the protagonist of everyone’s favorite My Hero Academia. Unlike Saitama, Midoriya is obsessed with the concept of being a hero. A great testament to that is his vast knowledge of fundamental hero skills and tactics which he accumulated after years of observations. Born quirkless, he used this knowledge to turn One For All a gift from All Might into one of his greatest assets. Even All Might was surprised at his successors’ expert use of his fading quirk. Deku’s Full Cowl allows him to achieve superhuman maneuverability with immense destructive power. This mode gives him a tactical advantage to hop around and become something akin to lightning.

These hops cover an immense area and allow Deku to become somewhat invisible to the untrained eye. This abilities toll on Midoriya's body is not that great and it seems that Midoriya can control his quirk better in this manner. Midoriya becomes a small lightning tank when he uses this ability. He has certainly surpassed All Might in his use of One For All. He continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Soon, Midoriya will surpass even destructive power of All Might, the destructive power the Greater Hero possessed in his prime and I can't wait for that to happen.

Bellamy the Hyena:

Bellamy is a minor antagonist turned ally from the One Piece series. He is the former captain of the Bellamy Pirates and a former member of the Donquixote Family. After being defeated by Luffy, twice, he became a part of the Dyer; a self-proclaimed Grand Fleet of the Straw-hat Pirates. Bellamy is physically very strong, being able to bend iron bars and throw a grown man out the window, but his strength does not even come close to the other characters on this list.

Despite losing in the strength department, Bellamy has the power of Bane Bane no Mi fruit; where Bane literally translates to spring, hence the spring-spring fruit. Being a spring man lets him transform his limbs into springs, compression springs to be precise. These springs when wounded, allow him to jump long distances and maintain immense momentum. Although he cannot control himself in air, Bellamy uses his ability to dodge and get close to his enemies and strike. Which makes Bellamy’s ability quite useful against ranged combatants. Bellamy is a prime example of an enemy turned ally due to the main character's compassion. This makes Bellamy a very likable and well-crafted character. Which is an important asset to any good story.

https://i.imgur.com/pl3YrtV.j

Super-Leaping in Anime Author: Zorez Shahzad

Super leap is the ability to jump very high into the sky. This ability is a common trope for anime characters who have super inhuman strength. These characters lack the ability to fly, so in order to make up for it, they retort to brute strength. In a fight, in emergencies or just to travel, they propel themselves to great distances with the help of their brute strength alone and use their momentum to their advantage. These characters make walking or running a sport for plebs. Som Western examples for this ability would be Superboy from Young justice and Hulk from Marvel. Both have immense strength, but they can't fly. Today, we are going to be focusing not on the western characters but the anime characters. So, let's see which anime characters use this ability to their advantage.

Saitama:

Saitama is the ultimate protagonist in One Punch Man. He is the most powerful character in the series, possessing limitless strength. He is staying true to the name of his series, who he is able to defeat all of his foes with one punch, if he shows restraint. He shows this control by not killing humans when they challenge him. Saitama is an impressive hero but unlike a certain red caped alien, Saitama does not possess the ability to fly. He compensates for this inability through his impressive leg strength. His enhanced leap allows him to hop several hundreds and thousands of kilometers in a matter of seconds.

This ability is ideally portrayed in one of his most iconic scenes, Saitama’s Moon jump. He was able to cover 380,000 km in a matter of mere seconds. This leap left a crater on the moon and left most of us fans baffled. The fans are always in awe of this Bald Hero’s invincibility. Saitama is an ideal hero, and he is indifferent to the opinion of others. He became a hero for himself. He has the most powerful Super leap in the anime. I guess those 100 squats, 10 pushups, and a 10 km run every day really give you superhuman strength.

Licht Bach:

Lich Bach is the main character of Plunderer. Yes, that is a German name for a Japanese character. His real name is Sakai Rihito. He is one of the 7 legendary Red Barons in this series and is the most powerful Baron as he is the leader of all the other Barons. Licht Bach’s special ability as a Baron is the speed of flash that lets him become faster than the speed of sound. This makes his movement very difficult to follow and pinpoint his movements. He can also jump very high and cover several kilometers with one hop. This ability often confuses people into thinking that he is flying. However, Licht does not have the ability to fly.

He is a very likable character and is a pervert. He is a true man of culture who is used to girls hating him and rejecting him. He can face their rejections with a stone face. The enigmatic personality makes him a personal favorite of mine and reminds me of Sakurai Tomoki from Sora no Otoshimono. Both shows are the brainchild of the same author Suu Minazuk so it’s no wonder that they have similar main-characters. The Legendary Hero Plunderer and the Great Pervert would get along really well. Overall, the legendary Baron has an amazing character design and a very well tied backstory. He is an amazing character that needs more recognition.

Midoriya Izuku:

Midoriya Izuku the protagonist of everyone’s favorite, My Hero Academia. Unlike Saitama, Midoriya is obsessed with the concept of being a hero. A great testament to that is his vast knowledge of fundamental hero skills and tactics which he accumulated after years of observations. Born quirkless, he used this knowledge to turn One For All a gift from All Might into one of his greatest assets. Even, All Might was surprised at his successors’ expert use of his fading quirk. Deku’s Full Cowl allows him to achieve superhuman maneuverability with immense destructive power. This mode gives him a tactical advantage to hop around and become something akin to lightning.

These hops cover an immense area and allows Deku to become somewhat invisible to the untrained eye. This ability takes a toll on Midoriya's body which it seems the side-effects are painful at times. Midoriya becomes a small lightning tank while keeping track of his power levels. He has certainly surpassed All Might in his use of One For All. He continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Soon, Midoriya will surpass even the destructive power of All Might, in which the Greater Hero possessed in his prime; I can't wait for that to happen.

Bellamy the Hyena:

Bellamy is a minor antagonist turned ally from the One Piece series. He is the former captain of the Bellamy Pirates and a former member of the Donquixote Family. After being defeated by Luffy, twice, he became a part of the Dyer; a self-proclaimed Grand Fleet of the Straw-Hat Pirates. Bellamy is physically very strong, who is able to bend iron bars and throw a grown man out the window, but his strength does not compare to the other characters.

Despite losing in the strength department, Bellamy has the power of Bane Bane no Mi fruit; where Bane literally translates to spring, hence the spring-spring fruit. Being a spring man lets him transform his limbs into springs, compression springs to be precise. These springs when wounded, allow him to jump long distances and maintain immense momentum. Although he cannot control himself in air, Bellamy uses his ability to dodge and get close to his enemies and strike. In battle, this allows Bellamy’s ability to be quite useful against ranged combatants. Bellamy is a prime example of an enemy turned ally due to the main character's compassion. This makes Bellamy a very likable and well-crafted character. Which is an important asset to any good story?

https://i.imgur.com/pl3YrtV.jpg

Galaxy Con 2020 Convention Review

Galaxy Con 2020 was a smashing hit from last year, 2019. Richmond, VA was the first Galaxy Con of the year and as such will carry lots of for the rest of Galaxy Cons. Galaxy Con’s trademark came from SuperCon before their events were sold to ReedPOP and GalaxyCon was born. It is just a change in ownership and the only SuperCon left is the original in Florida. I came to the friends the Reynolds Anime Club and treated volunteering as the community service project for the club. I would have come even without the community service aspect. I was assigned to the Audio and Visual department for Galaxy Con. I went on Saturday, February 209th, 2020 and had two shifts of ten hours with a break in between.

I arrived at the event around 8:45 A.M. and was waiting to enter with staff personnel for my shift. Apparently, the Greater Richmond Convention Center Security was very picky who came on the restricted areas before 10 A.M. I had to go with a staff member even though I had the volunteer shirt for my shift from 9 am to 2 pm. This reassured that the event would be safe and there would be no external threats for the remainder of my time there. I went to the second floor and it felt deserted with all the guests downstairs. Luckily, the volunteer coordinator put a list of numbers for the supervisors of each department and I called mine. The only sense of direction for finding everyone was what I thought was the Viewing rooms. However, AV’s home base was on the other side of the building which was interesting for walking back and forth from. I met Anthony and he directed to headquarters (HQ) and that is where I began my wait for something to do.

It took about 10:30 where the waiting around was followed by briefly moving the equipment around and such. Though during this time, it was quiet because most of the preparations were done beforehand. Basically, it was fine-tuning and watching AV staff getting the transcribing software eady on TVs and connected to tablets. The transcribing software was to help those with hearing impairments a chance to understand what was said in the Main, Super, and Hero Stages. After some time, I had a chance to do the main activities for AV which was checking on panelists and seeing their requirements for the panels.

Since I was new to AV, I had someone named Tim, who every chance he got to help AV at Galaxy Con. He showed them things to ask and look out for like projectors, microphones, audio from an external device to speaker, and other important factors for the panel sections. My favorite part was meeting the panelists and asking the same questions to make it easier for them. A majority of the time, the panels did not need the project much and mainly used the microphones in the rooms. While I was making my strolls to the panels, I ran into a panelist that I met last year who hosted Who wants to be a Nerd? (geek trivia) and Conversation Menu (a list of ice breakers for talking).

Though my first shift was busy, I still managed to enjoy the AV segment so far and it provided a groundwork for other conventions to come. The last activity that I was assigned was to help a special guest who had a signing and Q&A activity which had a lot of preparation for it. We had to organize the room where people would line up in the hallway and slowly present their ticket for the autographs. There were two tables lined up on the autographs and the Galaxy Con banner had to be moved in front of the platforms so no one would step on those platforms. The people attending the panel were ecstatic at them getting a small picture and a large poster as a gift. This was the last task I did before going on my hour hiatus and then have to go back.

During the two hour break, I met up with a member of the club whose shift ended on the same shift. Actually, I ended up a couple of minutes early and decided to go to the Anime Viewing Room to wait on Reggie. He could not leave the pile of DVDs, so I waited with him for confirmation when Anthony would be able to open the storage room. We went to AV HQ and sat in the room for about 20 minutes. Reggie did not eat for a while so pizza was his option in the office and waiting around was pretty relaxing. The shift prior to this was taxing and my feet were aching for walking the 3 blocks of a convention center. Reggie and I went downstairs to meet up with the former club president and his brother. Apparently, there was confusion about which cafe he was and it ended up being Concessions B in Exhibit Hall B. I thought the Food Court and Cyber Cafe were the only places but I was severely wrong when I found out about the concessions in the vendor's area.

When I met Irvin, the plans that I discussed with Reggie were changed. Originally, Irvin decided to go to the Video Games room for the Dragon Ball Z Fighters Tournament but soon joined me in watching the Super Smash Bros. Tournament. I liked the Smash Bros. and my favorite was discussing with guests about Melee versus Ultimate. Melee is the second generation of Smash Bros. on the GameCube while Super Smash Ultimate is the new version on the Nintendo Switch. I was trying to see people’s opinions on HungryBox (who is the top champion in Melee) and if Ultimate was better than Melee. However, my two hours of rest would have come to an end and so my second shift began 4 to 9.

My second shift was literally doing Reggie’s shift which was the Anime Viewing Room and later the Nostalgia Viewing Room. I checked with Brian after the break and found there was not much to do at the moment. I proposed to assist in the viewing room and Brian suggested to go check. I arrived at the viewing room and found out that people were anxious for My Hero Academia that should have started at 4 pm. I went back for a second time to retrieve the DVDs that were scheduled and put on MHA: Tale of Two Heroes. I am telling you MHA was too crazy for their respective panels and their photoshoot. I was really excited after I put Sailor Moon Crystal at 6 pm since it was my first time watching any Sailor Moon.

I met really cool fans of the anime and had many conversations with them. The one conservation that stood apart was a Queen Ramonda cosplayer from Black Panther and how she made the costume. The Nostalgia room started at 7 pm with Batman: The Animated Series and at first had a small screen since the cord was really short on the projector. I played Space Dandy at 8 pm and the first episode that was on was “I Can't Be the Only One, Baby” which introduced the multiverse concept in the episode. The most exciting thing I watched was The Transformers: The Movie which started at 8:30. This movie is an American icon and should be watched at all costs!

In conclusion, I learned a lot in AV operations, the importance of permission to screen media in public, and how to go through crowds effectively. The AV was like a second choice for me since Video Production was not available for volunteers. I understand the process of sound and technology crew at an event more clearly now. I also stumbled across why you need to ask permission from licensing companies for public screening. The viewing rooms were screening events in public and you need to get permission and possibly pay the creators prior to showing the DVDs for the particular copyrighted franchise. Finally, I learned how to not be people’s ways while waiting in between panels. Going to crowds is essential as well for you are considerate for the guests walking by you just like not being in the middle of the path for walking. I hope to volunteer again for AV in the near future and possibly be better at it. According to their description, “GalaxyCon Richmond is More Than a Comic-Con! It’s a 3-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM…” and as a result, I hope to see you there.

https://i.imgur.com/hJtDzyl.jpg