Anime Expo 2009, Day 4

Oh man, we are about to wrap up this baby up. So, let's review.

Doujins? Check.
Visual books? Check.
Dakimakura? Check.
AX Merchandise? Check.
Autographed shikishi board? Check.
UFO plushie? Check.
Xeno? Check.
K-ON! photos? Check.
All photo camaras exhausted? Check.
Caramelldansen chain? Check.
(wait a fucking minute, that was there?)

So, it's time for me to list the auction items, the starting and final selling prices. I joined in the shouting, too to up the bidding price.

Let's start with the Art Auction. Our auction guy, Paul (who is also one of our staffers), chipped in by donating his bowler hat, vest and tie to the cause.

The proceeds from this racket would be funneled to Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Item 18: Shot glass - Triforce
Start: $25. Sold to bid sheet.

Item 3: Chibi Setsuna
Start: $21. Sold to bid sheet.

Item 4: FMA Chibis
Start: #16. Sold: $22.

Item 183: When TIme Sleeps...
Start: $28. Sold: $45.

Item 191: Integral
Start: $41. Sold to bid sheet.

Item 241: Samus Aran
Start: $75. Sold: $75.

Item 10: Munculus Wineglass
Start: $20. Sold: $60.

Item 177: Pink Punk'd Grunge
Start: $136. Sold: $180.

Item 190: Canary by James Henderson
Start: $51. Sold: $80.

Item 47: Sheryl & Ranka
Start: $38. Sold: $50.

Item 12: Hetalia Mug
Start: $40. Sold $42.

Item 193: Sephiroth by James Henderson
Start: $36. Sold: $55.

Item 1: PS3 Girl
Start: $65. Sold to bid sheet.

Item 192: Houman by James Henderson
Start: $110. Sold to bid sheet.

Item 205: 4 Beauties
Start: $25. Sold: $200.

Now we head to the big auction: the SPJA Charity Auction. The shikishi boards and AX-Exclusive posters that were autographed were the big ones of the day.

Item 2301: Black Gungrave T-shirt, size XL, signed by Nightow.
Start: $20. Sold: $60.

Item 706: Gundam OO poster signed by Yun Kouga, Takeshi Kuroda and Seiji Mizushima.
Start: $25. Sold: $35.

Item 102: Atsushi Nishigane Gurren Lagann signed artwork, 2 file folders.
Start: $30. Sold: S130.

Item 2403: Trigun signed posted of Vash the Stampede by Nightow.
Start: $20. Sold: $100.

Item 501: Funimation, Basilisk Limited Edition, Signed by entire English cast.
Start: $40. Sold: $70.

Item 201: Morning Musume CD, Platinum 9, Signed by entire group.
Start: $100. Sold: $200.

Item 2703: Moi dix mois tote bag. Signed by band: Kaguya, Kei and Mana.
Start: $40. Sold: $75.

Item 1104: Kari Wahlgren, Helsing Ultimate, autographed Rip van Winkle postcard.
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor."
Start: $20. Sold: $40.

Item 802: Blayzblue, XBOX 360, signed by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Toshinaka Mori.
Start: $60. Sold: $100.

Item 503: Funimation, Grappler Baka, Round 8, Signed by English Cast, DVD.
Start: $1. Sold: $30.

Item 705: Gundam OO poster, signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $20. Sold: $50.

Item 301: Patricia Lee, Power Rangers
Start: $9. Sold: $25.

Item 2501: Anime Expo 2009 poster signed by all the Guests of Honor.
Start: $60. Sold: $500.

Item 1105: Kari Wahlgren, autographed photo.
Start: $30. Sold: $60.

Item 602: Takeshi Okazaki-signed Afro Samurai wall scroll.
Start: $30. Sold: $75.

Item 506: Funimation, Signed yellow Peach Girl tote bag. Signed by English cast of Peach Girl.
Start: $20. Sold: $35.

Item 507: Signed Negima! poster by the English cast.
Start: $25. Sold: $100.

Item 2101: Moi dix Mois shikishi board, signed by band.
Start: $5. Sold: $125.

Item 2404: Poster, Geneon, Trigun's Nicholas Wolfwood. Signed by Nightow.
Start: $30. Sold: $65.

Item 512: Funimation, Shin-chan postcard signed by entire English cast.
Start: $10. Sold: $50.

Item 1602: Robot Chicken T-Shirt, size XL, signed by entire caqst and Seth Green. Worn by Green.
Start: $40. Sold: $500.

Item 2602: Bandai, Gundam OO box set signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizushima.
Start: $50. Sold: $130.

Item 509: Funimation, Shuffle, signed by English cast.
Start: $25. Sold: $70.

Item 804: Blayzblue for PS2, limited edition with DVD and OST. signed by Ishiwatari and Mori.
Start: $75. Sold: $200.

Item 1302: Shikishi of Gundam OO by Kuroda.
Start: $200. Sold: $350.

Item 511: Funimation, Witch Blade DVD signed by Jamie Murachi.
Start: $20. Sold: $70.

Item 2702: Moi dix Mois 2005 European Tour DVD, signed by the band.
Start: $125. Sold: $200.

Special Item 1: Autographed bowler hat by Paul the Auction Guy.
Start: $20. Sold: $77. I wasn't able to get the sold pride for the tie and vest though, sorry.

Item 201: Morning Musume Platinum-9 Disc, signed by the group.
Start: $150. Sold: $230.

Item 1101: Kari Wahlgren-sgned Final Fantasy Tactic War.
Start: $25. Sold: $95.

Item 1102: Blood+ Vol. 1, signed by Kari Wahlgren.
Start: $50. Sold: $70.

Item 604: Okazaki-signed Afro Samurai DVD set, Season 1.
Start: $40. Sold: $80.

Item 607: Okazaki-signed print.
Start: $25. Sold: $75.

Item 701a: Print, Gundam OO, signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $45. Sold: $90.

Item 1103: Kari Wahlgren-signed Hellsing Ultimate Rip van Winkle postcard.
"My bullet punishes out without distinction."
Start: $20. Sold: $40.

Item 505: Mushi-Shi, Volume 4. Signed by English cast.
Start: $35. Sold: $40.

Item 508: Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad. Signed by the English cast.
Start: $50. Sold: $90.

Item 504: Kodocha, Volume 7. Signed by the English cast.
Start: $25. Sold: $70.

Item 1801: Shikishi by Imashi: Yoko Ritona from Gurren Lagann.
Start: $70. Sold: $550.

Item 401: Guilty Gear Gear XX Love Plus, PS2, signed by More and Ishiwatari.
Start: $50. Sold: $275.

Item 502: xxxHolic Volume 1. Signed by the English cast.
Start: $20. Sold: $175.

Item 2901: Signed Itagawa and Ayashi poster,
Start: $50. Sold: $300.

Item 2502: Anime Expo 2009 poster signed by all the Guests of Honor.
Start: $50. Sold: $2,000.

Item 801: Blayzblue, signed by Mori and Ishiwatari.
Start: $50. Sold: $600.

Item 704: Hallelujah poster, Gundam OO, signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $50. Sold: $70.

Item 703: Dalady twins, signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $50. Sold: $80.

Item 2402: Geneon, Trigun poster signed by Nightow, Nishimori, Kitayama and Jingui.
Start: $50. Sold: $200.

Item 101: 3 items, an artbook and file folders, signed by Nishigori.
Start: $75. Sold: $200.

Item 702: Poster of Setsuna from Gundam OO, signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $75. Sold: $130.

Item 2801: Morning Musume poster. Signed by the group.
Start: $75. Sold: $1,700.

Item 2601: Gundam OO DVD Special Box Set.
Start: $50. Sold: $250.

Item 2406: Nicholad Wolfwood poster signed by Nightow.
Start: $60. Sold: $140.

Item 601: Okazaki-signed Afro Samurai poster.
Start: $35. Sold: $100.

Item 603: Afro Samurai the Movie DVD signed by Okazaki.
Start: $50. Sold: $75.

Item 1702: Color sketch of Gundam Virtue by Mizunashi.
Start: $50. Sold: $600.

Item 2401: Trigun poster signed by Nightow, Nishimura, Kitayama and Jingui.
Start: $50. Sold: $150.

Item 1701b: Gundam OO poster with sketch. Signed by Kouga, Kuroda and Mizunashi.
Start: $50. Sold: $300.

Item 510: Funimation: Shuffle poster, signed by the English cast.
Start: $50. Sold: $200.

Item 202: Morning Musume Platinum 9-Disc, signed by the group.
Start: $200. Sold: $500.

Item 1601: Robot Chicken T-shirt, siZe XL, signed by the cast.
Start: $50. Sold: $500.

Item 803: Blayzblue for XBOX 360, Limited Edition.
Start: $150. Sold: $275.

Item 2405: Nicholas Wolfwood poster, signed by Nightow.
Start: $50. Sold: $125.

Item 605: Okazaki-signed Afro Samurai Resurrection DVD.
Start: $50. Sold: $80.

Item 2701: Moi dix Mois posted, signed by the band.
Start: $50. Sold: $160.

Item 1401: Kokoro Library, signed by Kuroda.
Start: $500. Sold: $700.

Item 2102: Moi dix Mois signed shikishi board.
Start: $50. Sold: $100.

Item 1901: Yo Yoshinori B&W Sketch, Gurren Lagann.
Start: $100. Sold: $600.

Item 2001: Shikishi, signed by Sushio, Nia Teppelin, Gurren Lagann.
Start: $100. Sold: $700.

Item 2201: Shikishi, signed by Nightow, Gungrave.
Start: $100. Sold: $550.

Item 1301: Shikishi, signed by Kuroda, Gundam OO, Gundam Exia.
Start: $700. Sold: $3,500.
***Highest-sold item at the auction***

Item 1501: Shikishi, color sketch, Setsuna from Gundam OO.,
Start: $100. Sold: $1,500.

Item 1902: Yo Yoshinori-signed front shot of Gurren Lagann.
Start: $500. Sold: $800.

Item 2203: Shikishi, B/W sketch of Nicholas Wolfwood, signed by Nightow.
Start: $300. Sold: $3,000
***2nd Highest-Sold item at the auction***

Item 2202: Shikishi, B/W sketch of Vash the Stampede, signed by Nightow.
Start: $2,000. Sold: $2,000.

Item 2002: Shikishi, signed by Sushio, Yoko Ritona from Gurren Lagann.
Start: $2,002. Sold: $2,200.

Item 1502: Shikishi, signed by Yun Kouga, Souless color sketch, Ritsuko Aya.
Start: $400. Sold: $1,800.

Item 6006: Shikishi, signed by Okazaki, illustration of Afro Samurai.
Start: $100. Sold: $260.

Item 1202: Shikishi, signed by Mizunashi, Gundam Exia color illustration.
Start: $100. Sold: $2,500
***3rd Highest-Sold item at the auction***

Anime Expo 2008 Reflections, Part 3

Anime Expo 2008 Reflections, Part 3

Day 4

For a fleeting moment, I thought I was back in my bedroom, thinking that Anime Expo 2008 was nothing more than a dream in my head. But when I woke up, I saw that I was still in the Westin Bonaventure...and I had one more day to work. Crap! So, I finished packing my bags, and after I went down to the Beaudry Room for the final breakfast of the convention, I went over to the Guest Services desk, and I asked them why they automatically charged us for parking, even though I commuted by bus, train, and foot. What are they, extortionists in training. Gag me with a ski mask, guys.

Naturally, they expunged it from the record. I was a bit sleepy when I got back on the shuttle for the last time, but I was excited about wrapping up my work at this convention.

There is an old adage: "The third time's the charm." For me, hearing rave reviews about Registration in my third year as a staffer was especially sweet.

Aside from the string bikini fetishes and the Masquerade fix I had last night, I watched a stream of cosplayers listen to the music as if the Pied Piper of Otakumlin came to play. I said, "Sorry guys, I've got work to do." That's the thing: here at AX, you have the power (within reasonable constraints) to live your own fantasies.

So I went down to the auction after my final shift next door at West Hall B to take note of the items up for bid, and how high they went. Here's a sample of what was there, and what the final bidding price unded up to be.

* Item 25, an Anime Expo 2008 autographer poster by all of the Guests of Honor. Sold for $350.
* A Boise State "Otaku for Obama" shirt signed by David Hayter. Sold for $100.
* Item 2, a Batman Gotham Night Poster signed by Brian Ezorio, Greg Ruen, Bruce Tim, ALan Burnett, David Goyer, Josh Olsen, Chris Drake, and Jordan Calabria (my handwriting sucked, so if I got the names wrong, I apologize). Sold for $225.
* Item 31, a Masamitsu Hidaka-signed Linebarrels of Iron shirt, Size M. Sold for $45.
* Item 13, a Yu Yu Hakushoposter autographed by Chris Sabat, Jerry JEwell and Justin Cook. Sold for $75.
* Item 16, an autographed Shoko Nakagawa Happy Coat worn during the concert. Sold for $350.
* Item 10, a Jyukai hat, by Dewa, worn during the concert. Sold for $40. (Can you get something like that at Ross!? And cheaper!!?)
* Item 27, an autographed attendee shirt, autographed by David Hayter, size L. Sold for $60.
* Item 22, A Black Sword of the Stranger shirt, size L-SS, autographed by Masahiro Ando. Sold for $160
* Item 23, a Patlabor poster signed by Akemi Takada. Sold for $160.
* Item 20, an autographed shikishi board, autographed by Jyukai. Sold for $70.
* Item 17, an Ouran High School host club blazer, signed by the English dubbing crew at the panel. Sold for $300.
* Item 33, Batman Gotham Night poster (see 2). Sold for $275
* Item 9, another Jyukai hat by Dewa. Sold for $45. (I got at Ross! Just kidding. I got it at Marshalls. Also kidding.)
* Item 21, another Jyukai-autographed shikishi (same as 20). Sold for $60.
* Item 24, a Patlabor poster autographed by Akemi Takada. Sold for $250.
* Item 26, another Anime Expo 2008 poster signed by all the Guests of Honor (see 25). Sold for $600.
* Item 34, Another Batman Gotham Night poster (same as 2). Sold for $250.
* Item 8, a dress worn by Manami of Jyukai at the concert, size 2. Sold for $100. (A perfect present for your waifu! Should have had matching apron for some kinky hadaka tricks.)
* Item 29, two Black & Red passes for Anime Expo 2009. Sold for face value ($1,000).
* Item 5, a Batman Gotham Night DVD, autographed from those who signed Item 2. Sold for $400.
* Item 28, another David Hayter autographed attendee shirt, size L. Sold for $110.
* Item 30, a shikishi board signed by Masamitsu Hidaka. Sold for $300.
* Item 7, a color sketch by Hiromi Kato, showing characters from "I'm Gonna Be An Angel!" Sold for $1,600.
* A KImagure Orange Road drawing by Akemi Takada. Sold for $3,000
* Item 1, a drawing by Hiromi Kato, featuring Chiyo MIhama, Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, Utena Tenjou, Mokona, Sakura Kinomoto, and other charactes from Beck, Paradise Kiss and I'm Gonna BE An Angel!. Sold for $7,000.

The auction, after deduction, about $14,000 was raised for Children's Hospital of Orange County.

All in all, the convention was capped by Vic Mignogna closing the convention, and Mr. Ando wrapped it by dotting the other eye on the daruma head. Perfect.

And thus my reflections on the convention have been revealed.