Kiyami

(picture of con acquires and my badge to come tomorrow)

Hi, my name is Mittens, but by my badge and on previous forum incarnations I am Kiyami. This is the story of how I died muffed up my knee.

This was my fifthteenth anime convention (MangaNext 2008, Otakon 2009, NYAF 2009, Kotoricon 2010, AnimeNext 2010, NYAF/CC 2010, Otakon 2011, Ayacon 2011, MangaNext 2012, Otakon 2012, Kotoricon 2013, Katsucon 2013, Zenkaikon 2013, Otakon 2013 and Katsucon 2014 respectfully) and second time at Katsu. The first, while enjoyable was marred by the drama that occurred between con goers and another group who had rented out the Gaylord National Convention Center. Well, let’s just say they weren’t invited back.. but we were.

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As Chuck has mentioned, one of the most difficult challenges was actually arriving at the con. No amount of praying or checking the 10-day forecast could stop old lady winter; A large Nor’easter throughout the entire Northeast region… life and travel disrupted. Up to a foot of snow as well as ice. It had been my plan to go down on Thursday and stay overnight in D.C, and with a hotel and trains booked that meant traveling during the storm of the winter. Yet, my train out of Jersey was on-time, and my train south was one that didn’t get cancelled. I made it to D.C. and eventually Katsucon on Friday morning, braved the Pre-Registration line and found a world of amazing cosplay. As mentioned, there was such a gorgeous variety; anime both old and new, videogames, Star Trek, Avatar, Disney… I’m pretty sure there was a tie for most popular cosplay between Attack on Titan and Disney’s latest film Frozen. Every Anna and Elsa I saw, and I did see a lot, looked amazing. Everyone is so into cosplay here, and the Gaylord is the perfect venue with its insane indoor town/fountain/trees area and of course the snow-covered harbor outside. It is because of the weather, as well as the vast number of Frozen cosplays that I dub this year’s con as Frozencon.

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The dealer’s room obvious was hurt by the storm, a lot of vendors couldn’t make it but my wallet is still hurting. Tenchi mangas, plushies, two anime series and films, a bunch of Tiger and Bunny inspired stuff for my friend as well as two Eva mini-figurines to hang out with my Sailor Moon ones… Not as big a haul as Otakon but I feel satisfied (and in debt).

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There was also a wide variety of panels. I went to a couple interesting ones sponsored by the Japanese Cultural Institute and brushed up on my Japanese history and cultural knowledge, I also went to an Invader Zim panel and the Funimation Industry panel (Blahblahblah but they will be debuting Attack on Titan’s English dub at AnimeBoston, announcing the cast leading up to that date).This year I also had a better room, overlooking the previously mentioned indoor town/fountain/tree area. Everything the light touched was Katsucon, and the shadowy spots were the 18+ panels.

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Tl;DR: Katsucon 2014, fabulous, super-duper con in the gorgeous National Harbor area. I saw all my convention friends, including Chuck (and took his mangas). There were Tenchi cosplayers.

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Pretty Samy and Pixy Misa cosplayers

Then, I went home and slipped on ice in the driveway. Now there’s a bruise on my knee the size of… something and I will be hobbling for the next few days. But… I would do it all again. I love you, Katsucon!

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Creativity.[/align]