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Staff writer Owen Thomas attended Otakon last weekend and, if you've stayed up on the weather in Baltimore, torrents befell the fine Maryland city. However, the Lord's wrath didn't stop there. Underground explosions, floods, emergency vehicles packed into the same square block as the convention center and the baseball field. Needless to say, it was an adventure. Unfettered, Owen Thomas composes his thoughts of Otakon in the form of a top ten list. And without further ado, I open the page to Mr. Thomas.
Presenting The Top Ten Things I Saw at Otakon ... And The Top Ten Things I Didn't See, But Wish I Had ...
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10.
What I saw:
"Mido Kommen v. Godzilla," arguably the most entertainment per dollar spent on production costs in film history. What I didn't see but wish I had:
The equally brilliant "Bambi v. Godzilla." 9.
What I saw:
A sneak preview of the "Cowboy Bebop" movie, set to open in Japan on September 1. What I didn't see but wish I had:
An announcement that the "Cowboy Bebop" movie will open in the US on September 2. 8.
What I saw:
Twelve city blocks cordoned off and packed with police and firefighters. What I didn't see but wish I had:
All of them chasing after a cosplayer dressed as Lupin. 7.
What I saw:
An episode of "The Simpsons" dubbed into Japanese. What I didn't see but wish I had:
What Apu would sound like in Japanese. 6.
What I saw:
"Battle Royale," a film considered so violent and reputedly tasteless it was heralded as a sign of the collapse of Japanese culture when it opened in Japan several months ago. What I didn't see:
How anyone took this movie that seriously. As signs of the decline of civilization go BR is a lot closer to Evil Dead II than say, Caligula. 5.
What I saw:
A surprisingly lively discussion of Japanese swordplay at a panel. What I didn't see but wish I had:
Surprisingly lively Japanese swordplay. 4.
What I saw:
A very schlockly old mecha anime with a villain named - I kid you not - Xerxes Tire Iron Dada and his monsters Krustakos Prime (a giant lobster), Batroacher (a giant bug), and Octapud. What I didn't see but wish I had:
Where I can get some of whatever that scriptwriter was smoking. 3.
What I saw:
Thousands of fans that showed up for a baseball game at Camden Yards, across the street from Otakon, wearing bright orange garbage bags over their heads as ponchos while traipsing back to their cars after the game was rained out, many of them gawking at the Cosplayers in their strange costumes. What I didn't see:
How people wearing bright orange garbage bags over their heads can gawk at anyone else's outfit. 2.
What I saw:
Tsurumaki-san, the director of FLCL, patiently answering fans questions about some of FLCL's confusing wackiness. What I didn't see but wish I had:
Tsuramaki-san admitting he just likes to screw with people's minds. 1.
What I saw:
A sign on the bulletin board reading, "Join an evil genius' plan to conquer the world." What I didn't see but wish I did:
Matt Greenfield standing next to it. |
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Godzilla © Toho Entertainment.
Cowboy Bebop © Sunrise / Bandai Entertainment.
The Simpsons © 20th Century Fox Entertainment.
FLCL © Gainax / KGI.
Thanks to Kevin Lillard of A Fan's View for the the Matt Greenfield image.
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