Finally, exams are almost over, which means I can resume back to crapping blogging.
But after a few weeks of not doing anything, I suddenly do not know where to begin with. Perhaps I should continue making fun of Seiken no Blacksmith, considering how terrible the show has been so far. Ok, maybe not that terrible, but rather, disappointing. Eight episodes in and we still do not have a solid plot development. Manglobe, what are you doing?
Before I get back to the normal routine, I suppose I shall do a short post on Anime Festival Asia, which took place a few days ago. Decided to forgo the first day as queues were emphatic and there were not much things of interest on Saturday, for it was mainly focused on Cosplay.
Strangely enough, it took me only a few seconds to snap up an entrance ticket on Sunday. So whilst waiting for the live K-ON! dubbing to start, I walked around looking for possible stuff to buy. Instead, I was left ruing about being a poor student as almost everything in there were overpriced. Examples were:
-A T-shirt for S$50 with just Yui’s face stamped in front
-S$25 for a set meal at the maid cafe
-Figurines that can be bought at a cheaper price by placing an order online
And to top it all off, there were relatively fewer stores and variety as compared to last year. Putting that dissatisfaction aside, I went to the stage area one hour before the live dubbing began. Managed to get a seat on second row, and I was smiling like a small kid who just managed to get the toy that he wants. Then yet another disappointment came when we were warned not to take any photographs or videos of the event.
FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE, NOT EVEN ONE PHOTO?
To top it off, there was not even going to be an autograph session. Simply fabulous. I felt I have been ripped off by the organisers.
But still, witnessing the live dubbing was an experience of a lifetime. Hikasa Youko was a no-show, so it was only left with the other four members. Aki and Ayana (Azusa’s seiyuu) were so cute and adorable, Satomi was as lively as Ritsu while Kotobuki was very dignified indeed. Managed to do a sound recording of the whole event, albeit of a horrible quality. Still, it was interesting to know facts such as:
-Aki confessing to be as airy-fairy and unfashionable as Yui, and that her favourite phrase in K-ON! is the infamous “UNTAN”
-Ayana revealing that she, like Azusa, will cool down if sweet things are offered to her, and the fact that she wanted to be a detective if she did not achieve her dreams of being a voice actress
-Kotobuki stating that she has to breathe in slower when voicing Mugi, and her back-up career was to be a make-up artist or stylist
-Satomi mentioning that she once used to be a shy person, before being given the role of Ritsu.
(If you still want to hear the whole event despite the “QUARITY” of the recording, I will post the link up here once Megaupload stops being a bitch download here. Skip to 16:20 for the Q&A.)
In conclusion, I feel that anime conventions in Singapore are not up to the mark yet. More interaction time should be given between idols and their fans, and they should obviously stop the blatant wallet rip-off. But then again, I should not fully blame the organisers, given that the probable lack of funding they received for this event. Nevertheless, here’s hoping for a better AFA 2010.
And I actually harboured thoughts of buying the full set, but they didn’t restock and only Mugi was left. =(
