We continue our exploration of anime at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, noting all the categories of creature both great and small. Come with us and share our adventure!
Big Things
Anime has many big things. Not 100 feet high or 100 tons, but big considering it’s a costume.
My, what big…everything…you have.
These fangs are unrealistic for such creature. They are used for stabbing, and the jaw frill is going to prevent the lower jaw from opening far enough to let that happen, right?
Or maybe I’m over-analyzing, because the girl with the gun seems impressed.
Is this a cat-apiller?
Sometimes a creature is so large that it must rise above the crowd just to move about.
Hammer time!
Anyone clobbered with this hammer would indeed be thor.
Close-in combat is not an option.
Okay, realistically, he can’t carry the sword in a sheath on his hip or his back; he has to carry the sword like this all the time. That’s gonna get old pretty quick.
Things in Dresses and Gowns
Some creatures are not big or scary, but dressy and gowny. And we approve.
An anime creature shows off her pretty white skirt.
Yeah, you’re thinking what I’m thinking: where is the photographer’s left hand???
Just what is she planning to do with her index finger?
I think this is a bridal gown. But there is no way she can say, “My eyes are up here.” Not with that outfit.
Anime ballet, apparently, is sad.
Being on pointe on this floor is impressive.
A gown in training. Get it?
A most beautiful gown, suitable for walking up a stairwell, and that’s about it.
Things with Tails
When I think of creature with tails, I imagine cute little bunny tales on cute little bunny bottoms. But I am nonetheless impressed with the magnificent tails some of these creatures carry behind them.
Is that your tail, or are you just happy to see me?
IRL, it seems it would be almost impossible to sit with such an appendage hanging off your backside.
A most unreadable expression.
I’m not sure if this is a true tail, but it is near enough to the creature’s nether region that it might be. But, really, what’s with the face? Did it lose a fight with a bottle of acid?
A tale of two tails.
These creatures appear to be a bit unclear on the concept of tales and, well, males. And Asuka Langley Soryu does not have a tail. So, wth?
Batman and Superman
The goddamn Batman and Superman are not anime and do not belong at an anime convention. But, being Batman and Superman, they do just about anything they want.
It’s all about the chest.
Sometimes, all you need is the right shirt to be super.
The Super-Pose.
Well, there’s also the “pose”. Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Elastigirl, and pretty much every other female superhero stands like this.
Sad Catwoman makes me sad.
Other denizens of the Batman-Superman universe are in abundance, such as Harvey Dent‘s girl-friend, Jack Napier‘s girl-friend, and Selina Kyle.
Harley and Thor should date each other, right?
Harley Quinn is too cute to be evil.
Cardboard Things
Apparently, some anime characters are cardboard. Who knew?
300-baud-modem-man to the rescue!
Cardboard, but clever.
I have no words…
Maybe his real costume was lost by the airlines and this is all he could put together at the last minute. Or maybe he’s a complete dork.
Know your meme, people!
Despite being made of cardboard, this Gremlin D.VA costume is pretty good. And I’m impress that the one in the box is able to keep her mouth like that for such a long time. (It’s not what you think, pervy.)
Things on Cellphones
Sometimes you gotta call your special boy, girl, or mom, even if you live in the world of anime.
Hello, mom? I am sooooo bored.
At least she has enough style to match the phone color to her outfit. But, her legs being on the wrong sides is a bit unsettling.
“Find nearest McDonalds.”
Even a young princess needs electronic assistance, I suppose. Perhaps she’s looking for the route to the princess-room.
Do NOT take my photograph!
Yes, there is a phone is this photograph. Keep looking.
Medical Situations
Anime includes doctors, nurses, and creatures who need doctors and nurses.
I want to axe you something…
This nurse will never run out of patients to care for.
Why don’t my photographers look like this?
It’s sad when a professional photographer loses an eye. So many injuries among anime creatures.
Are these sisters? I’m scared.
These nurses seem happy, but I have doubts about their medical training.
Physician, heal thyself.
Bubble Head Nurse probably is not your best bet when seeking medical assistance.
Yet another eye injury.
What is it in the anime universe that keeps poking out girl’s eyes. Creatures with depth perception must be at a premium.
Things in Pink
Things in pink are pretty. That was established in the 1980s. And anime has no shortage of pretty things.
Wowsers!
These two fetching creatures in pink set the standard for grace and class at anime expo.
Claw me sometime.
Even claw-hands can’t detract from the inherent prettiness of this pink character.
Maybe she has something in her eye.
A plus-shaped face mole is pretty when it’s pink.
She looks very serious.
Pretty in pink or pretty in purple. Both are pretty.
Things with Weird Eyes
Henry David Thoreau said, “The eye is the jewel of the body.” This is no truer than with anime creatures.
She can see into your soul.
Red hair and green eyes are sexy….in fact, it’s difficult to look away.
Can she see in the dark?
This is one step up from Pink Eye. Still, I could look into her eyes all day.
Is this Bane? Or a Jawa out of costume?
Some eyes, at least to me, are a bit more difficult to read.
Sea creatures have blue eyes.
Racing fins, blue scales, blue eyes — if you like blue, this is YOUR creature.
Things that are the Same
If there is a disconnect in the gluon spinner without deactivating the Fergnatz vacuum compressor when the ventral parabolic shock chamber needs to be resequenced, there can be a microfracture in the auxiliary density port causing duplicate creatures to appear simultaneously.
And we have photographed a few of them.
Yoko Littner is here!
Yoko Littner emerged from her underground city to join us at Anime Expo.
Yoko Littner is here, too.
Yoko appeared again, this time without her electromagnetic rifle and with her chopsticks in the other side of her hair.
Yoko Littner is here, too, again!
Yoko’s friend Kamina once acknowledged, “that lady’s spunk.” I can see why!
Jessica Rabbit is not bad. She is just drawn that way.
One year, I photographed a fetching Jessica Rabbit visiting us at the expo.
My, my. Did you have a different animator this year?
The following year, Ms. Rabbit was even more “expo”.
Do not attempt to remove her helmet.
Celty Sturluson is described as “well-endowed” in her bio. Yup.
Celty, looking a bit more catwomany.
Celty simultaneously appeared, looking sleeker and a bit more conservative.
Hmmmmmmmm…
I lightened the image of this Celty Sturluson. Yikes!
Princess Merida of DunBroch, looking very brave.
Merida, winning her freedom with her archery skills. And her beauty.
Princess Merida of DunBroch two.
This Merida is from a more Disneyesque universe, I think.
Spidermen, Spidermen, doing whatever spiders ken.
If all these Spidermen got into a web-slinging fight, I mean, how cool would that be.
Asuka Langley Soryu, looking as cute as ever.
Asuka Langley Soryu‘s costume draws my eyes to the golden bits…
Asuka, looking cool in her sun glasses.
Yup, the golden bits…
Asuka: her fatal flaw is “excessive Pride”.
Asuka’s bits are orange here, but still…
I’d recognize that face anywhere.
Tier Harribel, waving her cat’s paw gloves.
Yup, I recognize her from her distinctive face.
Tier has many costumes, but this seems to be a crowd favorite.
Harle entertained us long before Miss Quinn imitated her.
Harle, with the tears of a clown.
Harle, two, looking a bit less mischievous.
Harle looks innocent, but is not to be trusted.
Robins of the world, unite!
“Robin” is a girl’s name. Wouldn’t it be better if Batman’s sidekick was a cute girl? Well, I think it would be.
Tank You!
Team Hippo from the Ooarai Girls Academy was in force, protecting us with their panzer.
The Commanding Officer poses with his troops.
It’s a girl’s academy. Why is there a man here? Maybe he’s one of the dads…
I don’t think she’s wearing pants.
Red heads and tanks: a winning combination.
The girls stop killing for a few moments to pose for us.
“That’s right!”
The members of Team Hippo display their equipment.
One team member — yes, that one — wants to be the team mascot.
I will never think of hippos the same way again.
Anime is great, and there is still more! We will return next week with Anime Expo – Part 3 for the exciting conclusion!