The Exposition of anime continues as we chronicle the creatures and activities we encounter.
Gaming
Anime Expo has a number of gaming rooms, and many creatures participate.
You have to wear blue to play this game.
There are long tables with board games of all shapes and sizes. At first, I thought these folks were playing Chutes and Ladders, a child’s game, but then I saw it was Ticket to Ride, which is about choo-choo trains.
He looks cute with this pink gun.
There are old-style video games that still cost 25 cents, such as Time Crisis II, which is more aerobic than other video games due to the foot pedal.
Note the player’s concentration.
Ad hoc games spring up around the convention in quiet corners and empty hallways.
Obey!
Anime folks can be an unruly lot, so rules must be posted to keep them in check.
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Things with Blue and Green Hair
There are creatures whose commonality is the color of their hair. If you believe that the colors blue and green exist, you can find creatures with just such hair.
“V”, for, well, v.
With knee-length hair, you must have a care when sitting on a loo.
It looks like the carpet matches the drapes.
If you look closely at the watch on her corset, the time is 10 minutes til 2:30.
At ease, soldier.
Rarely, blue and green hair is naturally curly.
Is that an umbrella or a sword?
I wonder if that lock of hair in the center of her face gets on her nerves. It would cause me to sneeze, I think.
I have Game Boy envy.
I can’t tell where her hair ends and her costume begins.
Things with Big Heads
For reasons known only to anime and animators, some creatures put the Red Queen to shame.
What a catastrophically large head!
Imagine the size of the hairball this cat would cough up.
Their eyes never blink.
These ladies have big heads to accommodate their over-size eyes.
A hammerhead girl. Of course.
This creature is not doing jazz hands. Rather, her head is so large that she must help balance it.
A little service here!
Although not anime, Stewie Griffin is well known for his large, football-shaped head. I really don’t know why he’s carrying a rifle. And where is Rupert?
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Things with Arrows
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Anime characters need arrows rather than bananas, as evidenced here.
So pretty and so deadly.
Beware the pretty smile. She’s packin’, and they have pointy bits on the tip.
Cupid, draw back your bow….
Despite the lack of bowstring, I think she’s serious about shooting that thing.
A bow-gun? Gun-bow?
This bow, while lacking arrows, has a small gun built into the grip. What an age we live in!
Somebody knows what this is. I don’t.
This archer’s arrows are color-matched with her costume. That probably makes it easier when retrieving arrows after the massacre.
Height-challenged warriors.
I have never shot an asymmetrical bow. Maybe it makes the arrow go wonky so the enemy can’t dodge it. Or something.
Things in Red
Red, the color of demons, blood, apples, and blushes, is used to accent a plethora of anime costumes and creatures.
Let me wipe away those tears.
If you bleed from your eyes, it’s good have a red kimono.
Do not attempt to capture him.
Vash the Stampede is not as fearsome in real life.
I’m always impressed when creatures don’t wear shoes.
Being covered with red bulls-eyes is not an effective way to avoid danger.
Careful. She’s carrying a stick.
In this instance, the red-accented garment draws your eyes where they were going to look anyway.
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Things that Cannot See
Some anime creatures do not have eyes. Or their eyes are covered, which means they might have eyes, but I can’t tell. So I assume they can not see in the standard ways of using eyes. See?
Men in Black.
Are the markings on the face some sort of strange eyes? Or eye brows? And is that a mouth or a mustache?
Look deep into my vacant forehead.
If I looked like this, I’d draw a couple of eyes on my face, just to fit in.
If you could see what I hear. And vice-versa.
I think the crystal in his mask is an ocular receiver. And the gold emblem is an aural conductor.
Less than meets the eye.
The advantage of a large, face-covering helmet: a little lipstick, and your makeup is done.
I admit it: I can’t see a thing.
This creature might have eyes, because it looks like her helmet is just a wee bit large and is covering them.
Fullbody Anime
Some anime characters hide their (possibly) human self completely within their anime self.
Why do these things always want to fight?
I look at these creatures and think, “How did they get into their armor?” They probably have a butler.
Protect the kittens!
A few struts and a trip to the carpet store, and a monster is made.
Release the hounds.
This most impressive costume works because the front legs have wheels. But I gotta tell ya’, my back would be worn out after about two minutes of this.
You can tell it’s a real gun because they had to secure the trigger.
It seems like it would take a lot of effort to breathe. As in, if you were not careful, your exhaled breath would fill up the gas mask and you’d pass out.
Things Taking a Break
Being an anime character is tiring, and there are too many characters and not enough beds. So when you see an empty spot to relax, you take it.
Nurses getting medicated.
These lucky nurses found a bar with enough seating for all — an exceptional event at Anime Expo.
When you are tired, you sleep.
The real reason you carry a goody bag is so you have a pillow when you need one.
It’s like the monkey exhibit at the zoo, sans the feces.
Any place where you won’t get stepped on becomes a place to take a break.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
When you have no hands and a large projection on the back of your head, slouching uncomfortably is the only option.
Eating chocolate pudding with friends.
If my friends were beanbags, there’s no way I would sit on the floor.
Following the rules is for losers.
They should have moved the sign somewhere else.
Cosplay
The fabulous folk who organize the Expo know how much anime creatures love cosplay, and they decorated a large hall just for that purpose.
Why does this remind me of my high school days?
The class room is a popular space where characters can recreate the exact experiences they have at school.
A grave situation.
A cemetery attracts all sorts of ghoulish characters.
Double “V’ for vv!
A Japanese garden brings out the princess in all of us.
Hey! Don’t hit a girl.
Or not. A Japanese garden is the perfect place to settle old scores, or start new ones.
There is also a spaceship, a bedroom, and a stage — enough fun for everyone.
So, our anime adventures draw to a close. But yours don’t have to. Anime Expo happens every year in Los Angeles, CA. Sign up for their newsletter, get your tickets, and maybe we’ll see you there soon!