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How many conventions is too many conventions? Hmm, I'd say three in one month. I sit writing this out of a hotel room in Rochester, New York, and I am too tired to drag myself back to the convention at RIT (Tora-Con). No really, I'm too tired - I've got circles to rival L from Death Note (see above).
It is really a pity I'm so run down. The guests are a great group, especially considering it is only a two-day con. The roster includes Johnny Yong Bosch (Ichigo from Bleach, Claus from Last Exile, Vash from Trigun, etc., etc., etc.) and the most fantastic Funimation voice actors Monica Rial (too many appearances to even begin to list), Chris Sabat (of DBZ fame, and the Strong Arm Alchemist in FMA), and Eric Vale (the most excellent Kanta of the Desert in Desert Punk, and Ryusuke from BECK).
But great guests or not, this Rochester trip comes after having journeyed to Columbus the first weekend in April for Anime Punch! (which ended up as a disappointement as one of the two voice actors scheduled to be there had to cancel due to illness). Then a trip to Pittsburgh for Tekkoshocon (a really great convention, with a fantastic lineup of guests - happily, they also had a premium registration that allowed priority in some lines). Then it was to here, Rochester. And that doesn't include my March trip to A&G Ohio in Cincinnati.
I've had enough of driving. Enough of my books on CD. Enough poring over anime credits on animenewsnetwork.com so I can then extract DVD covers and boxsets to bring for autographing. And definitely enough schlepping workout gear from hotel to hotel. Not to mention MORE than enough fast food and artery-clogging fare.
A big reason I have been going to conventions is to meet the voice actors who have brought various characters (who have thoroughly entertained me) to life. And to get autographs on various DVDs in which their chameleon-like voices appear. But I am SO tired of waiting in line. And of being told "only two items for signing." And though a part of me loves my fellow anime fans, another part of me wants to frankly give some of them fashion advice on their cosplay selections (please, PLEASE choose characters for which your body-type somewhat matches -- I do not wish to see someone with the figure of Sloth of FMA dressing up as Revy from Black Lagoon). I also have had just about enough of hearing a long-time anime otaku sneering at a "newbie" who hasn't seen whatever anime the "expert" believes to be the best thing ever made.
Rules going forward - I think no more than one convention every 4-6 weeks (if that). Definitely only cons that offer a Friday with autographs (when the crowds are not yet fully formed) and preferably cons that offer premium/platinum/VIP or other exalted registrations (with preferential admission to events). I am more than willing to shell out some extra cash to get in line first. What can I say - I think money should buy privileges. And I'll keep thinking so up until I can no longer afford such privileges.
Thankfully, May is a convention-free month for me. The next con I'm considering is Colossalcon - and that takes place at Cedar Point and does not involve the tiring 4-hour drive I undertook after work on Friday or a middling hotel room with an abbreviated channel selection. Ah, a few weekends at home means I will actually have time to WATCH anime, which is something that I have not had much free time to engage in lately.
Back to basics. Me, a room that isn't in a hotel, and a great anime DVD. Sounds like a plan for May.
Long time no post - guilty! I'd blame it on getting older (turned 30 a couple weeks ago), or on a busy work schedule (I think the correct word is "overwhelmed"), or on my crazy anime-con-going schedule (3 conventions - A&G Ohio, Anime Punch! and Tekkoshocon - in the past month). But in all honesty, I've just been a bit run down and a bit too lazy to motivate myself to write something even vaguely worth reading.
So in honor of my absence and new found maturity (ha!) in my third decade, I've decided to make a list of my favorite characters aged 30 or older in anime. I've given myself one ironclad rule - that the character cannot be immortal (sorry to all vampires, androids, alchemists and genetically altered individuals). My favorite immortals are for another time. Without further ado:
10) ** Honorary Mention ** Sophie Hatter (from Howl's Moving Castle), age late teens: Sophie may be in her late teens, but [SPOILER ALERT] she is transformed into an elderly woman by a rather vindictive witch. She has spunk and heart and the tale is truly a pleasure to behold. She's #10 on my list with an honorary mention because she was always an old soul and it was refreshing to see a story where the heroine was not an over-endowed teenage girl, but an older woman who emerges victorious due to her own perseverance and intelligence, and not just a pretty face.
9) Roy Revant (from Solty Rei), age 45: Roy Revant is a prototypical gruff yet caring older guy. Touched by tragedy in his life, you see a pretty moving character arc as he learns to come to grips with his past and (cheesy as it sounds) love again. But not in a romantic sense, it is his recapturing paternal feelings for what turns out to be (you guessed it) some sort of android/immortal. Good show and nice to see an older guy performing heroics - and never a bad thing to spend 24 episodes with Chris Sabat voicing a main character.
8) Legendary Sannin (Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru) (from Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden), age early-mid 50s: ah, Naruto. A series that seems to never end (which wouldn't be such a problem if not for excessive filler). Still, you have to love the Legendary Sannin - all have their quirks. Jiraiya is, of course, the pervy old sage. Tsunade is old enough to be a "grandma" and keeps herself young with some rather impressive jutsu, not to mention wields some pretty intimidating physical strength. And Orochimaru was our first major and elusive villain! Their characters don't evolve much - but then, they are all fully grown adults and mature. Well, somewhat mature -- what I really mean is that they are old enough to be comfortable in their own skin. Hmmm, I guess Orochimaru is equally comfortable in other people's skin ...... but you get the idea. They are super-powered characters and age is definitely nothing but a number for them, as is evidenced by their stunning abilities.
7) Madame Torogai (from Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit), age unsure (but definitely over 50, er, 60): you have to love a sarcastic, tart, assertive magic weaver who definitely would qualify for an AARP card. This is the grandmother you never cross who remains spry and sharp. Imagine the mind of Miss Marple crossed with the agility of a gymnast. She is saucy and plays a major role, keeping other characters in line and always surprising those who don't know her. Well done.
6) Dutch (from Black Lagoon), age 30s or (more likely) 40s: what a treat. Mercenaries, an R-rated script, cutthroat characters, and wonderful animation. Dutch leads the somewhat improbably team of mercs and is level-headed with a great grasp of business and, believe it or not, human resource management. The actor voicing him has the most hypnotically masculine voice (imagine taking the Old Spice "I'm the man your man could smell like", drop about an octave, and throw in a heaping helping of badassery, and you'll just about have it). A pleasure to listen to and the character's prowess with weapons and strategy makes him a worthy role model for those who want to get better (and badder) with age.
5) Shimada Kambei (from Samurai 7), age unknown (likely in 40s or 50s): if you haven't picked up this remake of 7 Samurai, you should. Kambei is your lead samurai, and has all the self-discipline, military prowess, and an almost zen level of insight that you would expect from such a protagonist. Is he perfect? No. But he is a man to follow and seeing his character revealed bit by bit over the course of the series is always fascinating. Not least of all because you never completely figure him out.
4) Walter C. Dornez (from Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate), age 69 (b. 1929/1930): Alucard would be on this list if he weren't immortal. But the fact that Walter is nearly 70 and still is a deadly fighter (don't give this man a garrot or you will NOT live to regret it), that he is not intimidated by dealing with a 500+ year old vampire (who frankly gives me the heebie jeebies at times), and that he has that oh-so-suave and imperturbable British accent combine to make Walter the kind of septuagenarian I wish I could be. Without that pesky "freak" infestation problem, of course.
3) Balsa (from Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit), age 30: I kind of wanted to make her #1, but as Moribito as a show does not yet have the cache of the two shows I rank higher, I figured it was too soon to name her my VERY favorite character aged 30 or over. That said, she is by far the character on this list I'd most want to be like. Disciplined, strong physically and emotionally, guided by her own ethical and moral codes, and fiercely loyal to those who have earned it - even her negative characteristics are admirable in a way (stubbornness, self-sufficiency to the point of failing to depend on those who love her, single-mindedness). This anime is utterly gorgeous. Her character is believable, admirable and beautiful.
2) Jet Black (from Cowboy Bebop), age 36: Jet Black seems to be the prototypical mercenary with a heart of gold. Though just when you think he is really the voice of conscience on the Bebop, he will do something you didn't think he had it in him to do (nothing truly reprehensible, but enough to realize that he used to be in law enforcement and will do what needs to get done to survive and protect his shipmates). The wonderful Beau Billingslea voices Jet Black and imbues him with the utmost cool, a lot of heart, a heavy dose of soul, and not a small amount of fatherly concern and toughness. Bebop is something every fan should have seen and Jet Black makes the viewing that much better.
1) Motoko Kusanagi -or- The Major (Ghost in the Shell franchise), age 31: The Major is both all cyborg and all woman. Except when she is all kicking your ass. She is smart, cunning, and built to bring potential badass quotients to a new level. Dare I say it? She might even be able to hold her own with Chuck Norris in a fight - she certainly looks better in a thong than he would. One of the best science fiction series every made (in any medium you care to name), and between her and the rest of the fabulous over-30 cast of characters (really, I'm not sure anyone other than Togusa is under the age of 30), this is a mature show, sharply written and sharply animated. And the Major has more than earned her spot leading the Section 9 crew in the field (under Chief Aramaki's savvy direction) and topping this list of my favorite over 30 characters in anime.
