Anime Festival Orlando 2004

I applaud AFO for hosting both cosplay contest on the same day, and I encourage other cons, particularly hotel-based cons to follow suit. It would be optimal to have the Cosplay contest start at 6pm or earlier followed immediately by the Costume contest and then the awards presentation. What could take less than 90 minutes usually gets dragged out for three hours with game shows, videos, and intermission. Considering the costumers have been in their outfits all day by this point, standing in long, hot lines to be pre-judged, followed by more standing in line for the contest, it would be nice for all involved to shorten the process as much as possible.

This year's AFO felt smaller than previous years. It could be due in part to a larger facility, thus less congestion, but there were fewer cosplayers in general. Certainly, the costume and cosplay contests were smaller than previous years. This could be a good thing depending on how you look at it.

While Cosplay Lab had sponsored the Cosplay and Costume contests and provided certificates for the winners, the judges neglected to take a couple of minutes to write the names of the winners on them, therefore the certificates never got distributed properly. From now on, we will handle the awards presentation ourselves so as not to confuse everyone.

Not to turn this report into a gripe fest, but if your costume has won an award in a costume contest before, don't enter it again. It is annoying to see the same costume win repeatedly. It dilutes the other awards you've gotten and makes you a stage hog. People will remember that.

Since we're on the subject of silliness, does anyone else mind that there is a weapons policy, yet you can go into the dealer room and purchase a real weapon of mass destruction? For once, I'd like to see a convention prohibit dealers from selling said items. There is nothing more dangerous than a person full of Pocky and wielding a sword. Even if the sword is peace-bonded, you can still hit people with it. Just another one of those things that make you go "hmmm."

Friday cosplay photos
Saturday hall cosplay photos
Cosplay contest photos
Costume contest photos
Contest winners photos

Cosplay Contest Winners

Best Comedy: "Azumanga Daioh crossover," Scott and Darcy
Best Drama/Dance: The Fanta Girls (Shannon, Kim, Lyn, Dixie, McKayla, Tracy, and co)
Best Performance, Alternate category: "La Soldier," Samantha and Kristi as Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter
Fan Favorite: "Yatta," Rock Lee and Gai Sensei of Naruto

Costume Contest Winners

Best Original: Lolita Mew of Pokemon, Jamie
Best Anime: Chii of Chobits, Sasha
Best Videogame: Joan Kartright of War of Genesis, Kayla
Best Prop: Kamatari of Kenshin, Shayla
Best J-rock/J-pop: Mana of Malice Mizer
Best Youth: Inuyasha, Anna
Judge's Award: Mega Pikachu, PikabelleChu
Judge's Award: Saint Tail of Kaitou Saint Tail, Eevee
Judge's Award: Chocobo of Final Fantasy, LaRae
Judge's Award: Sanosuke of Kenshin

In its second iteration, Anime Sushi returned with another installment of Iron Cosplay. This time it was Iron Cosplayer Mara-chan vs challenger Kim. In only 90 minutes, each camp was able to produce an outfit for the "magical girl" theme while making use of the secret ingredient - which in this case was stuffed animals. Reigning Iron Cosplay champ Mara-chan was quick to use the secret ingredient numerous times to entice audience participation - particularly from stuffed animal rights activists (a first for this show). These sign-waving, pro-stuffed-animal picketers tried to gain sympathy from the judges and other audience members, but were restrained promptly by show security. It continued in humorous fashion throughout the show. Challenger Kim team created a unique Sailor Scout outfit, drawing inspiration from the aquatic-theme material they used as well as creating a magic broken mirror prop. This gave them the slight edge over Iron Cosplayer Mara-chan who chose a more obscure character, Akazukin Cha Cha. While he made clever use of stuffed animal skins and other parts throughout the costume, it was a little over the top, and judges sided with the challenging team. With a new Iron Cosplay winner, this show now has two resident champs who are available for future contests. See all of the Iron Cosplay photos

One final note, and something on which every convention in the world should follow AFO's example, is having plenty of free ice water available in the halls. This made it easier to deal with slight problems such as air conditioning units not working and the usual delays. It was also nice to see that AFO staff were responsive to people wearing indecent shirts and those homemade signs. Most were promptly handled without too much embarrassment. Come on folks, don't advertise your own tackiness.