Guest Programming

Saturday began with a series of live programming sessions, including Iijima's Q&A session. It was her first session ever before a room full of American con-goers—a fact nervously registering on the staffers' foreheads. Fortunately, the session went largely without incident, although it began with a bittersweet note from the guest. Iijima mentioned sadly that the Warner Brothers conglomerate dropped her from its East West Japan label, and notified her on Thanksgiving last year no less. On the positive side, she noted her newfound independence finally allows her to release a English-only CD on her own web site.
She said she has no regrets about playing Minmay, and she expressed surprise and happiness that an American fan knew she writes a Japanese newspaper column. Although her best known anime themes are for MACROSS, she noted she first worked part-time on the opening for the television series AUNTIE SPOON (SUPUUN OBASAN). (SPOON eventually reached the airwaves in 1983, a half year after MACROSS debuted.) She kept in touch with voice actor Hase Arihiro (Ichijyo Hikaru in MACROSS) until his 1997 death, and she heard that he was listening to MACROSS songs before he passed away. She contacted his mother during her return to Japan for concert tours, and now his mother and her parents are friends.
Next was Yamaga and Ippongi Bang's entourage. (Yamaga preferred sharing the Q&A session with other guests so they can play off each others' answers.) For people who equate Gainax with EVANGELION, Yamaga diplomatically reminded them that he only co-produced the work. He explained that its story is all in director Anno Hideaki's mind. Yamaga later noted that he is still working on the BLUE URU (his followup to HONNEAMISE), although his ambitious multi-media plans have been pushed back a bit. One attendee asked all the creators how they broke into the industry, and this led to an amusing round of anecdotes involving costume-playing, toy-collecting, and revealing photos.

The Main Events

Friday drew to a close with the much anticipated double-billing of the masquerade and Iijima's concert. Wyndham's inadequate spacing became painfully clear again for the attendees that had to drive or ride buses to the Santa Clara Convention Center a few miles away. Nevertheless, the fans filled the main theater and two videocast rooms to capacity before the taiko opening act. The masquerade costumers ranged from the casts of fan favorites RANMA 1/2, TENCHI MUYOU!, and UTENA to a surprising number of pre-teen entries (with moms rooting in the stage wings). Some of the more unusual entries included a Hikaru Ichijyo/Rick Hunter in full pilot regulation gear, a Convoy/Optimus Prime from TRANSFORMERS, and even a BUST-A-MOVE (BUST-A-GROOVE in the USA) dancer.
After the masquerade and some technical delays, Mari Iijima walked on stage to sing five songs. She began in Japanese with "D" and "More Than Yesterday" from her new album Rain and Shine. She noted after the first song that she usually draws around sixty people at her Los Angeles club appearances. She half-jokingly said that if she had known so many more would come to see her at a convention, she "would have done this sooner." After thanking the con staff (in particular, guest liaison Tomoko Shintani), she then switched into English with a new adaptation of "Sudden Kiss," a song originally written in Japanese for her album Something Special.
As she does in her Japan concerts, she introduced her husband James Studer before he accompanied her on her last two songs. She sang Elton John's "Your Song" from GOOD MEDICINE, one of several cover songs she recorded in English in the past. Finally, Iijima closed the concert with—what else?—"Do You Remember Love?" from the soundtrack of the first MACROSS movie. After accepting the audience's standing ovations (and flowers), she brought her twin sons onstage to sing the English POKÉMON opening theme.

Sunday Wrap-up

For most weekend cons, the third day is the quiet one. Fanime followed the trend with the usual last-minute exhibitors' bargains and the guest autographs sessions. Fanime limited the signings to 150 autograph-seekers to keep the sessions under one hour (not to mention saving the guests' writing arms). People brought to the signing sessions every conceivable item from 78-rpm LPs and Minmay cels to giant EVA models and the bulky limited-edition EVANGELION movie box set. The day ended with a cel-painting class led by Studio Ironcat's Steve Bennett and the quick closing ceremonies.
All in all, the convention was an enjoyable one for anime fans in general and Iijima fans in particular. The growing pains of this convention was evident in the bursting seams of Wyndham Hotel's rooms, but fortunately, the staffers mentioned hope for larger quarters next year.