In the film Pacific Rim, ‘drift’ means two pilots acting as one in order to control mecha like Gipsy Danger. The drift involves a neural link, with the pilots experiencing each other’s emotions and memories to be able to act as one and shoulder the neural/emotional/physical burden of piloting and fighting (many of the pilots in the movie are lovers or family figures to each other). It is literally a meeting of the minds.
Otakon 2013 was the Meeting of the Minds convention for me this year. I was also debuting the initial version of Gentle Strength: Compassion and Courage in Revolutionary Girl Utena and Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and set to talk with voice actor and storyteller/mythology fan Crispin Freeman with possibly Roland Kelts, so I was highly on edge throughout the entire convention.
Thursday:
- Met a lot of new people at the aniblogger dinner. Also, The Abbey Burger Bistro is amazing and I’ll have to go back: pretty much everyone at the table opted for the crazy build your own burger option. The people I met I mainly only knew from Twitter: Ink, the Vinces of Anime Next, Kate (who helped organize said dinner)… there were about 20 people there in total, and I’m sorry if I only talked with 4 or 5 of you.
- This was also the night I found out walking around downtown Baltimore whilst having anxiety/depression episodes is not the best of ideas.
Friday:
- Had some tech issues, but made it to my panel – enlisted featured Otakon panelist Charles to help, on the way to it. Set up a half hour earlier than scheduled, started around 2:50 (scheduled start time was 3pm).
- And I have to say I was nervous, but it rocked. Seriously. I could improve the presentation, sure, but the room was packed, people had generally seen both Utena and Madoka Magica, and the few questions I did take at the end were thoughtful, considerate, and made me realize this is why I love doing panels. I love the conversations, I love learning things and helping others learn something new. I will be putting up an outline of that panel, on this website, soon.
- Ran into Patches, and also two lovely ladies from the Daily Dot Lauren and Aja after the panel.
- Ran into Vertical Inc., thanked them for their licenses and care in releases: also had a conversation with the fine folk at Wolfhome about kimono (antique and otherwise).
- Met up with the Anime Central roadshow crew! … briefly. Though it was good to see them again, now I’m tempted to put on my staffer hat and go to see it in Rosemont.
- Read tarot briefly and found out that randomly meeting cool people at pubs is awesome.
Saturday:
After getting lost in the dealer’s room, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to go to my Main Event at Otakon. No, I didn’t go to the concerts or the masquerade.
I made sure I went to Crispin Freeman’s mythology and giant robots panel. If he is presenting close to where you live, or can reasonably get to, do yourself a favor and go see it. Obviously, due to voice acting work, Mr Freeman presents very well: he’s a wonderful gentleman, and I loved his panel.
Charles and I (and our friend Haru) also had the pleasure of talking with him later, during dinner. Thank you, Mr Freeman, for being so amazing.
My only regret for Saturday is that I never did meet with Mr Kelts.
Sunday:
- Mostly wandered around the Inner Harbor area again, and got the best compliment on my blue hair that weekend from a bookshop clerk.
- Clerk: “…you have blue hair.” Me: “Yes! You should see it when it’s purple!” Clerk: “That’s amazing.”
- Sunday was fairly relaxing, and the hotels around the harbor kept up their high level of considerate service to congoers. I’m glad they did.
All in all: not the single best convention I’ve been to, but much better than I thought it’d be.