Maybe you're my love! July 4, 2008 - Day Two - also Traveling Valentine's five year anniversary. For the second day, we went as members of the Host Club. Traveling Valentine: SVU had to catch the David Hayter panel. Since we arrived early, we took a few photos of us using our favorite photo spot at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

We proceeded to check out the Artist Alley. For a convention like Anime Expo, we expected more. Fanime and Anime Central's Artist Alleys seemed more lively with more custom made fan odds and ends to sell. However, it was an improvement from previous years. 2006 had Artist Alley crammed to a point where you couldn't breathe. 2007 had Artist Alley in a narrow, traffic heavy thoroughfare. 2008 had Artist Alley in its own hall space. Quiet, serene, and close to convention food.

We checked out the Exhibit Hall once it opened. Luckily, I was wearing my spare set of glasses, so now I could finally see!

We were informed that the Ouran High School Host Club Announcement panel was held at 11:30PM in live programming. Though there was a huge line outside, there were still plenty of free seats.

Caitlin Glass (Funimation), the ADR director for the Ouran High School Host Club production, started things off by getting to the point - announcing the English dub cast for the popular shoujo.

Caitlin Glass as Haruhi Fujioka
Vic Mignogna as Tamaki Suou
Greg Ayres as Kaoru Hitachiin
J. Michael Tatum as Kyoya Ohtori
Luci Christian as Mitsukuni Haninozuka
Todd Haberkorn as Hikaru Hitachiin
Travis Willingham as Takashi Morinozuka
Mike McFarland as Ryuuji "Ranka" Fujioka

Each of the English dub cast member received an Ouran High School blazer, with the exception of Mike McFarland. He arrived in drag. Fans asked questions such as what is it like to be voicing twins and what traits did the voice actors share with their respective characters. These were highlights of what the cast had to say about their part in the English language production.

Vic Mignogna: It's the kiss of death for a voice actor...I love Tamaki from the first moment I met him.
Greg Ayres: I'm wiggly all over....that is for you girls. Evil, us?
J. Michael Tatum: (Kyoya) is like me in real life.
Luci Christian: Mine is the cutest...it makes my job easy...bunnies and flowers!
Todd Haberkorn: Hikaru and I are Asian.
Travis Willingham: (Mori is) a man of many words; including "mmph."
Mike McFarland: It's a bizarre father figure...overall shadow lord of the show. I have firm calf muscles.

After the panel, fans got a real treat from Funimation. We got to see the English opening of "Sakura Kiss" as sung by Kristine Sa. She was also sitting pretty in the audience. Once the panel ended, a mob of fangirls swarmed Vic Mignogna. On behalf of Traveling Valentine, congrats to the Ouran High School Host Club cast and crew! We look forward to the release of the first 13 episodes on October 28, 2008!

We had lunch at the Galaxy Cafe. Not only was there slow service, but the cleaning staff didn't wipe down tables. I asked one cafe custodian if she could wipe down a few of the tables since they were unsuitable for a sit down meal. She never followed through. Tom and I don't recommend eating at the West Hall's food court. Overpriced food - no bang for your buck.

Other Ouran High School Host Club items to take of note during the day - Anime Cosplay Paradise had their own Host Club set up at the Funimation booth. The tableau even had the infamous vase with the arrow of fate. The tableau was also used for the English cast to sign autographs. Funimation was selling an exclusive pencil board. For our anniversary, I got Tom the pencil board with the signatures of the cast.

And what did Tom get me for our five year anniversary? A rose ring from Starry Petals. It was great to spend the first half of the day celebrating our anniversary Ouran style.

Pictures are copyright by Traveling Valentine. If I took your picture, feel free to use it on your site or cosplay gallery. While you're here, do sign the guestbook. This site was brought to you by the font Evita.