Like most silent assassins, I started my morning off with a cup of joe. Anime Expo was slowly coming to a close. Interestingly enough, most of the interesting panels were held on Sunday – Robot Chicken, Voice Actors Panel, How to Make Money in the Anime Industry, The Problem With Otaku, Production IG, and one of the many Bang Zoom Voice Acting Workshop.

I checked out Tony Oliver’s voice acting workshop. I attended last year and I figured it would be more of the same. However, he offered new insight and vocal techniques. Most importantly, he emphasized to practice, practice, practice. The Sunday workshop also announced who would win the free beginning voice acting workshop with Bang Zoom. Unfortunately, my name was not drawn.

Jared and I did one last round in the dealer’s room for last minute deals. I managed to pick up Baccano! volumes 2 and 3.

Jared's Perspective: It was Sunday - What a Black Day

Sunday boasted some very interesting and exciting panels, which was a nice change from the panel listings of previous days. Two of the more interesting panels were the Production IG panel and the “What is wrong with Otaku” panels. We hit the “What is wrong with Otaku” panel after our last minute shopping on Sunday. The panel featured a history of otaku in Japan with some comparison to the US. It is interesting to learn how otaku culture goes from underground to a major export in Japan. It was also nice to learn that American otaku (as crazy as they are) are still not as crazy as Japanese otaku (who buy every little piece of crap that companies produce). Overall it was a very fun well presented panel.

The panel that followed was the Production IG panel. The panel began by showing off new titles including a trailer for the Tales of Vesparia movie, a trailer for the Sengoku Basara TV series, and a preview of a new Musashi Miyamoto project. Sadly, one of the most interesting parts of the panel was a short CG animation about two buxom gals fighting a shark. Seriously that was the plot, it was cheesy, pointless, and fun (unless you are a gal then I doubt you’ll see the fun of it). Overall it was a nice preview panel with a good amount of swag given away at the end. However, we had to leave in order to prepare the Baccano! gathering.

The Baccano! gathering occurred at 2PM at gathering site #1. This was my first time organizing a cosplay gathering. I was really happy with the turnout. Not only cosplayers and photographers showed up, but Charlene Ingram (Funimation) showed up to give away Baccano! swag to all of the cosplayers. I am very grateful that Funimation takes interest in cosplayers that represent their shows. I remember talking to Char during Anime Expo 2008 if Funimation was going to release Baccano! (and they did!)

Many thanks to the Baccano! cosplayers who attended the Sunday afternoon Baccano! gathering. I am glad this went smoothly and that it was not chaotic as other gatherings.

Many thanks to Funimation for attending our Baccano! gathering. Many thanks to Char for taking photos too!

We had a decent turnout, better than I had anticipated. We had the people that were all aboard the Flying Pussyfoot.

We also had the gangs of New York.

And I had a Vino to propose to me and invite me to New York City.

And we also had the classic reenactment shots.

Deb (Tsuna from Reborn) returned from the Shonen Jump gathering. She mentioned how lackluster it was. The Baccano gathering folks didn’t mind if this mafia brat could pose with the big boys from the neighborhood.

One final shots of the boys from New York and Jersey Boy (aka Dallas).

Dallas would also like to express his dislike for "Caramelldansen."

The convention was coming to a close. Stan and Deb were already set to go for a late lunch / early dinner. We took our final shots at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

To wrap up things at the Los Angeles Convention Center, stopped by the Staples Center to pay one final homage to the King of Pop. May he rest in peace, or find the right time to come back from the dead for one final "Thriller."

We decided to have Anime Expo post-dinner in Torrance. My brother picked up Jared and I at the Westin. Before leaving, I found this art image of Michael Jackson in “Smooth Criminal.”

Jared, Deb, Stan, and I celebrated the press team's 6 year birthday at the Lazy Dog Café in Torrance. Celebrating it as the Anime Expo after party was a good idea to end the con. We had a lot of pizza to gorge upon. To show my thanks for my wonderful press team, I bought everyone dessert. It was Jared’s idea to get the banana split. The four good friends clinked our spoons to officially ended the Anime Expo adventure with sugary delight.

Just be wary of handing a knife or fork to the guys, they will go crazy.

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