Near and far, many have started this Anime Expo experience on Day 0. Day 0 was always associated with picking up the badge and checking into your hotel. Anime Expo already started a preview night in the LA Convention Center. However, most people were revving for Anisong World Matsuri's Kawaii Live. Day Zero brought the attendance numbers of Anime Expo 2001 - over 9,000 for preview night and fandom's most anticipated concert. Fans of Love Live and Wake Up Girls gathering in the garage of West Hall practicing their idol call outs and light pen maneuvers. Idol concerts are unlike anything you've ever seen - the most loyal of fanbases and a sea of light. Wotage were alive and kickin' at Anime Expo.

Kawaii Live by Eri Kagami
The show took place in the Microsoft Theatre. This was a huge venue fit for what fans have called "Idolpalozza." Four idol groups from four idol animes would be performing - Aquors from Love Live Sunshine, Cinderella Girls from The Idolm@ster: CG, Wake Up Girls, and Walkure from Macross Delta. Aquors and Wake Up Girls had full groups. The others had partial group members performing. The show was scheduled for 7:30, but started at 8PM. The show opened up with Cinderella Girls performing ensemble songs from the respective anime series. They also performed short scenes in Japanese out of the anime. After Cinderella Girls, we were entertained by Wake Up Girls. This was the audience favorite. When they danced, they really busted out the moves. It was beyond typical idol cutesy moves, they really gave it up. When they sang, they belted it out. This was a very intense set and was very much talked about after the concert.

There was a 15 minute intermission. This allowed people to stretch, grab a drink, tweet about the concert, and purchase merchandise. Unfortunately, there was a long line to purchase official AniSong World Matsuri to the point where they were not allowing any more people to line up to purchase official glowsticks for the rest of the concert. Idol fanboys were encouraged to purchase glowsticks and other merchandise once the deal hall opened on day one.

The second act opened with Walkure from Macross Delta. While the series hasn't taken on as much as its predecessors, the music is lauded with its bombastic beats and high idol energy. In between songs, Juuna and Minoringo were asking the audience where to get the best burgers. Everyone started cheering "In and Out." The last group was Aquors - all nine girls showed up to sing all the ensemble pieces - openings and endings and everything in between. While idol fans were disappointed that only ensemble songs were done and there were no unit performances, it is still a very rare occasion for this many idols from this many hit series to be on one stage for one night only.

After the show, idol fans gathered outside the Microsoft Theater for selfies to commemorate the special night. There weren't many idol themed cosplays - most idol cosplayers I knew went in casual idol-ed up outfits to show their love for multiple series. Ita bags that showed off their best girls were very much in tow! This was the most attended Day 0 of any anime convention - having idols from Japan kick things off certainly helped!

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