Stepping into a New World

January 24^th. My legs took me somewhere strange. I was in a dream world where fantasy and fiction combined with the real and the common – or so I thought.

I didn’t know what pushed me but it was my first time to attend an Anime Convention. It was not only crowded with people, it was teeming with the weird, the amazing and the unknown. With fellow novices in a world of the otaku, I was speechless.

I set off from work in the afternoon and picked up my friends. It was a bonding moment for us. I was their mentor but where we were going, we were all noobs. Sure, I became fond of reading manga and watching anime due to some influences (you know who you are!!), but as I stepped into the threshold of the 5^th floor of SM Megamall, I knew I was ignorant of anime and manga.  It was a different world.

The Otaku Expo ’10 the first of many anime conventions to come was scheduled at Megatrade Hall 2 and 3. Yet the moment we stepped into the escalator to the 5^th floor, it seemed that the whole floor became the convention. There blocking the Wedding Expo on the 1^st Hall, were countless otaku recognizable by their attires. Some were in their favorite character’s costume, while others were wearing the Japanese inspired attire drawn from an anime. Still others wore otaku looks on their faces as they try to name all the characters represented by their cohorts. Once in a while (like once every minute) flashes of lights indicated the presence of photographers awestruck by the cosplay.

Thus while all around me were people in otaku outfit, I was underdressed as the haggard looking ninja-turtle wannabe. It was not intended. I neglected to go home and leave my computer which I carried from work. So there I was in anime land, looking like trash.

But this isn’t about me, is it?

The sights I saw were great wonders. Anime and manga paraphernalia were in every corner of the hall. CDs, clothing, Manga, Magazines, toys, keychains, even appliances, name it and it’s sold there. There’s even a Maiden Café in one corner but with the surge of people it seemed impossible to look around the café. Apart from all the anime stuff, games were also an attraction. In fact, there were two sections where new online games were being played.

In the middle of the entire ruckus, another attraction, bigger than all the others was seen. It was the center stage. At the back, more cosplay participants were lining up – a really long line. So this was where we would see the main event, the cosplay competition. More than a hundred participated. Some came in groups like those who acted like One Piece characters. Personally, it was a great eye opener that some people would painstakingly undergo the rigorous preparations for this kind of event just for the heck of it. Really rigorous especially when those people could also make a mecha costume and wear it. Near the 90^th participant, I have arrived to the conclusion that such events could really be boring if you don’t have a camera. It was a parade of sights and only the one who could not capture the moment would be a useless observer to the event. I was one of those useless observers.

I was staring wide eyed at the efforts of these people. Both amazed and envious, I felt like almost staring open mouthed at these people. Amazed at the huge effort they took to build mecha costumes or furnish their costumes to the detail. They seem to have devoted a large part of their time, money, effort and guts to be able to strut around a crowded mall while boasting of a get up akin to some TV character. At the same time, I envied them for having enough time to pull of something like this. I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d do. Maybe I’ll watch all the films I missed watching or read all the books on my reading list and on my wish list. I really wonder what I’d do.

I was in a different world that day, even though somehow, my toes lived there. I wasn’t exactly as otaku as these people, but I do like to read some of my kind of  manga and anime. I hope only my toes or my feet would live that world, I wouldn’t dare think of what would happen if it became my life.

Pictures here are courtesy of Gaela Mateo, the kind friend who invited us (ayan may citation na gaya ng sabi mo)