AFA 09

Lots of ppl! Yama ho-do ni!

I like this year's events better, although I feel the events are lesser (or is it?)

The highlight I had wanted to check out, and it really turns out to be my favourite booth at AFA - JOYSOUND karaoke system no da!

Other than the karaoke, JOYSOUND system is also used there for fan-dubbing certain epic anime scenes. You watch the real scene, after which you try to be a seiyuu for a day : ) 70 songs?! Ha! From the responses of the crowd, it is never enough! This has got to be the most interactive booth! Which other booth would u have total strangers singing along with u? We all don't know the names of the ppl around us, but everyone knows the lyrics. Even those who didn't know the lyrics are attracted to it, cheering the singers on. A great activity for fellow anime lovers. Better than cosplay, I would say.

And there is a service! Song number 8: Koi no Mikuru Densetsu, haha they filled the video with LUCKY STAR footage! Even Michael can't recognise it at first! And this is supposed to be his fav song! Now to compare it with the clubdam system. Actually I don't see much difference, except for the dubbing function. Most karaoke videos on the JOYSOUND are also of random footage, very few have the anime sequences cut out for the karaoke(s). I understand to do that for every song is a hell of a project, the companies should look into outsourcing. An obvious and one very good place to look for it are fan-subbing groups. Yes studios and subbing groups have always been natural enemies like the cat and mouse, and blamed each other for ruining the anime industry. But think of the advantages of combining their collective power, it is for the better of everyone! ...bleh.. Here is a "Iteza gogo Kuji Don't be late!" karaoke clip. But strange and sadly, when I sang at the booth, there wasn't any of the footage at all! (source)

Ok this year there are seats (although as my friend pointed out, nobody sits, but still it offers some comfortable space between everybody, if not I would probably be squeezed out of the place!). And thanks the organiser for the 5min lightsticks. Just one song of Shoko and life got sucked out of the light-stick. They gave us 2 of them, I thought it was supposed to last the 2 days, it turns out to be 2 songs : ) Is it the norm for light-sticks in Japan concerts to last 5mins? Then the people have got to carry a whole bag of them! Did the organiser missed the fine print or what? Well they started selling the 'normal' light-sticks on the second day. haha Must have gotten a ton of compliants on the first day! Too late, pal.

There are cute blunders too from the artistes. I think Yoshiki-san wasn't aware of the fire-works installed on the stage, so when the first wave came out, he's got a shock! Priceless! May'n, she was speaking, when she forgot the name of something, I also forgot what it is - she goes ah!, but it is really cute! Moe! And to the shocking news! Fukuyama-san promised he will bring his JAM project team to Singapore "next time"! What is next time? ehhhh hope its soon. Yakusoku yo, Fukuyama-san! But then it is really nice of him to promise that. I think its a big one to keep. Even if it doesn't realise, I am still thankful. 芳樹さん善い人だ。 Apart from Mei-san new songs, she also performed quite a few of her signature Macross F songs. And we had a treat with the second last song, she and Yoshiki-san did Diamond Crevasse (guitar ver.) together, with Yoshiki-san doing the guitar. (He did join in to sing parts of the song too!) THis should be a Singapore-exclusive!!

The densetsu Kareshi Kanojou no Mise is the most popular stall. You have to queue round 45 mins just to get in! And once you are in there after the long wait, everybody have to buy something, don't they? ha. So I got something too. In the random K-ON pack, I got Ritsu! And a mousepad I probably couldn't bear to use.

Michael also blogs AFA. Check that out too.