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by Rey-Rey |
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October 19, 2001: Riding The Wave
I didn't think I'd be inside anime fandom like this, especially the kind of wave I'm riding in right now. I didn't think I'd even be into ANIME at this time! O_o
So how'd I get into this crazy community? If ya think about it, I didn't know any of these people that I associate with now about three years ago. O_o After I graduated from high school in 1997, all I watched religiously was Ranma 1/2. I then met Joe Woo (BigPoppaCool on the EZBoards), who invited me to go to Anime Expo '98. I was working in a video game store at the time when I met him. He also said to invite people that are into anime. I immediately thought of a few people (one of them includes Demon Hyo) that are into it. Wanting to somehow blend in, I watched Evangelion 10 hours straight. O_o
Anime Expo '98 was a great experience. Nothing really of significance but, as a fan, I enjoyed it. I met Spike Spencer, Matt Miller, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Jason Lee. I saw them as down-to-earth people. ^__^ Also, as a little throw-in, that was the first time I saw my current girlfriend.
Anyway, not wanting to sit around, Joe and I thought of doing an anime trivia contest at Anime Expo '99. WE SERIOUSLY THOUGHT FANIME'S CONTEST SUCKED BIG-TIME.
We also acquired more friends with the same tastes as Joe and I. The name, "Rage" (short for something else), was christened around August of 1998.
We had a nice run doing the Trivia. We were pretty good in our first year. We thought we stole the show in 2000 because we heavily advertised it in the con, we were a much bigger group, and we were starting to make a name for ourselves.
By Ani-Magic 2000, we did the Trivia again. But we were getting known for something else. We shouted various chants during the "Stupid Rob Tricks" ("throw him in the pool", "light him on fire", "shave his head") and the award presentations ("kiss", "we want Mai"). The Rage sorta developed a "Bad Boy" reputation but nothing really "bad" about it. We were just being "rowdy".
I also coined the "Hot Yaoi Action" phrase, which was meant to be a harmless joke towards one of the Rage members. We started advertising the now-famous phrase and it quickly caught on. At the same time, every cosplay group was getting a message board (I dubbed it the EZBoard Boom) so we started posting everywhere. Finally, I started meeting up with cosplayers last year of this time. I also helped set up "Condensed Milk" so that most people from the boards can meet up and match faces with names. As for the crew here in Dub-O-A, I first saw Wendell in Fanime Con '99 and talked briefly with him and Agent in AX '99. Agent recalled what a dork I was back then!
The EZBoard Boom helped people establish their identities. It was also a chance of exposure for our group as well. I went around EZBoards meeting new people left and right. Lord knows I really established myself around EZBoards. I didn't think HYA and $2 would become phenomenons. O_o
HYA became even bigger in Fanime 2001 and it was the first time all these cosplay groups from the EZBoards met up in an anime convention. I was establishing myself somehow as a player in anime fandom. I couldn't believe everything was happening like that. O_o
Because of my individuality, trouble started brewing in my group and I finally called it quits with the Rage right before Anime Expo 2001. It was a pretty silent convention for me but, of course, it was nice meeting some of the East Coast cosplayers (Elfeater and Maryssa). Anime Expo 2001 also had something of significance. Agent asked me to join World Of Anime.
And I don't want to repeat myself about Ani-Magic. I talked about the convention last week!
Well, the Rage had a goal and that it was to be on the forefront when anime gets mainstream. Well, I think we're accomplishing that goal but we're doing it now in separate ways. I've done more than enough in my involvement in the past three years and, with World Of Anime, I think I'm going to ride the wave even longer now. ^___^
Any questions? Catch Rey-Rey at...
...AOL INSTANT MESSENGER: Rey Rey Effect |
Of course, we never actually really talked until after Anime Expo 2000.
