My Otaku Life

Last week the animelo 2009 DVD was released. I was fortunate enough to come across a 10gb encode of it. And as you might expect, I have watched the heck out of it !!

First off, let me say that this Animelo was not as awesome as some previous Animelo’s. At least in my opinion. Does this mean this animelo was not awesome ? Well I won’t go so far as to say that. There was definitely some disappointment, but many of the performances were outstanding. I have also been pulled in fandom of some new idols and groups, such as Fiction Junction.

Day 1 of the concert kicked off with Angelo and Chiaki Ishikawa performing the classic “Zankoku na Tenshi no These” (Cruel Angles Thesis). The opening lines were a little awkward as I thought their voices kind of clashed, but once the song got into gear, it was an awesome performance. And let’s face it though, this song is so epic and nostalgic, that I am thinking every animelo should open with it ! Well should be considered as there a few other songs that I think are a perfect opener for this Otaku Concert ! (for example the infamous Sakura Saku)

Or how about this other epic song – “My Pace”. This was another song that was performed on Day 1 by Manzo (accompanied by Halko Momoi, who was more like a cheerleader. AYE! AYE! ! ! ) I don’t know if I am alone in thinking this, and I am sure that I am not, I feel like this song is the National Anthem for Otaku thanks to Genshiken. I hear it and instantly think of genshiken, which makes me think of the Otaku Life.

And when you think Otaku Life, you have to think of Hakane Mitsu. She is practically our mascot ! It was very… different, to see a live performance from someone who doesn’t even actually exist !

After her performance came one of my Favorites of the whole venue. It was a very simple performance and basic performance with no glam or flashyness to it. Beat Mario and Cool &Create. They pulled out a little touhou song… “Help me, ERINNNNNN!”. I think what makes this such an awesome performance, is that the song is just awesome fun. Even sitting at home in a computer chair watching the performance on my computer, got me swinging my arm to the Erinnnn. ERINNNNN ERINNNNNN !!! If you don’t already do this when you hear the song, do it. It makes it so much more enjoyable. Bonus points of fun are awarded if you do it in a public setting.

Horie Yui came up shortly after beatmario. I swear to god she is a vampire or something. In fact, I am beginning to think all female J pop idols and seiyu are. I swear to god they don’t age. People may think the little group she is in with Kikuko Inoue is just a joke. But I think maybe they really are eternally 17 years old.

Some couple performances after Horie Yui, came one of the 2 performers I look forward to seeing most. My hero of day 1. May’n !!! ♥May’n. It’s no secret, I’m sure. Her opening performance really captivated me. I think primarily because she was singing something other than a Macross F song !!! She belted out the opening theme for Shangri La (which I enjoyed. Though I still have to finish it…. like so many other flicks). One thing I thought unusual about her performance though, is her wardrobe. While May’n was wearing the usual shorts, her outfit was super casual. It looked like she was going to the gym, or just a rehearsal/practice. Not the usual super fashionable sense she is usually seen on stage with. But she doesn’t need to wear anything fancy to blow people out of the water when performing. Hell she could wear nothing and be just as effective….. wait. thats not supposed to be perveted. I SWEAR! Well maybe just a little. But seriously, when it comes to belting out lyrics, I can’t think of anyone more passionate than her. Just listen to her sing the next song she performed, Diamond Crevasse, you hear it in her voice and see it on her face. She really captures the emotion in the song and transfers it to us fans !

And just when I think I couldn’t be blown away anymore than already am, out comes JAM Projects, Masami Okui. She is a incredible vocal power house. This gives May’n a duet with 2 JAM Poject members under her belt, to my knowledge anyways. (the other is my Hero, Yoshiki Fukuyama-Sama) They performed a song from something I am unfamiliar with, Ontama. This is something I definitely intend to check out.

Ali Project -> Rising from the floor of the staged emerged Arika Takarano looking like she was trying out for the role of Ultimecia (FFXIII villain). Her outfit was amazing. Lady Gaga wishes she could be half as awesome as what she was wearing.

Minori Chihara followed Ali Project. I admit, I am not to familiar with her work, except that she voiced the ever popular Chiaki from Minami Kei. But one thing was evident. The Japanese crowed freaking loves her. They were pretty pumped to see her. I was pretty pumped to see her as well. She is definitely a bijin. Seeing her and seeing the reactions of the crowd, this is one idol I am going to be checking out. She is very engaging, and seriously, that crowd. She had them going!! But I guess technically, pretty much everyone has them going… but whatever. She closed out her performance with “Paradise Lost” (Gai-rei zero op). She definitely put the best for lost. This was perhaps the most engaging of her performances imo.

ENTER JAM Project ! What’s cooler than seeing 5 middle aged performers lined up in military fashion clothed in long black leather/vinyl trenchcoats – 5 middle aged performers lined up in military fashion clothed in long black leater/vinyl trenchcoats rocking your pants off. I will never forget that opening shout. COCK ROCK HOOOOOOOO !!! I mean seriously, they freaking put the JAM in JAM Project. POOOOOOWERRRRRRR! Jam Project is just too awesome, seriously. It’s kind of unfair to take a group of some of the most influential and popular musicians/singers in the industry and slap them into 1 super group. I kind of miss seeing Aniki though.

Day 1 wraps up with a collaboration of all of the days performers. Quite the sight to behold. In between encore performances, everyone did a self introduction and finished off with 1 more impressive super collaboration song. During this part of the concert btw, Jam project’s Okui and Kageyama pretty much MC’d. At the very end the 2 also introduced the core of what I would call the “house” band members. Kegeyama refered to the guitarist as an old man. That seemed so wrong coming from a man who is pushing 50 himself. Anyways this brought an end to the day 1 festivities.

I’ll be back to talk about day 2 soon. Look forward to it, especially since that was my favorite day of performances! (that might have a lot to do with Nana-chan though !)

ps. Why is Halko Momoi so god damned popular ? She doesn’t strike me as super amazing. But she seems to have a huge cult following/fanfare.