Anime Iowa: 1999


MOCHI > The Scrapbook > Convention Memories > Anime Iowa > 1999

Right now, there's a set of "official" web pages about Anime Iowa 1999, but we're not sure how long they'll be sticking around.

Location:	Collins Plaza Hotel
Date:	Sept. 3rd - 5th
Type of convention:	Small / intimate
Summary:

This was our second year at Anime Iowa, although it was the first year that all four members of MOCHI were actually present. We were particularly looking forward to this convention because of it's supportive masquerade and the opportunity to get together with some cosplayers that we had met last year.

Pre-con shennanigans

The Collins Plaza was a change of venue for the con. MOCHI arrived very late on Thursday evening. The main lobby of the hotel was under rennovation, which was a bit confusing at first. The hotel itself is built largely like a large cylinder: all the rooms "line" the inner wall of cylinder and open out onto a central atrium. The atrium was full of people talking or playing games. One group was busy playing Bitin' Off Hedz (by Cheapass Games), where you play a dinosaur and pelt each other with rocks. Toasted, defending MOCHI's honor, valiantly tried to be the first dinosaur to hurl himself into the big volcano, but couldn't make it.

There was a flurry of unpacking in the room and lots of staying up late catching up.

Oh, and Gameboy Pokemon.

If there was one thing that marked this convention, it was the slow assimilation of MOCHI members into the cult of people who play Pokemon on a Gameboy. [It's about the same size as a Palm Pilot and comes in much better colors. - Daifuku]. One member was convinced to buy a Gameboy over the weekend just to play (and trade)! (Sadly, Toasted Mochi seems to be immune to the whole thing. Maybe his deep love of CLAMP has provided him with some resistance ....).