FanimeCon 2024 Forums

FanimeCon: Participate, Join, Create => Cosplay! Construction, Tips, Gatherings, Advice => Topic started by: InsaneDavid on September 03, 2017, 10:39:53 AM

Title: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on September 03, 2017, 10:39:53 AM
Greetings old school cosplayers!  Last year's Old School Gathering was an absolute blast, thank you all for your amazing attendance, awesome cosplay, and for putting up with me as everyone's favorite middle-aged nanpa boy - Ryo Saeba!  Last year was my second time hosting the gathering and of course I'm doing it again!  Continuing the tradition of the gathering that got me into cosplay, I announce the...

Fanime 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering!

(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicplastic.net%2Fzzforums%2Ffanime%2F2018-OldSchoolCosplayGathering-001s.jpg&hash=d0efec853cea1f419f422ed129dd5439583d63ff)

Come celebrate the rich history of Japanese entertainment culture!

This is a hugely open gathering for those of you / us who cosplay as characters from the previous century.  Essentially if your cosplay character appears in Anime, Manga, Video Games or Live Action (resident beings of Nebula M78 are welcome) that began prior to 2001, then this is the gathering for you!  Although I like to have a decidedly Japanese lean to this gathering, it is not completely exclusive.

2018 is a big year with...
...the 50th anniversary of Golgo 13 and the 50th anime anniversary of Cyborg 009 and Gegege no Kitaro.
...the 40th anime anniversary of Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999.
...the 30th anime anniversary of Samurai Troopers, Mobile Police Patlabor, and GunBuster.
...the 20th anime anniversary of Card Captor Sakura, His and Her Circumstances, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Outlaw Star, Initial D, and Serial Experiments Lain.


Day : Friday, May 28th (Day 1)
Time : 6PM - 7PM
Meeting Place (MP) : Same as Location, G3
Location (L) : Gatherings G3, Downstairs Tiered Platform (on the lower floor, the wooden steps close to video) this is a NEW location for 2018!

This will be our third year hosting!  Please note we will be at a slightly different location than last year - turn right from the main Convention Center entrance, and head down the stairs to the video rooms on the lower level.  We will be on the downstairs wooden tiered platforms.

Gatherings G3 is the wooden tiered platform area along the stairs that lead down to the video rooms on the lower level.  This location will give us more space to spread out, even lighting, lower stair platforms, and a protected backdrop wall.  It's all around more convenient and if it works out well I would like it to become the new permanent location for the gathering.

(https://forums.fanime.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicplastic.net%2Fzzforums%2Ffanime%2F2018-OldSchoolCosplayGathering-002s.jpg&hash=78ad3e41d51d318af32cdc0711444dc07e6f2e60)


Cosplayers : If you would like, please post who your cosplay character is, what title it is from and what year you are representing!  As this gathering is a total wildcard mix of different characters, series, studios, and genres - spanning time rather than properties - a definitive list is otherwise not provided.  Part of the fun of the OSCG is seeing just who shows up.


Legal Statement : Fanime will be taking group pictures during the Gathering/Event this year. If you do not want to be included in those pictures please step aside for those photos. By remaining with the group when the pictures are being taken you give your consent to be photographed.


Photography Order : If there is any specific setup or shot you would like, just let me know!  This gathering is to celebrate all of us as cosplayers who keep the vintage fire alive.

By era - 1960's (or earlier).
By era - 1970's.
By era - 1980's.
By era - 1990's (to 2000).
Group shot.
Timeline group shot by era / cumulative group shot by era (dependent on gathering size).
Characters who use swords / knives / blades / etc.
Characters known to get physical / fighters / brawlers.
Military / rank and file / soldiers.
Characters with psychic powers / spiritual powers / espers / magic / etc.
Pilots / drivers / craft operators / mech jockeys.
Teachers / students / faculty / school attendants / etc.
Characters who use firearms / laser guns / projectile weapons / etc.
Magical girls.
Spacefaring characters / those who live off-world.
Robots / androids / synthetic people / mecha.
Characters who are mysterious / shadowy.
Public servants / government organizations / secret organizations.
Dead / expired / lifeless characters.
Characters with secret identities.
Characters in uniform of any type.
Battle teams.
Characters who are on the run / fugitives / scoundrels / bounty hunters.
Monsters / demons / youma / etc.
Characters who are technically minded / deductive / intelligent / geniuses.
Heroes.
Villains.
Heroes vs Villains.
Great warriors / legendary masters.
Civilians.
Aliens.
Animals / pets.
Age vs Youth / old characters vs young characters.
Video game characters.
Manga only characters.
Live Action only characters.
Pairings / couples.
Series groups (dependent on attendance / request).
By studio / production team (dependent on attendance / request).
Solo shots (dependent on request).
Additional requests (cosplayer requested).
Final group shot for late attendees (regular / humorous).

I am always up for future ideas to add to the list!  A good portion of the photo order is built upon suggestions from previous years.


Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/314735342281455


This is an excellent gathering to psyche you up for the convention weekend.  If you're an old school cosplayer, stop by and join us!  Feel free to pop in for a moment to say hi, see some incredible cosplay, pose for some pictures, and continue to prove that just because it's old doesn't mean it isn't awesome!


Thank you so very much.  Let's have another great turnout and continue this wonderful Fanime tradition!


Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on September 03, 2017, 10:40:11 AM
Old School Cosplay Gathering 2018 Photo Gallery Index

Updated Photography Order As It Was Called / Shot (we always improvise a little but here it is for reference) :

By era - 1960's (or earlier).
By era - 1970's.
By era - 1980's.
By era - 1990's (to 2000).
Timeline group shot by era / cumulative group shot by era.
Characters who use swords / knives / blades / etc.
Characters known to get physical / fighters / brawlers.
Military / rank and file / soldiers.
Characters with psychic powers / spiritual powers / espers / magic / etc.
Pilots / drivers / craft operators / mech jockeys.
Teachers / students / faculty / school attendants / etc.
Characters who use firearms / laser guns / projectile weapons / etc.
Magical girls.
Spacefaring characters / those who live off-world.
Robots / androids / synthetic people / mecha.
Characters who are mysterious / shadowy.
Animals / pets.
Public servants / government organizations / secret organizations.
Dead / expired / lifeless characters.
Characters with secret identities.
Characters in uniform of any type.
Battle teams.
Characters who are on the run / fugitives / scoundrels / bounty hunters.
Monsters / demons / youma / etc.
Characters who are technically minded / deductive / intelligent / geniuses.
Heroes.
Villains.
Heroes vs Villains.
Great warriors / legendary masters.
Civilians.
Aliens.
Age vs Youth / old characters vs young characters.
Video game characters.
Pairings / couples.
Requests.
Final group shot for late attendees (regular / humorous).


Unofficial Gallery of pictures taken by the co-host can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/496398453882635/photos/?tab=album&album_id=836074006581743

These are high quality, untouched, non-watermarked pictures, essentially everything she shot.  Feel free to tag, share, download, etc. and if you are a cosplayer in a picture you are absolutely welcome to reupload pictures of yourself elsewhere!  If anyone has issue with a specific picture, just let me know here (a PM is fine) and I'll take care of it.  We were without an official FanimeCon photographer this year, so I suppose our photos have become the "official" photos.


ephemient via Fanime Forums, Old School Gathering Gallery -
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EwahLoiM7ompvnzH3
Thank you for taking pictures at the gathering!


bahamutknightzero via Fanime Forums, Fanime 2018 Gallery -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160530130130296.1073741850.828005295&type=1&l=bce098e028
Thank you for taking pictures at the gathering!


Studio Stormfalcon, FanimeCon 2018-05-25, Old School Gathering beginning on page 8 -
https://stormfalcon.smugmug.com/CosplayPhotography/FanimeCon-2018-05-25/
Thank you for taking pictures at the gathering!


If anyone has pictures of the Old School Cosplay Gathering, please post the link to your gallery and I will add them to this post!

Thank you again to all who attended or expressed interest in this gathering!  We can't wait to do it again for 2019 as FanimeCon celebrates a legacy of its own with the 25th anniversary of the convention!

Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on September 03, 2017, 10:40:47 AM
Photo Galleries From OSCG 2017 (Previous Year) :

Updated Photography Order As It Was Called / Shot:

1960's or earlier.
1960's - 1970's (no 1970's cosplayers this year at the start).
1960's - 1980's.
1960's - 2000 (all eras group shot).
Sword wielders.
Fighters.
Spacefaring characters.
Military / rank and file / special forces / tactical background / etc.
Characters with psychic powers / espers / spiritual power / magic / etc.
Pilots / drivers / craft operators / machine operators / etc.
Characters known to carry firearms / laser guns / shooters / etc.
Robots / androids / synthetic people.
Teachers / students / faculty / school attendants / etc.
Magical girls.
Battle teams.
Characters who are on the run / fugitives / scoundrels / etc.
Heroes.
Villains.
Civilians.
Aliens.
Video game characters.
Manga only characters (none this year).
Live action only characters (none this year).
Series groups.

Mixed requests:
Gentlemen.
Ladies (and one mokkori sweeper - sorry, couldn't resist being in character).
Pairings / couples.
Playboys and ladies.


Unofficial Gallery of pictures taken by the co-host can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.671897979666014.1073741833.496398453882635&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.671897979666014.1073741833.496398453882635&type=3)

These are high quality, untouched, non-watermarked pictures, essentially everything she shot.  Feel free to tag, share, download, etc. and if you are a cosplayer in a picture you are absolutely welcome to reupload pictures of yourself elsewhere!  If anyone has issue with a specific picture, just let me know here (a PM is fine) and I'll take care of it.


Tye / Imperal, FanimeCon Friday, 4pm - 7pm Gatherings OFFICIAL Gallery -
https://fanimecon.slickpic.com/albums/FanimeCon-Friday-4pm-7pm/?wallpaper (https://fanimecon.slickpic.com/albums/FanimeCon-Friday-4pm-7pm/?wallpaper)
(scroll down to see an awesome set of official pictures from the gathering)
Thank you for taking pictures at the gathering, assisting with countdowns, and being an all around awesome Head of the Cosplay Gatherings Department!


Stormfalcon, Day One Gallery -
Day One: https://stormfalcon.smugmug.com/CosplayPhotography/FanimeCon-2017-05-26/ (https://stormfalcon.smugmug.com/CosplayPhotography/FanimeCon-2017-05-26/)
(Old School Cosplay Gathering photos begin on page 16)
Thank you for taking pictures at the gathering!


OSCG 2017 Fanime Forums Thread:

http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,20867.0.html
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on September 08, 2017, 11:01:03 PM
Sadly I'm not doing anything old school next year, but I'll probably take pictures, anyway. :)

Scratch that, I am bringing Boi from Zyuranger, which is old school. XD
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on September 09, 2017, 05:25:42 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on September 08, 2017, 11:01:03 PM
Sadly I'm not doing anything old school next year, but I'll probably take pictures, anyway. :)

Scratch that, I am bringing Boi from Zyuranger, which is old school. XD

Woohoo!  We don't have nearly enough live action representation! :)
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: SkylerKarashi on September 09, 2017, 09:25:17 PM
I have two I can potentially wear for this. I have umbreon from pokemon, but I'll probably be wearing that a different day. I'll be wearing Fred Weasley from Harry Potter that day though and the book was pre-2001. :)
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on September 09, 2017, 11:32:00 PM
Quote from: gary925 on September 09, 2017, 09:25:17 PM
I have two I can potentially wear for this. I have umbreon from pokemon, but I'll probably be wearing that a different day. I'll be wearing Fred Weasley from Harry Potter that day though and the book was pre-2001. :)

Still a long way off but we could always use early generation Pokemon representation if things work out differently!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on September 15, 2017, 07:44:37 PM
Quote from: InsaneDavid on September 09, 2017, 05:25:42 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on September 08, 2017, 11:01:03 PM
Sadly I'm not doing anything old school next year, but I'll probably take pictures, anyway. :)

Scratch that, I am bringing Boi from Zyuranger, which is old school. XD

Woohoo!  We don't have nearly enough live action representation! :)
So true. xD I was supposed to wear him to Sac-Anime a couple weeks ago but couldn't finish him.
So then I recently decided I would bring him to Fanime. 8D
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on December 22, 2017, 11:22:14 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

It looks like many returning FanimeCon cosplay gathering organizers have begun to stir their interest threads on the Fanime forums.  Still don't expect a lot of movement here until into the New Year (no changes planned, Fanime Friday as usual) but I did want to touch base once more, and wish everyone a happy holiday season.

As the FanimeCon 2018 theme is "Gaming" I want to extend a reminder that pre-2001 video game cosplay is absolutely good to go for the Old School Cosplay Gathering.  And as this is the Friday prior to Christmas, an appropriate piece of old school video game music...

From the Winter season of 1999 and DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX, Silent Hill -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q6FPZcIJSE
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on December 22, 2017, 05:55:54 PM
Merp, my plans keep changing, as of now I'm not doing anything old school. :C I might still take photos, though!

*Kicks self for changing a lot* Scratch what I keep saying, and because of my recent change, I may be there as Michiru from Sailor Moon. xD (I've had the wig for what feels like ages but haven't cosplayed her yet so I'm gonna try to stick with this plan XD )
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on December 29, 2017, 02:03:16 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on December 22, 2017, 05:55:54 PM
Merp, my plans keep changing, as of now I'm not doing anything old school. :C I might still take photos, though!

*Kicks self for changing a lot* Scratch what I keep saying, and because of my recent change, I may be there as Michiru from Sailor Moon. xD (I've had the wig for what feels like ages but haven't cosplayed her yet so I'm gonna try to stick with this plan XD )

Hehe, that's no problem.  Fanime is still almost five months away so I'm sure your plans may shift again.  I always enjoy seeing Sailor Moon characters at the Old School Cosplay Gathering!

I know the Sailor Moon Gathering absorbs most of them however, including my wife and I as Makoto Kino and Motoki Furuhata over the past two years.  We're rotating Makoto and Motoki (still my favorite anime couple that never was, until the live action series but they made Motoki such a dope in that!) out for 2018 but plan on being at the Sailor Moon Gathering as an early days Michiru and Haruka... because I love obscurity even with mainstream titles.

For the Old School Cosplay Gathering we'll probably be wearing our Mobile Police Patlabor uniforms (Shinobu Nagumo and Kiichi Goto specifically) once more.  We were going to give them a rest in 2018 but it's the 30th anniversary of Patlabor, along with a new anime series "Patlabor EZY" slated for 2018, so that's our Friday plan.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on January 20, 2018, 10:01:07 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

With Fanime housing now cycled through for the early registrants (I sincerely hope you all were able to book housing if needed or at least have booked something and registered on the waitlist), we're starting to see convention activity begin to spin up for 2018.  To that end, I thought I would get things going here as we're now a little more than four months away from Fanime!

As in previous years, the weekly old school anime opening (OP) posts are back.  I know they're not everyone's cup of sake but I really enjoy searching them out and it keeps me in the habit of updating the gathering event page and forum thread.  Generally these will be one OP per week (usually on Friday) right up until Fanime, along with any gathering updates for the week.  The information posted here is also cross-posted in the gathering thread on the Fanime forums.

Today may be Saturday but I seem have a tradition of sorts in kicking things off on a non-Friday.  So here we go with a series that had its anime premiere fifty years ago this month!

Celebrating An Era - 1960's!  Gegege no Kitaro (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWAtSxvoe4g
*** 50th Anime Anniversary ***
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on January 27, 2018, 10:09:30 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

Yeah, yeah, it's Saturday rather than Friday again.  Anyway... wow, a lot of interest (via Facebook) in the gathering already!  This week we're a few days shy of four months until FanimeCon, which means I personally need to get myself in gear and get moving on cosplay work.  I'm good for the Old School Cosplay Gathering but there's a ton to do still for the rest of the weekend's cosplay plans - and of course all of them are old school.

Today another one of those massively popular series of its time, and a reminder that all that great anime from the 1990's is outstanding basis for cosplay and falls well within the time range for the Old School Cosplay Gathering.  I meet people every year that had their anime interest expanded by the second western anime boom in the 1990's, including myself as my teenage years fell into the end of that range.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's!  Slayers (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR0DOfE3Hso
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 02, 2018, 06:27:19 PM
Good evening old schoolers!

Going to get back into an old school opening or ending every Friday once again, starting today.  Zillion is kind of an interesting one as while it is pretty obscure, the two Sega Mark III games (Sega Master System in the USA and other regions) were released stateside.  Additionally the Sega Light Phaser is the Zillion gun, and apparently the Zillion laser tag sets had limited North American distribution.  Cool opening with a catchy theme.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Akai Kodan Zillion (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la-lgb-BPhI
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Kite on February 06, 2018, 10:48:45 AM
Definitely coming to the gathering as Pen Pen.

But not sure where I would be in the line up.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 06, 2018, 04:32:46 PM
Quote from: Kite on February 06, 2018, 10:48:45 AM
Definitely coming to the gathering as Pen Pen.

But not sure where I would be in the line up.

Cool!  All Evangelion peeps are welcome at the gathering, obviously.

I think I'll add an animals spot to the photography list (always looking to expand the list every year) but for Pen Pen you have...
1990's (obviously).
Military / rank and file.
Public servants / government organizations / secret organizations.
Civilians.

And whatever else we all come up with at the gathering depending on who's there.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on February 06, 2018, 04:47:42 PM
I started getting things to make Michiru! I'm aiming to get the fruit maid version done for Fanime. ^^
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 09, 2018, 01:25:26 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on February 06, 2018, 04:47:42 PM
I started getting things to make Michiru! I'm aiming to get the fruit maid version done for Fanime. ^^

Yay!  Although I'll be wearing Captain Kiichi Goto from Mobile Police Patlabor ( 30th anniversary! ) at the Old School Cosplay Gathering, my wife and I are doing Sailor Moon S episode 106 Michiru and Haruka for the Sailor Moon gathering.  (Retiring Makoto Kino and Motoki Furuhata for Fanime 2018 after two years)  That's the origin / how they met flashback episode of the series - which means I ~really~ hope it isn't hot at Fanime this year as that cosplay consists of a full driving suit.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 09, 2018, 01:26:15 PM
Good afternoon old schoolers!

Crazy few days of summer-like weather here in FanimeCon's backyard, too bad I don't need to do any cosplay spray painting this year!  An extra thanks to those who have shared the event page for this gathering, it is most appreciated!  There are tons of pre-2001 cosplayers at Fanime, let's bring us all together for this gathering on Friday evening!

Going to stick to one OP per week each Friday through February but in March I'll start to pick them up and move to a few every weekend - as always - as there are a ton I'd like to get through and they really get me in that pre-2001 anime mood for the gathering!  Today an opening from 1971 that has been massively influential - just take a look at the Cowboy Bebop opening for proof.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's!  Lupin III (1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtOnRPv2W4A
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 16, 2018, 01:41:52 PM
Good afternoon old schoolers!

I hope you are all well this Friday and that you're doing whatever you wish to do today.  Going with an anime ending today, one of my favorites.  Also one of my favorite ending songs, Atsuku Naretara / If I Can Be Passionate from City Hunter 3.  I swear, the City Hunter franchise has the best anime series soundtracks ever released.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  City Hunter 3 (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUtxTCDbUSs [ENDING]
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on February 16, 2018, 11:27:58 PM
I've been giving things a lot of thought, and while I want to do Michiru, I think it would be better if I did Boi instead because I'm already in the middle of that cosplay since I was trying to have it done for Sac-Anime last year, and if I did him for Fanime, I would have him done for PMC.

So yeah. ><" Next year though I'll probly do Michiru. :3
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 18, 2018, 06:18:03 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on February 16, 2018, 11:27:58 PM
I've been giving things a lot of thought, and while I want to do Michiru, I think it would be better if I did Boi instead because I'm already in the middle of that cosplay since I was trying to have it done for Sac-Anime last year, and if I did him for Fanime, I would have him done for PMC.

So yeah. ><" Next year though I'll probly do Michiru. :3

Hehe, cool. ^_^

At least with Sailor Moon characters, they're pretty timeless in the vibe of current anime fandom, so they usually don't have the urgency to complete that some other cosplays may cause.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: PrincessSquib on February 21, 2018, 12:59:39 PM
I'm still figuring out my cosplay lineup, but if all goes well, I'll be Shaina from Saint Seiya. It was a 1980s-1990s manga/anime. Hope to see you there!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 22, 2018, 02:22:29 PM
Quote from: PrincessSquib on February 21, 2018, 12:59:39 PM
I'm still figuring out my cosplay lineup, but if all goes well, I'll be Shaina from Saint Seiya. It was a 1980s-1990s manga/anime. Hope to see you there!

Cool!  We had a couple of Saint Seiya cosplayers at the gathering last year. ^_^
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on February 23, 2018, 05:03:00 PM
Good evening old schoolers!

FanimeCon gatherings submissions are now live, so if anyone here is hosting a gathering of their own, check out the forums for an official post and link to the gathering form.  The Old School Cosplay Gathering has been submitted and upon hearing confirmation of our date, time and location it will be made official.  In the meantime, the tentative plan is still for Friday evening as usual, 6pm, but we should be moving around the corner to the lower wooden riser staircase that leads down to the video rooms.  There we should have way better and more consistent lighting, less foot traffic behind the gathering, and easier accessibility (no climbing up and down the huge stair platforms).

As the voyage to gatherings for FanimeCon 2018 sort of officially began today, I thought this OP was appropriate.  Next weekend we'll pick up with more OPs and EDs each Friday, Saturday and Sunday as March begins.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's!  Space Battleship Yamato (1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BkppT5YNjU
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 02, 2018, 12:03:38 PM
Good afternoon old schoolers!

Here we are at the beginning of March, just about three full months until FanimeCon 2018! Crazy rain and wind in Fanime's backyard right now - let's hope for cool temperatures and clear skies come the end of May.

As we're within three months of the convention, I'm going to expand the old school anime openings and endings to a couple every day, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As a courtesy the Fanime Forums thread will only be bumped once with OPs / EDs each Friday along with the initial post weekly, with all the following OPs / EDs for that weekend being added as a post edit.

I'm kicking things off this time with my favorite of Hideaki Anno's works, which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this October.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Aim for the Top! / GunBuster (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLr3b2bDBZg
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8W7eF49xv4

Celebrating An Era - 1960's!  Ribon no Kishi / Princess Knight (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=664Wfc0Y7KA


Keeping things rolling along this Saturday with more OPs and EDs...

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Martian Successor Nadesico (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XphjF-fHZkM

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sxKcF4VE9s

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Ranma 1/2 (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syd129Vla0Q


'Morning everyone, here are a few more OPs for Sunday...

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Outlaw Star (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7ufQugU6w
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***

Another one of those once super well-known and highly regarded series that sort of just faded out of the fandom as time rolled on.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-ZOme1UEA

Rounding out the classic OPs for this Sunday, one that just got re-uploaded ten hours ago! Glad to see this one back up because it has a great theme song and a cool intro. For whatever reason it gets pulled down all the time. Makes no sense, it's not like the Dairugger was very big in Japan or the USA, the subtitled DVD release was notoriously limited and of poor quality, and WEP hasn't done anything with their localized Vehicle Voltron version in forever. Oh well, check it out while you can!

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Armored Squadron Dairugger XV (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdXTQ3ElkRQ
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Red_Eye on March 02, 2018, 11:31:37 PM
I remember being around two years ago as Moonlight Knight.  Long as my schedule and plans don't clash, wouldn't mind making a comeback.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 03, 2018, 02:48:58 PM
Quote from: Red_Eye on March 02, 2018, 11:31:37 PM
I remember being around two years ago as Moonlight Knight.  Long as my schedule and plans don't clash, wouldn't mind making a comeback.

That would be great, we'd love to see you return!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: olingamer on March 07, 2018, 09:46:49 AM
On another post you said HxH cosplayers were welcome on Friday evening. What time exactly? I'll be there as Killua
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Solbadgreg on March 07, 2018, 10:32:47 AM
If I can find it (and still fit in it =P), I'll go as Mickey Simon from Area 88.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 08, 2018, 11:44:01 AM
Quote from: olingamer on March 07, 2018, 09:46:49 AM
On another post you said HxH cosplayers were welcome on Friday evening. What time exactly? I'll be there as Killua

You are correct, Hunter x Hunter is good to go as it began in 1998.  Until final confirmation of gathering slots is given by the Cosplay Gatherings Department, times are tentative.  However we're always on Friday evening and the plan is to have the gathering at 6pm (again) as it accommodates more people getting off work and getting through registration.  I'd assume we'd retain that time slot as the gathering has a long history at that time.

Quote from: Solbadgreg on March 07, 2018, 10:32:47 AM
If I can find it (and still fit in it =P), I'll go as Mickey Simon from Area 88.

Ah, that would be freaking awesome!!  We had Shin Kazama there two years ago!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 09, 2018, 01:35:42 PM
Good afternoon old schoolers!

There are so many awesome pre-2001 cosplayers at Fanime every year and the amount of interest this gathering has generated is testament to that.  I am truly blown away with the amount of people that are looking at attending the Old School Cosplay Gathering, something that celebrates all of us and the media that created the fandom we all share in.  Speaking of sharing, thank you so much to everyone who has shared the event page!

In honor of Ryotaro Okiayu being announced as a FanimeCon 2018 guest of honor last week, I though I'd lead off the old school anime OPs and EDs this time around with my all time favorite shojo series, which he happens to voice the lead in.  Marmalade Boy was recently re-licensed and re-released, making the long out of print series affordable and available once more.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's!  Marmalade Boy (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5VzUAMWL5o

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Hokuto no Ken (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s15JKP_TpIY

Celebrating An Era - 1970's!  Space Pirate Captain Harlock (1978)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FphXw7YBqoo
*** 40th Anime Anniversary ***

Doing one more OP for Friday as it appears that it began thirty years ago to this day!  It's also in my top three anime series I'd like to see an English fansub or official English subtitled release of, awesome opening song as well...

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  F (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iflsELvgrfw
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***


Good morning! Let's do three from Go Nagai this Saturday, beginning with my personal favorite of his works.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Cutey Honey (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiMnOsdv7xI

Continuing on with another massively influential Go Nagai creation -

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Mazinger Z (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB7dgrsOTzk

And fishing up Saturday with what is currently the most well-known Go Nagai property outside of Japan -

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Devilman (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQF_dw2eivM


Let's begin Sunday's OPs with one of my favorite series. Yes, I'm one of the five people on the planet who likes Orguss more than Macross. The link features both the OP and the awesome ED as well!

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3x-TuYGxU

Another of my absolute favorites, crazy to think this first aired 40 years ago this September.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Galaxy Express 999 (1978)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBLpwLRmuRI
*** 40th Anime Anniversary ***

Another favorite of mine to round out Sunday. Then again, I have a soft spot for Tsukasa Hojo's works. All kinds of crazy photographic tricks in this opening, I can't think of another anime series that has this much composite work in the OP, but there's a subtlety to it.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Cat's Eye (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZNv6IVXAGE
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 13, 2018, 09:00:57 AM
Good (very early) morning old schoolers!

*** Important Gathering Update ***

The Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering has been officially confirmed! We are set for Friday, May 25th (Day 1) at 6PM. This year we will be moving just around the corner from last year to the ~new~ Gatherings G3 location.

Gatherings G3 is the wooden tiered platform area along the STAIRS THAT LEAD DOWN TO THE VIDEO ROOMS on the lower level. This location will give us more space to spread out, even lighting, lower stair platforms, and a protected backdrop wall. It's all around more convenient and if it works out well I would like it to become the new permanent location for the gathering.

Additionally the Photography Order has been expanded once again! If anyone has any ideas for photography order additions, any time from now until right up to at the gathering, let me know and I will add them to our extensive list!

Thank you all so much for your interest! Keep spreading the word, join us on Fanime Friday and continue to prove that just because it's old doesn't mean it isn't awesome!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 16, 2018, 11:56:43 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

With the first draft of the FanimeCon 2018 Gatherings List posted it's nice to see so many returning gatherings - including this one!  Although slots are tentative until closer to the convention weekend, I suspect we'll stay right where we are on Friday evening at 6pm, as is tradition.

Starting out today's old school anime OPs with a pretty awesome one.  This is Moonlight Mask, a property that began in the late 1950's as a live-action TV series, one of (if not the first) Japanese TV superheroes.  He's kind of like a cross between Zorro and The Lone Ranger - but set in then modern Japan.  This anime adaptation from 1972 just blows my mind.  This has to be Mamoru Chiba's (Tuxedo Mask / Moonlight Knight) father in some alternate continuity.  Wham! Whip to the face!

Celebrating An Era - 1970's!  Moonlight Mask (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo1XroNfkiE

Continuing on, here's an OP that I'm glad to see online again. At one point Albegas was slated to be localized as "Voltron II" along with Dairugger (Voltron I / Vehicle Voltron) and Golion (Voltron III, Lion Voltron).  Of course the continuing popularity of Lion Voltron in the wake of Vehicle Voltron prompted World Events Production to commission localization-specific continuation episodes of Lion Voltron, abandoning the original three-series concept.  Voltron II being limited to a few early toy sales of rebranded Albegas robots as "Voltron II."

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Lightspeed Electroid Albegas (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeVqpi4gziw

Rounding out Friday with one of my favorite series, especially for its time period.  A bold combination of a super robot hero functioning in the world of a real robot series.  Built by a private security company (who was also the lowest bidder for the contract) and operated by the marketing department, the hero robot is a lumbering behemoth that barely works. Dai-Guard turns the mecha genre on its ear, with a realistic parody of bureaucratic red tape, a loving nod at the history of the super robot genre, and a wink at the audience concerning how ridiculous it is to use giant robots for anything.  Also features an unexpected and somewhat polarizing conclusion.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's!  Earth Defense Corporation Dai-Guard (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg8jMx95cn0


Here are a few Saturday anime OPs, leading off with an outstanding and sadly overlooked OVA.  Really beautiful and moody opening as well.  If you like Iria, do check out the two live action movies (the anime OVA is a prequel of sorts).  The live action movies are corny but fun small cast sci-fi monster movies.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's!  Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBZuBUw_F68

Yet another series that World Events Productions reworked for American audiences.  Following the success of their Golion rework into Voltron, Star Musketeer Bismark was adapted as Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.  In addition to the usual rewrites, renames and censoring, Saber Rider changed a supporting character (Richard Lancelot) into the titular hero, Saber Rider.  WEP also commissioned six unique episodes to better blend their localized narrative and changed the airing order of nearly every episode of the series.  Bismark is still number one of all the series I would like to see an English subtitled release of.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Star Musketeer Bismark (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA8OYMwqkM8

Finishing off OPs for Saturday with a modern classic.  Such a cool opening theme that plays perfectly with the moody visuals.  Also one of the last series one may assume would air on expanded basic cable, but that's exactly what happened in 2003 when it aired on TechTV.  A good match for the upcoming overcast and rainy night here in Fanime's backyard.

Celebrating An Era - 2000! Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRNW70gWKjE


Starting this Sunday's three old school anime OPs with comedy, style, and destruction.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Dirty Pair (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ4qMgIz6x0

Continuing the 80's cool with one of my all-time favorite series, City Hunter.  While Mokkori Cosplay will not be wearing Ryo and Kaori at the Old School Cosplay Gathering again this year, we will be doing so on Fanime Saturday.  So if you attended the gathering last year and was wondering what was up with the host wearing a blue suit jacket with women's underwear hanging out of the pockets - well then, here you go.  And yes, this is where our cosplay pair got its name (and primary logo) from.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  City Hunter (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J80W32pVFXw

Finishing off this weekend's OPs with another 80's-tastic series.  Sonic Soldier Borgman first aired just about thirty years ago.  While the series has never been released in the USA, the two short OVA films were.  The series is worth checking out and can be found subtitled online but the subs are pretty bad, even by HK subtitle standards.  The biggest brush with the mainstream Borgman had in the West was when the Sega Mark III game based on the series was localized as "Cyborg Hunter" and released on the Sega Master System in the USA.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Sonic Soldier Borgman (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5WvRo8dloo
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Solbadgreg on March 16, 2018, 03:54:37 PM
Ooo! Question: I just realized that my Area 88 Mickey Simon cosplay is based on the 2000s version, not the 1980s version (the color and symbols of the uniform changed). Would I need to revise my cosplay to the older version, or is just being part of the same series good enough?
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 16, 2018, 05:12:30 PM
Quote from: Solbadgreg on March 16, 2018, 03:54:37 PM
Ooo! Question: I just realized that my Area 88 Mickey Simon cosplay is based on the 2000s version, not the 1980s version (the color and symbols of the uniform changed). Would I need to revise my cosplay to the older version, or is just being part of the same series good enough?

No need to revise, as it all sprung from the same source work and lineage, it's all good.  Doubly so for a character like Mickey Simon, who has always been part of the franchise since the beginning, no matter the variation.

Technically Area 88 was created in 1979, making it a 70's property, although the first animated adaptation wasn't until 1985 with English issues of the manga even later.  For a franchise that never gained "mainstream" popularity, it sure spanned a lot of years and a lot of media!

Although, full disclosure, while I love the arcade and Super Famicom / Super Nintendo games based on Area 88, the otherwise unrelated arcade sequel Carrier Air Wing (U.S. Navy in Japan) takes the spot as my all time favorite shooter. hehe
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 23, 2018, 10:47:38 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

Finally a break from the rain in Fanime's backyard!  I'm almost at a loss for words concerning how much interest this gathering has garnered so far this year.  If you're still on the fence about attending, or your cosplay plans have changed, still feel free to join us, take some pictures, and see the awesome breadth of pre-2001 cosplay at FanimeCon!

Starting off Friday OPs with an outstanding one.  The Dominion Tank Police OVA will have premiered thirty years ago this FanimeCon Sunday.  A prequel of sorts to Masamune Shirow's Dominion from 1986 (which has to be the longest continuously published manga in English - seriously, you can still buy it new), it became an instant classic within the two big anime booms in the West, being one of those titles that stretched between them.

I mention anime booms a lot - In my opinion the first big Western anime boom was in the early 1980's where there was a huge underground interest, which then culminated in the second boom in the mid 1990's when there was a public explosion of interest in anime, manga, and Japanese culture - massively helped along by the fansite era of the Web.  The opening here is the dubbed English version, which I have a tremendous fondness for all around.  There are few anime dubs that I love more than Dominion Tank Police, you can tell they were having fun.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Dominion / Dominion Tank Police (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGTZLuuTPi8
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***

Continuing on, a franchise that's deserving of a sixth series. Cyber Formula moves beyond a standard car racing anime in that the characters really grow and change throughout its series and many years of competition and racing development. Additionally Ryotaro Okiayu, who voiced Franz Heinel (owner / driver of Sturozech Project) throughout all the Cyber Formula anime, is a FanimeCon 2018 Guest of Honor.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Future GPX Cyber Formula (1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3WAWOGESu8

And to close out Friday a reminder, all Evangelion cosplayers are welcome at the Old School Cosplay Gathering. I didn't see a specific Eva gathering submitted this year so far (and I don't believe there was one last year but I could be wrong) but you're all welcome at this gathering. If you know an Eva cosplayer, please let them know!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZfeY8Vg0E


Good morning, let's kick off Saturday OPs with a good one. I have to give full disclosure, my first brush with Saint Seiya came in the form of the terrible Famicom games - you can imagine how lost I was! Thankfully they didn't turn me away from the series.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Saint Seiya (1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icmOvrKdpQo

Let's get super old school for the next OP. Way ahead of its time, Eight Man essentially established the cybernetic superhero genre and had a massive influence on early anime art design. Unfortunately the series is without a Western release, outside of a few VHS tapes of the watered-down 1965 American rework as "8th Man" and are long out of print. The 1993 OVA sequel 8 Man After is one of my favorite anime productions - although I know opinion in it is quite mixed. Getting this series English subtitled is one of my otaku pipe dreams.

Celebrating An Era - 1960's! Eight Man (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE6V_PLn2IU

While not a Gundam series everyone likes (that would be The 08th MS Team), War In The Pocket is a Gundam side story that really stretches beyond the mecha genre and paints a much more personal tale about life away from the front lines of interstellar war. If you enjoy anime that makes the viewer think, then this is one to definitely check out. I do hope you have all had a wonderful Saturday and we'll be back again tomorrow for three more OPs.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War In The Pocket (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYZrS4mhYkc


As of today there are exactly two months until the Old School Cosplay Gathering, which also means there are exactly two months until FanimeCon 2018! For this Sunday's three OPs, I'm starting out with the series in which your gathering hosts will be cosplaying from. After the success of the 1988 OVA, Patlabor continued with its first feature film in 1989 and a TV series that followed a similar but different continuity. All of Patlabor was re-licensed and re-released a few years ago, including the original English dub of the TV series, and is well worth taking a look at if you enjoy anime where regular people drive the narrative.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Mobile Police Patlabor - Patlabor On Television (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9UtUzjUA5Q

While a new small Gunsmith Cats production may be in the works, it'll never match the slickness of the classic OVA's opening. The energy of this OP makes it stand out from most anything else, quite possibly one of the most perfect anime openings of all time.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Gunsmith Cats (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7HPyUcy37I

Closing out the weekend with another OP that drips cool and style.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Space Cobra (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt6XXfcdVY0
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 30, 2018, 10:52:28 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

I hope this upcoming holiday weekend will give everyone a chance to relax and work on cosplay and if you are working this weekend then I hope your workdays go smoothly.  Starting off this weekend's OPs with a series that is probably better-known by its American localization as Samurai Pizza Cats.  One of the few cases where the original and the dub are radically different takes but both are equally as enjoyable.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's!  Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-jelS4x-hI

Continuing along with my favorite hard sci-fi anime series, which went on to become a franchise. I don't want to reveal much about this title for those who are unfamiliar with it as there are a lot of plot twists, but if you want a gritty and unapologetic tale about a soldier finding himself and his humanity - check this one out. Additionally I love the utilitarian design of the VOTOMS (Vertical One-man Tank for Offense and ManeuverS) mechs. Super cool jazzy opening theme as well!

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Armored Trooper VOTOMS (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjJt58geu9U

Closing out Friday with a very popular series of the late 1990's. Modern as it may still seem, it is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79MN_w0VMPE
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***


Kicking off Saturday with a true juggernaut of 1980's anime. Regular people in extraordinary situations. And for the record, Roy Focker and Claudia LaSalle are my favorite couple in the series and one of my favorite anime couples alongside Ryo Saeba and Kaori Makimura (City Hunter), and Osamu Sugo and Clair Fortran (Cyber Formula).

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjkXzHzUIGA

Continuing with an entertaining little series that apparently had a very limited animation budget. Seriously, this is one of those series that while good looking, has long sequences of still frames while advancing dialogue. There's also a fun Super Famicom game based on the series that has an English fan-translation available.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Violinist of Hameln (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d7wM6A1KtY

Finishing out Saturday with an interesting one. Daltanious was originally slated, along with Dairugger and Albegas, to form the basis of the Voltron production. When World Events Productions was acquiring the rights to robot team shows, they requested "the one with the lion" - as Daltanious features a single robot-shaped lion as part of its team. The Japanese distributor misunderstood and sent them Golion instead - which was a more modern series WEP ended up liking more and adapting into Lion Voltron. Many years ago I swear I saw a "Future Robot Daltanious" VHS tape at a Suncoast store, knew it sounded familiar but never bought it. To this day I have been unable to confirm any North American VHS release of Daltanious, outside of my memory of that one encounter at Suncoast.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Future Robo Daltanious (1979)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AkWxxnMF10


What better way to celebrate the Easter holiday today than with donuts? Twenty years ago today the anime adaptation of Trigun premiered!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Trigun (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxFSy8G5wk
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***

Another series that exploded in the middle of the 1990's anime fandom, especially in North America. Twenty years ago this Tuesday, Cowboy Bebop premiered!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Cowboy Bebop (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRI_8PUXx2A
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***

Closing out the classic anime OPs for this weekend with another big upcoming anniversary. Fifty years ago this Thursday, the original anime adaptation of Cyborg 009 premiered!

Celebrating An Era - 1960's! Cyborg 009 (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQjUipJdKuY
*** 50th Anime Anniversary ***
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Love Sign Master Spark on March 30, 2018, 08:23:28 PM
Officially Fridey?  I'll be pulling Laguna Loire (Final Fantasy 8) out of the closet for this.  Most likely will leave before it's over to catch public transit; so it goes when being a commuter.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on March 31, 2018, 06:11:37 PM
Quote from: Love Sign Master Spark on March 30, 2018, 08:23:28 PM
Officially Fridey?  I'll be pulling Laguna Loire (Final Fantasy 8) out of the closet for this.  Most likely will leave before it's over to catch public transit; so it goes when being a commuter.

Yes, date and time are confirmed.  This gathering is always held on Friday evening.  6pm has been our time since last year to allow the most people to attend, being late enough for people to get off work / out of school / checked in to hotel / through registration / etc.

It would be great to see you there if possible, even if you have to depart early! ^_^
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 06, 2018, 12:06:35 PM
Good afternoon old schoolers!

New cosplay coming along smoothly? Have you found that (then slightly) retro cosplay from ten years ago you've had in storage? Prepping that classic standby that has become an Old School Cosplay Gathering regular? When a day is super windy like today it makes me glad I don't need to do any spray painting for Fanime cosplay this year.

Let's lead off the classic anime OPs for Friday with the anime adaptation of the best-selling shojo manga of all time. This is also an anime title that recently had an English re-license and re-release as a single DVD boxset courtesy of Discotek Media.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Hana Yori Dango / Boys Over Flowers (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul9WDDBBrzM

Continuing on with a VOTOMS spinoff that those who like the more serious and personal Gundam stories should check out. It's also more approachable as it doesn't require as much time investment as VOTOMS. One of the most beautiful anime opening themes of all time in my opinion.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Armor Hunter Mellowlink (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySnuPN_3Xts

And a true international classic to round out Friday.

Celebrating An Era - 1960's! Mach GoGoGo (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPR45cBkRq4


Starting off three OPs for Saturday with a series celebrating its 20th anniversary. Twenty years ago today, the anime adaptation of Cardcaptor Sakura premiered!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Cardcaptor Sakura (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-fLrxTsYIc
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***

Next, a Gundam series that while decent, I really don't care a ton for. Of course it's rather polarizing as it had a production history and approach different than pretty much any other Gundam series. Also very important as it was the gateway to mass popularity for Gundam in the West. ...and it did give us Heavyarms, which is my favorite mobile suit design ever - so maybe I shouldn't complain so much.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqDyAvv-_M

Closing out Saturday OPs tonight with an OVA series I've always really liked, that was reasonably popular at one time, but seems to have disappeared from most otaku's memories.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! 801 T.T.S. Airbats / Aozora Shojotai (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5stkSssFXnI


Starting off Sunday's old school anime OPs with a series that began airing thirty years ago today! ...although it's a follow-up. The longest-running of the four City Hunter anime series, it continues the adventures of Ryo, Kaori and associates as they clean up crime on the streets of Shinjuku. It also features the fan-favorite Sara story, episodes 49 and 50.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! City Hunter 2 (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVKqS7hkxTQ
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***

Continuing today with a still popular, or at the very least still well-known, magical girl action series.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Magic Knight Rayearth (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Xrgfc98lI

Closing out this weekend with a massively influential series from forty-five years ago. Although it has been dismissed as the single source, Casshern is sort of like Mega Man, over a decade before Mega Man was created. A great classic series that had an English subtitled release a few years ago both on DVD and Blu-ray. Classic 1970's anime theme as well.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Neo Human Casshern (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h4nndCNDDM
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 13, 2018, 09:30:13 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

Wow, FanimeCon is getting close. I still have a lot to do in preparation this year but it's all small details - which usually end up causing the most unexpected problems. I was earlier musing how between my wife and I we always seem to buy fabric for cosplay that is promptly discontinued by the manufacturer - then we go to buy more and there are only scraps here and there. Even when we are proactive and buy the bolt, it's always discontinued right after. Guess that's what I get for wanting specific colors.

Leading off three old school anime OPs this Friday, the Gundam series that everyone seems to like, or can at the very least watch a few episodes of. Takeyuki Kanda, who served as the director of 08th MS Team until his death in a traffic accident during production, also directed the earlier VOTOMS spinoff Armor Hunter Mellowlink from 1988. It's not difficult to see the common thread of his hand on both these works.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Mobile Suit Gundam The 08th MS Team (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKlR_J2H6YA

Continuing with a series whose American rework is currently finding continued success in its third adaptation. Although I guess you could say Voltron The Third Dimension sort of had a complete rework around the middle of the series... (that whole ridiculous Stealth Voltron nonsense) so I suppose you could say that the Voltron rework of Golion has been re-adapted three times all on its own. All those World Events Productions nostalgia glasses aside, the original Japanese series still stands on its own.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Hundred Beast King Golion (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtYiOSNEV_Y

Closing out Friday with an absolute legend. While not the absolute beginning of the anime medium, Tetsuwan Atom was the first such property to really explode and would lay the groundwork for modern anime that followed. The American adaptation, Astro Boy, was the first anime production to be broadcast in the United States - fifty-five years ago.

Celebrating An Era - 1960's! Tetsuwan Atom (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbaZuTW1Q0


Starting off Saturday with more Tezuka! The 1964 anime adaptation of Big X would be the very first show Tokyo Movie Shinsha produced. The series focuses on a boy with a drug that can expand the human body's size without limitation, a result of a failed experiment from the Nazis during the World War II. It is also a program that is almost entirely lost. 59 black and white episodes were made, but only episodes 1, 11, and 40-59 are known to survive.

Celebrating An Era - 1960's! Big X (1964)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av80Ts-GeLw

Continuing this Saturday with a Gundam series with outstanding production design, just about the greatest singular hero Gundam design ever, and a protagonist that everyone seems to hate. Oh well, amazing opening just the same.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoM3nJVDaCk

Closing out Saturday with a fan-favorite slice-of-life series celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! His and Her Circumstances (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVARtV5Tq0M
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***


Good morning. Starting off Sunday with a series that, while the manga began even earlier (in 1995), is generally thought of as a post-2001 property. Fact of the matter is the anime adaptation of Initial D began twenty years ago this Wednesday!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Initial D (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJAF-1TAM7g
*** 20th Anime Anniversary ***

How about another property that isn't always associated with being old school? Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z / Dragon Ball GT is all old school and all Dragon Ball cosplayers are welcome at the gathering! I guess that's how it goes when a series has remained relevant and popular for almost thirty-five years.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Dragon Ball Z (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHnfX1RmZX8

Closing out this weekend with a series that I'm super divided on. While fine on it's own, I've always thought Sailorstars got more of a free pass than it deserved due to its release ambiguity in North America. I will admit that there are some episodes of the series I genuinely enjoy and I find interesting moments here and there... However re-hashing the conclusion of SuperS with its opening episodes, undoing the perfect end to the S anime series (still wonder what Setsuna could have said to Souichi Tomoe for him to give up reborn baby Hotaru), the Sailor Sarlights being extremely cowardice and without redemption, long-running support characters disappearing... the whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Although Haruka and Michiru do have a wonderful arc in the series, which is worth slogging through other parts for. As I said.. I'm divided. I do love the opening however.

Until next Friday!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Sailorstars (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWPkNVOdszE
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 20, 2018, 09:31:54 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

Fanime continues to creep ever closer.  It's nice to see such a healthy assortment of gatherings being hosted this year.  Starting off Friday's old school anime OPs with somewhat of an oddity and a bit of a history lesson...

Very loosely based on the massively influential Lensman books by E.E. Smith, SF New Century Lensman was an anime film released in 1984.  Now there's a decent chance you've seen that movie, as it was one of the three original anime films that the Sci-Fi Channel broadcast in the 1990's (along with Robot Carnival and Vampire Hunter D) as "Adventures in Japanese Animation."  Well after the success of the film in Japan, a TV series was created, Lensman: Galactic Patrol, with a separate continuity from the film.

Of the 25 episodes, only the first six had official home video releases on VHS and LaserDisc in Japan. The English version of the film only had a VHS and LaserDisc release in the USA and was never seen again.  See, it's said the estate of E.E. Smith hated the adaptation as it's so loose and different.  Honestly the Lensman anime follows Star Wars more than it does the Lensman books, which is funny as the first Lensman book, Galactic Patrol, had a huge influence on Star Wars.  Due to this later licensing disagreement, the Lensman anime virtually disappeared.

However The Skaro Hunting Society along with /m/subs released a deluxe subtitled version of the film a few years ago and is currently working on fansubbing the entire series.  As there were no official video releases for anything beyond episode six, they've been sourcing further episodes from VHS and Betamax recordings of the television broadcast.  They're up to episode nine and it's worth checking out.  Personally I love the world design of the series, especially the spacecraft and vehicles.  Awesome opening theme as well.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's!  Galactic Patrol Lensman (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBod6EKQaok

Okay, Lensman is a bit too obscure. Here's something more mainstream.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmCys68ELpg

Finishing out Friday with another series that found mainstream success outside of Japan, and another old school anime title that people don't really think of as such.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bxNEtkGG7U


Good morning! Starting our three old school anime OPs for Saturday with high energy. Regardless of opinion on Macross 7, the opening and its theme song is awesome - a shining example of how so much 90's anime began.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Macross 7 (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h_rkhnjZzc

Continuing on this Saturday with an opening theme I had stuck in my head when I was out running this morning - go figure.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Kimagure Orange Road (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTOZhZSr6RY

Closing out Saturday with an outstanding, and recently re-licensed, series that looks way more modern than its 1994 vintage.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Key The Metal Idol (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y7KrcfuxAw


Starting this Sunday's three old school anime OPs with a series that pretty much anyone can enjoy for at least a few episodes.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Urusei Yatsura (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Jiic05C0M

Remember, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT are all old school. Continuously relevant to anime fandom - but still old school.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Dragon Ball (1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t61DxVsJwqk

Closing out this weekend with a series I still really enjoy, one that was pretty popular in the 1990's, but has all but disappeared from discussion. The OP video source is far from ideal, but it's still the best I can provide.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Blue Seed (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV4rRlyFmgQ
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 25, 2018, 10:29:10 AM
Good morning old schoolers!

An odd midweek update, I know, but today is a very important day (to me). Thirty years ago today, Mobile Police Patlabor premiered, with what would later be called the "Early Days" OVA.

This OVA series would launch a media institution as it would go on to spawn a support manga, a theatrical film, a television series, two extensions of the television series, an OVA continuation / conclusion of the television series, a second theatrical film (regarded by many to be Mamoru Oshii's greatest work), a third theatrical film, a series of three theatrical shorts, a live-action television series, a live-action television movie, a theatrical short film, and a new series that is forthcoming.

It also features my absolute favorite anime opening.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Mobile Police Patlabor - Early Days (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMpI_bc3LrI
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on April 26, 2018, 12:08:23 AM
So due to a recent cosplay mishap, it looks like I'm bringing Ed from Cowboy Bebop afterall! <3 Though I'm gonna be running late to the gathering since I'm hosting the Free! gathering right before it. D:
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 26, 2018, 10:06:37 AM
Quote from: Angelx624 on April 26, 2018, 12:08:23 AM
So due to a recent cosplay mishap, it looks like I'm bringing Ed from Cowboy Bebop afterall! <3 Though I'm gonna be running late to the gathering since I'm hosting the Free! gathering right before it. D:

That's awesome! ^_^  I saw you're hosting Free!, congratulations.  With how potentially large the attendance for the Old School Cosplay Gathering looks like it could be, you should be fine running late.  I'm also still adding to the photography order list (and moving it around), so there are a ton of categories to go through this year, including a pair of group shots at the end.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on April 27, 2018, 06:21:01 PM
Good morning old schoolers!

The final weekend in April is just around the corner and then it's the homestretch toward FaimeCon 2018. I suppose that means if you need to order anything for cosplay, now would be the time to do it - advice I need to take myself today.

Starting this Friday's old school anime OPs with my personal favorite of all Sailor Moon.. pretty much anything. In my opinion the anime adaptation of Sailor Moon S did the best job of juggling the ever insane manga with the then well-established anime. It had multiple plot twists right until the end, multiple series-long story arcs, character motives that while differing were far from simply good or bad, and the most satisfying ending of any Sailor Moon series.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5FcqnnhSqQ

Continuing on with a series that would prove itself to be quite influential, although it had an extremely rocky production history.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Space Runaway Ideon (1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIcYvE231q8

Closing out Friday with a spectacular little OVA adaptation of a long running manga series. I do love the opening theme to this one.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Area 88 (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TStu3cnJvw


Let's start off Saturday with sort of an odd one that a few people may recognize. Esteban, Child of the Sun was a French-Japanese co-production that originally aired in Japan in 1982. The French version was redubbed into English and aired on Nickelodeon in 1986 as The Mysterious Cities of Gold.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Esteban Child of the Sun (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0AJ796pb6k

Continuing today with a wonderful series that is currently being fansubbed on YouTube. The sequel series from 1995 is still continuously running to this day with new episodes.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Chibi Maruko-chan (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bLyZnwewXo

Closing out Saturday with a great opening theme and a solid series. The ADV subtitled box set of this series has subtitles that are a little wonky (for instance they subtitled some character names incorrectly) but the series is still worth checking out.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_xhAxuUvGE


Starting Sunday with another anniversary. Thirty years ago tomorrow, Samurai Troopers first premiered. In the US, this series was released in 1995 as Ronin Warriors and established a solid early 90's fandom. It's also a rare example of an anime series localized for American television that featured only minor edits and utilized most of the original music. It's also a really good series - imagine that, we got a good one mostly left alone, in English, on TV back in 1995!

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Yoroiden Samurai Troopers (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cw9AR2R-JI
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***

Continuing along with this Sunday's OPs with a series I've always really liked although it never pulled in much of a fandom. Oh well, I guess we all have one "ancient demon and schoolgirl are reluctantly partnered up" series we enjoy.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Kishin Douji Zenki (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55UQClMw9I

Closing out this weekend's old school anime OPs with an old school video game OP. Remember, the Old School Cosplay Gathering encompasses anime, manga, video games and live action from pre-2001. While Lunar Silver Star Story Complete was more or less a localization and slight technical tweak of Lunar Silver Star Story (itself a remake of Lunar The Silver Star with story differences), it was an extremely popular both in the US and Japan. Arguably the English theme better fits the opening animation, and I find the beginning of this opening interesting as Working Designs cycled the beginning of the melody (and the water animation) a few times to allow space for more credits. I can distinctly remember dropping the $74.99 on this game a week after graduating from high school in 1999.

Until next Friday!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Lunar Silver Star Story Complete (1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xhZL3dTABs
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Eri Kagami on April 30, 2018, 12:55:42 PM
I'm very happy that this meet up exists. I'll be going as Fujiko Mine from Lupin III.

Y'all can stop calling me Black Widow! XD
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on April 30, 2018, 08:01:00 PM
Quote from: InsaneDavid on April 26, 2018, 10:06:37 AM
Quote from: Angelx624 on April 26, 2018, 12:08:23 AM
So due to a recent cosplay mishap, it looks like I'm bringing Ed from Cowboy Bebop afterall! <3 Though I'm gonna be running late to the gathering since I'm hosting the Free! gathering right before it. D:

That's awesome! ^_^  I saw you're hosting Free!, congratulations.  With how potentially large the attendance for the Old School Cosplay Gathering looks like it could be, you should be fine running late.  I'm also still adding to the photography order list (and moving it around), so there are a ton of categories to go through this year, including a pair of group shots at the end.
Yup. :3 I'm glad I'm able to make it after all. xD Looking forward to seeing everyone again!!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 02, 2018, 09:39:26 PM
Quote from: Eri Kagami on April 30, 2018, 12:55:42 PM
I'm very happy that this meet up exists. I'll be going as Fujiko Mine from Lupin III.

Y'all can stop calling me Black Widow! XD

Outstanding! ^_^
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 04, 2018, 05:11:50 PM
Good morning old schoolers!

Welcome to the month of May. The clock is ticking as FanimeCon is now only a few weeks away. I hope your convention preparations are completed or are at the very least well within work. Personally it still hasn't sunk in just how close Fanime weekend is. Means that I need to set aside some time for wig styling because I'm one of those odd people that completely wash out their wigs and store them after a con, then have to completely restyle them before the next.

As it is now May, rather than old school anime openings today I'm going to post some old school anime endings. I actually have quite a few of these so this will probably be old school anime ending weekend. That works out as I still have a lot of openings to share, so the final two weekends before Fanime will be my usual "barrage period" for them.

Starting off with a favorite series of mine that also features a favorite ending theme of mine. Super Dimension Century Orguss features a unique ending theme that may seem out of place in a sci-fi mecha series. However the Emaan people in the series are a group of gypsies who trade in high technology, so it actually fits perfectly. Yeah, I'm going to have this in my head all day...

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Super Dimension Century Orguss (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bItCebpxSp0 [ENDING]

Continuing on with an ending I always thought was so freaking cool. With Dancouga it's no spoiler to say Shapiro Keats is totally insane, about three episodes in that's made pretty apparent. So an ending that shows his twisted perspective of thinking himself a victim and a god is such an interesting and contrasting concept. This blew my mind when I saw it as a teenager, as the subtitled VHS release used this ending from the start.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Super Beast Machine Dancouga (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4z6oVUtlJs [ENDING 2]

While quite a bit different than the original Japanese language ending theme, the dub version of Dominion Tank Police's ending seems to strike a chord with those who watched it in their younger days. ...even if it is one line repeated over a piece of music used elsewhere in the OVA. Funny thing about this ending is when Tank Police was shown on Sci-Fi Channel, they held a frame from near the beginning of the animation for the entire sequence as part of the light censoring the TV broadcast received.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Dominion / Dominion Tank Police (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvMOk0oiR7k [ENDING]
*** 30th Anime Anniversary ***


Continuing the old school anime ENDINGS weekend this Saturday, with an ending that features a song that exploded in popularity. "Get Wild" by TM Network arguably transcended the property it was introduced with, which itself is still quite popular in Japan. As a side note, after swapping some plans around, the Old School Cosplay Gathering hosts will be cosplaying as Ryo and Kaori at the gathering once again this year.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! City Hunter (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84GYa28nZcY [ENDING]

While the Cutey Honey opening theme is an absolute classic anime song and has stood the test of time, the original ending theme is an amazing piece of music as well. Somber, just a bit sad, and essentially a full-length song about Honey as a person and not as a warrior, it is easily one of the finest ending sequences of the 1970's.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Cutey Honey (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-XKYCaIq-8 [ENDING]

Continuing on, Chibi Maruko-chan's ending theme would prove so popular that it would become the opening theme from the second series on. That second series that began in 1995 is still continuously airing to this day, with over 1100 episodes to date. This ending theme, Odoru Pompokolin, is regarded in Japan as one of the greatest anime theme songs of all time.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Chibi Maruko-chan (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W39vRbDuH_4 [ENDING]


Continuing old school anime endings weekend with an ending that is so gloriously and unapologetic early 1980's. The first Cat's Eye series (essentially the first season) is a lot of fun to watch and is a very entertaining crime / comedy series. While not as popular as Tsukasa Hojo's later City Hunter, it is still a well-known property in Japan to this day.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Cat's Eye (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5in0X-Ic_Rw [ENDING]

Continuing on with a recently re-released series (one of the licenses I never thought I would be rescued) I've always really enjoyed - okay, I'll admit, it's my favorite shojo anime. As crazy as the series may get, it really boils down to being youthful and just innocently sweet - with drama straight out of a daytime soap opera. Also Ryotaro Okiayu, who voices male lead Yuu Matsuura, is a Guest of Honor at Fanime this year!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Marmalade Boy (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zySfBTWKEvc [ENDING 2]

Finishing off this weekend with my favorite of the Sailor Moon endings, also my favorite piece of Sailor Moon music. While an animation of Usagi walking and running is reasonably simple on the surface, the backdrops she runs along reflect the setting and characters of the series, the animation is wonderfully timed to the music, and the whole sequence reflects the song lyrics of Otome no Policy (A Maiden's Policy) - the ending theme. In my opinion this ending takes the ideas of the original ending (featuring a similar song, Heart Moving) and expands on them in every way.

Until next Friday!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon R (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7habakK5OYY [ENDING]
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Love Sign Master Spark on May 04, 2018, 10:43:27 PM
5 seconds after clicking the Lunar: SSSC opening link, realized I have access to the game and a console to run it on.  (The A/V cables have seen better days though, nearly worn out)
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 05, 2018, 09:33:11 PM
Quote from: Love Sign Master Spark on May 04, 2018, 10:43:27 PM
5 seconds after clicking the Lunar: SSSC opening link, realized I have access to the game and a console to run it on.  (The A/V cables have seen better days though, nearly worn out)

It's still a really enjoyable and well-paced 16-bit era RPG with a nice coat of 32-bit era color and video added to it.  It's also one of the games that Working Designs didn't make ~crushingly~ difficult in the localization.  One of the few RPGs I've played that really embodies a felling of youth and adventure - starts a small little fun journey with some childhood friends that contentiously expands.  I still have my copy from years and years ago.

Lunar 2 Eternal Blue, on the other hand, most will say is a far better game but I really didn't care for it.  From a technical side it's a more advanced game (as the original Eternal Blue was compared to the original The Silver Star) but I just didn't care one way or another about any of the characters, although I did buy it on launch day and complete it.

Grandia (my all time favorite RPG) is similar in that way.  While Grandia has its issues, I adored the whole thing from the time I first played a demo of it.  Grandia II moved to the Dreamcast and is a far superior game from a technical aspect - but again, I didn't care about any of the characters or the world of that game in the least.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Love Sign Master Spark on May 07, 2018, 10:19:29 PM
The presentation and writing of Lunar are the main things that draw me in.  I'm OK with the combat being merely slightly more advanced than Dragon Warrior.  Played both Playstation remakes and while I tend to prefer Eternal Blue, there are some little things I prefer about the first such as movement speed in dungeons.

  Having the healer be slower than the bosses makes that much of an impact on difficulty, eh?

  I went poking around for my Lucia's pendant and the other feelies.  Didn't find them in the mess that is my room but they're around somewhere.  Couldn't have gone that far.

  Only got around to playing Grandia 2 this year and have no experience with the first.  Do you ever feel that the character designers were cribbing from Lunar with the Grandia games' casts?  On an unrelated note, cosplaying Millenia would be such a blast because her character is so fun.  Too much exposed skin for my tastes plus I don't have the body shape for her means it will remain a silly thought.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 08, 2018, 12:03:00 AM
Quote from: Love Sign Master Spark on May 07, 2018, 10:19:29 PM
Only got around to playing Grandia 2 this year and have no experience with the first.  Do you ever feel that the character designers were cribbing from Lunar with the Grandia games' casts?

Not so much with the first Grandia, but there is definitely some influence of Lunar 2 on Grandia II.  I mean, they kind of begin in pretty much the same exact way.  GameArts did co-develop Lunar and Lunar 2 (and eventually caused Lunar co-creator Studio Alex's bankruptcy and closure) so there was bound to be some crossover as part of the studio's style.

The original Grandia's cast has some RPG character cliches (young boy looking for adventure and such) but the female lead is a young pirate living the dream adventure life of the main character, and his younger companion fills a younger sister role from beginning to end.  There's also a large extended cast but nearly every character has a continuing connection to the main focus of the story - rather than being introduced, hanging out for awhile, and then being left behind completely.

It just does things a little differently than any other RPG, or at least combines them in different ways.  Having a story take place in a world where the age of adventure has ended (to the point where there is a gigantic wall called "The End of the World" on a large continent), sitting down to a meal with optional expansive dialogue between characters that serve as little vignettes to cap off story advancement, obviously a battle system where character position is integral and can be moved without the stats crunching of a strategy RPG, stat growth related to how frequently a class of weapon is used (which makes sense since a character would become more skilled in such), spells that work in the same way but lead to granting permanent level increases as they are used more, an active time bar that actually makes sense and works correctly, just so many little things.  However as complex as the game mechanics can be, it's all served up in an intuitive fashion where the player learns as they play.

It's also a story that kind of grows from nothing, I guess that's similar to Lunar, except in Grandia the first thing you do is find a bunch of "gear" for the local bully / friend / group leader (which serves as an exercise to familiarize the player with the camera controls).  This armor consists of things like a cooking pot for a helmet.  They really are just kids playing around and dreaming of great adventure at the start, more so than any other game I can think of.

Going off to more modern, I did really enjoy Grandia III although the story got a little too overly melodramatic than I cared for it to be.  The game taking place in an age of early aviation is something I liked and I thought it was a nice call-back to the era of steam and heat energy that was a big part of the original Grandia.  Not a spectacular game (it honestly goes on too long for its own good in my opinion) but I found the characters to be reasonably likeable.

Greatest PS2 RPG however?  Steambot Chronicles! (Bumpy Trot)  I'm so happy it's finally starting to finally be discovered and increase in demand.  Yeah, it's an action RPG but it just blew me away.  It's like if someone was to take an amazing 16-bit action RPG and make the whole thing 3D.  It felt so much like an old game but it was all fresh and new, with a really concrete feeling world and lots of exploration.  It's also so non-linear but the amount of freedom makes sense.  Want to facilitate faster travel between areas?  Then help out by hauling materials for expansion of a railroad line.  Attach a passenger carriage to your trotmobile and make extra money providing a taxi service along the route you're going anyway.  Build and attach custom parts for different tasks.  Make extra money as a street musician and learn to play new musical instruments - as well as develop one.  Work up the ranks in mechanized battle tournaments.  Go on dates.  It's just ridiculous the amount of stuff they packed in.  It's one of the few games I discovered a couple years after it was released and was sincerely bummed out I didn't play it when it was brand new.

There are some definite technical problems with slowdown in the game, but the whole thing plays at a more relaxed pace so it's not a huge issue.

.........wow I got super off topic.  :D
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 11, 2018, 12:31:16 PM
Good morning old schoolers!

FanimeCon is two weeks away, which means the Old School Cosplay Gathering is two weeks away... scary. Also means I need to get to washing and styling wigs! In addition to the Old School Cosplay Gathering, we will also be hosting a Vintage Anime panel / competition on Saturday morning at 10am in Panels 4 - because you all know how much I love anime openings.

Speaking of which, starting Friday's old school anime OPs with a pretty huge one. While the original Mobile Suit Gundam wasn't as popular as one today may assume, sales of the related model kits kept the franchise going and the whole thing blossomed into one of the cornerstones of anime.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0FJlQDKVa0

Continuing on, let's say mainstream today with the anime continuation of a series that is still going strong. I really wish the beginning of this era of Dragon Ball Z (young adult Gohan's everyday life) would be revisited.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Dragon Ball Z (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFKroyqq8eE (OP2)

Closing out today with some year 2000 love. Relevant too, as a sixth mainline Sakura Taisen video game was recently announced to be in development.

Celebrating An Era - 2000! Sakura Taisen TV (2000)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71L-EEB7yJE


Starting this Saturday's old school anime OPs with my personal favorite of the Cyber Formula series. This whole franchise was, and still is to a certain degree, very popular in Japan but never caught on elsewhere. Only the first series had an official English subtitled release and is long out of print. Fanime 2018 Guest of Honor Ryotaro Okiayu voiced Franz Heinel (Sturozech Project driver at the time of Zero) throughout all five series.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR0L9IfLJQg

Continuing with a fan favorite, both in Japan and abroad.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Ashita no Joe (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFU2sT0JY2s

Closing out Saturday with a fandom dividing series. Okay, I'm overstating that. Love it, hate it, or remain indifferent toward it, Macross II is a strange one that is considered to be a parallel timeline outside of Macross cannon. I think Macross II is okay at best, has some good moments, but ultimately is an unsatisfying follow-up to Macross. Some good music on the soundtrack though, including the title theme.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again (1992)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ppTY6EmTeE


Starting Sunday with an awesome series that was crafted as a labor of love and a celebration of an earlier era of Japanese media. Both English dubs are included in this video and my preference has always been for the older (the first one played here) dub as it has a lot more personality in my opinion. If you have Giant Robo on DVD, the old dub is actually a hidden track, use your player's audio option to select it.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Giant Robo (1992)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBxC7Gm8UDM

Continuing today with pure fan service. That aside, Aika is a pretty decent little OVA with slick animation work, good character design, and some actual plot. I believe this is the third or fourth opening (they all had slight differences), and has an awesome of-its-era opening theme. A prequel OVA was released in 2007 (Aika R-16) and a sequel OVA to the prequel in 2009 (Aika Zero).

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Aika / Agent Aika (1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoPvxk14FH4

Closing out the weekend with a solid anime revival of an old tokusatsu property. Looking back I'm still surprised this aired on American television. Then again, Boogiepop Phantom aired on freaking TechTV, so there you go.

Until next Friday, when we'll be a week away from the gathering!

Celebrating An Era - 2000! Android Kikaider: The Animation (2000)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6oSVBKLaoo
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: AshenStarMage on May 11, 2018, 04:37:17 PM
I'm planning on cosplaying Belldandy from Oh! My Goddess at the gathering. The manga started in 1988 and the OVA was released from 1993-1994.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 11, 2018, 08:33:20 PM
Quote from: Sakura_ASH on May 11, 2018, 04:37:17 PM
I'm planning on cosplaying Belldandy from Oh! My Goddess at the gathering. The manga started in 1988 and the OVA was released from 1993-1994.

Outstanding! ^_^ Yep, Oh! My Goddess is good to go on all accounts.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 15, 2018, 06:19:52 PM
Photography order list finalized.  We're always up for requests at this gathering!  After the photography list is completed, I will ask if anyone has any requests, pairings, solos, groups - pretty much anything they would like to be photographed with.

Additionally a map showing the 2018 gathering location in relation to the 2017 gathering location has been posted.

A week and a half to go!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on May 15, 2018, 08:17:02 PM
The map surely helps! ^^ Thank you for that!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: arcanebond on May 16, 2018, 03:03:53 AM
Hey there! I'm gonna be showing up to this as sesshomaru & my friend is going as inuyasha!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 16, 2018, 02:32:53 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on May 15, 2018, 08:17:02 PM
The map surely helps! ^^ Thank you for that!

No problem!  With gathering locations being shifted and formally renumbered this year (honestly it's all a lot simpler now) I wanted everyone to understand that G3 is a new gathering location for Fanime, but is easy to find.

Quote from: arcanebond on May 16, 2018, 03:03:53 AM
Hey there! I'm gonna be showing up to this as sesshomaru & my friend is going as inuyasha!

Great!  I've noticed that Inuyasha has had a bit of a resurgence lately, but surprisingly don't see a lot of cosplayers.  It's also one of those older series (manga 1996, anime 2000) that doesn't tend to get mentioned as an older series.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 18, 2018, 05:57:41 PM
Good morning old schoolers!

Here we are, exactly one week away from FanimeCon! It's looking like the weather should be pretty nice (although not as perfectly cool as it's going to be this weekend), with a super slim chance of a tiny bit of passing rain on Saturday morning. Here's hoping all your cosplay preparations are complete and if not, that you can get them taken care of this weekend.

Starting off this last Friday of old school anime openings with an obscure one, at least outside of Japan and France. The Pumpkin Wine is a romance comedy that reverses convention usually seen in manga and anime, featuring a leading lady of large stature and her boyfriend of much smaller size. The anime adaptation ran for 95 episodes and was also broadcast in France. A third manga series concluded as recently as 2009, with a live action film in 2007.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! The Pumpkin Wine (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPgQGlwUXKI

Continuing on with an interesting one, and a bit of a forgotten Tatsunoko property. Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman is a bit like Lethal Weapon in the future, with the addition of a fish out of water story about a man being transported 70 years into the future with no memory of his past. It's also a series that is currently available subtitled via streaming. Mid-ni-ght Sub-ma-riiiiine!

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Future Police Urashiman (1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvf_Y_HTdls

Finishing off Friday with an OVA opening that plays out as a character's rather serious dream sequence. Truth be told, this is one of my absolute favorite animated sequences ever.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F73M_DyZGW8


Starting off this last Saturday of old school anime OPs with a bit of a strange one. I'm always looking up old anime series and this one, Dream Soldier Wingman, has such a strange opening. Apparently the manga ran in Shonen Jump beginning in 1983 and is about a tokusatsu otaku given the opportunity to become the hero of his dreams. A pretty down-tempo opening theme as well.

Celebrating An Era - 1980's! Yume Senshi Wingman (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTI9EZglHX4

Continuing on today, I've never been a huge Sailor Moon SuperS fan (I honestly think the later half of the series falls apart - to the point it intrudes on Sailor Stars... which I have even more issues with) but the opening half of episodes with the Amazon Trio I do enjoy. Ryotaro Okiayu, who voiced Tiger's Eye, is a FanimeCon 2018 Guest of Honor.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CWV-hgz7GA

Closing out Saturday with a forgotten one from 1995 that had a full DVD and manga release in English, now both long out of print.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Kaitou Saint Tail (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZppUBAPT9w


Here we are, last Sunday before FanimeCon and the last day of old school anime OPs for this year. Starting with a sequel to a classic.

Celebrating An Era - 1970's! Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II (1978)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2No1vk_22Cc

Continuing on with another seemingly forgotten series.

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! Fushigi Yuugi (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ll09siuxA

And closing out this year's last day of old school anime OPs with the final anime TV series in the franchise that the gathering hosts will be cosplaying from (again). The City Hunter '91 opening is one of my favorites and very interesting as the entire thing is a callback to the original opening from 1987.

Ryo and Kaori start out in their street performer outfits which had been briefly seen in the original opening and nowhere else. All the women that Ryo is seen introducing himself to are actually characters that appeared (mostly as one-shots) in the 127 episodes that preceded City Hunter '91. The expanded main cast riding on crows and dragonflies are a reference to the main "face faults" of City Hunter - simply drawn crows or dragonflies in the background of scenes. In the first opening Saeko was shown in silhouette behind Ryo, this time it's Kaori in her place - a reference to how their relationship has grown. And the opening concludes with an ending shot posed the same as the original, except this time with the expanded cast.

Here's wishing you safe travels, good health, and smooth registration at FanimeCon on Friday. Thank you all for your interest in this gathering - I am continuously surprised by the attention it has been given. I hope to see you all on Friday evening at 6pm! ~ Mokkori!

Celebrating An Era - 1990's! City Hunter '91 (1991)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz69tyXfhMA
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: quinhawk on May 19, 2018, 01:03:36 AM
Hey there everyone! So i'm going to be coming as Asuka Langley Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion. This will be my first old school gathering and i'm exited to see everything 😃
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 20, 2018, 08:25:45 PM
Quote from: quinhawk on May 19, 2018, 01:03:36 AM
Hey there everyone! So i'm going to be coming as Asuka Langley Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion. This will be my first old school gathering and i'm exited to see everything 😃

Outstanding!  We usually have a couple Evangelion cosplayers every year!


Alright everyone, I just made the "final" regular post on the Facebook event page as we're only a few days away from the gathering.

Your hosts will be wearing Ryo Saeba and Kaori Makimura from City Hunter once again - but we'll have the much larger 100t hammer with us this year.  I'm looking forward to another great turnout this year.  I'll see you all Friday evening at 6pm at Gatherings G3!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering
Post by: SkylerKarashi on May 20, 2018, 09:05:25 PM
Quote from: InsaneDavid on September 09, 2017, 11:32:00 PM
Quote from: gary925 on September 09, 2017, 09:25:17 PM
I have two I can potentially wear for this. I have umbreon from pokemon, but I'll probably be wearing that a different day. I'll be wearing Fred Weasley from Harry Potter that day though and the book was pre-2001. :)

Still a long way off but we could always use early generation Pokemon representation if things work out differently!
LOL, looks like I'll be bringing Umbreon after all for that day along with an Espeon and Jolteon. I'll have a Sylveon as well, but sadly that one's out of the Pre-2001 frame. I'm still gonna try and show up for this though. :D
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 24, 2018, 03:14:09 PM
Alright old schoolers, just about one day to go! Remember we're at the new Gatherings G3 location! That's the stair platforms between the stairs and escalator that go down to the video room level. Less random people walking through pictures! Much easier to climb stairs! Wider platforms to stand on! No getting drowned out by Stage Zero (hopefully) !

See you Friday evening at 6pm!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: saboli on May 25, 2018, 01:39:40 PM
Hi it might be a bit of a last minute to write here, but I'm gonna be cosplaying as fem!Shogo Yahagi from Megazone 23 part 1 once again! (I messaged here a few years back but I got a cold that year)
Do I need a registration to join the cosplay gathering by any chance?
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 25, 2018, 08:51:40 PM
Thank you to all attendees for 2018! Our new location isn't without its growing pains but ultimately I still think it's the best current location for us (especially considering that it was pouring rain outside at the same time as the gathering). We'll have all the pictures from this gathering up within a week or so (probably next Tuesday or Wednesday).

Although we were without an official photographer, our unofficial photographer (my partner in busting up crime on the streets of Shinjuku) did shoot the entire gathering and those pictures will be available next week. These will be the full set of full resolution, non-watermarked, downloadable pictures. The link to the gallery will be posted here, on the Facebook event page for the gathering, and at https://www.facebook.com/mokkoricosplay

Thank you all for putting up with my declining (naturally) raspy voice and our massive photography list. A main goal I have for this gathering, and a huge reason I host it every year, is to ensure that any pre-2001 cosplayer has a chance to have cosplay photographs taken. As someone who generally cosplays as obscure (at least outside of Japan) characters, I know how difficult it can sometimes be to get cosplay pictures.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Love Sign Master Spark on May 28, 2018, 10:59:23 AM
to saboli: You don't need a badge/registration to attend this or any cosplay gathering.  To my knowledge (I'm not staff or a volunteer with the cosplay department), having cosplay gatherings in areas that don't require a badge to access is an intentional decision by the gatherings department.
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 28, 2018, 02:12:21 PM
Quote from: Love Sign Master Spark on May 28, 2018, 10:59:23 AM
to saboli: You don't need a badge/registration to attend this or any cosplay gathering.  To my knowledge (I'm not staff or a volunteer with the cosplay department), having cosplay gatherings in areas that don't require a badge to access is an intentional decision by the gatherings department.

Ah, didn't see that post - thanks!  Correct, cosplay gatherings take place in areas that do not require a badge to attend and is something that the CGD specifically maintains as such.

Sorry I didn't respond before the gathering! Generally once the evening of Day Zero rolls around, I'm occupied with convention and cosplay related stuff and don't access the forums until Fanime is wrapping up.  My post on Friday evening was an exception since I was back home that evening (I'm fortunate enough to live about 5 minutes from FanimeCon and drive to and from the convention each day).
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: Angelx624 on May 28, 2018, 03:29:02 PM
I had a lot of fun again at the gathering!! Thank you once again for hosting it! <3 Being Ed is always fun and I'm glad to see two Spikes there! ^^

Next year I'll probly be there as Reno since I'm doing a Final Fantasy VII panel with friends next year. :D
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 28, 2018, 04:15:32 PM
Quote from: Angelx624 on May 28, 2018, 03:29:02 PM
I had a lot of fun again at the gathering!! Thank you once again for hosting it! <3 Being Ed is always fun and I'm glad to see two Spikes there! ^^

Next year I'll probly be there as Reno since I'm doing a Final Fantasy VII panel with friends next year. :D

Thanks for attending!  Your Ed was awesome!  I was happy to see we had multiple Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and Outlaw Star cosplayers this year.  I'm already looking forward to the 2019 Old School Cosplay Gathering as well as doubling up my Vintage Anime - Name That Year panel to two sessions.

It's probably no secret that by Friday evening after the gathering I'm pretty wiped out so I'm never totally sure how it went by the conclusion.  :D
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 30, 2018, 01:41:55 PM
Hello old schoolers!!

Thank you all so much for attending the FanimeCon 2018 Old School (Pre-2001) Cosplay Gathering!

2018 marked the third consecutive year we have hosted the Old School (Pre-2001) Cosplay Gathering at FanimeCon. The link below is the full gallery of pictures we took at the gathering as host and co-host.

https://www.facebook.com/496398453882635/photos/?tab=album&album_id=836074006581743 (https://www.facebook.com/496398453882635/photos/?tab=album&album_id=836074006581743)

This is the full set of high-resolution, unedited, non-watermarked, uncropped pictures from the gathering. Cosplayers - please feel free to share, tag, download, crop, use on your cosplay pages, etc. This is everything, so there may be some shots that are a bit blurry, or have someone moving, or are during a photo order setup - but they are all presented so you may crop and edit them as you see fit. We did the best we could, as always, and we were without an official photographer this year. The first dozen or so pictures are a little rosy but we corrected our camera settings from then on.

Additionally be sure to check out the second post in this thread for galleries from other photographers who were at the gathering.  They will be added as they are found.

This gathering is for you, for us, who cosplay as these characters! Thank you to all who attended or showed interest in this gathering. We hope to see you all again for FanimeCon next year and the 2019 Old School Cosplay Gathering!! It will always be held the evening of Fanime Friday!
Title: Re: 2018 Old School Cosplay (Pre-2001) Gathering
Post by: InsaneDavid on June 04, 2018, 04:43:21 PM
I've added some additional galleries that feature the Old School Gathering, check the second post of this thread for the links!  If anyone else has a gallery of pictures from this gathering, post it here and I'll add it to that post!

In wrapping up the 2018 Old School Cosplay Gathering, we plan on utilizing the same location for 2019 with a few small changes:

-- I'll actually have my small megaphone with me to make hearing the photo sequence easier for everyone.
-- Introduce both our unofficial photographer (my co-host) as well as any official photographer we may have so people will know where they are.
-- We're going to push everyone back another two feet or so to allow more space for cosplayers to be able to get up onto the platforms and also to disembark during photo changes easier. This should also cut way down on photobombing and give our official / unofficial photographers priority position.
-- With the crowd moved back a little more, it'll give me space to get out of photographs while still being able to call the next sequence.

In the three years since we've inherited hosting duties for this gathering we've been in three different locations (The Hub, Entrance Stairs, Video Room Stairs).  Now that it looks like G3 (Video Room Stairs) will be a good home for the gathering going forward, we can work to make next year run smoother all around.  I'm also planning on having ribbons for every gathering attendee in 2019.

Thank you again, you are all awesome! Hope to see you all again in 2019 - as FanimeCon itself celebrates a legacy, with its 25th anniversary!