Yet Another Otakon '09 Report - but with boxes

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Also known as "THE MAGICAL ADVENTURES OF THE AXIS POWERS AND THE ENGLAND-IN-A-BOX."

Really, everywhere we went people though it was a "Snake-In-A-Box." Does it say The Orange on it? No, it says Igirisu on it. Grrrr. People who thought it was the tomato box from episode one get partial credit. :)

Anyways, click here to read a report filled with boxes and Englands.





So it's been about a week since Otakon was over but...I had to wait for everyone to upload their pictures first before I could write a report. Because sadly I have no pictures...

Disclaimer: ALMOST NONE OF THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN BY ME.

Italy - tsunderation
Germany - if he got an lj...
Japan - guapple
Seychelles - doesn't use hers

Our Seychelles <3



It takes three people to put the box on - two to hold the flaps and one to guide the vest down - and then we had to take turns carrying the box. (Meaning guapple and I carried the box together, and then we traded off with Germany who was manly enough to carry it by himself.) I'm not even going to talk about going up and down escalators with this thing...



But because of this, we couldn't really take pictures of ourselves. So all of these pictures are taken by frostpebble and robotgeisha and our Seychelles when she was with us. Hence the random different picture qualities. Thank you so much for letting us use them! :D



^ Lol, I had to keep reminding myself to salute incorrectly. It's like when we taught Germany Japanese, and then we had to teach him how to mispronounce everything with a German accent.

Anyways, here goes the con-report! :)

On Friday morning we learned that the Dambolis could not go up the elevator or stairway in our hotel. And because we stayed on the 9th floor, we decided to just keep it in the van. Crisis averted. The beginning of Friday was spent looking for luv_blindly and harl because they offered to wear our box when the Small England Cosplayer Wanted Ad was posted on the community. We kept an eye out for Revolutionary War Englands that day but....

When we went to the Dealer's room to find harl, we ended up finding rex_dart instead, who was dressed as America. Asking her where England was without giving anything away was hard. I think I said something dumb like "I uh...have a box for her...." and maybe it worked because they run a booth and I could secretly be making deliveries. Yay.

I'm not sure if either of them was at the photoshoot on Friday because by the time we started looking for them it had started to rain. Then the three of us shared an ohshit moment because rain is not good for cardboard. Especially if it is covered with washable paint ;_;

Here's a pictures of us at the shoot before it started raining. (Are you tired of seeing us yet? :P)



So to save our Dambolis we ran back to the con center. And let me tell you, running with a cardboard box is not fun. Especially if you're inside the box carrying it and Japan is leading. We ran into many many trees this way....

And by then we were wet, tired, and kinda disappointed that we hadn't gotten to use our box yet. So by that point we were kinda like, okay let's just find us some Englands and forget about asking for consent.

So now I present to you the victim list.

So here is victim #1.







You looked so confused. Thank you for going along with it. :P

And here is #2. Who we found very close by.





I'm sorry that we don't know who the majority of you are. We'd like to though! :) And if you want us to take your pictures down then we'll do it right away. We're also missing a couple Englands and an America I think. If you have pictures of it, please send them to us!

And then we decided to give the dealer's room another go and find harl. And the timing must have been insane because America was somewhere else signing them up for the masquerade and it was just England there being vulnerable! So we bribed England with a cookie to get in our box and we got pictures of it with our Seychelles.





And of course, while we were waiting for America to come back to surprise her, there was no one else running the booth with harl so we felt really bad making her help all the customers in the box...we're so sorry!



But then America showed up from a direction we weren't planning her to come from (we had sent Japan scouting earlier on...) and the element of surprise was lost. Oh well.

After that.





We had to drag this one away from her America. And he wasn't really happy about it when I told him to look the other way...



No, you're standing on England!



America, why the grumpy face? Lol, they were so cute. :)

And then we debated on bringing the Dambolis to the Hard Rock Cafe and the answer was an obvious NO. Because we did not want to pay another 18 bucks to get our box seated of course.

Sadly the restaurant did not have pasta or salmon or potatoes (unless you count french fries?) so our Axis Powers group couldn't really stay in character. I did make an attempt to make my meal more Italian though...





Also, that is the only picture I have of our dinner because I made the mistake of sitting between Japan and Germany and they were having a straw-spitting contest. Getting caught in the crossfire was not awesome. But eating dinner with keikanas was. You were such an awesome Prussia. :D

Although I think we might have ruined Hetalia for her forever...after spending the evening with us, she told us she would never look at Japan the same way....what does this mean.

But thank you for taking pictures with our Germany!



So Saturday morning was Hetalia photoshoot day. Which meant we had to carry around the box again. But before we got there, we met a few Englands on the way and was like, why not?

victim # ?





What would you do if the Axis Powers came up to you and asked you to get in their box? This one acted surprisingly calm about it.

And then it was time for the photoshoot! SMILE DAMMIT!!!



I'm sorry. I stole that one from orenjipan because I have no photoshoot photos. I hope you don't mind? I forgot to ask.

I was going to wait until all the nations were done and for the requests to start so I could request to borrow an England. But then the England photoshoot started and then a Sealand invaded it and then someone told us to put the Dambolis out there and then the Sealand ask if she could get in the box and one thing led to another....





And then a Revolutionary War England volunteered to wear the box. I could be wrong, but was it you luv_blindly or did we just miss you completely at the con? If we did, then I'm so sorry!

So this picture should not have been taken before the England had gotten in the Dambolis because it basically ruined the surprise for everyone. D:<



Japan and I were lifting the box (with no help from Mr. grumpyGermanyface grrr) to get it over the England but then people told us to turn around so we did and arghhhhh. It should have been a surprise!



Regardless, the England wore it brilliantly :)



And here is a video I stole from frostpebble.

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And here's another one from graycat21, front and centered.

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I am so glad someone taped it because we totally forgot to. Maybe somebody else will see this video and be surprised that there is an England inside the box. I'm pretty sure everyone at the con already knew about it....sigh.

So I guess the question now is, will the Dambolis make another appearance?

Maybe :/ I don't know, carrying around this box is a huge inconvenience. Even more so if we go to cons where we don't have a hotel. This was especially so during the Saturday Hetalia photoshoot when Germany left half way to go to his TF2 shoot and Japan left shortly afterwards for the Vocaloid one. And then I was stuck alone with the box and was like....what now.

We might bring the box again to another con. But only if we get a bigger Hetalia group, or a group in general to help us carry around/watch over the box. I don't really like the idea of retiring the box in the garage for another year, but I also don't want a repeat of Hetalia Saturday shoot aftermath.

We'll see :) Hetalia people are so nice, we might just do it all over again to hang out with them.



I had a lot of fun during Otakon. Thank you everyone for letting us use your pictures! I know if missed a few Englands...And thank you so much to all the Englands who wore our box! Can I friend all of you? You guys were so willing awesome.

Comments

[imnotsp0iled.livejournal.com]

LOL I love that England in a box.

Those Axis Powers up in the beginning were very good, I liked it! :D I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE...!! ; A ; *Angsts forever*

[imnotsp0iled.livejournal.com]

LOL *Dumb moment* YOU WERE THE ITALY. HOW ADORABLE.

[sadlygrove.livejournal.com]

Man, when you guys brought out that box at the Saturday shoot I damn near lost it, I was laughing so hard XD But you're right--cumbersome prop is cumbersome. I've had to carry around giant scythes and keys before and sometimes the inconvenience outweighs the badassery :C

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

I know, arghhhh. I cosplay Yuffie too and I carry around these life sized-shurikens and sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. Especially because the hotels I've been staying at for the past two years have revolving doors as their only entrances and I get stuck there all the time...

But what makes the dambolis so terrible is that there are NO HANDLES D:

I wonder if it will be tacky if I make some....

[harl.livejournal.com]

You're welcome and of course you can. XD

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

And we're so sorry we made you run the booth in a box! D:

[keikanas.livejournal.com]

that box. How did I miss that, that's epic.

Also IT WAS FUN HAVING DINNER WITH YOU GUYS!! Actually, if anything I just find Japan to be a much more awesome character than I did before. Skills with straws previously unbeknownst to the great Prussia~

I have a few pictures in my Otakon pictures (http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/keikana/Cosplay/Otakon%2009/) of dinner and I managed to catch some of that straw battle on video @ about 45 seconds in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaVzuRMhrsA

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME RELIVE THE DINNER.

[bisouspapillon.livejournal.com]

That England who volunteered to wear your dambolis is beyond cool, and I love your guys' group! So cute.

What would you do if the Axis Powers came up to you and asked you to get in their box? This one acted surprisingly calm about it.

Hahahaha I love the way that was put.

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Lol, thanks! I wonder if we were intimidating...

And I wish I knew who the England was!

[rainy-fantasy.livejournal.com]

Ha the box is such a great idea!! :D Too bad it was frustrating to lug around though.

I love all of your costumes. You three look great. :D

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[kalypartemis.livejournal.com]

England in a box. This post totally made my day XD

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[kitamurin.livejournal.com]

THAT IS SO COOL.

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[graycat21.livejournal.com]

I got another video of the England in a box, if you want to see. (My mother was front and center when she got this.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=labWvcyYN4I

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh, thank you so much! I'll edit that in right away! :D

I'd say "thank your mother for me." Except that sounds weird.

[lavifag.livejournal.com]

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

O3OO3O3OO

That looks like it was fun~

I love that Italy and Germany~ >w>

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[ghibli22.livejournal.com]

Those were so great!!
Should've put Sealand in the Box

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Haha, we almost did. The Sealand asked if she could get in our box until we opened it up for her and were like "You want to get in this box?"

[haylerzz.livejournal.com]

I saw you three (and your box) around the con a lot. It was such a great idea! I wish I would have been England just so I could play with it! Your costumes were all so great too and thanks for the cookie at the dinner! (I was one of the many Italies at the dinner and Chibitalia for both shoots)

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Oh I remember you! You were such a cute Chibitalia and we saw you everywhere too!

Oh no, sorry about the dinner! We were hungry and I think probably the last table to get food so we sent Japan out to steal us food and so she came back with your fries. I didn't expect her to crawl under the table to do it....And then we felt bad so we sent her back with a cookie and hand wipes. XD

Do you mind if I friend you? :)

[digitalhopper.livejournal.com]

I remembered seeing you guys with that box. And I had no clue WHAT THE HELL it was... Until I saw an England in it after the Friday shoot. And then I was like "That's so cool" but was too shy to actually go up and tell you guys >>; *was the lame America in the I <3 NY t-shirt*

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

YES!! Does that mean you were surprised? :D

[frostpebble.livejournal.com]

That box was so epic, glad you got some use out of my pictures. XD

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us use your pictures! I feel like I've said that too many times.

I'm sorry we weren't able to talk to you at the photoshoots. You're such a cute Canada, do you mind if I friend you? :)

[starawings.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Germany is really cute *runs and hides*

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Lol.

[guapple.livejournal.com]

HAHA YOUR JAPAN SUCKS.
AND YOUR GERMANY LOOKS TOO MUCH LIKE A WOMAN.
BUT ITALY IS GREAT. AND GIVES ME COOKIES.
The obvious solution is for us to get married, yeah?

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

HAHA I KNOW RIGHT?!?!

WHAT A LOSER. JAPAN IS TOTALLY HOLDING US BACK. I SHOULD POST A NEW COSPLAYER AD LIKE, WANTED: A SOBER JAPAN COSPLAYER. LAWLS.

I can't marry you. It wouldn't be cannon.

[trriblstng-strm.livejournal.com]

oh man, that Germany is just perfection. You and Japan were great too, but his build and facial structure... he was born to cosplay Germany haha.

[guapple.livejournal.com]

Secretly, Italy and I have always felt that he's MADE for Shinatty-chan. THEIR MOUTHS. AND THEIR EYES. SO VERY SIMILAR.
And when he raids the refrigerator? THEY COULD BE TWINS.
EVEN MORESO WHEN YOU PUT A RED RIBBON ON HIS HEAD.

[thecurtain.livejournal.com]

I knew the box was coming because of the post you guys made here, but seeing it in person was 1800x more epic Such a great idea! And you three were such great fits for your characters, it made me so happy. That pic of you on Germany's shoulders is probably one of my favorites from the entire weekend XD

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was very hard staying on Germany's back. He has no hips, so there was nothing to sit on.

I think I told him that, and that may be why he wasn't smiling.

[supertails1025.livejournal.com]

This is just wonderful, wonderful! I actually have pictures of you guys too. =D

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thank you! If you don't mind, I'd love to see some of your pictures. Especially if it was one we didn't get :) So many Englands got away.....

[fegie.livejournal.com]

xD You guys were soooo awesome, with your box. :D I'm sorry it was such a hassle to cart around, though. :(

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[rosetintedstars.livejournal.com]

AHHH THAT GERMANY & PRUSSIA PHOTO IS AWESOME/// srsly the best one i've ever seen *___* and LOL the england-in-a-box is FANTASTIC XDD

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll be sure to tell them that :)

[sonteen12.livejournal.com]

That box was EPIC! I didn't get to see it in real life because I was late to Sat. shoot, but I saw from the vid. :D Great work, man!

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[starsforbrainss.livejournal.com]

OMGGG you are SUCH a cute Italy~!! ^O^

i think the box deal is funny, but where's that from? D8

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

The dambolis is only in the online comic, not the anime or manga. It was made by Sweden for Sealand to play with because he thought Sealand was watching too much t.v. >.< He wrote "Igirisu" on it and tried to convince him it was his big brother England or something like that...

The translation is, unfortunately, down:

http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/62515.html

But the original is here:

http://www.geocities.jp/himaruya/seakun.html

You can kinda tell what's going on with the pictures. Since the box obviously isn't England, I thought it was be funny to actually stick an England cosplayer inside and surprise everyone. XD

[kagenohikari.livejournal.com]

Hey~ tsunderation, this is a message from the aphcosplayvid community, and we would simply like to ask if it is possible to borrow one of the photos here (specifically the 5th photo where you posed with your fellow allies) for our project. We are trying to create a video that encompasses all the cons/gatherings this year. And we would be very appreciative if you could contribute. Please and Thank You.

Just reply to this comment or PM me in my journal. :> Thanks and will await~

[tsunderation.livejournal.com]

Yeah sure, go ahead :)

[chiyann.livejournal.com]

Damn, I am so facking late. XDD

But holy crap, that BOX... It's glorious. o___o You are all geniuses for thinking of it~ <33 (Not to mention your cosplays were made of all sorts of epicness! >D)

Oh God, I'd be MORE than willing to help out with it next year, since I will be wearing Hetalia, and that fantabulous box is too awesome to go unused because it's so cumbersome. XDD (As a fellow Yuffie cosplayer I can relate. >_>;;)

[chiyann.livejournal.com]

And I'm really sorry for double posting, but...

OH SHIZ. I think I kinda recognize you...

W-were you one of the Yuffies at Otakon 2008?(Cuz I remember you were with me at the photoshoot.)

...And I sincerely apologize if I sound like a creeper. DDX (It always ends up like this. OTL)