Linus Lam's Coverage of AnimeExpo2000


	Lines started early for the Escaflowne Movie midnight screening, clearly showing that AX has gathered enough crazy fans that are more than willing to get their money's worth and see some cool stuff. And who's to say they spent all night being bored? They brought friends and family to talk about autographs, Guest and fan panels, or cosplayers, or spent time glossing over great purchases bought in the Exhibit Hall that day.

You aren't seeing things wrong, folks. That is indeed a full-form life-size statue of one of the characters from the new Jojo's Bizarre Adventures used for promotion at AX2000.	Hank Wong of Karaoke Staff quickly tallies up the Judges' results of the Karaoke Competition on his laptop while fan activity flourishes around him.


Paul Wilson demonstrates his full-torso motion capture tool that dazzled the crowds and was put to full use at the Friday Night Dance.	On the spot and quick to catch the news as it happens, AX2000's Anime Xposures newsletter team chats with a cosplayer about his convention experience.

Shown here at Ms. Rica Fukami's guest focus panel, Barbie Tsukino and her entourage relax with fellow Sailor Moon fans. They have traveled far from Japan every year since AX98 and now enjoy being welcome members in the growing family of stylish AX cosplayers.	Proof is in the pudding: most AX staffers are indeed diehard anime fans that love to win and collect autographs just as much as you do! This lucky staffer happened to be on break for Monday morning's complimentary ticketless Guest autograph session where all fans could get as many autographs as they wanted.

The views of the Society of Promotion of Japanese Animation are often skewed by many convention fans because of ignorance mired by freedom of speech and press. It should be pointed out again and again that the SPJA's views are very clear and will never change: be the number one leader in helping to promote the growth and integrity of the anime and manga industry and to protect the brightest interests of the anime fan community from harsh public criticism in the best way possible. Anyone who abuses their First Amendment Rights as an excuse to promote the darker minority of anime to make money will receive the maximum penalty of justice seen fit by fate. And if you can't deal with that, just relax and groove with some anime tunes like the Toyko Pop DJ shown above.