Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you read correctly: I was at Anime North 2009 in Toronto this past Friday and Saturday. I was chaperoning a school group from North Bay, and it was fantastic.

I'll admit I know very little when it comes to anime. The best I can usually do is, "your costume looks familiar but I can't name the character you're supposed to be." Despite that fact, I still managed to have an excellent time. Everyone was so friendly and all the vendors were extremely polite and helpful. All the people I met made it such a wonderful experience for an anime/con n00b like myself that I am more than stoked to go back again next year.

A BIG thank you to all the people who so openly let me take their picture. Anime conventions are DEFINITELY where one meets all the coolest and nicest people. I think I can safely say that this trip helped eliminate a lot of my pre/misconceptions about anime and anime fans.

To see all the pictures I managed to take of a TON of cool costumes, simply click on the link below (there used to be an image but it stopped working)! More to come as soon as I get the rest of the pictures from the other two staff.

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As it stands right now, if you're planning on going to the anime convention in Oshawa, Ontario in July, you might even see me there as a vendor! A buddy of mine and I are planning on starting a small company called "Canadian Zombies" and (hopefully) will have succeeded in putting together a book (all about zombies) that we intend to sell!

If the book doesn't work out, I will certainly still be there - selling my wares and representing the company by doing zombie illustrations of all your favourite characters; both super heroes and anime.
Who wouldn't want an original illustration of a "Na-rot-o" or "Dragonball Z-ombie"!? Plus I'll be putting out all kinds of pics based on Resident Evil and Left4Dead (my current favourite game)!

Thanks, as always, to everyone here on DA for all the hits, faves and watches. Keep 'em comin'!

Cheers,
Mark

BTW: Yes, my shirt in the staff photo DOES say "My Pokemon brings all the nerds to the yard..." I also had a shirt that read ">9000". They got a LOT of attention and several people took pictures. I was so proud.