But don’t think it’s all just going from one panel to another, or plunking yourself in a dark theater for five hours to watch “FLCL”, “Case Closed”, “Fruits Basket” and Kenichi” all in a row. You need to take a break and at least admire all the cosplayers.

The hot item was “Attack on Titan”. (I have not done a review of this show yet, as it is still active. Shorthand is watch it, but it is a very intense show, much like “Deadman Wonderland”, so be advised). There were enough fighters to form their own squad and many were fully packed, which means they had the armament of two side packs to hold sword blades and the propulsion system. Funny, the bulk of them wanted to be in the Recon unit, rather than wall defenders.

And we even had people being segments of the wall. One guy came as the Armored Titan (this character is a giant, about 20 meters tall and looks like an anatomical mannikin that was in your health class, so you would pay attention to the teacher and not stare at this thing with its guts all exposed). He was creative, as he was looking over the protective wall, but it was a hassle to walk around with that.

Other popular themes were “Rise of the Guardians”, where there were a lot of Jack Frost, but there was a grouping of ALL the Guardians and Fear; Fionna and Cake, which is an “Adventure Time” spin-off and lots of “Soul Eater”. There were the traditional ones: Naruto, Pokemon, Bleach, Power Rangers and Ouran High School (singular and groups).

The main lobby was taken over with people posing for those who ask to snap shots and there were a lot of cameras and cell phones firing off.

Plus, as Yogurt from “Spaceballs” told us, “Merchandise, merchandise, merchandise!” I braved the Vendor’s Hall and it was jam-packed. If you want it in anime, it is there. Lots and lots of $5 manga or $4 DVDs, but a lot of near and dear items as well, like models and figurines. Also, this time, there were 18+ booths that were curtained off and you have to show ID to get it (lest some unfettered boobies cause you to overheat). Look, there were probably 10,000 people in there. I am overheating because there are too many oxygen-breathers in this hall, capacious as it is.

I did a look-see, as I usually wait until the last day to grab things. Many vendors do not want to box it up and take it back home, so discounts come a-calling. Besides, trying to squeeze it all in, while attempting to stay on a time clock, is a bit of a failure. It’s like going to s restaurant, sniffing the aromas, then leaving. Wait! I want more.

But what you get is a real sense of community. People do not point fingers and snicker at someone whose cosplay costume is a cardboard box with holes cut out for the head and arms and scrawled across it in crude felt-pen letters, it says “Gundam”. Or standing in endless lines as you want a seat to see something. It doesn’t have to be a great seat, just a seat, but everyone is in the same boat, so they understand.

On the bus ride back to the hotel, it was still a festive atmosphere, as folks hooted and hollered while we cheered the bus driver and his manic comments about the pedestrians (“Oh, man, that woman has been partying a bit too hard. Stay in the crosswalk, babe!”). And this is only Day One. I can’t wait for Day Two.