Star Wars: The love continues

Star Wars is a series of movies that started a long, long time ago in a country far, far away (actually just to the south) and it continues making new fans while long time fans get lost in the magic of the costumes and the memory of the excitement of a light sabre battle. Our nephews love the Lego Star Wars, making Star Wars movies and playing Star Wars computer games. During comic fan and anime events people love to dress up and meet the characters that played such a big part in the movie.

Whole social chapters of like minded people gather together and play the good guys, or bad guys, of the movies - although you never see a legion of Jar Jar Binks for some reason. We have the Vaders' 501st Legion Canadian Garrison and the Rebel Legion Canadian Base.

See more Star Wars after the jump.

They appear to have large weapons.

A large mannequin of Darth Maul.

A massive and hilarious Chewbacca Head Backpack

May the Force be with you.

Walking under words - Direct Energy Centre

The long hall of the Direct Energy Centre has a hanging art installation that is a nice compliment to the shape and light in the convention centre. The words hang vertically and I can't even remember trying to read them - so I had to check out my picture and see that they appear to be just names, like Amy and Beatrice.

Here are some other people hanging out in the great hall after the jump.

Sucker Punch and Babydoll

Sucker Punch the Warner Bros movie opens tomorrow (Friday, March 25, 2011) and it looks freaky fantastic. "Close your eyes. Open your mind. You will be unprepared." Baby Doll (Emily Browning) uses her imagination to try to escape from a mental institution and a planned lobotomy.

See more pictures after the jump.

Sucker Punch was being promoted at both the Hobbystar AnimeCON and Toronto Comic CON and this is where I found these beautiful ladies.

Steampunk in Toronto

The Toronto Steampunk Society (TSS) says "Steampunk is a romanticized re-imagining of the Victorian Period." It's the future and the past combined with some fantasy, wild imagination, great costumes and hats - plenty of hats.

These guys and their hats were at the Wizard World Toronto Comic Con. You can join the very social group and enjoy the dress up. Maybe if you are lucky you will build and fly in a dirigible.

Repo! Shadow Cats

I saw some of the cast of Repo! Shadow Cats for the film Repo! The Genetic Opera and I was intrigued with the thought that this was a lot like going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show - only better (because it was raunchy and had boobs). I liked the costumes as well - this is Kirsten pictured above.

Shadow Casting is when actors provide a re-enactment of the movie while the movie is shown in the background. The film Repo! The Genetic Opera story line is that a biotech company is taking back, or repossessing, the organs planted in people who have defaulted on the payments for the said organs.

Playing at the Toronto Underground Cinema (2nd last Friday of the month @ 9:30pm) everyone is encouraged to participate, join in by dancing and singing and wearing costumes. See more pictures after the jump.

Wizard World Toronto Comic Con 2011

While the younger generation was having fun at the Toronto AnimeCON the older crowd was at the Wizard World Toronto Comic Con which was underway at the Direct Energy Centre in the Exhibition grounds. The show started on the Friday and continues to Sunday March 20, 2011. Buy your tickets online at $25 because there were quite a few upset fans paying $38 when they purchased tickets at the show.

On Saturday star Billy Dee Williams, famous for playing Lando in the Star Wars movies, met his fans for autographs and photos. The Star Wars 501st Legion - Canadian Garrison members wandered around the hall posing for a great many photos including with members of the Toronto Roller Derby.

Most of the visitors were there for the comics, games and to meet the stars and a smaller number of people dressed up in cosplay outfits.

There were tables and tables full of gamers playing various matches and tournaments in the back end of the hall.

See more photos of the event after the jump.

Naked News correspondent and naked nerd Katherine Curtis

Ed the Sock

Ed the Sock's cohost: Liana K as the Mad Hatter

Toronto AnimeCON

There was quite the crowd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) going into the Hobbystar Toronto AnimeCON which is still on tomorrow (Sunday March 20, 2011) from 11 am to 5 pm. The cost was a very reasonable $15 which was good for attendance during the entire weekend. The show was on level 100 which has a great hall just made for Cosplay displays. The bright wigs, costumes and contact lenses made for exciting pictures.

I met with James Armstrong (pictured below) of Hobbystar Marketing - home of FanExpo Canada, who said that they started these shows about 7 years ago during March break so that people who didn't go away on vacation could have something fun to do in town.

The event drew a large contingent of people dressed in various anime, manga and comic characters lounging in the hall after doing the rounds within the hall. I love that everyone wears bold and colourful costumes and that they were happy to have their pictures taken. So many of the visitors were in costume and were also taking pictures of other people's costumes as well as checking out all the vendors selling plush characters, comics, books and many other items in the retailer room #105. There was a Game Show Theatre in room #104D with a number of anime games and a Q&A Theatre in room #104C. A J-Pop Dance ran from 5 to 8 pm on the Saturday.

James also mentioned the upcoming Toronto ComicCON Fan Appreciation event on April 9 and 10 at the MTCC which has free admission all weekend. The show will have over 150 tables in the 25,000+ square feet hall with a large artist alley and celebrity guests like Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica, Alan Ruck of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Dominic Keating of Star Trek Enterprise as well as Trina Nishimura and Jamie Marchi.

In summer we can look forward to "Canada's Biggest & Best Comic Book Event" FanExpo Canada from August 25th to the 28th, 2011.

See a lot more pictures after the jump.

You can also see more pictures of the 2011 event on my earlier post here.