Mari Iijima - Anime Convention Personality of the Week - Oct. 11, 1999 Beauty, grace,
talent and determination - those are the characteristics that led Mari
Iijima to discover the depth of American anime fandom and make a grand
tour of conventions in 1999. The determination showed in Iijima's reaction
to adversity, the end of her Japanese record contract. Rather than mourn
her loss, Iijima decided to force the issue by making her own, independent
album, use anime conventions to promote the project, and sell the disc
at the conventions and through her
web site. Fans embraced Iijima as she traveled to 1999 conventions,
enjoying a chance to meet the woman who had created the Minmay role in
the original Superdimentional Fortress Macross series. It came to a head
during two days of Anime Expo week in July of 1999. On Thursday, Iijima
was cast for a role in the Pacific Blue TV series and appeared in the "God's
Gift" episode which was cablecast on the USA Network in December. On Friday,
Iijima picked up the first copies of her "No Limit" album, took them to
Anime Expo, performed a concert in front of a packed house, then was surrounded
by hundreds of fans who demanded to purchase copies of her pet project. |
Autographs at A-Kon 10 |
In concert at A-Kon |
Singing at Otakon |
Talking about her career |
Autographing No Limit at Anime Expo |
The No Limit premiere at Anime Expo |
