Welcome fellow nerds, to the 2009 Toronto Fan Expo, held every year downtown at the humongous Toronto Convention Centre. This was actually my first visit to this annual event, so I wasn't sure of what to expect. I was there on Saturday, likely the busiest day of the three, and found myself at the end of a huge, long lineup of fans that snaked around haphazardly all over the ground floor lobby. For about the first hour it wasn't even moving, and I was debating whether or not to stick around. Finally, they opened up the floodgates and after a total of about 90 minutes I was finally in the main room. I'm glad I didn't leave after all, as it turned out to be a lot of fun.
My main reason for going to Fan Expo was due to the scheduled appearance of a couple of the many guest celebrities who would be signing autographs (albeit for a fee.) I'd drawn up a couple caricatures beforehand, in order to get them signed.
Here's the guy I most wanted to meet: veteran actor, Beau Bridges. I've always liked both Beau and his brother, Jeff, but I think Beau has been largely underrated throughout most of his career. However, in recent years I think he's matured from the younger leading man into a very likable character actor, lately appearing in my favourite current TV series,
My Name is Earl, as Earl's long-suffering dad, Carl Hickey. I'd inked up two original drawings and presented him with one framed and had him sign the other one for my personal collection of celebrity autographed caricatures.
Likewise, I had British 60s/70s horror film icon, Barbara Steele sign an additional copy of the caricature that I'd presented to her. Barbara had a very unusual sort of beauty with her huge eyes and prominent forehead, somewhat similar to today's Christina Ricci or Helena Bonham-Carter. She's mostly known for her films,
Black Sunday and
The Pit and the Pendulum, the latter co-starring with Vincent Price.
Illustrators were in great abundance at Fan Expo. Here's my friend,
Paul Rivoche with his daughter Charlotte. Paul is a much sought after animation background designer, as well as a longtime comics artist.
This is local Toronto sculptor,
Claudio Setti, whose specialty is creating figures based on sci-fi, fantasy and gaming characters. Be sure to visit Claudio's blog to see more of his wonderful work.
Veteran Playboy cartoonist,
Doug Sneyd was there promoting a couple of books that show the process of developing his beautiful cartoons.
Looks like Doug has found some new inspiration for future cartoons!
It was a real pleasure to finally meet
Jason Seiler, a fellow caricaturist whom I've crossed paths with online at the ISCA forums, and who also teaches through Bobby Chiu's very successful
Schoolism online program.
Likewise, it was great to meet
Stephen Silver, who has been a major character designer for animation, most notably for
Kim Possible and
Clerks, as well as also teaching through
Schoolism.
Sheridan College Animation was well represented at the event. Here's my friend and teaching colleague, Dave Quesnelle, attending with his family.
Here's a group of my students from this past year, several hamming it up in costume.
Who ya' gonna call? Sheridan students, Nick Hendriks and Megan Kearney of course! (Be careful not to cross those streams, guys!)
X-Men's Wolverine (Derek Spencer) poses dramatically with Rogue (Vanessa Stefaniuk).
And then there are all of the folks who just love to dress up and pose for their adoring public. Here's a cute group of gals who were only too happy to keep those cameras clicking away.
A close-up on lovely Poison Ivy, who makes a very strong case for "Going Green".
This was one of the only photos that I didn't have to correct for "Red Eye"!
Needless to say, this painted lady had many a shutterbug gathered around her. The way I figure it, what she spent on body paint was more than offset by what she saved on spending for clothes.
Some cute Trekkie Chikkies...
...and still more Enterprising young ladies! Live long and prosper!
See you all again at Fan Expo 2010!
Here's Sheridan instructor Apollo Okamura with students, Vanessa Stefaniuk and Nicole Gagnon, as well as Vanessa's brother Robert. 
Vanessa strikes an action pose.
Iain Lew Kee as She-Ra poses with He-Man.
Just what the HECK is this thing?!!
Some Star Wars characters.
HOLY HOOD ORNAMENT, BATMAN!!!
Hey, that's no Boy Wonder!
Baskin' Robin, perhaps?
Arrrrh, girls, let me have a Pikachu!
It's those wacky anime kids!
Whatever it is you're delivering, I'll be more than happy to sign for it!
Yes, there are lots of cute girls at Fan Expo, all happy to pose for photos!
I hope this girl heals up okay. Maybe I'll hang around while they remove her bandages, just to make sure she's all right.
This girl had everyone's head turning. I found out later that she's Kat Curtis, "The Naked Nerd" from The Naked News show. I'll have to tune in sometime to see what she uncovers.
This poor alien creature is obviously pooped out from breathing in the earth's atmosphere all day. It must be time to gather up the swag and head back to the home planet.
"Sayonara, people of planet earth!"
