[Atomic Lollipop]/The Craziest Con I've Ever Heard Of...

Okay, so this one was recommended to +Carrie H.C. and I by our friend, DJ Initial P, during an interview at Tekko X-2 back in April. Ever since then I've been following their Facebook and each programming announcement is even more insane than that last. I didn't think it was possible to toss so much at a con that would just make my mind blue screen over and over, but they've managed.

That said, I have to say that we are extremely psyched up for this year's Atomic Lollipop, which runs August 2-4 at the Toronto Japanese Cultural Center. Not only because it comes highly recommended, but also because the sheer mental nature of the main events that they're listing. I mean, come on, they have a Kigurumi Fight Club...what more do you need?!

This event really is like taking a look at what happens when you get a bunch of ravers together and have them put on an anime convention. There's so much going on here between not only the insane amounts of electronic music, cosplay contests and other bizarreness that it's hard to believe that such a thing exists. 

Oh, wait...you actually want more? Alright...well here's the run down of the insanity for the 2013 Atomic Lollipop, taken straight from their Facebook page:

"Experience the heat of battle, the thrill of victory, and the sting of a zillion foam darts as we deliver a wallop to Toronto's core and SMASH the record for the biggest Nerf Battle in human history! Armed with lightsabers, space blasters, and the sweetest costumes this side of the galaxy, hundreds of Jedi and Sith, storm troopers and rebel fighters, spunky droids and alien babes will descend on the JCCC for a no-holds-barred blaster battle royale- complete with live music, Star Wars burlesque, and geeky giveaways!

Grab your friends, your gear, and your biggest toy gun, and join us at Atomic Lollipop this August 3rd for an intergalactic shoot-em-up of epic proportions! The current record stands at just 486 combatants, so enlist with the Galactic Empire or Rebel Alliance, and snipe, smash, and slash your way into the Guinness World Record books!"


Though that's just the tip of this acid laced iceberg...it gets far more insane from here on out...

"The first rule of Kigurumi Fight Club is: You do not talk about Kigurumi Fight Club. The second rule of Kigurumi Fight Club is: You DO NOT talk about Kigurumi Fight Club. Third rule of Kigurumi Fight Club: Someone loses their socks, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two animals to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: no shirts, only kigurumis. Seventh rule: Fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: If this is your first night at Kigurumi Fight Club, you have to fight."

  
"Balls... Balls everywhere...It's Atomic Lollipop's first Annual Dodgeball Tournament!

We're turning up the heat on this gym class classic, so grab your friends, show us your balls, and dodge, dip, duck, dive, and dodge your way to violent ball-ridden victory!"

Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...

"When doors open on Saturday August 3rd, the hunt begins! 400 ghetto-fabulous dragon balls have been planted in the JCCC hallways, bathrooms, and picnic grounds. Collect all seven marble-sized wonders and hustle back to the info booth to summon the Great Eternal Dragon, Shenron! Be among the first APOPpers to present the Great Dragon with the full set of seven and win riches beyond your wildest dreams!

Can you find them all?"

"Do you like Karaoke? Do you like Disney? Do you like yelling belligerently and making lewd gestures to the music of Phil Collins? Well you're in luck because SUPER BELLIGERENT DISNEY KARAOKE FUNTIME is about to desecrate your childhood favourites and forever change the way you think of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"."

Yep, it's official...they've gone completely nuts. Though, it's a good kind of nuts and I have to say that I'm fully on board with things here...I mean we're not even halfway through stuff and they're already lining up the Disney bashing train.

Overall the atmosphere really does seem to be that of "organized chaos" but just barely controlled or contained. If our experience during the Otakubalo stage at Anime North was anything to go off, this entire event seems completely off the rails and one that probably shoudn't be missed.

That said, there's always more and for anyone that was on the fence about going to this year's Atomic Lollipop, considering the most recent announcement as an extra incentive...

Buy your ticket between NOW and JULY 1st to get a FREE dinner at the APOP NOODLE HOUSE!!! To redeem this offer, enter promo code "NOODLES" at http://atomiclollipop.eventbrite.ca/ to access special ticket type "Early Bird + Free APop Noodle House!". Show your ticket when you arrive at the event and you'll receive a meal ticket good for one bowl of delicious hot noodle soup!

Hey, it's free food! How the hell do you go wrong with that? They also sell food tickets at the event itself but if you've been on the fence about it...here's just one more excuse to go! 

Still need another reason? I'll just leave this last one here...