While in LA after the San Diego Comic Con, Yui Shad and I went out to a lovely dinner with two of California's finest animators Sara Pocock and Ke Jiang (jackie) at the Mother of all Seafood Buffets! TODAI. At some point along the way (I don't really remeber when) harsh words were exchanged that ended in a sushi eating challenge between longtime rivals of geniusness and nationality Yui and Jackie.

We arrived 7 minutes before closing and were worried that we'd missed the chance to settle our contest of chomping champions, but were reassured that we could stay and eat as long as we'd like. The only catch being that since they were closing we'd have to take all the food we could imagine eating and stack it on our table before they cleaned up for the night. So the hoarding began, as well the nightmare.

Yui was the favorite from the get go. Since beginning work with us in February, I have personally witnessed Yui devour more food than anyone in American history. At a normal lunch Yui cleans his plate, and will eat anything anyone else can't finish without flinching. But Yui had a secret that day, a secret he hid as long as he could, a secret that could spell disaster for his honor and reputation. You see that afternoon at Universal Studios, Yui ate California's largest burrito. It was a monster. Yui was scared, and I feared for him.

Ke Jiang, or Jackie as he's referred to these days is a dynamo of dynamism, an unpredictable keg of surprised packed down with a firm layer of luck and gusto. A true marvel is this man. I've never seen challenge that Jackie cannot overcome in some unprecedented way that makes you wonder how, and why he did it. This would be a night to remember.

The stage is set! The gladiators UNCAGED! EAT


Each man had identical plates of food. First to quit, or barf, loses.




Yui starts of strong, as expected and shows off for the crowd.




Yui launches to a massive lead finishing two plates and a bowl of soup before Jackie finishes one.



Yui becomes bored waiting for his opponent to catch up.



As do I.


As does Sara.


As does the referee.


Yui finishes his plates, continues to wait.


After an hour of waiting Jackie is finishing his final plate. I was forced to assemble the championship round plate out of leftovers from mine and Sara's plates.


I didn't believe he would make it this far. His head bobs, he begins to sway...


...but miraculously regains his composure and will to live!


With two remaining pieces before the championship round, Jackie ever unpredictable, does the unthinkable, trying to a avoid a piece with this nasty red stuff on it, Jackie crams that and another giant sushi piece down his gullet.


The crowd is in awe.


Upon witnessing the act Yui begins to panic. Later behind the scenes interviews reveal that Yui feared the championship plate, and could fell his honor slipping away.


Jackie swallows, he's done it. He's got Yui on the run, victory in within his grasp. But in one of those twists that ring forever in the annuls of competetive history, like Ali v Foreman, Jackie's stomach cannot handle the load, he sways and vomits upon his plate.


Being good sports the two men high five.


Secretly Jackie vows revenge! WATCH OUT YUI!