Convention News (150)
One of the largest anime convention in North America is sure to attract some of the best cosplays from all around. Check our gallery now!
For those of you who were not able to watch the Hatsune Miku concert, Mikunopolis at Anime Expo, you can check out the 8 minute highlight footage below. Video provided courtesy of the organizers of Mikunopolis.
Stay tuned for our own recording of the first 6 songs of the concert, impressions, as well as an interview with the creative force behind Vocaloid, Crypton Future Media CEO Hiroyuki Itoh and Producer Wataru Sasaki.
© MIKUNOPOLIS 2011
Video used with permission, please do not reproduce.
In an interesting twist, a hacker had apparently broke into new comer anime convention, AM2 site over the weekend and fabricated a false message stating the convention had been cancelled and that the musical guests would be performing at Anime Expo.
We have contacted AM2 in regards to the possible compromise of account information, and Chase Wang, who is an organizer for the event, has reassured us that no data was lost or breached.
Wang also had commented earlier this morning, "I am extremely disappointed that there are individuals out there that are so willing to stoop to such levels to disrupt and harm our event after all the work and planning that has been done to bring as much fun to our attendees as possible."
AM2 will be hosted from July 1 to 3 at the Anaheim Convention Center on the same weekend as North America's largest anime convention, Anime Expo. There is clearly a rivalry between these two conventions...
We've been hearing chatter within the industry lines for the past few months that Japanese voice actresses for a popular anime series about a high school girl band may be making an appearance at this year's Anime Expo, North America's largest anime convention.
Further speculation has flared recently when Bandai Entertainment, the American license holder of the series, posted this on their official Twitter page last week:
This posts suggests that there will be some type of performance from the K-ON! series at Anime Expo, though it could be very well just the American voice acting cast.
With only 2 weeks away, and a rather sparse guest list for their twentieth anniversary, we should be hearing the exact details soon. In the meantime, feel free to take guesses in the comments.
UPDATE: Bandai has confirmed on their official Facebook page that the English voice cast will be present at Anime Expo performing at their booth.
"SATURDAY JULY 2
2:00 - 3:30pm @ Bandai/Aniplex Booth 901 > K-ON! Musical event and Autograph session with Stephanie Sheh, Cristina Vee, Cassandra Lee Morris, Shelby Lindley, and Christine Marie Cabanas"
FanimeCon 2011 has come and gone, but the images of some of the awesome cosplayers live on in photos! Stop on by our gallery and check them out!
Envious Hatsune Miku fans everywhere probably heard about the live 3D projection concert that took place in Japan last year. Just hours ago, the news went out that the next 3D performance will be happening this July in the United States at Anime Expo 2011. We will add additional information later, but for now, you can visit the official page for the event here.
For those who can't make it, we will do our best to secure filming and photography rights.
Press release inside.
Wondercon is a small comic book turned pop media convention which makes its home in San Francisco. The easy way to think about it: Comic Con's little sister. Even though it's a fraction of the size, Wondercon still packs a wallop every year. This time around T-ono caught some face-time with Hyung Min-Woo, some great panels, and awesome cosplay. Read on for what you missed at Wondercon 2011!
New anime convention AM2, set launch later this year on July 1-3 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, has revealed their official mascot, Nyanchala. Creatively, the character is based on the Japanese Lucky Cat, Maneki Neko, though we can't help but notice the character proportions and most notably its wings resemble the guardian beast, Kero from Cardcaptor Sakura.
Full press release inside.
Bakemonogatari's Vofan Heads to Sakura-Con 2011
Written by Theodore Mak
Seattle based anime convention Sakura-Con has announced Vofan, illustrator for the original Bakemonogatari light novel series, as a guest of honor. Interestingly, Vofan is one of the first Taiwanese artist to have entered the anime industry successfully in Japan. Bakemonogatari was originally written by Nisio Isin and later adapted into an anime series with character designs provided by Akio Watanabe.
Sakura-Con will be held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center on April 22-24.
Latest hot button news: Anime Expo is holding two contests, and one of them has a grand prize of $10,000! You can submit your magnum opus AMV for fame with the fans, or show off your amazing needlework in the masquerade for a chance at the cash. Read more after the jump.
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"All girl super group Berryz Kobo originally hails from Hello! Project and consists of Saki Shimizu, Momoko Tsugunaga, Chinami Tokunaga, Maasa Sudo, Miyabi Natsuyaki, Yurina Kumai and Risako Sugaya. With 7 Albums and 24 singles to their credit, Berryz Kobo's first North American appearance is a dream come true for many fans.
Berryz Kobo had their debut single, "Anata nashi dewa ikite ikenai" on Girls Day (March 3rd) in 2004, and have been consistently impressing fans ever since. There are many highlights to their 6+ year history, including their 2005 Oricon top 10 hit "Special Generation". In 2007, Berryz Kobo gave sold out performances in the Saitama Super Arena (20,000 seats), becoming the youngest band to perform in this arena with an average age below 14 years. One year later, they won the Best Newcomer Award at the Asia song Festival in South Korea and then the Nihon Yuusen Taishou Award for their cover song of "Dschinghis Khan". In March 2010, Berryz Kobo was the first all girl Japanese group to perform in Bangkok Thailand. Their latest single "Shining Power", released on November 10th is an ending theme for the anime "Inazuma Eleven". Berryz Kobo are excited to perform in the USA for their international fans!
Berryz Kobo appear courtesy of Up Front Agency and Japanfiles.com"
[Source: Sakura-Con via JapanFiles Newsletter]
Announced on Wednesday, Club 2 the Max, described as an Asian music, animation, and comic convention, will be held on July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Interestingly, the event will be just 30 miles away from the Los Angeles Convention Center where the largest anime convention in North America, Anime Expo will be held from July 1-4, 2011. Club 2 the Max is advertising that all events will be free; however, there will events where paid ticketed attendees will have priority. Club 2 the Max had held a pilot event earlier this year on July 1 featuring guests such as pop singer Erina Mano.
This year Anime Expo had an impressive guest list and we should expect an even better list for their 20th anniversary next year. The problem is if attendees and dealers will still be as receptive to Anime Expo after the various problems that happened in the last few years. With the organizers of both events having past ties to each other, running in such close proximity, and during the same week, is this an open challenge to Anime Expo? Tell us what you think in the comments. Full press release inside.
Famed for her performance as Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, voice actor and singer Minori Chihara will make an appearance at New York Anime Fest. She will be performing a concert, which should include the character themes she’s performed over the years and her recent solo pop career. This is Chihara’s second American appearance; the first was at Anime Expo 2007 with the other Haruhi voice actors, Aya Hirano and Yuko Goto. Fans should make plans now to attend as soon as possible – especially those who were shut out of the SOS Brigade’s signing in 2007. New York Anime Fest will run from October 8 – 10 in New York City.
[Source: MediumAtLarge.Net via ANN]
Anime Expo 2010 has come and gone, and what an amazing year it was! Not only do we have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Yui Horie and Eri Kitamura, we also have interviews with Black Lagoon creator Rei Hiroe, singer BENI, artist Sou Miyata of Muv-Luv fame, artist Yuki Takano from Circus, Bakemonogatari character designer Akio Watanabe, otaku blogger Danny Choo, and once again, singer May'n! From focus and press panel transcriptions, to video and photos of main events like concerts, we have a lot content coming soon! We also definitely have not forgotten about you, our readers, and we have got some surprise signed giveaways coming soon! Stay tuned!