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.
"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]
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