Still no word on whether the lack of FUNi panel is an error or not, or whether they’ll have a booth at least, but I just checked their list of conventions (that’s a PDF) and A-Kon is decidedly not on the list– though AnimeFest is. (Unfortunately I have another con that weekend.)
But, well, so it looks like FUNi really won’t be at A-Kon. I wonder why?
My actual excuse is that I need to go shower and get dressed and go to A-Kon. I swear.
…But anyway, Bandai Entertainment, whose current timer is a mere 7 hours and 35 minutes away from being finished as of this writing, has more hidden messages in its source code. I’ll let you look for it yourselves this time; just do a “view”=>”view source” and look for anything tucked between <!– –>s. (But they will have a couple that are actually part of the site code, not messages.)
There’s also some more to talk about at their blog, where our anonymous says that the BEI panel has been moved from Saturday to tonight at 7pm, possibly screwing up my dinner plans BUT FOR BANDAI I DON’T MIND. And here’s what they say they’ll talk about:
Something we wanted to save for Saturday will not be able to be announced at a Friday panel… uh oh. Looks like we have to pack that one away and switch things around a bit.
HOWEVER
We have just received clearance to announce a different new title! It is for something you may already be familiar with, but you will just have to wait until Robert tells you what it is because I’m not allowed to say anything.
There’s also one hint in the source code for that post (”The song is stuck in my head.”) So, already familiar with? I, for one, am hoping for a nice, swagtastic release of all the Gunbuster stuff (Diebuster has a super-sweet catchy OP that gets stuck in my head!), but if not, it’s almost certainly something from BVU.
So I am now in the hot and humid realm of the greater Dallas, TX area, and hey look! A-Kon starts tomorrow. They just got their schedule up, and I can’t help but notice that it’s entirely bereft of near next door neighbor FUNimation– I’ve got an e-mail out to events manager Adam Sheehan to see if it’s just a scheduling snafu or if they’re really not having a panel– I’ll update if I need to add them to the list.
That said, here are the panels I’m planning on (or could) attend….
- “Industry Panel” featuring Nabeshin, Jake Tarbox, and Steven and Megumi Cummings.
- The above panel is unfortunately at the same time as Radio Comix, but if you had questions for Radio I could try and track down the reps afterwards.
- Bandai Entertainment industry panel (hey, soon I won’t have to specify, I can just say “Bandai.” Or at least “Bandai USA.” Hmm!
- ImaginAsian TV
- Antarctic Press
There’s a whole series of panels that seem to revolve around trying to get laid at a con: “How to Talk to Girls” (which is 18+), “Girls at Cons,” “Boys at Cons,” and then the finale, “Sex at Cons.” I have a feeling that the Jtor guys and I may crash that last one if our schedule permits…
I’ll also be attending the video game cosplay record-breaking attempt (or at least most of it…it runs 1-4pm, and I have a panel from 1-2pm and then 4-5pm, it looks like…but I think I only have to be there 15 minutes for it to count, so it should be a good time). I also hope to cover the maid events and stuff.
Ganbarimasu~ And as always, feel free to leave questions for companies and/or guests– A-kon’s list is here, and I figure at least a handful of you will be interested in asking Nabeshin a few things, right? –in the comments here and I’ll do my best to hunt people down and get you answers!
Heavens to betsy, lookit all that news!
TV Anime:
- ANN has confirmed that Bandai Visual (that’s the Japanese one) is going to be releasing some of its titles globally on Blu-Ray, i.e. with subtitles in English and other languages.
- Meanwhile, Slayers REVOLUTION just looks better and better: Megumi Hayashibara has announced on her official site that she’ll be singing both the OP and ED themes.
Manga:
- ICv2 has released its Anime/Manga Guide, and Naruto remained the top property while anime sales continue to decline (although box sets seem to be doing well).
- An absolute must-read: Christopher Butcher goes way in-depth with VIZ’s original content line.
- God help us all, the 48-person girl group AKB48 is getting its own manga.
- A mysteriously unnamed set of “anime artists” (I can only assume they actually draw manga?) took part in a breast cancer fundraiser.
Movies/OVAs:
- An official trailer for Mamoru Oshii’s Sky Crawlers is up at the official website. Score!
Music:
- Anime on DVD has a press release from Jpop group Budo Grape, with two Texas appearances (including A-kon) and one in New York City.
Toys/Swag:
- Kotobukiya is a Japanese company, and Batman is getting made into an anime, so I can call this anime-ish news, right? ‘Cause it’s absolutely badass.
- In other toy news, Japan is working on a line of eco-friendly toys.
Misc:
- I finally have a good reason to hunt down a copy of Otaku USA– Japanator’s Zac Bentz is in the new issue.
- If my preview of Manga Cafe Mika wasn’t enough for you, here’s Deb Aoki’s coverage of the grand opening over at manga.about.com.
Weehaw!
So one of those little factoids that his fanclub never gets tired of talking about is that voice actor Vic Mignogna isn’t just a voice actor, he’s also a musician. If you’ve never listened to his music– and he often brings CDs with him to con appearances, I believe, so I’m sure you’ve had a shot –you’ll get a chance if you’re attending A-Kon, who announced him as a musical guest at their May convention. It’ll feature him singing songs from One Piece and DN Angel as well as his own original works.
I’d actually be interested in hearing his music, but I fear I wouldn’t be able to hear it over the high-pitched squealing of fangirls surrounding me…
Dallas-based A-Kon has announced that they’ll be going for the Guiness World Record of…Largest Gathering of people dressed as Games Characters. The number to beat: 80.
To be eligible you have to dres as a character that was a video game character first (Sonic’s okay even though he’s done comic books; Batman’s not because he did comics first). You also have to sign your name in front of witnesses at the event and state the character’s name and game, and you have to wear it for at least 15 minutes. The other requirements are here.
Yeah, I didn’t know they had a record for that either, but hey– best of luck to ‘em!
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