New York Anime Festival

NYAF 4th of July Sale!

2008-07-02T13:16:40Z

I'm very pleased to announce the New York Anime Festival and RightStuf.com have slashed prices on 2007 New York Anime Festival shirts and other goodies to make room for our 2008 show apparel. We've only got a limited number of 2007 items left, and if you hurry, you can pick up some treasures from last year's NYAF for as little as $5...

http://www.rightstuf.com/catalog/browse/link/t=category,c=right-stuf,v=right-%09stuf,g=merchpub-NEW-YORK-ANIME-FESTIVAL

NYAF Mascot! Roar!

2008-06-30T16:12:11Z

Over the past few weeks, the New York Anime Festival invited fans to design our 2008 mascot. What were the guidelines? None, really. We asked artists to create a mascot that embodied anime and New York City, but – beyond that – we wanted imagination to carry our artists away. Out of all the submissions – posted up on theOtaku.com – ten were selected as finalists, and these ten went toe to toe with attendees at AnimeNEXT last weekend in New Jersey. Attendees voted for their favorites all weekend long. And now, a week later, the dust has settled, the votes have been tallied, and we have a winner. Chibizilla!

http://bp3.blogger.com/_BC26hreB8QA/SGkBx1tVw_I/AAAAAAAAAFs/o76dhw1pTsg/s400/563742-20080617232911.jpg

Chibizilla is the creation of Quarteni, a 23-year-old artist currently living in Orlando, Florida. More of her work can be seen at quarteni.deviantart.com and betweenreality.com. I spoke with Quarteni over the weekend…

What was your inspiration for Chibizilla?: I was watching Godzilla vs. King Kong on TV. Then, when I sat down to come up with a mascot entry, it hit me. Chibizilla! King Kong is associated with New York City, which is why the Empire State Building is in Chibizilla's clutches, and Godzilla is associated with Japan – and chibis are synonymous with anime! NYAF brings Japanese anime and New York City together, so I did the same with Chibizilla!

What software and materials did you use to make Chibizilla?: I used pencil, paper, ruler, Sakura micron pens, and Photoshop.

What do you do when not creating mascots?: I really enjoy drawing, creating content for computers (icons, desktops, screensavers, etc.), reading a variety of books, editing manga, web/graphic design, and of course anime and manga! I'm also currently preparing my portfolio to go out into the market and start my career.

What do you ultimately want to do?: I'd really enjoy drawing or editing manga as a career. I’d like to try voice acting (not strictly anime related). It also would be nice to be able to run my own business someday, too.

What do you think of when you think of New York City?: I think of the amazing architecture of the older buildings, pizza, the museums, the intriguing history, and many of my favorite comic book heroes whose stories take place in NYC.

What was the first thing you thought when you learned you won?: OH NO!! I won?! XD There were a lot of really great entries this year. I'd like to tip my hat to everybody who entered, everybody who voted, and everybody who has a part in the NYAF and the mascot contest. I'm really very honored to have my design chosen as the mascot this year.

What’s the first thing you want to do at NYAF?: Meet Peter Fernandez and ask him to sign my Speed Racer VHS.

Do you have a message for aspiring artists?: Practice constantly! Look at the world around you and always try to learn something from it. Also, take criticism and build from it. Show your art to anybody and everybody you can – friends, family, and even the professionals, too!

Who would win in a fight, Chibizilla or The Cloverfield Monster?: I'm sure the Cloverfield Monster would fall victim to Chibizilla's cuteness! <3

Look for Chibizilla and Quarteni at New York Anime Festival 2008!

World Cosplay Summit

2008-06-26T20:18:24Z

Last year was NYAF's first year. Looking back, I think we had a pretty good show, and one of our highlights was definitely the World Cosplay Summit Masquerade. A lot of anime conventions have cosplay contests, but none have one like NYAF. The winners of last year's Masquerade -- Sonnya Paz and Renee Gloger -- were crowned Team USA and will be traveling to Japan at the end of July to compete against cosplayers from around the globe in the Olympics of Cosplay -- the World Cosplay Summit Finals.

This year's NYAF will be bigger and better, and I'm very happy to announce the World Cosplay Summit will be joining us again for an even more grandiose Masquerade, giving another team the chance to win a trip to Japan and represent the USA in an international cosplay competition!

This year's New York Anime Festival Masquerade takes pace September 27, 2008, and the clock is ticking. Get to work on your skits and costumes and register at newyorkanimefestival.com!

What's This?

2008-06-26T14:54:43Z

http://bp1.blogger.com/_BC26hreB8QA/SGOtAH_01UI/AAAAAAAAAFc/28W9C27jPrI/s1600-h/mascotpie.jpg

What's this? Maybe the results of the 2008 New York Anime Festival Mascot Contest. When will these results make sense? Maybe tomorrow.

Satoshi Kon!

2008-06-25T18:13:34Z

What are you doing this Friday? Hmmm? Battlestar ain't coming back until 2009, so you've got no excuse to stay at home. What do I recommend you do? Welcome visionary director Satoshi Kon to New York City!

Satoshi Kon will appear at The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater for a complete retrospective of his work from June 27 to July 1. The Film Society of Lincoln Center is screening all four of his feature films, as well as the entirety of his television series -- Paranoia Agent.

And following the 6:15 PM screening of Paprika on Friday, June 27, Kon will come onstage for a conversation about the depths of his stunning career.

If you'd like to take in Satoshi Kon's Paprika and meet the man, you can get your tickets right now at http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/kon.html.

Yoshitaka Amano @ NYAF!

2008-06-22T01:16:50Z

I am very pleased -- very honored -- to announce the New York Anime Festival's latest Guest of Honor, Yoshitaka Amano. Mr. Amano is the artist behind the look and feel of Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D, and his work is known and loved by anime fans, gamers, and art collectors from around the world. He joins fellow Vampire Hunter D talents Hideyuki Kikuchi (the author behind the Vampire Hunter D novel series) and Kevin Leahy (the translator of the Vampire Hunter D novel series) at NYAF. All are Co-Sponsored by Dark Horse Comics.

Yoshitaka Amano began his career at Tatsunoko Productions where he served as a character designer for animated series including Gatchaman and Casshern. After 15 years with the studio, he chose to leave the comfort of a steady job to pursue his career as an artist. As a freelance illustrator, Amano contributed covers and illustrations to novels including Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D, Kaoru Kurimoto's Guin Saga, and Yoshiki Tanaka's The Heroic Legend of Arslan, teamed with Mamoru Oshii to create the film Angel's Egg, collaborated with Neil Gaiman to make the award-winning graphic novel Sandman: The Dream Hunters, and partnered with video game studio Squaresoft to create the look and feel for the company's flagship Final Fantasy series.

Mr. Amano has worked with media including pencils, ink, paint, ceramic, stained glass, and fabric, and exhibitions of his work have taken place in cities including Tokyo, London, Paris, Berlin, and New York City.

I hope you'll join me this September at the New York Anime Festival as we welcome Yoshitaka Amano to NYC.

Next NYAF Guest of Honor Coming Saturday!

2008-06-20T01:22:55Z

Next NYAF Guest of Honor Coming Saturday!

The New York Anime Festival is at AnimeNEXT in New Jersey all weekend long. We're manning a booth, giving out posters and chopsticks, and running our 2008 Mascot Contest. We've also got a panel at 12 PM on Saturday where we'll generally make asses of ourselves and -- oh yeah -- announce NYAF's next Guest of Honor.

If you're not coming to AnimeNEXT, no worries. Instead, just be sure to head on over to www.mediumatlarge.net at 1 PM, as we'll be revealing our newest Guest of Honor right there to the whole, wide internet.

Mascot Finalists!

2008-06-19T19:34:22Z

The New York Anime Festival and our friends at theOtaku.com have narrowed down all the entries to this year’s mascot contest to 10 finalists. It was tough. It was very, very tough. We have to thank everyone who participated and were floored by the quality and creativity every character radiated. But, we had to choose only 10, and here they are…

http://theotaku.com/fanart/view/254669/summer_in_the_city
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255709/the_city_that_never_sleeps
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255731/nyaf_mascot
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255626/nyaf_mascot
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255603/ninja_cabby
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255599/chibizilla
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255604/nyaf_mascot
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255476/nyaf_mascot_contest
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/255321/ny_sun
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/view/254757/umami_%2528contest_entry%2529

The New York Anime Festival will be set up all three days at AnimeNEXT, with its attendees voting for the winner. (We’re glad we don’t have to make the call.) We’ll be reporting back with the 2008 Mascot next week!

One Day Left in the NYAF Mascot Contest!

2008-06-18T14:47:14Z

Just a reminder that there's one day left to enter the New York Anime Festival's 2008 Mascot Contest. We're giving you a chance to get your art seen by over 15,000 fans (and also get some awesome prizes)!

You can enter here...
http://theotaku.com/worlds/official/view/17883/nyaf_mascot_contest_announcement/

You can see the current entries here...
http://www.theotaku.com/fanart/tags/nyaf_mascot

A big thanks to our friends at theOtaku.com for hosting the contest!

The New York Asian Film Festival is Here!

2008-06-16T16:17:06Z

New York City is home to hundreds if not thousands of film festivals, and it’s amazing that amid all the prestigious and red carpet events that a little black sheep could come into town and quickly become one of the biggest, best, and most quirky film festivals in New York City and the entire country. This little sheep? The New York Asian Film Festival. Since 2002, it has brought Asia’s brightest, most explosive, and most important films to New York City, and 2008 is poised to be the Asian Film Festival’s biggest year yet -- with 43 feature films screening between June 20 and July 6!

The New York Anime Festival knows the team behind the New York Asian Film Festival, and the show’s acclaim and fanbase are no accident. They are the result of the hard work and sleepless nights of everyone whose hands are involved in the event, and I strongly encourage you to head out to the New York Asian Film Festival this year as there’s a wide world of Asian cinema out there -- with anime just the beginning.

Some highlights from this year’s New York Asian Film Festival…

L: CHANGE THE WORLD -- The Death Note movies were massive hits in Japan, and now the latest installment in the series hits screens courtesy of Hideo Nakata, director of the landmark horror film The Ring. This time around it's L, the teen, goth Sherlock Holmes who takes center stage to solve a new, sinister mystery. This summer blockbuster is like a candy bar for your brain.

DORORO -- Osamu Tezuka's rip-roaring action manga hits the big screen in a big-budget movie that's like Lord of the Rings on acid. A female thief teams up with a swordsman who's hunting the missing 48 parts of his body, stolen by a whole cursed zoo of demons who scuttle across the screen in all their spider/slug/baby monster glory.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES -- Kiriko Nananan's manga Sweet Cream and Red Strawberries hits the big screen in a movie that refuses to insult your intelligence. It's what Sex and the City would have been if it had been about the lives of real women in a real city, rather than a cartoon for adults set in a fictional New York. Considered by many to be the best Japanese film of 2006, this is essential viewing and the best of what manga on the big screen can mean.

Excited yet? For the full film listing, showtimes, and tickets, visit subwaycinema.com!

Lolita Day Pictures!

2008-06-11T19:07:57Z

The New York Anime Festival, Kinokuniya Bookstore, Del Rey Manga, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures teamed up for Lolita and Maid Fashion Day on June 7, 2008. If you missed it, you can experience it now online thanks to the photography of Petrina Cheng!

http://www.nyanimefestival.com/en-us/591.cfm

Win Tickets To Bleach: The Movie!

2008-06-09T16:48:14Z

The New York Anime Festival -- thanks to our generous friends at VIZ Media --- is happy to announce we have four pairs of free tickets to a New York City screening of Bleach: The Movie - Memories of Nobody!

The tickets are all to a screening that begins at 7:30 PM on June 12 (this is not the NYC premiere event, but a screening that takes place the day after). What do you need to do to win? Simply be one of the first four to make a post in the Bleach: The Movie section of the NYAF Messageboard...

http://www.newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com/topic/590

I'll be Private Messaging the first four to post, and they'll each take home a pair of free tickets!

If you're not one of the first four and want to attend, you can buy tickets to Bleach: The Movie at fathomevents.com.

Lolita Day was a success!

2008-06-09T14:57:58Z

Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at Kinokuniya was a success! A huge success! A we-couldn't-fit-any-more-people-in-the-store success! I couldn't believe that there were over 75 people waiting in line, some as early as 6 AM, to get in. And, as the day went on, I couldn't believe we fit well over 300 fans into Kinokuniya Bookstore for a celebration of lolitas, maids, and anime fandom!

My first thank you has to be to John Fuller and Kinokuniya Bookstore. I've got to thank John and Kinokuniya so, so much for letting us take over his store with cosplayers and chopstick fights. Second, thank you to Ali T. Kokmen and the good folks at Del Rey Manga for all the support, swag, and for bringing Maid Machinegun out in the USA. Third, thank you Megumi Sato and Samurai Beat Radio for coming in and joining the party. Megumi interviewed a lot of the attendees as well as me, and we'll all be broadcast on the radio in Japan. Fourth, thanks have to go to Mika and Manami from VIZ Pictures for supporting us with posters and Kamikaze Girls. Fifth, thanks must be given to Amber Rutland for her passionate lolita fashion panel and all the lolitas who came in to support her.

Finally, I have to thank the 300+ fans who came to Lolita and Maid Fashion Day in the 90+ degree weather. You could have spent this time waiting in line for a Wii Fit or watching Saturday morning cartoons, but you trekked over to Kinokuniya to spend the day with me. Thank you! I hope you all enjoyed yourself, and I hope to have more get togethers and meet ups soon.

The New York Anime Festival is in September, but I plan to see you long before that.

Lastly, if you couldn't get a copy of Maid Machinegun or Kamikaze Girls (as both sold out), just stop by Kinokuniya any time and they'll be happy to reserve a copy for you, and you'll be sure to receive it as soon as they're back in stock. And expect to see pictures from Lolita and Maid Fashion Day in the next few days, too!

Lolita and Maid Fashion Day is Tomorrow!

2008-06-06T17:09:10Z

What are you up to tomorrow? Trying to find a Wii Fit? Gazing through the Telectroscope? Some humorous third thing? Cancel your plans as the New York Anime Festival and partners Del Rey Manga, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures are proud to present the first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at the largest Japanese bookstore in North America -- New York City's Kinokuniya Bookstore. Taking place Saturday, June 7 in celebration of International Lolita Day, Kinokuniya Bookstore located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan will present a day-long series of events showcasing the diverse world of cute, cool, elegant, and hip fashion in modern Japan.

Lolita and Maid fashion have quickly become two of the most prolific ambassadors of anime, manga, and Japanese culture in America, and the New York Anime Festival couldn't be happier bringing these fashions to New York City -- the fashion capital of the world.

Kinokuniya's Lolita and Maid Fashion Day will include special all-day activities as well as a series of Lolita and Maid-themed speakers and presentations…

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day All-Day Events

Anime And Manga Discount: Any customer who comes into Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas on Saturday, June 7 wearing a Lolita or Maid dress or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive 10% off all anime and manga purchases.

Lolita And Maid Sweets: Café Zaiya on Kinokuniya's second floor presents a special menu of Lolita and Maid-themed desserts made especially for Lolita and Maid Day

Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Giveaway: All customers who come into Kinokuniya Bookstore can enter to win a number of prizes from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures. Prizes include a collection of 100 of Del Rey Manga's best-selling and fan-favorite books, free tickets to this September's New York Anime Festival, and select films from the VIZ Pictures catalog. Winners will be drawn at the end of the day, and customers must be present to claim their prizes.

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Event Schedule

10 AM: Kinokuniya Bookstore opens. The first 50 customers dressed in Lolita or Maid dresses or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive a Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Gift Bag including presents from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures.

10 AM to 3 PM: Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Tea Party. All customers who order a cup of tea from Kinokuniya's Café Zaiya between 10 AM and 3 PM will receive a complimentary assortment of Japanese treats along with their drink.

3 PM to 4 PM: An Introduction to Lolita and Maid Fashion. An overview of the diverse world of fashion in modern Japan. Lolitas and Maids are just the beginning.

4 PM to 4:30 PM: Akiba-Kei Music Scene. Maid fashion began in Tokyo's Akihabara. Samurai Beat Radio presents a look into Akihabara's music scene today, how it influenced Maid fashion, and how Maid fashion now influences Akihabara's music.

4:30 PM to 5 PM: A Reading from Maid Machinegun. Maid Machinegun, a new light novel from Del Rey Manga, follows the misadventures of Aaliyah, a recent recruit at one of Akihabara's busiest Maid Cafés. Del Rey Manga presents an overview of the world of Maid Machinegun, including a special greeting from the author written just for today and selected readings from the book.

5 PM to 7 PM: Screening of Kamikaze Girls. Momoko is a super-sweet Lolita. Ichigo is a tough-talking thug. They couldn't have come from more different worlds, but somehow the two become the closest of friends and embark on the most incredible of adventures. Screened with permission from VIZ Pictures.

7 PM: Raffle Drawing. 100 books from Del Rey Manga and free tickets to the New York Anime Festival are just two of the prizes up for grabs in the Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Giveaway. Customers can enter all day long, and to win, they'll have to be present at 7 PM for the giveaway's drawing.

Kinokuniya Bookstore, Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures invite anime fans, Lolita and Maid fashionistas, and New Yorkers up for a unique and unforgettable experience to come out to Kinokuniya's first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day tomorrow! I hope to see you there!

NYAF Mascot Contest!

2008-06-04T20:15:32Z

Earlier this year, New York Comic Con brought Stan Lee, Alex Ross, Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro, and many, many more American popular culture icons together. This Septembers, the organizers of New York Comic Con are going to bring the same focus and attention to Japanese pop culture with the New York Anime Festival.

But before the New York Anime Festival can take place, it needs a mascot – and the New York Anime Festival is looking for your help!

Just like the Olympics and Tokyo Anime Fair, the New York Anime Festival features a new mascot every time out, and for its second year, theOtaku.com and the New York Anime Festival have teamed up to select the New York Anime Festival's 2008 mascot.

Between now and June 18, theOtaku.com and the New York Anime Festival welcome artists and anime fans from around America to think about what “Anime” and “New York City” mean to them and draw these thoughts into an original character. Whether it's big, small, a towering mecha, or chibi, we want to see your entries!

Once all the entries are in, theOtaku.com and the New York Anime Festival will be selecting ten finalists that will be put on display at the New York Anime Festival booth at AnimeNEXT (June 20-22 in Secauscus, NJ). AnimeNEXT attendees will vote for their favorite, with the character receiving the most votes being crowned NYAF's 2008 mascot. On June 27, the winner will be revealed!

Sounds good? What are the rules?

1. You must be 13-years-old or older.
2. You must be a US or Canadian resident.
3. Your art must be original. (No using the characters from Gurren Lagann.)
4. Your art must be at least 300 dpi.
5. Your art must be in JPEG format.
6. Your entry must be tagged with the words "nyaf mascot".
7. You must fill in your full (real) name, e-mail address, age, and phone number on theOtaku.com's contest profile page...
http://www.theotaku.com/backroom/profile/contest/

What about the prizes?

This is your chance to get your artwork in front of over 15,000 anime fans! The 2008 New York Anime Festival mascot will grace the convention's program guide and appear on signs throughout the event, and to make sure the winner's name is known, he or she will be profiled in the New York Anime Festival's program guide beside the 2008 mascot. But it's not over yet, as the winning mascot will appear on the main page of theOtaku.com in September -- getting your artwork in front of all of theOtaku.com's visitors! And, there's more! The creator of the winning New York Anime Festival mascot will receive a copy of all of the New York Anime Festival's swag (T-Shirts, Posters…) and take home 10 weekend passes to both the 2008 New York Anime Festival and 2009 New York Comic Con! The nine other finalists will each receive a weekend pass to the New York Anime Festival!

So, break out the pencils, fire up the Photoshop, read through the official rules (http://theotaku.com/nyaf_contest.htm), and submit your original mascot right here!

http://theotaku.com/worlds/official/view/17883/nyaf_mascot_contest_announcement/

Budo Grape at the Knitting Factory

2008-06-04T18:06:56Z

I’m back in New York after a week in LA, and I’m happy to be home. I’ve missed the city, the people, and the culture, and almost as if throwing a welcome back party just for me, Karaterice and JapanFiles are presenting Budo Grape on Thursday, June 5 at the Knitting Factory.

The Knitting Factory’s at 74 Leonard Street, the show starts at 8 PM, and tickets are $10.

But what’s Budo Grape? A high energy, avant-garde band from Nagoya, Japan. All the members claim “Grape” is their last name and they come from “Neo-Nagoya.” You can listen to them online at http://www.myspace.com/budogrape. You know you want to.

HALICALI Comes To Kinokuniya

2008-05-27T15:28:40Z

While I’m currently away at BookExpo America in LA, my heart is still in NYC, and I wanted to make sure all you New Yorkers knew that my good friends at Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Ave of the Americas) will be playing host to J-Pop duo HALICALI on Friday.

HALICALI are coming into Kinokuniya at 6 PM on Friday, May 30 for a radio interview that’ll be broadcast on Samurai Beat Radio throughout Japan – and you’re invited to listen and watch.

So, if you’re free on Friday, stop into Kinokuniya to meet HALICALI and maybe get on the radio in Japan!

Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at Kinokuniya

2008-05-26T13:05:46Z

The New York Anime Festival and partners Del Rey Manga, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures are proud to announce the first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at the largest Japanese bookstore in North America -- New York City's Kinokuniya Bookstore. Taking place Saturday, June 7 in celebration of International Lolita Day, Kinokuniya Bookstore located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan will present a day-long series of events showcasing the diverse world of cute, cool, elegant, and hip fashion in modern Japan.

Lolita and Maid fashion have quickly become two of the most prolific ambassadors of anime, manga, and Japanese culture in America, and the New York Anime Festival couldn't be happier bringing these fashions to New York City -- the fashion capital of the world.

Kinokuniya's Lolita and Maid Fashion Day will include special all-day activities as well as a series of Lolita and Maid-themed speakers and presentations…

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day All-Day Events

Anime And Manga Discount: Any customer who comes into Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas on Saturday, June 7 wearing a Lolita or Maid dress or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive 10% off all anime and manga purchases.

Lolita And Maid Sweets: Café Zaiya on Kinokuniya's second floor presents a special menu of Lolita and Maid-themed desserts made especially for Lolita and Maid Day

Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Giveaway: All customers who come into Kinokuniya Bookstore can enter to win a number of prizes from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures. Prizes include a collection of 100 of Del Rey Manga's best-selling and fan-favorite books, free tickets to this September's New York Anime Festival, and select films from the VIZ Pictures catalog. Winners will be drawn at the end of the day, and customers must be present to claim their prizes.

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Event Schedule

10 AM: Kinokuniya Bookstore opens. The first 50 customers dressed in Lolita or Maid dresses or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive a Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Gift Bag including presents from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures.

10 AM to 3 PM: Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Tea Party. All customers who order a cup of tea from Kinokuniya's Café Zaiya between 10 AM and 3 PM will receive a complimentary assortment of Japanese treats along with their drink.

3 PM to 4 PM: An Introduction to Lolita and Maid Fashion. An overview of the diverse world of fashion in modern Japan. Lolitas and Maids are just the beginning.

4 PM to 4:30 PM: Akiba-Kei Music Scene. Maid fashion began in Tokyo's Akihabara. Samurai Beat Radio presents a look into Akihabara's music scene today, how it influenced Maid fashion, and how Maid fashion now influences Akihabara's music.

4:30 PM to 5 PM: A Reading from Maid Machinegun. Maid Machinegun, a new light novel from Del Rey Manga, follows the misadventures of Aaliyah, a recent recruit at one of Akihabara's busiest Maid Cafés. Del Rey Manga presents an overview of the world of Maid Machinegun, including a special greeting from the author written just for today and selected readings from the book.

5 PM to 7 PM: Screening of Kamikaze Girls. Momoko is a super-sweet Lolita. Ichigo is a tough-talking thug. They couldn't have come from more different worlds, but somehow the two become the closest of friends and embark on the most incredible of adventures. Screened with permission from VIZ Pictures.

7 PM: Raffle Drawing. 100 books from Del Rey Manga and free tickets to the New York Anime Festival are just two of the prizes up for grabs in the Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Giveaway. Customers can enter all day long, and to win, they'll have to be present at 7 PM for the giveaway's drawing.

Kinokuniya Bookstore, Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures invite anime fans, Lolita and Maid fashionistas, and New Yorkers up for a unique and unforgettable experience to come out to Kinokuniya's first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day on Saturday, June 7! I hope to see you there!

Creator of Vampire Hunter D Comes to NYAF

2008-05-26T00:20:21Z

Over the weekend at Fanime in California, Dark Horse's always awesome Carl Horn gave a little panel about Dark Horse Comics and what to expect from them coming up. What can you expect? Hideyuki Kikuchi -- the creator of Vampire Hunter D -- at the New York Anime Festival.

If you dig back to some of the stuff I've previously written about this year's NYAF (like the introduction to the 2008 website) you'll see I've been planting the D name a fair bit, but Carl's panel is the first public announcement that NYAF and Dark Horse have been working since the start of the year to bring Kikuchi-san, the author of all the Vampire Hunter D novels, as well as Kikuchi-san's friend and translator, Kevin Leahy, to the 2008 New York Anime Festival.

The New York Anime Festival is a showcase for best of Japanese pop culture, and while we will be devoting a lot of time and energy to guests and events around titles which are currently captivating both America and Japan -- I want to focus beyond just what is big and popular now and explore the creators and the creations that first and forever defined anime and manga in America. Since the first Vampire Hunter D film was released in America, it was been creating followers. Even now, more than 20 years since the movie's debut, it is a staple among America anime fans -- a classic and timeless work. And, now that the original Vampire Hunter D novels are finally available in America, fans are discovering D as never before. D is a character who some have loved for over 20 years and others are falling in love with only today, and I want Kikuchi-san -- the man behind D and all his adventures -- to meet the men and women in America who have been shaped by his words and dream nightly of D.

Vampire Hunter D is what got me into anime, and bringing Kikuchi-san and Mr. Leahy to NYAF personally means very, very much to me, and I hope they'll both mean a lot to you, too.

What Are You Doing Over Memorial Day?

2008-05-24T02:12:59Z

Memorial Day Weekend is here. Three days of fun, sun, and awkward time with family. So, where are you going? What are you doing? And, more importantly, what are you going to be playing or watching? Personally, I'm off to Boston to visit my girlfriend's family and when I'm not explaining my intentions towards their daughter, it's my plan to work my way through as much of The World Ends With You as possible. I love you, Nintendo DS!

Talk about your Memorial Day plans with people who understand you on the NYAF forum right here...

http://newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com/topic/560

NYAF Poster Revealed!

2008-05-23T22:06:26Z

About two hours ago, I posted a blurry image of the NYAF 2008 poster, and forum member Cimi figured the picture out fast -- scarily fast. So, not waiting any further, I'm pleased to reveal to you all the New York Anime Festival's 2008 poster featuring Bandai Entertainment's Gurren Lagann...

http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2008/05/nyaf-2008-poster-revealed.html

A big thanks to our friends at Bandai and Aniplex for making this happen.

Cimi will be getting a copy of this poster sent out to him immediately. If you'd like a copy, head to Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Ave of the Americas on Saturday, June 7 as NYAF's having a little party at Kinokuniya. What's the occasion? You'll find out soon.

Guess The NYAF Poster!

2008-05-23T20:23:33Z

The New York Anime Festival's 2008 posters have just come into the office, and I'm excited. They look great and, personally, they make me geek out just a little bit. If you live in NYC, you'll start seeing them hanging up in Kinokuniya, Image Anime, Midtown Comics, and a few other comic and anime shops in the next few weeks. If you don't live in NYC, you'll see them at the NYAF booth at AnimeNEXT and Otakon.

But what if you're not in NYC or aren't going to any summer cons? Or what if you're impatient? Well, I've got just the thing for you! The New York Anime Festival's Guess The NYAF Poster Memorial Day Contest! You'll find the New York Anime Festival's 2008 poster right here...

http://www.newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com/topic/559

Notice anything odd? That's right, somebody pixelated the whole thing. If you're the first to guess which show it is over at the NYAF forum (just follow the link above), I'll be sending you out your very own copy of this non-pixelated, movie-theater-sized poster! A big huzzah and kudos to the mysterious anime company who made this poster possible.

NYAF Message Board! It's Alive!

2008-05-20T13:36:55Z

The New York Anime Festival's going to be here in only a handful of months. It's kinda scary actually how fast year two is coming up. We've been working behind the scenes for a while now and will be announcing guests, programming, contests, and everything else throughout the summer, but while the bulk of our programming won't come out until July, I'm happy to reveal one bit of NYAF '08 is already alive.

The New York Anime Festival Message Board.

Located at newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com, the Message Board is an online community that lets you interact right now with other anime fans in and around New York City (and those from outside NYC who are making the trip in just for NYAF). You may recall that the Message Board was actually originally created as part of the '07 show, but it's recently been overhauled for '08. (No posts were deleted, but all 2007 talk has been moved to the Past Shows section.)

With NYAF coming up fast, I invite you now to pop on over to the new New York Anime Festival Message Board. It's a place to share, talk, discover, and -- of course -- rant.

Death Note Ticket Winners!

2008-05-14T13:49:38Z

Last week, the New York Anime Festival, VIZ Pictures, and Fathom Event offered up some free pairs of tickets to the May 21st screening of the Death Note live-action movie in New York City. Yesterday, the winners were chosen.

Congratulations to Kelly Davidson, Dani Gavilanes, and Scott Von Schilling!

For all the entrants who weren't selected, if you'd like to see Death Note on the big screen, check out deathnotefilms.com for show times and locations. Also, keep on checking the Anime Festival's website and blog, too, as we'll have more contests coming to you throughout the summer!

First NYAF Guest - mc chris

2008-05-11T22:21:36Z

A few days ago, I said the New York Anime Festival would be announcing its first 2008 guest this week. Well, not wasting any time, I'm very pleased to announce this guest -- mc chris -- today. mc chris calls his music "rap for dorks," but his blend of hip hop beats and lyrics paying tribute to anything and everything a geek could love really has to be heard to be appreciated. And, hey, you can do just at mcchris.com.

(Also, mc chris is a veteran of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Working at Adult Swim for five years, he provided the voice of MC Pee Pants in the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Hesh on Sealab 2021, and various voices in The Brak Show.)

I'm very happy to announce mc chris's participation in the New York Anime Festival and chose specifically to lead off this year's guest list with him. mc chris isn't from Japan. He doesn't voice anyone in Ultimate Mop Daisuke DX. Instead, he's at NYAF because -- while not directly connected to anime -- he's a big part of anime fan culture in the USA. The New York Anime Festival definitely has anime at its center, but just as New York Comic Con isn't just about comic books, I really want to make the New York Anime Festival a showcase and celebration of everything that's a part of anime culture and anime fandom culture is both the US and Japan.

mc chris's concert begins at 8:30 PM on Friday, September 26 in the New York Anime Festival's Main Theater. He will be signing autographs from 3-4 PM on Friday and 11 AM-12 PM on Sunday in the Autograph Room. mc chris is holding a Q&A with fans from 4-5 PM on Saturday in the Anime Culture Panel Room. To attend mc chris's concert, you'll need a separate mc chris ticket priced at $10. Convention tickets and mc chris concert tickets are both available now at newyorkanimefestival.com.

In summation, you (and by you I mean all the fans who've e-mailed me since last April asking for him) like mc chris, I do, too, his music -- an amalgam of anime, fantasy, sci-fi, and video game themes -- is pretty frakking awesome, and it's even more frakking awesome that he's coming to NYAF.