Kuriousity | manga reviews and news

Posts Tagged Conventions

YaoiCon Announces New Venue and Guest of Honor Ayano Yamane

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, March 2, 2010

YaoiCon’s website has updated for the 2010 convention year with an attractively slimmed down layout and some news that’s bound to make than a few attendees go running for the reg books.

Not only does the site confirm the conventions new location at the larger Hyatt Regency but also 2010’s Guest of Honour: the boys’ love artist who will always make you do a double-take for all the right reasons – Ayano Yamane!

“When Yamane-sensei came to Yaoi-Con in 2004, she was a rising star in the BL industry. Six years later, she is now arguably the genre’s brightest star, renowned for her detailed, beautiful art and sexy stories.

Whether it’s her manly semes like Finder’s Asami, Crimson Spell’s Havi or Ikoku Irokoi Romantan’s Albert Valentine or fiesty ukes like Akihito, Prince Vald or Ranmaru, we love Yamane-sensei’s attention to detail, sense of humor and steamy love scenes. And we’re sure you will too!”

YaoiCon is also offering their three-day badges for only $40 up until March 31, 2010 as part of a 10-year anniversary special.

My wallet’s already tied for travel this year but YaoiCon sure knows how to tempt a boys’ love fan! Any Kuriousity readers planning to attend? Or are you simply joining me in imagining the entertaining genre-junkie mayhem?

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Conventions

Cons, Cons Everywhere – But Where’s A Fan To Go?

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, February 21, 2010

1 Comment »

With the next cycle of anime/manga conventions coming up, I’ve spent the last couple days budgeting out my plans for 2010. I’ve always wanted to travel more and conventions feel like a great starting point – lots of different places, lots of different people and a safety net of shared interest and fun new experiences.

But there are so many conventions to choose from! Last year I had the pleasure of attending San Diego Comic Con, and while it was a great experience, I’m sitting it out this year in place of several smaller events.

So with the help of friends, co-workers and fans much more traveled than I, I’ve put together my confirmed list of anime/manga conventions for 2010:

Animinitime Halifax (April 25)
Anime North (May 28 – 30)
Animinitime Moncton (July 17)
New York Anime Fest/NYCC (October 8 – 10)

Both Animinitime events are local to my area (and admittedly I’m staff at them but it still counts, right?) and Anime North has been a long-time Canadian anime tradition that I’ve yet to indulge in. As for New York, I’ve always wanted to visit America’s ‘Big Apple’ and there’re way too many fantastic people attending this year for me to ignore!

But what about you? Have some conventions you know you’ll be attending this year or have hopes to? Any you’d recommend or have enjoyed in the past? Let me know – I’d love to hear about your experiences and con-choices! Who knows, I may even be able to sneak another con into my schedule (aka, budget) this year and would love to meet up with people at those I already know I’ll be attending :)

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Conventions, NYCC

PR: Pop Japan Travel TAF Tour to visit Studio Pierrot

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

1 Comment »

Gardena, CA (January 26, 2010) – Pop Japan Travel is proud to announce a special opportunity for any anime fan as part of their forthcoming Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) tour: the option to visit one of Japan’s most respected anime production studios, Studio Pierrot.

Founded in 1979, Studio Pierrot has produced some of the world’s most beloved anime titles, including Naruto, Bleach, Saiyuki, Fushigi Yugi, and many more. The studio tour will give anime fans a rare peek at how anime is produced and give them a chance to meet some of the creative talent that has helped produce it.

To commemorate this opportunity, Pop Japan Travel has launched a special contest on their YouTube channel, inviting anime fans to submit videos of their best questions for Studio Pierrot. The fan that submits the best question will receive their choice of three books courtesy of Digital Manga, Inc. and will get to visit Studio Pierrot free if they take the tour. Winners will receive a PJT credit towards a future tour if they cannot attend the TAF tour. The contest concludes on February 14, 2010.

The TAF tour is scheduled to take place from March 24 until April 1. The cost of the tour includes all accommodations, round trip airfare to Japan from Los Angeles, dinner in a cosplay-themed restaurant, transportation, professional bilingual tour guides, entrance fees to all activities, and a customized guidebook created exclusively for the tour. People interested in taking the tour may visit http://www.popjapantravel.com/ or e-mail popjapantravel@gmail.com to sign up. Applications received before February 1 will receive a $50 discount on their tour, and all applications are due by February 23.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Conventions, DMP, Fushigi Yugi

PR: Pop Japan Travel’s newest tour – Tokyo International Anime Fair

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, January 19, 2010

No Comments »

Gardena, CA (January 14, 2010) – Pop Japan Travel, the premier tour company for pop culture-themed tours to Japan, is pleased to announce a new tour designed with the anime fan in mind: a trip to Japan for the 2010 Tokyo International Anime Fair!

The tour will allow North American anime fans and otaku to experience the largest anime industry event in Japan, giving them a first look at new anime projects and series scheduled for the Spring and Summer TV season in Japan. The tour will also include visits to hubs of otaku culture like Akihabara and Nakano Broadway, the Ghibli Museum, a chance to view the cherry blossoms in bloom, a visit to an animation studio, and much, much more. The tour is being organized in cooperation with Kintetsu Travel, one of Japan’s most respected travel companies, and will mark the first time that Pop Japan Travel has organized a tour to the Fair.

YaoiCon 2009: Digital Manga

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, October 31, 2009

12 Comments »

Easily the most anticipated panel of this year’s Yaoi Con, Digital Manga brought out the big guns as promised in recent weeks to deliver to the eager audience. Deb Aoki and The Yaoi Review were both present and live-updating the panels so thanks to them both for the information.

You can read all about it under the cut –

Yaoi Submissions, Schedules and a Staggering Zombie

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, October 9, 2009

3 Comments »

Some boys’ love news snippets today with submission closures, convention schedules and an undead publisher still looking to make a return:

Yaoi Press has recently updated their info page to inform propestive creators that their submissions are currently closed. This is a uncommon state for Yaoi Press which has spent the majority of its time open to new stories by writers and artists. The page does however offer up an honest and open look at why their submissions are currently closed and assurance that they still have previously submitted works on file.

Word has been circulating for a while about Digital Manga’s big yaoi title announcement, promising many happy fans, and that they’ll be making said-announcement at the upcoming Yaoi Con. Today Digital Manga has posted their Yaoi Con schedule including their industry panel and signing times for special guest, Makoto Tateno (see art above).

Digital Manga has also sent out a press release about signed and framed Makoto Tateno artwork which will be available for sale both at Yaoi Con and on their online shop, Akadot.

And lastly, in an odder turn of events, DramaQueen has updated its online shop to showcase what they’re calling a “Rebirth Sale”, offering up several of their back issue books for cheaper prices along with a message that suggests they’re still working on the comeback that they’ve promised for so long. Hmm… sounds sort of familiar.

I won’t beat the proverbial horse on this one but suffice to say DramaQueen hasn’t done anything to win readers’ sympathy or support in the past two years but I suppose it’ll still be interesting to see if they ever do release another book. Still, as much as I’m all for supporting the industry, it’s my honest opinion that shoppers should stay away from ordering through DramaQueen’s online website. The risk is simply too high that prospective buyers will only join the line of people still waiting for DQ to pay their dues.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Conventions, DMP, DramaQueen, Global Manga, Makoto Tateno, Manga, Yaoi Press

NYAF 2009: Viz Media

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

2 Comments »

Wrapping up the manga-centric news of this past weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Sunday saw Viz Media staff take the panel stand with some fun new announcements.

New Licenses:

Gente ~Ristorante no Hitobito~ by Natsume Ono
What’s the Answer by Tondabayashi
Grand Guignol Orchestra by Kaori Yuki
Nice to Meet You, Kamisama by Julietta Suzuki
Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi
What’s the Answer? (Creator unknown)
Bob and His Funky Crew (Creator unknown)

The previously announced series Bakuman (by the same creators as Death Note which premiere in the May 2010 issue of Shonen Jump, and before that in February Shonen Jump readers will get to read the first chapter of Toriko with its first volume due out in June. A reminder also that the big One Piece speed-up will begin in January which will see a whopping 4 volumes a month until June. A big yikes to fans’ wallets but a yay to their eager eyes!

For Rumiko Takahashi fans, Rin-Ne volume one comes out on October 20th and Inu-Yasha anime fans can look forward to a simulcast of the upcoming Inu-Yasha anime finale. I have to admit, as much Rumiko Takahashi’s tendacy to overstretch her series gets a tad on my nerves, I still have a big soft spot for her stories and I think an anime adaptation of Inu-Yasha‘s finale is pretty neat and all the more spiffy that we’ll get to watch it so soon.

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Licensing
Tags: Bakuman, Conventions, Manga, One Piece, Rumiko Takahashi, Toriko, Viz Media

NYAF 2009: Del Rey

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 27, 2009

2 Comments »

Del Rey was up to proverbial bat yesterday for their panel at New York Anime Fest with some new titles and a well received title rescue from Tokyopop. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

New Licenses:

Here I Am! – Ema Toyami
Arisa – Natsumi Ando
Yokai Navi Runa – Runa Rindo

The announcement of Yokai Navi Runa confirms Del Rey’s license of the series after a listing popped up on Amazon early this month. Nothing was said about the listings for upcoming omnibus of several of their other currently running serie,s but their choice of omnibus releases for their Tokyopop license rescues seems to prove a good indication of their growing preference for the format.

On that note, Del Rey also announced that they’ve picked up the license for the remaining unpublished volumes of Rave Master (previously released by Tokyopop) and they’ll be putting out the final volumes in one omnibus collection.

A piece of news for those who, like me, see everyone of these announcements as another reason to attend NYAF next year, this 2009 event marked the final incarnation of New York Anime Fest as it is now and next year it will return as a dual event with New York Comic Con. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Licensing
Tags: Conventions, Del Rey, Manga

NYAF 2009: Vertical Inc.

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, September 26, 2009

No Comments »

Vertical Inc. took the panel stand yesterday at this weekend’s New York Anime Fest with first a handful of new licenses to share with the audience. Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

New Licenses:

Peepo Choo – Felipe Smith
Twin Spica – Kou Yaginuma
Needles – Nobuaki Tadano
Chi’s Sweet Home – Kanata Konami

Readers will likely recall the recent ‘leak’ of Chi’s Sweet Home on retail sites earlier in the month, which though soon met with denial of license by Vertical, was officially confirmed as an acquisition during their panel. In a move causing a rift of opinion between fans, Chi’s Sweet Home will be released in full colour and flipped (everything mirrored so it would be read in English-format left-to-right).

During the panel’s Q&A, Black Jack was discussed as likely seeing release to 17 volumes, and that the license of Osamu Tezuka’s pioneering shoujo series, Princess Knight, is a strong candidate for license as well. Both fantastic news I’d say!

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Licensing
Tags: Black Jack, Conventions, Manga, Vertical Inc

NYAF 2009: Tokyopop

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, September 25, 2009

4 Comments »

New York Anime Fest is happening this weekend and the mangaverse is ripe with all the newest info as it comes thanks to numerous dedicated bloggers and Twitter-folk. Anime News Network has its dedicated staff on hand to cover the big anime/manga news, and though sadly their servers aren’t holding up as well as their staff, they’re still the best up-to-date resource (past speedy Twitter-ers!) for all your NYAF goodies.

Tokyopop had its panel earlier today and had a bunch of announcement. Sadly their simulataneous broadcast was foiled by technical difficulties, but of course the show went on!

New licenses:

Songs and Laughter by Natsuki Takaya
.hack//Link by Megane Kikuya/CyberConnect2
Ratman by Inui Sekihiko
Qwasar Stigmata by Yoshino Hiroyuki/Satou Kenetsu

BLU Manga (TP’s yaoi imprint)

Croquis by Hinako Takanaga
Blood Honey by Yozakura Sakyou
Love Knot by Ichijou Lemon
Cute Demon by Madarame Hiro
Love Story in the Isolated Island by Duo Brand

Tokyopop staff were also greeted with positive response to repeated news that they’ll be returning to a higher quality paper print for their books and just in time for the return of some fan favourites, such as the fourth volume of Suppli and the eighth volume of V.B. Rose.

Along with an update on the upcoming movie-adaptation of the Tokypop released, Priest, they also shared word that they’ll be releasing graphic novels based on two Hollywood films, the recently debuted Shutter Island and the upcoming Joss Whedon written Cabin in the Woods.

Earlier this afternoon, Tokyopop also sent out a press release outlining their previously announced titles debuting in 2010. Lots of fun stuff on the horizon!

Share on Tumblr

Categories: Licensing
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Conventions, Hinako Takanaga, Manga, Tokyopop