We are sorry to report that due to shooting schedule with his new role on Stargate: Atlantis, Robert Picardo is unable to attend our convention. He sends his deepest regrets for cancelling and hopes to be able to be our guest in future cons.
Guest services is endeavoring hard to find a replacement with the same quality and appeal. Stay tuned.
by Otakuden
I think that pretty much every generation has an anime that takes a vision of our modern society and technology and re-imagines it. Examples such as Lain, Ghost in the Shell (GITS), and Hack blur the line between technological fiction and nonfiction. When watching either Lain or GITS or Dennou Coil, one can’t help but feel that the world they see on their TV isn’t that far removed from the world outside their window. From the internet to robots to virtual pets and cybernetic implants, who is to say what is real and what isn’t.
Dennou Coil: Circle of Children is the newest anime to create a fantastical world based in reality. Originally a light novel, the TV series that ran in Japan during the end of last year to the beginning of this year is 26 episodes long. Don’t be fooled by the young cast of characters, as the series is wrought with serious topics of regret, coping with loss, love, tragedy, and friendship. Dennou Coil will take the viewer on a rather serious adventure through virtual and reality. Comedic bits are sprinkled throughout the series, but overall the tone is more somber and mysterious.
After watching as much anime as I have over the years, I can usually figure out an anime less than halfway through the showing, movie or series. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially when something tried and true is tweaked just a little bit, becoming something new altogether. There were many moments in Dennou Coil where I was literally taken aback by a plot point or development that I did not see coming.
From episode one, Dennou Coil is like a train that keeps picking up speed as it moves inevitably towards its final destination. There may have been a few stops along the way, but the direction never wavered. By the last few episodes I was on the edge of my seat, fingers tensely clutching my cuddle pillow.
But I digress. Dennou Coil revolves mainly around the two main female leads, whose destinies are more intricately entwined
Dennou Coil is definitely not lacking in the character development department. As the title implies, there are pretty much no adult figures involved at all in the story. then they ever could have imagined. I know I didn’t. With a strong supporting cast that also stands on their own,
The only two really adult characters are the aunt, who’s only 19, and the Grandmother who rocks! She’s kind of crazy but a total genius when it comes to their virtual world or viruses, programs, kirabugs, and Glasses. Dun mess with the Oba-san 
The aunt is more of a big sister/mother figure who hides a dark event in her past, one that directly affects the story. Like one of the laws of anime, pretty much everyone else is in school and around the age of 14, but carry burdens of destiny that would rattle even a seasoned adult. Maybe it is our implied innocence and daring of youth that also provides us with a wisdom and clarity that can be lost in the fog of adult responsibilities.
So where does Lain, GITS, and Hack fit in with all this? Dennou Coil takes a modern suburban Japan town, current modern technology, and adds a bit of fiction to it. There is no doubt that we as a race are a wired people, our every day lives intricately tied down to and supported by the technology which has brought us here. In Dennou Coil, the virtual world and the real world aren’t separated anymore. Kids and adults own Glasses, a real-time window into the virtual world.
Much like Hack, the virtual world is one that is run and administered by a corporation, and Glasses users can buy upgrades, access, and build points so as to earn freebies and goods. If your Glasses get fried, damaged, or destroyed, you have to buy new ones with credits that can take you up to a lifetime or more to pay off. But unlike in Hack, when wearing Glasses you aren’t existing/living wholly in the virtual world. Instead, it is a window to bring the virtual world to the real world.
Densuke, a virtual pet and best friend to the sisters, is more real than not real, with emotions and pain and loyalty. Is his
personality real, or is it just a product of his programming? To call a friend or answer your cell, just put your thumb and pinky to your ear and mouth and voila. Your laptop is a virtual prompt away, pulling up a screen in front of your very eyes, one that you can touch and use just as you would a real tactile laptop. But take off your Glasses, and it’s not there anymore.
Honestly, Dennou Coil is the most natural modern futuristic (new age maybe…) anime I have ever seen. Sure, Lain, GITS, and Hack are fantastical and breathtaking, but there is never any doubt that what you are watching isn’t real. Dennou Coil blurs that line as it softly lulls you into their natural world, and suddenly you find yourself not quite sure anymore. If I were to look out my window, would I see my world or would I see the world of Dennou Coil or are they one and the same? Don’t expect a lot of explosions and action, but instead a tense drama that builds slowly with each episode into its inevitable conclusion.
While it is not licensed yet, Dennou Coil is finished and currently available for download. I sincerely hope it does get licensed though, along with the original novel on which it was based. So wait not, download it now, and when it gets licensed, Buy It ^_^
by Otakuden
Just a few days ago I was cruising one of my various anime websites, and I came across some news that made me squeal in giddy fangirl excitement. There is going to be a new Slayers series starting in Japan very very soon. Hallelujah and peanut butter, I say. Slayers was one of the early animes I watched in the 90s, and it remains to this day one of my favorite anime series of all time. With three completed TV seasons and a slew of OVAs and movies under her belt, Lina Inverse is one busy accomplished sorceress, and about to be busier.
Lina Inverse. What’s not to like about this short tempered, violent, course, short, flat chested, super-powerful, smart-assed, greedy, gluttonous mooch of a black sorceress? Well, after I recover from the fireball that just got lobbed my way… All that aside, Lina is actually quite the lovable, endearing, truehearted spunky character that anyone who has seen any Slayers loves. It helps that Lina is voiced by one of my all-time favorite veteran seiyuu, Megumi Hayashibara.
Hayashibara-san has been a seiyuu since the 80s, and she still brings various anime, game, and radio drama characters to
life. Truly, Hayashibara-san is Lina Inverse, and vice-versa. It hasn’t been said if the original cast will be able to be assembled for the new Slayers, but I truly hope so. I don’t know if I could enjoy a new Slayers TV series any other way. Gourry, Lina, Amelia, Zelgadis, Philionel… they have a life all their own.
Seiyuu aside, Slayers is based on a series of light novels by Hajime Kanzaka which are also available domestically. I believe they are up to book 6 or 7. I haven’t read the novels, but to my understanding the TV series follows them fairly closely. I have probably watched Slayers close to a half dozen times over the years, if not more, and am actually in the middle of rewatching all 3 seasons, OVAs, and movies again.
No matter how many times I watch Slayers, I always catch something new I missed the first time around. It has become especially apparent that the production and direction staff for Slayers had all three seasons planned from the very beginning. There are plot references and minor details that hint at events yet to come in future seasons. It’s nothing overly apparent, just a minor mention by characters towards future developments, trials and tribulations that our lovable cast were inevitably moving towards. Each character building their strengths so that when the next comes, they are experienced and knowledgeable enough to face the world-threatening challenges, and over come them.
The end of Slayers (season 1) leads right into Slayers Next (season 2), of which the OP has a rather blatant shot of Filia who doesn’t appear until Slayers Try (season 3). Slayers‘ story is kind of like a spiders web. It’s easy to see the whole web without realizing how each little strand links to another, and another, and another. On their own, they are just pieces of a puzzle, but when you start to link the individual strands together, you get the full picture that the spider envisioned from the first weave.
Of course, Slayers is far from being all serious. It is in fact a rather tongue-in-cheek anime, which has fun with itself, at the
expense of our lovable characters Gourry, Lina, Amelia, and Zelgadis, all while keeping the viewer fully involved. It’s not uncommon to have a cliffhanger episode end with Lina stating, “We’ll have to wait till the next episode to find out”. Or in Slayers Try, after a particular long string of intense episodes, a couple fun and nonsensical episodes to give the viewers a breather. At the end of the silly “Alice In Wonderland” episode, Zelgadis leads us into the next ark with a statement to the viewers along the lines of “I guess that’s enough silliness. Time to get back to the real story”. Love It! Fourth Wall? Who needs it!
Originally released quite a few years ago by Software Sculptures, all three seasons of Slayers has since been relicensed by FUNimation, remastered, and rereleased in very reasonably priced box sets. I have the original SS releases, and the video and audio are spotty so I definitely recommend picking up the FUNi releases. One of these days before they go out of print, I want to ditch my old season box sets and pick up the new ones. The Slayers movies and OVAs are available as a box set from ADV, also very reasonably priced.
Slayers is a laugh-a-minute romp through fantastical lands, full of outrageous hijinks, balanced nicely with tense action and drama, all while being held together with a master plan script. A timeless classic, I recommend Slayers to otaku of all ages; you will not be disappointed. I’m sure Lina would agree whole-heartedly; just ignore the fire-ball she has hidden behind her back ^_-
St. Augustine, FL – EXP con is proud to announce new Events as well as its first round of Guests! Guests include anime voice actor Josh Grelle, artists Steve Bennett, Ashley Clark, and Siya of Siyanimation, cosplayers Yaya Hann and CJ “Kefka” Collins, as well as musical guests Select Start, J*Scape, and The Slants! Continuing our effort to create a fun fan EXPerience we are also announcing our tournament style gaming competition: The Ultimate Gamer Challenge.
Voice Talent: Josh Grelle - native Texan, Josh was raised on stage and in the art studios of Central Texas. He performed on stage for over 15 years prior to starting work for A.D.V. Films at the start of 2004. Josh is known for playing the outrageous Taishi in Comic Party: Revolution and has recently been cast as Kyohei in the new Shinichi Watanabe (AKA Nabeshin) comedy, The Wallflower as well as Simon in Gainax’s Gurren Lagann.
Artist: Steve Bennett - Stephen Robert Bennett IV was born *&@?! years ago at Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan. Being an Army brat, Steve moved all over the place in his younger days, He spent his early years in Alaska and Colorado, and lived for almost eight years in Germany during elementary and junior high. The family moved back to Japan when Steve was in his teens, and while he was there he was lucky enough to land a job with Studio Aoehyma, and work under the great Japanese animator, Noboru Furusei (New Dominion Tank Police, Lupin III, etc.) During his time at Studio Aoehyma, Steve learned quite a bit about anime, and worked on such titles as Cat’s Eye, the Urusei Yatsura TV Series and Only You, as well as others.
Artist: Ashley Clark – Ashley Clark is a multi-media artist and writer, and has been working in the anime style for nearly a decade. Her first webcomic, ‘Shades of Red’, debuted in 2003. She has since turned her attention to her newest literary project, ‘Tales of Asajima’. You can enter the world of Asajima through the webnovel ‘Nowaki’, and continue your journey with the first of her print novels, ‘The Yukari’.
Artist: Siya – Siya is a full time Illustrator, Comic Book Artist, Web Developer, designer, and most recently, concept artist for video games. Her real name, stage name, and given name is SIYA (see-yah) like see yah later (She heard it a lot in elementary school). She started two companies, Hyrogliphix, Inc. and Hyrocomics, LLC two and a half years ago.
Cosplayer: Yaya Hann – Over the past 8 years, Yaya has made a name for herself in the world of cosplay and costuming. After discovering cosplay at her first con, she quickly absorbed the heart and soul of costume design and creation. To this day she has made over 60 costumes, with more to come! Her intricate and lavish creations have won awards and acclaim nationwide; she has taught a multitude of panels on costume craftsmanship, presentation, makeup, wigs and more; she has traveled to conventions within and outside of the USA as guest and costume contest judge. Her cosplay skills have won awards and acclaim nationwide. She has participated in conventions and cosplay activities in five countries, and will be joining us as an honored guest for the first ever EXP Con!
Cosplayer: CJ “Kefka” Collins – One of the most dynamic cosplay personalities to hit the convention scene CJ has become increasingly well known in the cosplay community as well as the internet for his costuming, especially his rendition of the Final Fantasy 6 villain: Kefka. As you watch his videos located all around Youtube, you cannot help but be entertained by the most famous clown villain in the history of gaming.
Musical Guest: Select Start – Select Start is the fusion of six musicians based in Gainesville, Florida, who combine their mutual love for video games, music, and their instruments (two violins, a cello, guitar, piano, and flute) to create a musical experience and sound unique to the video game music world.
Musical Guest: J*Scape – Formed in 2005 inspired Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad Cesar, Shiro, Alexis, and Yoh all shared a passion for music. As their affection for Japanese music grew, so did their song library. After being opened up to various artists by their new vocalist, Yuki, the band began to incorporate not only Anime theme songs but J-Rock artists as well. After coming off the high that was 2007, J*Scape is looking forward to rocking out in 2008 with a brand new look and sound!
Musical Guest: The Slants – It’s been said that everything that could be done in music has been done already; new artists are inherently boring, with nothing that is original or creative to offer. But those people hadn’t heard The Slants (yet), a band who has everyone screaming for some “Chinatown Dance Rock.”
New Event: The Ultimate Gamer Challenge – The Ultimate Gamer Challenge is a competition involving Console Gaming with both individuals and Teams of 5. Challengers will first flip a coin to see who gets the advantage. Then they will spin the wheel of challenge, and whichever genre the arrow lands on, the challenger picks from one of the 3 Games represented by that and they compete 1vs 1 in that game. For individual play it is best out of 3 till the semi finals when it becomes best out of 5. For team play its best out of 5 from the start. You cannot play the same game twice in a row, and if you land on the same genre, you must pick a different title. Check the website to find out more information and how to sign up for this Gaming Event!
EXP Con Info – Anime X Gamer Experience is all about the fan experience. Maintaining a high energy level and a fun atmosphere with unique events and things you would never expect from a convention, we strive to deliver enjoyment to fans of all ages. The main purpose of Anime X Gamer Experience or ‘EXP con’ as the fans have dubbed it, is to celebrate and promote Japanese modern visual culture such as Anime, Manga, Games, Music, Cosplay and more! We not are not only looking to give the community a great experience, but also to outreach to others who might be interested if they knew Anime was not just attended for children.
Visit our Website at http://www.projectexp.org for more information!
Pre-Registration will become available Monday, March 10th.
JACON – FLORIDA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL ANIME CONVENTION – RETURNS FOR ITS NINTH YEAR TO A NEW LOCATION, WITH NEW EVENTS AND NEW GUESTS.
The event has moved to the Orlando Sun Resort in order to accommodate the need for more space for its attendees.
Orlando, FL, March 6, 2008: JACON 2008 will take place at the Orlando Sun Resort the weekend of May 16-18, 2008. This will mark JACON’s ninth year hosting a celebration of Japanese popular culture and animation in Central Florida. This year’s guests include Tara Strong (the voice of “Bubbles” from The Powerpuff Girls,) Gregg Berger (the voice of “Grimlock” from the classic Transformers cartoon,) and Richard Horvitz (the voice of Invader Zim from the cartoon of the same name.)
About the Guests
TARA STRONG (Guest of Honor) – Ms. Strong is the voice behind a multitude of Canadian and American animated characters, including main roles in The Rugrats & All Grown Up! as Dil Pickles; The Powerpuff Girls as Bubbles; Ben 10 as Ben Tennyson, Upgrade and Benwolf; The Fairly Odd Parents as Timmy Turner; Teen Titans as Raven; and many others. She has also lent her voice to Japanese animated films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, as well several video games, including her work as Elisa & Ursula in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Rikku in Final Fantasy X and its sequel Final Fantasy X-2.
GREGG BERGER (Special Guest) – Gregg’s voice acting credits spread a wide range of characters in both animation and video games. “Children of the 80s” will know him most notably as the voice of the robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex Grimlock in the classic cartoon The Transformers. He was also the voices of Firefly, Ripcord, & Spirit in the cartoon G.I. Joe. Gregg is also the voice of Garfield’s lovable roommate “Odie” in every animated Garfield project to date. His other credits include Jecht in the video game Final Fantasy X and Hunter the Cheetah in the Spyro video game series.
RICHARD HORVITZ (Special Guest) – Richard is most notably the voice of the main character in the cult classic Nickelodeon cartoon Invader Zim, but his work extends far beyond little green men seeking to take over the world. His animation credits include Billy in The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy; Daggett Beaver in The Angry Beavers; and Rodney J. Squirrel in Squirrel Boy. For Japanese animated projects, Mr. Horvitz has done voices for Duel Masters, Zatch Bell!, and Howl’s Moving Castle. He was also the original voice of Alpha 5 on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
SPIKE SPENCER (Featured Guest) – Spike is the voice of Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Papillon from Alchemy Weapon, and has done voice work on Martian Successor Nadesico, Gantz, Spriggan, and Dirty Pair Flash.
DOUG SMITH (Artist/Voice Actor) – Best known as the voice of Kintaro Oe from Golden Boy, Doug has also done voice work on Case Closed, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Gunsmith Cats.
GEORGE LOWE (Voice Actor) – George has been coming to JACON since its second year (2001), and every year fans request him back. As the voice if Space Ghost on Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, George’s brand of humor and wit has become the stuff of legend in Florida’s fan community.
STEVE BENNETT (Media Guest) – Founder of Studio Ironcat, Steve has worked as an animator in Japan on numerous projects including the Urusei Yatsura TV Series.
ROB GRANITO (Artist Guest of Honor) – Rob Granito, internationally known artist and illustrator, has worked for over 15 years in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comic art. His name can be found alongside such companies as Warner Brothers, DC comics, Disney, MTV, and VH1, where he worked on cartoons and comics as well as book, magazine, and novel covers. Rob’s latest work has been on Spiderman and Iron Man or the USPS Stamp Cancellations, Superman: The Women We Love with Noel Neill and Zombies by Chanting Monks Studio.
SELECT START (Musical Guest) – Select Start is known for their fusion of video game themes with a classical music sound. They have made appearances on national radio shows and popular conventions, and their first appearance at an anime convention was at JACON 2003.
About the Events
JACON strives hard to work with its partners and local clubs to create new and exciting events for anime and video game fandom. This year is no exception.
ANIMUSICAL IDOL (Presented by Wasabi Anime) – Follow up to the Broadway style show hosted at JACON for the past three years, Wasabi Anime is letting fans take a shot at creating an “Animusical-style” sketch to present to a panel of judges. The winners will be allowed to present their sketch as part of the show Friday evening at the convention. www.Animusical.com
JACON’S GUITAR AND ROCKSTAR COSPLAY COMPETITION - Following the recent surge of popularity in music video games, JACON will be offering a new way to cosplay (“costume play” – perform on stage in costume.) Groups may enter as an individual or as a band to play Guitar Hero III or Rock Band in costume. Entries will be judges on stage performance, costume quality, and skill at the games.
JACON SPRING FLING TENNIS TOURNEY AND PICNIC – Join fellow fans for the Second Annual JACON Spring Fling Tennis Tourney and Picnic and show off your tennis skills while chilling with your friends. and maybe make some new ones! A light-hearted, relaxing Sunday wind-down event, the JACON Spring Fling Tennis Tourney and Picnic is just what it sounds like – a mini tennis tournament with a side of picnic! Play as an anime tennis character, or just come and cheer them on! And this year, they have a real tennis court!
THE MANGA MASQUERADE: ENCHANTED KATAMARI – JACON’s formal dance event returns for a third year with a new theme. Join the King and Queen of the Cosmos as they present this prom-style dance event. Formal dress is required, and live music will be provided by JACON’s musical guest: Select Start. Entry to the event is included with your JACON admission.
JACON will also offer the staple events that have made the convention so popular over the years: a costume contest, panels, a video game room (run and operated by Noobie Games,) an all night dance party (“Otaku Insomnia” from Wasabi Anime,) and much more. For complete details, please visit the official website at www.JACON.org.
