.

Hmm, as many would have known by now that Anime Festival Asia will be hosting it’s press conference soon. But what you might not know is that we at Ani-Culture.net have also been invited.

Updates: The date is confirmed. It is set on next Monday, 13th September.

Oh this is so exciting! We will of course not forget everyone of our readers, and we will be squeezing as much information as possible from the Q&A, if there’s any.

Most importantly, we will be reporting from the location LIVE on the day itself,  so stay tuned to us as the live blog session commences.

It would be great if you can join us! Soon (^o^)/

Popularity: 3% [?]

Yup Animax MUSIX Fall’s edition, on 3rd November, have announced the Singers taking part in the event. And here is the list!

Updated list of artists participating:
May’n, SCANDAL, Mikuni Shimokawa Kotoko, Tamaki Nami, Kalafina, Akino from Bless 4, ORIGA, Elisa, Himeka, Kita Shuuhei, Sasaki Sayaka, Shoko Nakagawa, GRANRODEO, Lia, LISP (Kiyoshi Kana Abe, Risa Yuu Hara, Kataoka Adusa), Saki Sato gauze flowers and many more.

Yup, that is the list of artists set to perform at the 17,000 capacity Yokohama Area and what a line up it is.

The live concert is unknown whether to be airing on Animax Channels around the world, that is to wait until further confirmation…

Source: Animax Musix Fall website via @mayn_wiki

Popularity: 12% [?]

Hmm, this is interesting…

Moe Moe Kyun Maid Cafe is now auditioning for new maids and you can send in your profile with photo to mmk@animefestival.asia if you have the following qualities.

1. Passionate
2. Strong interest in all things Japanese
3. Active Personality
4. Flexible time schedule
5. Not camera shy.

Once again if you are interested, send your profile with picture to mmk@animefestival.asia.

Source: MMKMC Facebook
PS: Of course, unless you can look just like Kayo Satoh, males need not try… For the sake of everyone…

Who is Kayo Satoh or Kayo Police?… Well shehe is just a very hot looking cross-dresser…

Devastating, I know… TT_TT

Popularity: 6% [?]

Well, the thing about the fiesta is that… Compared to last year, the layout is the same and there is not much too interesting to see, most of the items are simply a rehash what have been revealed, and the Gundam Builder side is a bit underwhelming. Furthermore when I got there the Gundam Image girls are just going away, so quickly that I don’t even have a picture of them close-up… … … =_=|||

But one thing is for real thou, the sales are real! The cash counter there sure is busy, and make sure you don’t throw away the receipt, for you can collect tokens to redeem for more free stuff!

Maybe because it’s just the first day, but I have a feeling, I’ll be more interested next Saturday, when the special guest, Mr Kawaguchi, the creator of the MG series is there for a workshop.

However I did buy something, despite being broke… Got myself Bonta-kun, he is not gundam, but he is from Bandai’s Robot Spirit series! Some SDX are also on sale there!

So If you are going for some shopping, go to Compass point for the Gundam Fiesta!

Now take a look at my little gallery of pictures of  the event.

Popularity: 9% [?]

With all the focus on the ACME II, we sought of have forgotten about another milestone event… even thou we have not yet recover from the last… monetarily…

Tomorrow is the Gundam Fiesta, the 2nd in the series held at Compass point in Seng Kang, Singapore. It’s like a big road road but it will be featuring quite a lot of interesting things and offers.

Last year, Bandai brought the 1/1 size foot print to Singapore, which obviously is not enough for us… So this year, they brought along the hand of the Original Gundam!

If that is not enough, there will be a mega Diorama using the Sangoku Den’s SD characters. There will also be Dioramas made in Japan on exhibition at the show. The quality of the exhibits alone should be a draw to any Gunpla fans!

In-addition to the above, there will also be perfect grade show case and many other interesting stuff.

For activities to be done, if you are a parent really to corrupt teach your child,  the fun of Gunpla, then sign up for the Gunpla workshop. Or if you yourself is an avid gunpla maker, then take part in the meet and greet with Mr. Kawaguchi, the creator of the MG series of gunpla.

Of course… The most important will have to be the merchandise offer and the event exclusives. Take a look!

They all look so delicious to me, especially the MSIA Gundam Wing Custom Metallic version… No need to build, perfect for a guy with not much time…

I’ll be heading down to the fiesta tomorrow, but the fiesta will last for 2 weeks. From the 1st to the 13th of September, so do head down when you are free!

BTW, event exclusive are also going to be quite limited in stock… O_O.

Website: Gundam-Singapore | Sheng Tai Toys | Gunpla Club SEA Facebook

Popularity: 8% [?]

Yup folks! The A.C.M.E II is over, and I am sure a majority of the participants return home yesterday tired and happy. The event started way before the opening at 11am thou… The folks that started the queue at Sculpture Square will tell you that, with the first person already there since 9am on Friday, while the queue master is only supposed to be there at 8:30pm. I salute them!

Nonetheless, the actual event starts at 11am with the hall already half full. The queue thou would continue to be long until about 2pm in the afternoon. I am lucky enough to be the last in the queue, yay!

Well at least I got to queue before it disappears and everyone is allow to buy directly… By this time, all the rare stuff are gone, don’t need me to say…

The other booths seems to also have a great deal to share with everyone, Hobby Art Gallery for example is offering my models kits on discounts up to 40%… And that is amazing! Of the people from Comics Pandora have also prepared some event only merchandise, the mascot of A.C.M.E II Miru, in post card and Coaster forms, so cute!

I even got a set of the coasters.

The volunteers from NUS together with employees of GF doing crowd control.

On the next building, The Card Geeks are have their games. The competitive aura there is so strong! Everyone seems to want to kill someone… They just want to win but for this rounds of competition, it’s a team competition. So team effort counts.

TCG s even have a booth at the arena doing sales, selling WS and Victory Spark cards. They even have some Comiket 78 exclusives all the way from Japan.

Talking about competitions, we go back to the main hall where the “Touhou Hisoutensoku” tournament is going on. The prizes are from the Touhou Deform series, making the competition even more keen, attracting nearly a hundred people filling the hall to watch the games.

When I spoke to some of the booth owners, they have pointed out that their sale have increased compared to other events. Making A.C.M.E II a great success!

Now maybe I should do a post of what I have got. And maybe a simple giveaway, so look forward to it!

Before that, look at the album below and see for yourself, what have happened!

Popularity: 6% [?]

ACME II is coming this Saturday and if you think you can just waltz into the event hall and buy everything that you wanted like that plushy or that merchandise of a certain anime than you will be sorely disappointed, since the more popular items will be gone. Snapped up by the people who are well prepared.
The rest will be left with the left-over to be contented with.
So here at Ani-culture.net, we have prepared a list of things to take note of. It’s for a more present experience at ACME II

Home-Work

The first thing you should get ready should be your shopping list. It’s a tradition of Charafest to release a list of merchandise on sale, a few days before the actual event.

Information taken from ACME Website:

The long awaited announcement from Chara Fest!

The list of merchandises will be uploaded latests by this Wednesday, 25 Aug 2010.

KKnM will be doing the same this year, so it’s your job to make a list of what you want to buy, in advance, instead of standing at the booth pondering.It’s a possibility that they might just serve the ones behind you first, who came more prepared. Even if the crew don’t mind, the one’s behind will!

Of course, it’s also your job to bring enough cash for the items you want to buy. Cash is preferred, since it’s unknown if they will be accepting Nets or Credit cards.

Preparing for the Queue

Well, I’m not an expert when it comes to queuing, in fact I hate it! But for this article, I have made a visit to the pros, nope, not the StarCraft II guy… but better.
These pros have been to Japan and have participated in one of the longest and hashest queues of Japan. They are also veterans, when it comes to queuing for the Chara-fest.
Their advise is a no-brainer but it’s still practical, simple and easily overlooked.

• Water Bottle
• Some Snacks
• Things to do, a book, a pack of cards or your PSP
• Something to Sit on, like a mat or a stool(if you don’t like the floor) but make sure it’s easy to be kept.
• Some Knowledge of the area(Toilets, Mini-marts and etc)
• Your Phone
• A Sleeping bag!
• A Friend
• And lastly, Your common Sense, which includes that spirit of the SINGA Lion!

Where is the location?

It’s address is 155 Middle Road, Sculpture Square, Singapore 188977‎. Still don’t get it? Nevermind, just goto google map for a look.

The Location

A reproduction of the Layout based on Spy photos and FIF Intel

ACME II is held at the sculpture Square for the first time. It’s just next to the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and is a Heritage building as it used to be a Church built in the 19th Century. It’s now converted to becoming a Art’s Venue used by Artist as a location for exhibition or festival like events.

Where and when to queue from

If you want to queue overnight, you can look for the Queue master only after 20:30 hours at the Sculpture Square. Before that, there might be an exhibition going on… And remember, follow the instructions of the Queue master.

Instruction taken from ACME website.

Queue for A.C.M.E II
As announced earlier, there will not be member’s priority queue this year.

All who are queuing overnight, please look for the queue master at the venue on 27th Aug, Friday, after 8.30pm. Please note that you are doing this at your own risk, please ensure you have enough to eat and drink. Please behave in an orderly manner or you will be asked to leave.

When you are Queuing

You are at the event grounds and have join the queue, so what are you going to do now? The pros who taught me about queuing gave me advise like talking to the people queuing with you and make some friends.
After all, you are all interested in the same things yah?

Of course, you are expected to behave properly when queuing and not litter the area.

At the Event

Finally! ACME II started! During the event everyone is invited to look at the booths and buy whatever you liked and generally enjoy the event.
But a few things should be noted

• ACMEII is not a Cosplay event. A lot of people will be around the small area and thus Cosplay is really not advised.
• NO Shop Lifting, Anyone caught will be punished according… Police report…. …
• Please do not litter! Keep the area clean and we can all have fun.
• DO NOT do anything Disruptive or Destructive or Disturbing…

And Lastly from the writers of the Ani-Culture.net, we wish you a fruitful and enjoyable ACME II!

Popularity: 4% [?]

OMG she looked and smiled at me!!!! Mikuni actually did that!!!!

This is so great!!!

Not to say, the performances are AWESOME too! With the live Band, oh the Guitarist is so cool!

Mikuni even sang solo, a cappella for Singapore ONLY! Those who didn’t attend the Concert this evening will live to regret it!

But now, we are kinda low on batteries and a strict no photography inside rule applies so, notthing much to see here…

However, this post will be updated with set-list and a proper review, once we recover from the shock and got into the working mode…

BTW Robin, GOOD JOB!

Update: If you cannot wait for our update, do visit our friend at The Bonkurasu Brigade for their review of the concert!

And here is the Set list provided by The Bonkurasu Brigade.

1/3の純情な感情
輪舞-revolution-
ハレ晴レユカイ
MC
それが、愛でしょう
tomorrow
Alone
MC
蕾～tsubomi～
ねずみは米がすき
XTC
プラチナ
Truth
MC
夢の途中で
Naked
MC
南風
イ～じゃナイ!?
君がいるから

Encore
残酷な天使のテーゼ
MC
愛・おぼえていますか
MC
Love song on the radio

Popularity: 5% [?]

(Soho Host Club. From L-to-R: Alex, Christian, Andy, & Ken)

Hey everyone, I just wanted to do a quick follow-up on the entry I did on host clubs. I want to inform you guys about a “host club” I met at a mini-convention in Soho, NYC a few weeks ago (a very positive club, I might add). These fine, outstanding gentlemen you see above are the Soho Host Club. I met them at AniMiniCon Soho. They went around interacting with all the attendees of the 3-day event, especially the females. I think a few girls even got crushes on them. :]

I spoke to one of the organizers of the event, Alexandra Honisberg, about the concept behind the Soho Host Club.

She told me why and I quote.

“I’ve been in the arts since I was a kid. And especially lately as a single musician and newly-minted into the whole anime/manga scene the past 3-4 years or so. I’ve noticed some things. Dating is crazy and both sides of all ages and all cultures complain about it. The arts are being devalued, especially in this recession, because they’re seen as stuffy and superfluous. People are tense and losing their patience with each other.

I play at or go to an arts event and the coupled people stay in couples or hang out with other couples and the single adults tend to do just what we did in 8th grade — stand on either side of the room, huddled in same-sex groups that have little or nothing to do with sexual orientation. So, basically, beauty is sorta wasted because too many people are uncomfortable in the social settings and are not experiencing its value.

Then a friend showed me Ouran Host Club back in October and I laughed and cried and fell in love (I was the awkward, smart, poor kid who’d gotten into a fancy school on scholarship and hung out with the gorgeous rich guys who mostly treated me like their buddy). And in the January doldrums, after the holiday crush of arts and socializing, late one night alone, a light bulb went on — why should the kids have all the fun? Why should the arts suck? Why should dating suck? Why can’t we have a Host Club for adults that focuses on chivalry & elegance, is relaxed enough for them to be ladies & gentlemen, and enjoy the arts, the world of beauty, for real?”

Alexandra did a lot of research on Japanese host clubs and wanted to make sure that her club wasn’t like them. She emphasizes realism & sincerity in all the hosts she chose. You have to give her huge props & respect because she is using an idea that may not be well-liked by certain people and turning it into something that can build a community for a positive purpose.

One more thing I would like to add is a conversation I had with one of the hosts, Ken. I asked him if he knew about the nature of host clubs in Japan and he said yes. Ken went on to point out one, very important thing and I quote.

“You have to understand, Japan is very sexual.”

As much as people can blame host clubs for certain things, Japanese society can be blamed as well. Their harsh standards can force people to ignore their love life. They also look down on those who stay single. Sexual frustration develops and women/men resort to going to the red-light district for their sexual needs. Host clubs don’t just highlight the flaws of people involved in host clubs. They also highlight the flaws of society in general. Why do you think we have people dating body pillows?

At first, I was a little skeptical about the Soho Host Club. But, after meeting them, they were pretty cool guys. I thought to myself that they did an amazing job in chatting with the attendees. More importantly, the hosts were absolutely enthusiastic & had fun interacting with them. The attendees were really receptive towards the hosts. AniMiniCon had an AMAZING turnout despite being on the same weekend as Otakon.

For those looking to start a host club in a positive manner, the Soho Host Club can be a source of inspiration on how to get it done. Who said chivalry was dead?

- Tony

You can find this article and much more at Manga Therapy (http://www.mangatherapy.com)!

Popularity: 4% [?]

(c)huke/B★RS Project

If you didn’t make out the words above… It’s meant to mean Black ★ Rock Shooter Cafe.

Just to let you know, the GSC cafe is going to be in Black ★ Rock Shooter theme from today(20th August) until the 30th of September. It will be serving delights like the Black ★ Rock Shooter Curry and Black ★ Rock Shooter Desert which looks good enough to put a figurine next to it and take a photo of…

Pictures taken from Goodsmilecafe.jp

If my translation is not that wrong, it’s stated that there will be a set lunch set and all who ordered the set lunch will get a copy of the BRS DVD… with a million of them to be given away?! uh… I think the million part is most likely wrong…

But still it will be a very good experience to go visit the cafe and being the GSC cafe, there will bound to be tons of figurines to look at! So if you are in the area, do drop by for a visit and if you can send us a  few pictures please!

The location of the cafe is at Matsudo City where GSC is situated, and just 4 minutes walk away from the Matsudo JR Station.

所在地
〒271-0091
千葉県松戸市本町14-13 松戸JKビル1F（MAP）

JR常磐線 ・千代田線 松戸駅西口より徒歩４分
※専用駐車場はございませんので、お近くの有料駐車場をご利用ください。

お問い合わせ
TEL ： 047-710-2319
E-Mail ： info@goodsmilecafe.jp

営業時間
11：00 ～ 22：00 （21：00 ラストオーダー）
（ランチタイム 11：30 ～ 14：30） ※ランチタイムは全席禁煙となります。

定休日
不定休（年末年始をのぞく）

You can follow the google map link above for the location, and remember the operation hours are from 11am to 10pm, and they are serving lunch from 11:30pm to 2:30pm.

Remember it’s only in MATSUDO!

Source: Animeanime.jp
Website: Good Smile Company Cafe | Black ★ Rock Shooter Official Site | Good Smile Company

PS: Remember to drop us a few pictures if you happened to be there!

Popularity: 4% [?]

So, LET’S MEET IN MOVIDA!

On the 22nd of August(This Sunday!) at 6pm! And Movida is at the St James Power Station.

Have you bought your tickets yet? If you have not, goto the gatecrash website to buy your tickets. The price is a nice, $93+$2 for booking and $1 for the collection.

Ani-Culture.net will be there, so if you want to meet up, let us know, K’?

Website: Gatecrash | Mikuni Shimokawa SEA Facebook

Popularity: 4% [?]

The official twitter account for Bandai have let out word that the Second Macross Frontier Movie -- “Sayonara no Tsubasa” or roughly translated as “Wings of Goodbye” will be starting it’s run in the Japanese movie theater on February 26th 2011. The announcement was first made at the Girasama Carnival, a Macross Frontier Themed event hosted at Pacifico Yokohama last Sunday.

The 2nd movie have long been anticipated since it’s teaser at the end of the first Macross Frontier Movie based on the TV series.

The same event have also revealed plans to release a compilation of the Music Videos used in the Macross Frontier series, featuring new animations, to be shipped this December 15th.

Yoko Kano, the composer for Macross Frontier’s music will also be presenting a 2 night event in December, first at the Budokan on the 22nd followed by the Kobe’s Port Island Hall on Christmas Eve.

More details regarding the event will only be released on the September 9th at 9pm

Lastly, Bandai also announce at the Girasama Carnival, that it will be release a Chougokin of the VB-6 König Monster bomber and the transformable SD Infinity of the VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie fighter in September

P.S: Did you know that on the opening day of the second Macross Frontier Movie -- “Sayonara no Tsubasa”, It will also be Ani-Culture.net’s 1st Anniversary!

I am so Happy!

P.p.s: Funny that Kenneth didn’t post this up…

Source: http://yunakiti.blog79.fc2.com/via ANN |guNjap | A Gabriela Robin Site

Popularity: 7% [?]

The date and location for the End Of Year Cosplay Arts Festival is now confirmed along with other details like the booth registrations and etc. But here is the important part for now, the date of the festivity and the Location.

Date: 12th December 2010
Location: The Republic Cultural Centre, Republic Polytechnic

It’s a cosplay party but why did I call it a Festival, well this year, other then the normal art and anime merchandise booths, they will also be opening the booths to allow the Game booths, like Fortune Telling, Haunted Houses, Lucky Dips and etc, making it more like a festival. A school festival?!

Another point to be noted is that the ticketing for this year is only limited to 3200 participants, in order to give everyone a better experience during the whole event. So if you want to take part, do get your tickets fast.

For more information, you might want to go read this site. Since they have done a really good job at compiling the information, they are even including the pictures of the location.

However if you are expecting a foreign Star, well none have been announced yet.

Source: The EOY website

Popularity: 7% [?]