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Cel Shaded
Jason Yadao
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Kawaii karaoke comes to UH on Saturday
So you say you have a song in your heart, and it's all in Japanese. Maybe you think of "Fly Me to the Moon" not as a mainstay in the Frank Sinatra catalog, but as that song with several zillion variations at the end of each episode of "Neon Genesis Evangelion." Or perhaps the lyrics "Suuichi ON! ONE! TWO! THREE!" resonate in your soul.
If that's the case, Kawaii Kon, Hawaii's anime convention, is looking for you -- and pretty much anyone who can hold a tune, really -- for its karaoke contest. The final preliminary round will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in Art Building Room 132.
Turnout has been good at two preliminary rounds held in January and February, according to Kawaii Kon staff member Chris Macedonio.
"We've had dozens of hopefuls, along with their supporters, come out to compete during these preliminaries," Macedonio said. "This last round should have our biggest turnout yet -- it's the last chance to advance to the semifinals, and we have a flier on the Web site that folks can download and distribute."
To participate, download an entry form at kawaii-kon.org/index.php?id=72. Bring that form, along with a CD containing the instrumental track of the song you want to sing, to Saturday's event. Contestants can also sing a cappella.
Judges will evaluate competitors based on technique, stage presence, vocal quality and appearance. The best three will join six others who have already qualified -- Crystal Ferreira of Waianae, Justin Davis of Hickam Air Force Base, Remy Zane of Kailua, Analia Hermosillo of Kaneohe, Laura Dux of Mililani and Jon Loo of Pearl City -- and advance to the semifinals at Kawaii Kon on April 27. There, the field will be whittled from nine to three.
At stake for the winner, to be chosen during the convention's last day April 29, is a recording session at On the Rock Studios.
Also worth noting: While participation is free, semifinalists must purchase a three-day convention pass (currently at $30 for ages 6-13 and $40 for ages 14 and up) to remain eligible.
As for whether potential participants should worry that there are going to be too many people, overcrowding should not be a problem.
Well, sort of.
"We don't plan on having a cutoff for the number of preliminary contestants; as long as they arrive by 10 a.m., we should be able to accommodate them," Macedonio said. "If we end up having hundreds of entries, then at that point we would have to start turning people away because of time constraints -- so come early!"
For more details, visit www.kawaii-kon.org and click on the "Events" link ...
In Sunday's 'D&Q'
It's going to be a supernatural Sunday as my tag-team partner in anime and manga fandom, Wilma J., looks at three recent Tokyopop manga releases: "Platinum Garden," "Genju no Seiza" and "Mugen Spiral" ...
Cel Shaded, a look at the world of Japanese anime and manga, appears every Monday. Reach
Jason S. Yadao at
jyadao@starbulletin.com