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Cel Shaded
Jason Yadao
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Effort unites anime clubs
Back in late September, I wrote about the Anime Social, an event organized by high school junior Maria Harr that brought together smaller anime groups for an evening of dancing, cosplay, anime music video screenings and a quick video game tournament.
Well, Harr's at it again, continuing her effort to organize fans into a more tightly knit community. It may not be another Anime Social -- yet -- but it is a new effort to unite the various anime clubs in Hawaii under a common banner.
A discussion thread on the Kawaii Kon online message boards (www.kawaii-kon.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4437) reveals how this new mega-group would accomplish this goal, through planning get-togethers and charity events, working with Kawaii Kon to help promote the event, and "helping the general public know that we are not just a loose fan-base ... but a thriving community dedicated to the things we love, just like anyone else."
The project is in its earliest stages at the moment, with most of the discussion focusing on what to name the new group and laying the groundwork for group rules. Confirmed participants include the University of Hawaii-Manoa Anime and Manga Society, the Damien School anime club and Harr's own groups, Lost in Cosplay and Art Division.
Those interested in joining this effort -- only club presidents and/or official representatives for now, please -- can contact Harr at miamiasma@gmail.com ...
Bargain hunting
» Animania is returning to Suncoast Video stores at Pearlridge and Windward Mall on Sunday, bringing with it the usual array of discounts and general anime-related fun. Buy one anime-related item -- DVDs, wall scrolls, T-shirts, toys, stuff like that -- and get a second item at half price. Trivia contests with free giveaways will be held throughout the day, and a cosplay contest will be held at 3 p.m. ...
» In case you haven't picked up on this sale yet -- it HAS been running since the day after Christmas, after all -- there's still time to take advantage of the "buy four manga, get one free" special at all Borders and Borders Express stores, running through Feb. 4 ...
Random plugging
As the number of global manga in the Tokyopop catalog continues to grow, readers are getting stories like "Sorcerers & Secretaries," a tale of love intertwined with fantasy by Amy Kim Gantner.
The art style isn't exactly my cup of tea, but then again I don't have much of a background in art, either. What really drives this manga, though, are the main characters -- Nicole, a part-time receptionist with a penchant for vivid fairytale daydreams, and Josh, a bookstore employee and Nicole's former neighbor who has a mad crush on her. The wobbly uncertainties of an early relationship are expressed quite nicely here ...
Coming up Sunday
Join me in "Drawn & Quartered" in the Sunday Today section as I take a look at some of the offerings from new U.S. manga publishers Aurora and Yen Press ...
Cel Shaded, a look at the world of Japanese anime and manga, appears every Monday. Reach
Jason S. Yadao at
jyadao@starbulletin.com