Cel Shaded Jason Yadao

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Kawaii Kon finalizes 2008 guest roster

WITH A little more than two months to go until Kawaii Kon, it's time once more to check in and see what's cooking for the upcoming three-day celebration of all things anime, to be held April 18-20 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

A few weeks ago on the Kawaii Kon online forums, a forum member asked whether the guest list posted online was the final, definitive list. Convention founder/co-director Stan Dahlin replied by saying that if there was nothing set in stone by Feb. 1, the list would be complete.

The deadline passed without a peep, so I asked Dahlin whether his statement still held true. He told me there was one more announcement to make that would round out the roster, and gave me the final name.

I then turned around and e-mailed the final guest.

"Yes, I am so excited to be returning to Kawaii Kon!" the final guest told me via e-mail. "If you would, please pass on to the Rangers and fans there that I look very forward to seeing each and every one of them, and I hope there will be some new roles to talk about!"

Those "Rangers" would be the Risembool Rangers, the fan club with ties to the anime series "Fullmetal Alchemist." The club's leader: Vic Mignogna, voice of Edward Elric in the series, a fan-favorite guest at Kawaii Kon for the past two years ... and now confirmed to be making a return appearance this year as well.

Mignogna joins ADV producer David Williams, voice actor Monica Rial and artists Robert and Emily DeJesus as repeat guests. New this year are voice actors Colleen Clinkenbeard, Tiffany Grant, Mari Iijima and Yuuko Miyamura; voice actor/artist Rikki Simons and his wife, artist Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, of Studio Tavicat; and musical guests the Emeralds ...

As one last guest jumps on board, another person previously announced to be making an appearance, professional cosplayer Yaya Han, has withdrawn from the convention.

While not a formal guest of honor, Han was scheduled to present several cosplay panels and sell various items for cosplay ...

FINALLY, for those attendees who want to create their own brand of entertainment, two more preliminary rounds for the second annual Kawaii Karaoke Kompetition are coming up soon.

Aspiring performers are invited to bring a song and a completed entry form to tryouts on Feb. 24 and March 22 at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Art Building Auditorium, Room 132. Both sessions run from 10 a.m. to noon.

Three semifinalists will be chosen at each round, and those six people will join three others picked at a preliminary round held Feb. 2. The winner who emerges from a semifinal and final round held at Kawaii Kon will receive a free recording session in a professional studio.

For more details or an entry form, visit www.kawaii-kon.org/events/karaoke. Or to pre-register for the event, visit www.kawaii-kon.org ...