Press Conference for Anime Festival Asia 2009 (Sept 1st)
The Press Conference for this year's ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA 2009 [www.afa09.com] held at Suntec City Room 201 was a subdued but tasteful affair, starting at 2pm (which I was unfashionably late, as usual, and hence was left without a seat) and lasted an hour. Within the aforementioned hour, events, activities and guest artists for AFA'09 were projected on the screen, while showcase displays from Bandai stood lit and awaiting at the sides.
You can taste the slight tang of anticipation from the PressCon-attendees, methinks - well, at the very least from me (dude in front! don't go blocking my line of vision, yo!). But enough of my inane banter - CLICK THRU for some highlights of the event that's scheduled to happen on November 21st to 22nd 2009 = I can't wait!*
happen at AFA'09. Read the full press release via afa09.com]
EVENT: Anime Festival Asia 2009 incorporating Animation Asia Conference 2009
WHERE: Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre (Halls 403 and 404)
EVENT DATES: 21st to 22nd November 2009 for AFA'09 / AAC'09 will be held on 20th November at the same venue.
ORGANIZER: I-PROMO Events & Marketing Pte Ltd, Dentsu Singapore Pte Ltd (thanks for the invite, folks)
SPONSORS: Bandai South Asia, Japan Foundation, Japanese Embassy of Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, H.I.S. International
OFFICIAL MEDIA: Animax Asia, COMM
EXHIBITORS: 51 (List unavailable at time of Press Con)
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Kunio Okawara (Mechnical designer)
Kouji Morimoto (Animation Director)
Marimi Sakurai (Studio4*C / Project Manager)
Yasufumi Soejima (Animator)
Ryuta Shiiki (Producer)
Mr Gregory Ho (Animax Asia / Vice President)
Susumu Tsubaki (Pan Asia Partners / CEO)
Mr Stanley Lau (Imaginary Friends Studios / Creative Director)
Mr Nickson Fong (Egg Story Creative Production / CEO)
ANIMATION ASIA CONFERENCE 2009 (20th November 2009)
PRESS: "The one day business conference aims to help develop and nurture a regional IP ecosystem by tapping on renowned speakers and talents from Japan and the region, with an IP 360° Content Conference focused on three themes: Create, Manage and Engage. Speakers will provide in-depth knowledge and expertise on how brands and marketers can work with content from Japan to connect with the digital generation of youths who seek to be entertained and engaged."
(FYI: List of speakers unavailable at this time of post).
ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA 2009
Summary: AFA09 will span over 5,000 sqm of space where highlights confirmed so far include the Akiba Town Marketplace, Anime Blockbusters, Kids Land*, Regional Cosplay Championships*, Moe Moe Kyun Maid Cafe* an AFA Exclusive Specialty Shop, and live acts straight from Japan, billed under the "I LOVE ANISONG" (* are new inclusions to the event since 2008).
[Live-Demo Sushi-making @ PressCon]
KIDS LAND
Targeted towards younger children ages above 4 y/o - including interactive sessions to learn how to make sushi, dumplings, sandwiches etc. as well as workshops on how to assemble model kits at Bandai's Gundam Caravan.
PRESS: "Children aged 4 to 8 years old can participate in a lucky draw to win a collection of Ben 10 toys on display at AFA09. There will be photo-taking opportunities with popular superheroes, including the new Power Rangers, Masked Rider and Ben 10 Alien Force. Popular animation and live action programmes will be screened live."
[Seen on display @ Bandai's showcase @ PressCon]
BANDAI
"Bandai will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Gundam at AFA09 where visitors can walk through GUNDAM TIME TUNNEL SHOWCASE featuring items and memorabilia from the Gundam franchise through the years. "
On show will also be other Bandai products, including BEN 10, Power Rangers Jungle Fury, the launch of Harumika (last seen at NYTF'09 in February, in the U.S.). On the custom / contest front - the top 10 winners from Singapore for this year's Bandai Action Kit Universal Cup (BAKUC) will also be on display.
TRE-SAYS: Personally I would lurve to see some representation from TAKARA - specifically of their 1/6th-scaled articulated figures - both Male and Female - ie: Jinroh figures et al - but that's just the 1/6th-lurving hobbyist in me :p
"Tamashii Nations" was shown on the projected screen during the PressCon as well, so hoping that there will be more exciting releases to be viewed.
I LOVE ANISONG (Mega Music Concert)
"AFA09 Music Concerts will be collectively themed as "I Love Anisong" and will feature a power-packed list of Japan's top music performers."
Performers May'N [www] and "Aniki" Ichirou Mizuki [www] will be returning since their successful performances in AFA'08. And joining them will be the "Blogger Queen" of Japan - "Shokotan" aka Shoko Nagakawa [www / blog], as well as Yoshiki Fukuyama [www], acclaimed guitarist, singer, and songwriter and member of JAM Project - and will be making his South East Asian debut at AFA'09.
SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY: DANNY CHOO
Asian top blogger Danny Choo [www.dannychoo.com / AFA09-profile] will be making a guest appearance at AFA'09 - both as a speaker for AAC'09, and showcasing his Mirai Gaia mascot figure (prototype on display?). Danny will also be hosting the "Bandai x Danny Choo x AFA09 World Gunpla Competition - whereby participants submit images of their work online, in four basic categories: (1) Coolest free-style Gunpla, (2) Cutest Super-Deformed (SD) Gundam, (3) Coolest Gundam diorama, and (4) Most amusing Gunpla. (Contest details can be found here).
It was also mentioned at the PressCon that Danny Choo will be performing a "Dancetrooper feature" (heh). I'm looking out for a mass/group dance with a legion of Troopers! (my wish, not fact :p).
REGIONAL COSPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
"The top cosplay team from each South East Asian country will be sponsored by AFA09 to compete in the Regional Cosplay Championship during the two-day anime festival where they will perform and be judged by a panel of distinguished guests from Japan..." - (Expect participation details to be released circa September 8th).
Reknowned cosplayer Kaname [www / AFA09-profile] will be one of the judges, and will also conduct a close-door panel session for cosplayers (participation details unavailable at time of post).
Animax Asia will also be producing a half-hour program dedicated to the "Art of Cosplay" (air-date / schedule details unavailable at time of post).
MOE MOE KYUN MAID CAFE DINING EXPERIENCE
"Our specially handpicked team of maids will be on hand to make your experience an unforgettable one, featuring sumptous food served from a top class caterer. Take in the cozy ambience of a traditional bistro as we re-create the special atmosphere found in maid cafes all around the world and just for a special moment, let your troubles all go away." [Further details via AFA09.com]
(Otakus prone to nosebleeds to please prepare necessary precautions
prior to attending AFA09, like bring your own tissues" ~ heh)
Source: Official Press Con images via AFA09.com / more Moe Moe Kyun-pics via AFA09-FB or via Dannychoo.com
[Above is the press packet for the AFA09-PressCon, as well as a capsule toy giveaway]
TRE-TALKS:
ANIME/ANIMATION = No mention thus far of any anime screenings (perhaps a tad early, I reckon). Although it would be great to be able to view short anime films in their entirety, rather than just snippets, during on-stage talks - then make available the DVDs afters!
Seats will never be comfortable enough for full-length features anyways, so shorts ARE the way to go, IMHO. Someone make that happen, please?
TOY-EXHIBITORS = Was utterly and pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount of toys on show in 2008. Wondering how 2009's going to be (this IS a toy-blog after all, innit? :p). Would love to see more (previously unseen) prototypes or new(er/est) releases. Tis one thing to "buy", but another to "gawk". And since I can't afford none, I'd be more than happy to gawk!
Personally, I would love to do, or at least see some representation from independent "art toy" creators and/or artists - with the likes of TOUMA and/or Itokin Park, and heck, even kaiju - with Gargamel, Secret Base, BountyxHunter et al! A toy custom show would be rad - but reckon that's just a pipe-dream of mine...
COSPLAY = Tis fine time the phenom gets more coverage and recognition. The crowd at STGCC was quite an eye-opener, remembering seeing a literal sea of cosplayers gathering beside the stage, was a sight to behold indeed. And now a specific Japanese-based event? = WIN!
Would love to see some representation from foreign (or local) cosplayers - specifically in the area of prop-making or costume-fabrication tho.
