Anime Weekend Atlanta, September 22-24

[Darkseid]

Hello, everyone. We'll be holding our 12th annual convention this year again at the Rennaisance Waverly Hotel/Cobb Galleria, under the theme of "shoujo". Our guest list is as as follows...
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Guests of Honor:

Keitarou Arima - manga artist for Evangelion Anthologies, creator of the kawaii manga "Tsukuyomi - Moon Phase", which just last year was adapted into anime.

Masahiro Aizawa - Character Designer and animation director for Yukikaze, Orphen, Orphen Revenge, Slayers Gorgeous, Gadguard, Tsukyumomi - MoonPhase, Jigoku Shoujo and Nishi no Yoki Majo.

Voice Actors:

Luci Christian - Kaname Chidori in Full Metal Panic!, Ran Kotobuki in Super GALS!, Yukari Tanizaki in Azumanga Daioh, Sasshi in Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Himeno in Pretear, Luna in Gravion, Dejiko in Digi Charat and Sarah in Kaleido Star.

Vic Mignona - Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Hikaru Ichijo in Macross, Broly in Dragonball Z, Dark in DN Angel, Tatsu in Peacemaker, Kurz in Full Metal Panic, Kougagai in Saiyuki, Mamoru in Rahxaephon, Hiroki in Princess Nine.

Lauren Goodnight - Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution (Sarashina, Arayashiki West), Pretear (Natsue Awayuki), Angelic Layer (Narrator), SuperGALS! (Sanae), Sorcerer Hunters: Chocolate, Springs, and Other Hot Things (Shiorina).

Sasha Paysinger - Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution (Rumiko Sakamoto), Azumanga Daioh (Miruchi), Battle Doll Angelic Layer (Hatoko Kobayashi), Megazone 23 (Mai Yumekanou), Mezzo: Danger Service Agency (Asami), & Pretear (Shin).

Monica Rial - Misa Hayase in Macross, Natsume in Generator Gawl, Izumi in Princess Nine, Steel Angel Kurumi's Saki, Haruka from Rahxephon, Momiji in Blue Seed II, Nozomi from Chance Pop Session, Miharu from Gasaraki, Noir's Kirika, Hyatt in Excel Saga, Kyoko of Full Metal Panic!.

Jennifer Sekiguchi - Guu in "Hare + Guu," "Eureka 7" (Eureka), "Gunsword" (Wendy), "Zatch Bell" (Penny), "FLCL" (Mamimi), "Naruto" (Hinata), "Koi Kaze" (Nanoka), "Count of Monte Cristo" (Haidee), "Snow Fairy Sugar" (Greta), "Girls Bravo" (Kirie), "Tenjho Tenge" (Aya), ADR Director of the English language version of Geneon Entertainment's "Paradise Kiss," for which the first two English episodes will be premiering at AWA(!!!)

Michael Sinterniklass - Dean Venture in Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's "The Venture Brothers", Ataru in AnimEigo's English dub of "Urusei Yatsura", ADR director on Magic Users Club, Battle Royal High School, Knight Hunters, Giant Robo: The Animation and Ah! My Goddess TV series.

Travis Willingham - voice of Roy Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist. (Nuff said.)

Amy Howard Wilson - Nova from Star Blazers, Miranda from The Irresponsible Captain Tylor.


Industry Guests: Carl Gustav Horn (Manga Translator), Neil Nadelman (anime translator), David Williams (ADV Films DVD Producer and Voice Director)


Artists: Bob & Emily DeJesus (Antartic Press, Studio Capsule), Fred Perry (creator of Gold Digger)


Musical Guests: Peelander-Z, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re
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Events: Costume contest, AWA XII Ball (Moonlight Over Tokyo), AMV Contests (Pro, Expo, Short Attention Span), Video gaming, card/rp gaming, dealers room, art show, Industry panels, EGL Tea Party, AMV dance, Anime Hell, Dave's Old School Classroom, J-music sleepover, Live Action showings, Anime screenings & premieres.

Check out our site for more information at http://www.awa-con.com/ (costumed attendees may want to check the updated weapons policy for example) or just talk b.s. with fellow fans on the message boards at http://www.awa-con.com/phpbb/index.php

Take care in the meantime and see you at the con.

[PatrickD]

[ QUOTE ]
Darkseid said:
Take care in the meantime and see you at the con.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopefully... I've e-mailed about press passes twice in the last month and have yet to hear a peep. ...and although I signed up for an Artists' Alley table for my travelling companions and have received confirmation, that was a month ago and I still haven't been told where/when to send payment or been assigned a table. Again, e-mails have been unresponsive. /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

[Darkseid]

Really? Ok. Let me talk with you about that over PM.

[jecca-neko]

I skipped Otakon and my boyfriend said it felt weird NOT going to an anime con, so we're coming to Atlanta for AWA, JapanFest, and lots o' other stuff. It's been a while since he's been to AWA and I've never been to a small con so we're looking forward to it. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[LadyFae]

I'm thinking about it, but I still don't know yet.

>.>
<.<

[Roujin0308]

[ QUOTE ]
Darkseid said:
Take care in the meantime and see you at the con.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks as if I'll be in attendance this year; haven't been since '99.

[LadyFae]

well, it does indeed look like I'll be attending AWA for the first time this year! Hope it's as fun as everyone's said /images/graemlins/happy.gif

I will also be assisting with the pre-Ball dance class held on Friday afternoon. So don't miss out on your chance to learn a few dance steps from the Fae!

*sprinkles*

The Lady Fae

[Dmiller]

I'll be there. After missing last year this should be a nice diversion.

Hopefully I can meet up with a few people I haven't seen for a while.

If you see me, don't be afraid to say hello. Meeting a few new faces is a big part of the fun at these events.

You can't miss me, I'll be the guy wearing shoes. See you there.

[Trey-Trey]

I'm glad to see alot more response to AWA this year. It's always been one of the smaller cons and I never knew why since it's in Atlanta. I think that I might dress up this year for fun. If I can get the Halloween costume ready in time, then I'll do it.

I'm really excited about all the VA's this year. Hopefully I can get Vic (Ed Elric) and Travis (Roy Mustang) to sign my FMA #12 & #13. That would rock. But seeing Monica would the coolest thing though.

[jecca-neko]

I'm hoping nothing interesting crops up on Sunday. I'm skipping Sunday to go to JapanFest. JapanFest sounds far more interesting than the DC Sakura... err, Cherry Blossom Festival so I'm really looking forward to it.

Can anyone tell me how AWA Sundays are? Especially in comparison to Sundays are at other cons, say Otakon? Otakon is practically not worth going to on Sundays because they refuse to schedule anything good.

[Mononoke]

[ QUOTE ]
jecca-neko said:
Can anyone tell me how AWA Sundays are? Especially in comparison to Sundays are at other cons, say Otakon? Otakon is practically not worth going to on Sundays because they refuse to schedule anything good.

[/ QUOTE ]
In the years I was last at AWA ('95-'99), Sunday was usually a pretty slow day. Everybody's beat from two solid days of anime, so most things move a bit slowly. 'Tis why I wasn't surpised at Sunday being slow when going to Otakon. However, from what I remember, Sunday AWA was a lot more Fun than Otakon's Sunday. The video game room and anime rooms were open longer, making it more worthwhile to stick around.

The biggest difference you'll be likely to find is the atmosphere. There will probably be fewer bodies per square foot, so you'll actually be able to do things like walk. A hotel is a more comfortable environment for anime-watching and game-playing than the Baltimore Convention Center's exhibit halls (the concrete-floored rooms). Since those are the big Sunday activities, it's easier to partake.

I'm not sure if AWA schedules any "major" things on Sunday.

I have to ask... Does Dave Merill still burn a Magic card at the opening ceremonies?

[Darkseid]

I don't think Dave burns cards Magic cards anymore, but then I never make it to opening ceremonies so I'm guessing here. :p

[jstrahan]

I and my three daughters are going. Tough to find a hotel room, though.

[fantasydewdrop]

[ QUOTE ]
jecca-neko said:
Can anyone tell me how AWA Sundays are? Especially in comparison to Sundays are at other cons, say Otakon? Otakon is practically not worth going to on Sundays because they refuse to schedule anything good.

[/ QUOTE ]
You might be able to get some crazy deals/great freebies in the Dealer's Room on Sunday afternoon. One year, Comcast was giving out ADV disks (RahXephon vol 7, Kaleido Star vol 1, and Voices of a Distant Star were among the choices) if you signed up for their service, but towards the end of the con, they had a ton left over, so they started giving out volumes for free. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif Managed to snag three.

Panels might interest you. Last couple of year there was a couple of interesting panels that I checked out. I think they re-show the winning AMVs on Sunday too in one of the bigger rooms.

It's a lot "quieter" and less event-full though. And less amazing cosplay that you must take pictures of. I can fill up two rolls easy on Saturday, but always come away with half a roll left on Sunday.

Japan Fest is okay.... There's less to do though. I hate how they've been schedualing the two events on the same weekend the past few years. Before, they'd do have Japan Fest the week before or earlier. /images/graemlins/anger200.gif You might actually be able to hit both of them on either Saturday or Sunday; since Japan Fest won't take you a whole day unless you watch every single preformance that you can and stay for the entier karaoke competition. If you get there early and just sample the preformances, you'll probably be done by noon.

[jecca-neko]

[ QUOTE ]
KasiTL said:
Japan Fest is okay.... There's less to do though. *SNIP* If you get there early and just sample the preformances, you'll probably be done by noon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I've looked at the schedule and it seems like there's stuff I'm interested in all day long. Tea ceremony workshops, bonsai workshops, archery demos, Taiko drumming, a ParaPara performance, etc.

I pretty much see this as a Japanese version of the MD Renaissance Festival, which I go to every year and spend an entire day at.

I'll be at AWA as everyone's favorite mad over powered clown in anime...Hisoka. See you all there.

[LadyFae]

so did anyone make it to the LadyFae ballroom dance class at AWA? I was also at the Ball, but sadly noone from AoD introduced themselves!

[Darkseid]

I only caught the ball for a few minutes, but that was mostly to see a couple friends into the event. How'd the class go?

[Roujin0308]

[ QUOTE ]
so did anyone make it to the LadyFae ballroom dance class at AWA?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but no. Dancing isn't part of my life, and I don't even own a suit, let alone a tux. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Dmiller]

It was a pretty good show this year. Yes there were the expected glitches. But overall it was a fun few days.

I already have booked a hotel room and my membership for next year. Since it will be my only anime show for 2007 it will be highly anticipated.

[LadyFae]

[ QUOTE ]
Darkseid said:
I only caught the ball for a few minutes, but that was mostly to see a couple friends into the event. How'd the class go?

[/ QUOTE ]

The class was great! about 60 people showed up for it :D

I really had a blast teaching. Forgot how much I enjoyed it /images/graemlins/happy.gif