Rabu, 29 Oktober 2008
How to Download Anime
Bit Torrent There are many different bit torrent clients, but some of the most popular are uTorrent, Azureus, and Bit Tornado. You can just google bit torrent and download any of these bit torrent clients. Then you need to find the .torrent files to start downloading the file! My favorite sites for finding torrents are torrentz.com, which lists other torrent sites' torrents, and mininova.com. Look for torrents that have large numbers of seeds and good health or ratings. Also pay attention to whether the torrent is subbed, dubbed, and in the right language! I've accidentally downloaded Italian or French anime dubs and even though they're subbed in English it can be weird/annoying to listen to. If you are looking for Bleach/Naruto then dattebayo.com is the biggest most reliable source for those torrents. Plus they're funny.
Direct Download There are some free sites where you usually sign up to be a member and then can download slowly, but easier and possibly faster than torrents. This is usually a fan site for a popular show like Bleach or Naruto. Also you can sign up for a pay site because it has a much wider selection of shows, and better quality. For example narutofan.com used to just provide free naruto, but now they have a $5/month anime plan where you can download lots of different anime shows, especially the new spring season shows.
Streaming Of course there's also streaming. But youtube is not very reliable and the quality is terrible. Another option is crunchyroll and 2chan.
Hope this helps you find the anime you're looking for!by Susie Q
Give anime a try!
Shows like 'Serial Experiments Lain,' only released officially in Japan but available subtitled by fans on the internet, explores the darker side of the human psyche and studies the influences of cyberpunk and internet influences on modern urban life. Series like Death Note, which has been dubbed and is actually growing in popularity in the U.S., examine the ideas of justice, ego, and obsession in a fast-paced mystery-suspense detective show.
So if you've never watched any quality anime before (and no Dragonballz and Pokemon do not count), you should give it a try you might find something that's entertaining and makes you think about the world in a new way.by Susie QJapanese Horror Films - The Top 10 Best Movies
10. Evil Dead Trap (1988) Evil Dead Trap is an absolutely top notch 80s J-horror film. The film, directed by Toshiharu Ikeda, is heavily influenced by such Italian masters as Argento and Fulci and really shows it in it's nicely slick style. The music even, as Michael Weldon of Psychotronic once noted, sounds like Goblin. From the absolutely wince inducing snuff film opening to the creepy shock ending, Evil Dead Trap is one of those kind of films that never lets up in it's intensity and insanity. The whole action ark takes place in an abandoned military base which makes for a nice, eerie backdrop for the gruesome killings and general weirdness that soon follows. Highly recommended for those with a strong stomach.
9. House (1977) Where does one even begin when writing about Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1977 horror cult masterpiece? According to the wonderful source of information that is Tokyoscope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion, all Obayashi was asked to do was make a horror film that would sell well with youth. Obayashi did do that, but he did so much more, using every avant garde cinematic technique you could think of to create what resembles a horror themed music video 10 times better than Michael Jackson's Thriller. This is no doubt the strangest thing ever to greenlit by Tomoyuki Tanaka himself and boasts an insane, completely erratic feel and numerous absolutely arresting visuals.
8. Goke, Body Snatcher From Hell (1968) Now, thanks to Quentin Tarantino, this is best known as "that movie where the blood red sky in Kill Bill came from" but is still sadly unreleased on R1 DVD and underappreciated in the West. I first saw this film when I was the tender age of 11 and it scared the ever living fuck out of me. Basically an apocalyptic sci-fi/horror hybrid and modern day vampire tale heavily influenced, stylistically, by the films of Mario Bava but also boasting a very unique "Japaneseness" with a heavy anti-war element and surprisingly gorgeous cinematography. It's a pretty depressing, unsettling movie in actuality. Particularly unsettling is the film's somewhat infamous "possession" sequence, in which a blue alien blob enters the skull of the film's main villian, a white suited terrorist, through a vagina shaped gash in his forehead. That, my friend, is cinema!
7. Wicked City (1987) The only anime film on this list, this is no doubt one of the roughest, coolest horror-themed anime around and one of all time favorites in the genre. Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri from a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi (Vampire Hunter D), Wicked City is a surpremely badass film with everything you could ever hope for, from spider women with snapping sharp tooth vaginas, grisly demonic transformations and loads of sex and violence, bringing the film up to easy NC-17 terrority. Fuck anybody who calls this a hentai, however, as the graphic sex in this film is hardly the main attraction. Kawajiri would later give us the almost equally good Ninja Scroll, another anime work that nicely mingles the worlds of sex, violence and the supernatural.
6. Jigoku (1960) Jigoku (or Hell) is an absolutely fucking incredible film from Japanese horror master Nobuo Nakagawa, the man who, prior to this, gave us Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (or Ghost of Yotsuya) his own unique, Hitchcockian vision of the famous Japanese Yotsuya Kaidan legend. For this film, Nakagawa goes way further, taking us into, where else, but the depths of Hell itself. After an amazing intro, the film actually plays it pretty subtle for it's first half, with everything simply playing out as a drama. However, no sooner does it start to get boring than does, literally, all Hell break loose as the main characters are all mercilessly sent down into the infernal depths of Hades, where they, for the next thirty minutes, wander around eerily lit landscapes and breathtaking sets that would have made Mario Bava jealous and are subjected to various grisly tortures that predated H.G. Lewis' Blood Feast by three years.
5. Chushingura Gaiden Yotsuya Kaidan (1994) Speaking of the Yotsuya Kaidan legend, here's our next selection, one of the later films of Kinji Fukasaku, one of the greatest directorial geniuses to come out of Japan. Fukasaku was no stranger to Japanese literature, having adapted the Chushingura (47 Ronin) legend in 1978 as The Fall of Ako Castle and the Satomi Hakkenden legend twice as Message From Space and Legend of the Eight Samurai. For this film, not only was he taking another shot at Chushingura, but he also combined it with the Yotsuya Kaidan story, an idea he had wanted to do back in 1978, making Iuemon, the main character of Yotsuya Kaidan, one of the loyal 47 retainers. From the film's almost Kubrick-like use of Wagner's O Fortuna to sharp editing and fine direction, the film is, as usual with Fukasaku, one of the finest, most entertaining examples of it's genre.
4. Audition (2000) No doubt the best film the otherwise rather overrated Takashi Miike has made and likely ever will make. What starts out as a simple, almost dull drama gets creepier and creepier, until, in the last, grotesque, hyper disturbing, sadomasochistic reel, the film gives you what is the cinematic equvalent to a drop kick in the nuts. Whether it's more of a fucked up drama and less of a horror film I'm not sure, but that does not change the fact it is likely the scariest thing to come out of Japan, making Ringu and Juon look like The Adventures of Milo and Otis and it's easily twice as gnarly as Hostel.
3. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1988) Tetsuo is the breakout film of Japanese cyberpunk director Shinya Tsukamoto and is, to me, quite frankly a fucking incredible piece of experimental cinema, like Kafka's The Metamorphosis on crack. It's also far more a horror film than sci-fi, as there is no real scientific explanation for the goings on. The film's got loads of gnarly gore, nightmarish imagery a plenty, a superb use of pixelation animation, a thundering metal score by Chu Ishikawa and yes, the film's infamous "power drill penis" sequence which you really have to see to believe. The B&W 16mm cinematography, interestingly enough, is surprisingly beautiful and the whole film is quite insanely entertaining.
2. Matango (1963) In terms of my favorite classic Ishiro Honda/Eiji Tsuburaya film, I frequently go back and forth between Gojira (Godzilla) and this film, once best known as Attack of the Mushroom People, which I could best describe to anyone unfamiliar with it as a Japanese Gilligan's Island on shrooms. That said, it's a lot deeper than that, if Gojira was Honda's own warning against atomic weapons, this is Honda's own warning against the dehumanizing effects of narcotics and it's hell of a lot more scary and effective (not to mention far more entertaing) than say, Reefer Madness. It's got some of the best production design and cinematography around in a Toho flick and was as some of Tsuburaya's best, most subtle FX work and film's titular "mushroom people" are some of the creepiest monsters to come out of Toho's FX workshops. It also features some of the best performances of such veterans as Akira Kubo, Kumi Mizuno, Yoshio Tsuchiya and company.
1. Onibaba (1964) Onibaba is an absolutely amazing piece of cinema, a genuinely fucking scary film with vague but very much present horror elements. It's a stunning work of art directed by the ingenius Kaneto Shindo with absolutely amazing B&W cinematography and is a gritty, stark, highly sexual film boasting with some of the eeriest, loveliest monochromatic images you will see in a film from the terrifying visage of the film's hanya mask to the corpse filled hole to the swaying reeds that look almost unreal. It's a truly arresting piece of cinema and totally deserves it's number one spot. Kaneto Shindo's next foray into period horror: Kuroneko, well not quite as powerful, would be nearly as good.by The Butcher
Uchiha Sasuke's Sword of Kusanagi - Does It Really Exist?
Sasuke's Sword of Kusanagi is a chokuto which is a straight Japanese sword. The chokuto's design was originally from China and Korea. It was developed before the Japanese blacksmiths discovered differential heat treatment which later gave birth to the best martial arts weapon ever - the Japanese katana. The chokuto is easily distinguished by its straight blade which is a rare feature in most Japanese swords these days.
The Kusanagi or more popularly known as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Kusanagi) actually had its origin from a Japanese myth. Legend has it the Japanese god Susa-no-o had an encounter with Ashinazuchi, the head of a family with eight daughters. Ashinazuchi previously lost seven of his daughters eaten by a giant eight-headed serpent called Yamata-no-Orochi. The serpent was coming back to feast on his last daughter Kushinade-hime. The desperate Ashinazuchi begged Susa-no-o to save his daughter which the Japanese god agreed in exchange for Kushinade-hime's hand in marriage.
Susa-no-o devised a plan and instructed Ashinazuchi to prepare eight vats of sake, each placed separately behind a wall with eight gates. The giant serpent came and took bait, slithering each of its eight heads through each gate. In an instance, Susa-no-o emerged and severed all eight heads before turning to the serpent's tails. Susa-no-o later found a sword inside the Yamata-no-Orochi's slain body which he named Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi or "Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven". He then presented the sword to the goddess Amaterasu to settle an old grievance. The sword's name was later changed to Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
In the Naruto manga, Orochimaru calls out the Kusanagi sword from a snake's mouth (the snake's head juts out from Orochimaru's mouth). Orochimaru's character which is skilled in snake jutsu is actually drawn from the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. In chapter 392, Orochimaru broke free from Sasuke's control and used his Hydra technique to reappear as an eight-headed giant serpent. But unlike the story in the myth, Susa-no is the name of the ultimate jutsu that Uchiha Itachi used together with the Sword of Totsuka to seal Orochimaru in an illusion genjutsu for all eternity. The jutsu Susa-no took on the form of a giant spirit with sharp nose, jagged teeth and three hands - one holding a shield, one carrying a container and the remaining hand wielding the Sword of Totsuka when it is released from the container.
Was that an interesting story for you? Many anime and manga titles use Japanese myths as reference to create amazing stories, keeping readers enthralled and coming back for more. An excellent channel to learn more about Japanese cultures and history, don't you think?by Jason Liew
10 Most Lovable Animation Movies
The use of animation in films probably began in the year 1890. J. Stuart Blackton was the first man who put animation in his film titled 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces'. The film featured a cartoonist drawing faces on a chalkboard, and the faces actually coming to life. After that many filmmakers and producers started using various animations in their films that apparently brought life to their pictures.
Soon, the stage came where the audience gradually got the chance to see films or movies where each and every character was animated. Those are full fledged animated movies. If we take a look at the list of the block bluster movies, we will be surprised to find that animation movies are equally contributing to this list.
Movies like The Lion King, Shrek, Monsters, Toy Story, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Ice Age, Tarzan, A Bug's Life, etc. are considered as the top 10 animated movies both by the viewers and critics. Giant entertainment companies like Walt Disney, Pixar, Fox Entertainment, Dream Works, etc. have invested millions of dollars behind these animated movies and their profit was also up to the expectation.
The Lion King produced by Walt Disney Feature Production is one of the most thought provoking animated movies. It was originally titled the King of the Jungle. In order to achieve perfection the animators who worked on this movie studied the activities and the movements of real life animals too. In fact the filmmakers were such perfectionists that they went to Kenya to study the natural habitat that is used as a background in the film. The film featured green grass, the smoke from the fire, and the waterfall, all presented in perfect animation. The characters were built using 3D computer programmes that looked perfect.
Shrek is based upon a fairy tale picture produced by Dream Works. Though the film is meant for children, the theme has also attracted adults. The plot of the movie is simple and humorous. In fact this movie became so popular that computer games were made on Shrek.
Aladdin, the animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, is based on the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp of Arabian Nights. The character of Aladdin was drawn by keeping in mind the faces of various Hollywood heroes and at the end it was decided that he would look like Tom Cruise. Special computer animations were used to develop some scenes of the movie. Some such instances are the full view of the palace, the magic carpet, the breaking up of the cave, etc.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced in 1937 by Walt Disney, is considered as one of the first commercially successful animation films. The film is a pioneer in many ways. It took three years to make this film because at that time the animations were not developed. They used many techniques that were in the primary stage of development at that time. They used animations to create rain, lightning, water, reflections, sparkles, magic, etc.
Toy Story, produced by Pixar Animation Studio is an animated movie that is fully created on computer. The story revolves around the toys of a nine year old boy and the story of the film is told from the toy's point of view.
A Bug's Life, again produced by Pixar Animation Studio and released in 1998, tells the tale of ants which think that they are warrior bugs and they have the courage to fight with the greedy grasshoppers. John Lasseter directed it. The story is based on the famous Aesop's fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper.
One can see that most of the animation movies are meant for children. But elders also equally enjoy these because these animation movies have various layers of meaning. With the rapid developments in various animated software, one can surely expect a solid future in producing animation films.by Victor Epand
Naruto as an Anime
Twelve decades before the start of the series, a Kyuubi (nine-tailed fox demon) attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. A swing of one of it's mighty tails could raise tsunamis and flatten mountains, chaos reigned throughout the village as it killed many people, until the leader of the Leaf, the Fourth Hokage, defeated it by sacrificing his own livlihood to seal the demon inside a new born child, that child is Uzumaki Naruto.
The Fourth Hokage would forever be celebrated as a hero for sealing the Kyuubi and saving the entire village. It was his wish that Naruto would additionally be respected in the same way he would be, however, the current was not the case. Everybody in the village avoided Naruto, regarding him as nothing more as opposed to the evil demon fox. The Third Hokage made it a rule within the village that further villagers got forbidden for mentioning this event to anyone, even this own children, but because of the way their parents treated Naruto, they mistreated him as well across most of his childhood. by Virgilio vallecera
Naruto - The Anime Dreamer
When Naruto was born the spirit of a evil nine-tailed fox was imprisoned within him, rendering him the hate of the villagers in the ninja-village of the Leaf who feared the demon in him. Countering this hate he grew into the role of the clown, trying to draw the interest of attention by making a fool of himself and his teachers. Everyday he does nothing but rationale mischief and making Iruka-sensei mad. And above all, it's doubtful that he'll be able to graduate from the Academy. But Naruto has a dream.... Within him dwells the dream of becoming Hokage- the strongest warrior of the village. A dream that he'll become the head of the Ninja village, coming Hokage and might become the best ninja around.
Even with Iruka's help, Naruto just barely defeats Mizuki. Knowing Naruto's secret, Iruka knows Naruto will meet somebody who'll improve the ability of him and so, makes a decision. Naruto is allowed to graduate safely from Ninja Academy. Along with his classmates, Uchiwa Sasuke and Haruno Sakura together, they make this first step as Ninjas!
This wonderful Japanese anime is a tribute to the amazing attribute normal in anybody of us. It informs about friendship, loyalty, courage and unselfishness. It covers arrogance and deception. It is a journey of varying emotions. by Virgilio vallecera.
Head Lice and Their Treatment
What are Head Lice?
Head lice are tiny parasites that live exclusively in human hair, usually on the head, nape of the neck and behind the ears, and are especially common in school children between the ages of three and twelve. They feed on the blood of their host.
The first indication of head lice is itching and scratching. You can usually see white or grayish crawling forms (about the size of a sesame seed but with six legs) and/or yellowish white eggs attached to the hair shafts close to the scalp. The eggs are sometimes mistaken for dandruff, or residues of shampoo. Red bite marks or scratch marks are often seen on the back of the neck. Sometimes itching may simply be a result of dry air, so ideally the lice need to be identified to confirm that this is the problem.
It typically takes several weeks exposure to the lice before itching develops, so lack of itching does not necessarily mean that the person does not have head lice.
Where do Lice come from?
Experts believe they have always been with us. Dried eggs have been claimed to have been found on the remains of the ancient mummies.
What are nits?
Nits are the commonly known name of the louse's eggs. They are a smooth oval shape, slightly smaller than a sesame seed and attach to the hair, close to the scalp.
How do humans catch head lice?
Head lice do not hop, jump or fly. In fact 95% of lice are transmitted by close head to head contact. You can also get head lice by sharing objects such as combs, brushes, hats, coats, furniture, or pillows however lice can only survive for at most 72 hours once they've left the human body of their host. Most die within 24 hours.
Can pets catch them?
Head lice are very specialised and only eat human blood and they only live on the human scalp. Body lice are similar, but not the same.
Do lice prefer dirty hair?
Lice actually prefer clean hair, but that doesn't mean they don't like dirty hair - they like any hair. Lice don't like oily hair however, or very short hair. For long hair it is best to keep it plaited to reduce the risk of catching lice.
Can I just wash them off?
No. Lice go into a state of suspended animation underwater and are thus able to survive the washing process.
Can I use a lotion or shampoo?
There are countless numbers of lotions and home remedies on the market. Whilst they kill the lice, they don't kill the eggs however and more likely than not, a few days later the lice will be back again.
How do lice grow?
Head lice are insects and go through a life cycle. The first stage is an egg. The eggs are laid by adults on hair close to the scalp. If found much further along the hair, the eggs will generally be old and are most likely already hatched or dead. The eggs are light in colour and described as pearly, grey, whitish, and silvery. They are small and about the size of a pinhead. Lice eggs hatch in 7-12 days.
Strictly speaking, nits are the eggs after they have hatched. The lice that emerge are called nymphs. Nymphs grow and molt 3 times before they become adult lice after 9 to 12 days. For this reason re-treatment should be carried out about 7 days after the first treatment to kill off any juvenile lice (nymphs) that have hatched since the first treatment.
As adults, female lice can lay about six eggs each day with from 50 to 100 eggs being laid before they die. The adults are small being about 3mm in length. The whole lifecycle takes about a month.
So how do I get rid of lice?
Because of the lice's life cycle there is unfortunately no quick fix for lice and no such thing as a single treatment therapy. There are basically two groups of chemical treatments available, based on their active ingredients:
* Insecticides: maldison (malathion), pyrethrins (combined with piperonyl butoxide) and synthetic pyrethroids such as permethrin and bioallethrin. These products are registered with the Therapeutics Goods Administration and have to be clinically tested prior to sale. * Herbal: various combinations of essential oils and herbal extracts. These products do not have to be clinically tested before sale.
Effective Treatment
If your child is heavily infested, it's best to try an insecticide-based product first -- you need something that works and there's very little clinical evidence to show that most herbal products are an effective first line of treatment. Maldison is generally considered to be more effective - however permethrin or pyrethrin-based products are less absorbed through the skin.
For a very effective Maldison based product we recommend Chem-Care's HL7 shampoo, conditioner and lice comb and which also have a preventative action. Additionally KP24 have a whole range of lotions, creams and mousses as well as preventative sprays and combs to choose from.
It is important to understand however that whilst insecticide based products are more effective they are chemically based and as such can in some cases cause skin and scalp irritations and/or aggravate allergies or asthma.
If you'd prefer to use a herbal based product instead, essential oils, such as tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus contain volatile compounds that are often used to form the basis of some insecticide lotions. Some experts think these compounds may have some potential, but this doesn't guarantee their success in a formulation. Liceblaster is one of the few herbal based products which has conducted trials. According to Choice Magazine two university trials of Liceblaster involving school children suggest it is effective. It is made from a combination of herbal extracts and tea tree oil. We additionally recommend another herbal based product formulated with very similar ingredients branded for our dispensing pharmacy in North Rocks. This comes in a pack as the Dual Action Headlice Resistor and Eliminator Pack and which also includes a free lice comb and application glove. by Tracey Bowyer
Great Gift Ideas For The Anime Fan
In order for you to choose a fantastic gift for the anime fan in your life, you first need an idea of what anime series or at least what kind of anime series they enjoy. Find out by perusing their DVD collection or checking what they watch on TV. Once you know the series they like, here are some suggestions for surefire gifts for anime fans:
Manga
Manga is simply the Japanese version of comic books or graphic novels. Many anime series are based on a manga series. Any anime fan would love the original manga their favorite anime is based on. For original Japanese manga, you can usually find some on eBay and at Japanese importers like JustManga and Manga.com. For the most popular anime series, like Inuyasha, you can find English translated manga books at many major bookstores.
Live Action and Japanese Drama DVD's
Some anime and manga series have a live action version, like Sailor Moon, that a Sailor Moon fan would likely be interested in. If your anime fan seems interested in Japanese culture, then consider getting them some Japanese TV drama series. There are many Japanese drama series aimed at tweens and teens that usually take place in school or high school. Check out Nodame Cantabile, Hana Yori Dango and Gokusen, each was based on anime or manga series or both. Look for these series at places like YesAsia and on eBay. Make sure to get the English subtitled versions.
Toys
Some anime series, like Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion and others, have many toys available. If you really want to get a special gift, try to get some of the toys that are imported from Japan. Toys available include action figures, vehicles, stuffed toys, models and dolls. You can find toys for the most popular anime series at major toy stores, but for not so popular series, try eBay, YesAsia and other import websites.
Video Games
Many of the most popular anime series like Naruto, Inuyasha and Bleach also have video games based on them. This is a great gift idea since what anime fan wouldn't want to play a game as their favorite character? Make sure to find out what game system they have so you can get a game for their particular console or handheld.
Music
Many anime fans become interested in Japanese culture through anime, especially since popular Japanese artists and bands are used on the soundtracks to the majority of anime series. You can get them the soundtrack to the series or even a few JPOP or JROCK CD's. JPOP and JROCK is the abbreviation of Japanese pop and Japanese rock music. Find many artists at both YesAsia and eBay. Popular Japanese music artists include Ayumi Hamasaki (pop), Utada Hikaru (pop/R&B), Arashi (pop boy band), L'Arc-en-Ciel (rock band), Morning Musume (pop girl band) and many more.
Collectibles & Decorative Items
There are also many collectibles and decorative items available for some series. Consider animation cells, limited edition toys, photo albums, calendars, posters and more. Find these at YesAsia and eBay.
Clothing & Apparel
Some anime fans enjoy dressing up as their favorite character, this is called "cosplay". Try to find out who their favorite character is and get them a costume or accessories. For instance, an Inuyasha fan would love a necklace like the one Inuyasha wears or a play sword like he uses. Or go all out and get them a full costume just like their favorite character. One place to check out is CosplayMagic.com.
Language Books or Software
If your anime fan has a serious interest in Japanese culture, then consider getting them a book or audio learning set to help them learn, read and write Japanese. This is an excellent gift option if you're having a hard time finding gifts from their favorite anime series. This is also a gift you can feel good about, since learning a new language is a very valuable skill for their future.
Food
From sushi to Pocky, if your anime fan has an interest in Japanese culture, they might like to try some of the food they have seen consumed in animes and dramas. Some suggestions include a sushi making kit, Japanese candy and gum, Pocky (a pretzel covered with chocolate), strange flavored Japanese versions of candy bars like KitKat and more. You can find many types of Japanese candy at AsianFoodGrocer and other Japanese food import sites. by Charles Lawrence.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Horror, Gaming, Anime & Literary Conventions
A very large number of people who have never attended a Sci-Fi convention have the idea that they are all about people standing in line to get autographs of actors while wearing Klingon makeup and costumes or pointed ears. I'm not saying that those stereotypes don't exist but the Convention experience is much richer and diverse than you may have been led to believe. To get the best experience it is important first consider your interests and then match them to what conventions are available.
Conventions come in two primary flavors. Professional and fan run. Professional conventions should have actors who have appeared in genre television and films ready to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans. Some of these conventions include the costs of autographs and photo sessions in the cost of admission others operate in more of an a la carte fashion.
Often genre conventions have previews of new shows and films, and usually an extensive dealer's room where you can buy anything from jewelry, ornaments, t-shirts and action figures to full scale replicas and costumes...and more. While there are a number of professional promoters the best known and run are Chiller Theatre Expo, Creation Entertainment, Fed Con ( Germany ), Starland and Vulcon. Do expect things to be as advertised and run on time. Do not expect warm and fuzzy.
Warm and fuzzy is more the field of fan run conventions. Fans who get together to run conventions have a great deal of enthusiasm, but usually are run with a volunteer staff and can be a bit "bumpy" with organization of the activities. What you can expect? A movie room, anime room, gaming room, art show, dealer's room, and various special interest group rooms and tables. It is a rare con that doesn't have a dance and a masquerade. Many fan run conventions also have guests ranging from actors, authors, cartoonists, illustrators, scientists etc. You may also find workshops for writing, acting, art, costuming, make-up and special effects. It all varies from convention to convention and year to year. Older fan run conventions such as Aggie Con, Balticon, Bay Con, CONvergence, Dragon Con, ICON, Shore Leave, United Fan Con, Toronto Trek to name a few.
The following sections may help you in selecting the kind of convention you would enjoy the most. Don't be afraid to try other sorts once you've sampled those that are in your comfort zone. Exploration can be fun:
* LITERARY CONVENTIONS
Love to read speculative fiction? Do you have an interest in attending workshops on writing and publishing? Would you like to mingle with like-minded fans and meet professionals in the field such as authors, editors, illustrators and publishers? Then a literary convention would be the place you might enjoy most. Conventions such as World Science Fiction Convention (which is where the Hugo awards are announced), the World Fantasy Convention, World Horror Convention, Balticon, Philcon, Lunacon, Boskone, Readercon, Wiscon and Capclave are all reader friendly and while you may find the occasional filking group, men in kilts, swords and women in medieval garb I doubt that you'll see many people dressed like the attendees of the convention seen in the movie Galaxy Quest. OK maybe one or two but they are a tiny minority.
* MEDIA CONVENTIONS
Media conventions are very much about television and film. Science Fiction & Fantasy or Horror & Paranormal guests abound. You may meet and hear behind the scenes stories of actors and illustrators, SFX experts and make-up artists and a host of media professionals. Many of the attendees may be wearing costumes. Depending on whether you are going to a "pro" con or a fan run con the rest will vary greatly. Parties are expected and encouraged. At a pro convention this will take the form of a banquet with the guests at a fee and/or a dance or cocktail party all for various prices. Fan run convention also may have a price attached to a banquet or "private" gathering with a particular celebrity or celebrities but they will also have fee free dances, masquerades, art shows, filking, sword demonstrations etc. Toronto Trek, Celebration, BotCon, Dragon Con , Comic-Con ( both Dragon Con and Comicon will appear under many categories)
* GAMING CONVENTIONS Gamers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds but they all have something in common. A love of games. Role playing, live, pen and paper, MMOG as well as video gamers and board gamers all have a lot of interactive fun at gaming conventions. You can meet game designers, try out new games that have yet to hit the general market, and play in tournaments for glory and prizes. Once an almost male-only pursuit, gaming now has a growing number of female enthusiasts Gaming has become so pervasive that it is now nearly socially acceptable to the mainstream public. Nearly.
There are giant conventions like GENCON and ORIGINS, where it is so crowded you may have trouble negotiating the exhibition halls due to the crowds. The upside is the great diversity and FREEBIES as there are so many gaming companies competing for your attention. Then there are the more intimate play intensive ones like Archon, CastleCon, Dragonflight Dreikonigsnacht (Twelfth Night), Festival of Dreams, HexaCon, KublaCon, MACE, MarsCon, Marmalade Dog, ShaunCon, Strategicon, The Once and Future Con, and many many more.
Keep in mind that many conventions other than pure gaming conventions have gaming tracks. If you like to game but want to do more than only game during the weekend you might look into some of the other cons with a strong gaming element.
* ANIME CONVENTIONS
For the older generation anime seems so foreign, even unreachable. It shouldn't be. Yes, anime and its siblings manga and ahem *cough* hentai are of Japanese origin but the striking visual styles and beauty, the characters and stories connect with westerners as well as audiences in the east. Because they are animations they can either be sub-titled or dubbed in the language of the country where it is being broadcast. In anime the stars are the illustrators, authors, and voice actors. At conventions you will find many of these sorts of guests as well as companies promoting their projects. You will also find some of the most imaginative of costumes created and worn by fans. At larger conventions you may find multiple rooms running films day and night. At smaller ones perhaps just one room will be devoted to showing their favorites. There are often panels discussing aspects of cosplay, fan fiction, video games, favorite voice actors, anime series or movies. As in literary conventions there are often workshops. These workshops are mostly how to draw manga, make computer animation, or how to become a voice actor. The dealers room will be filled with DVDs , software, graphic novel manga, art books, apparel, toys and exotic ( for us ) foods.
While the U.S. and Canada have the largest SF conventions in the world the largest Anime conventions are Lucca Comics & Games in Lucca Italy ( 85,000 ) , Japan Expo in Paris France ( 83,000 ) Salon del Manga in Barcelona Spain ( 63,000 ) and Romics in Rome Italy ( 50,000 ). The big guys in North America are Anime Expo Los Angeles California (41,000), Otakon Baltimore Maryland (23,000) and A-Kon Dallas Texas (14,500). Hey, size isn't everything and some of the smallest might be the way to start if you have never been to a con before!!
* HORROR CONVENTIONS
What a perfect place to let it all hang out (dating myself but who cares). Horror conventions revel in going over the top. Long live Elvira, Freddy Krueger, Jason, Dracula, Zacherley, Even the names of these conventions and expos are meant to be graphic illustrations of what you will find there. Chiller Theatre, Fangoria, Fright Night Film and Fantasy Fest, HorrorFind, HorrorHound Weekend, Spooky Empire. Nothing to subtle here. No sparing of the gore. It's like the rollercoaster of genre conventions. If you have a strong stomach and a dark sense of humor you will have tons of fun. The dealer's room, art show, video rooms all are in sync with the horror theme. Guests that reach back decades up to the present. Once again there is a chance to meet actors, artists and authors for autographs, photo shoots, and anecdotes. Attendees go wild with costumes and you can do so too even without a ton of money or a pile of cash. Try out your best monsterish clothes and make-up or come as a victim...or not. Costumes aren't required, they are just fun. There is usually a monster mash even if that isn't the name given. Some horror conventions invite guests that more about nostalgia than horror. Chiller Con is a good example of this. Some of their guests are Micky Dolenz from the Monkees, Ernest Borgnine , Lindsay Wagner, Brigitte Nielson, Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Barry Bostwick, Erin Murphy (Tabitha of Bewitched), Avery Brooks, Armin Shimmerman, Robert Picardo, Geri Reischel (Jan from The Brady Bunch), Susan Olsen (Cindy from The Brady Bunch),Joe Pantoliano,Richard Kiel ("Jaws" Moonraker), Lou Ferrigno, William B Davies (X-Files-Cancer Man), Stella Stevens, Frank Stallone, Ron Bumblefoot ( Guns N Roses ) and a host of others.
* COMIC CONVENTION
When you think of a comic book convention you will probably think of a sea of old comic books, toys, Star Wars stuff, Star Trek stuff, action figures, collectible card games and magazines for sale and you would be right but that is only a part and an increasingly small part of the experience. You will find illustrators, authors, publishers and very often interesting workshops and panels that deal with every aspect of the industry past, present and future. There are the costume contingents that always show up at the larger conventions and some are so good that you could almost believe you were seeing superheroes and villains walk out of the pages and off the screen to meet you and be photographed. Some cons such as Dragon Con and Comic-Con began solely as comic conventions but grew to tremendous size, scope and diversity that they have transcended the genre that gave rise to them. Even those such as HEROES which remains focused on comics manages to have a number of other aspects and should be able to keep the whole family amused for the weekend. Comic conventions often have a lot of pop culture and nostalgia guests. So if you would like to see people like Creature, Parthenon and Fat Mama from Who wants to be a Superhero or maybe even Stan Lee himself, you might get your chance. How about James & Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley Twins in the Harry Potter movies ? Or perhaps Sean Astin or Billy Boyd and even Elijah Wood . From Heroes Hayden Paniterre and Masi Oka, or Ice-T...yes I said Ice-T AND his swimsuit-model wife Coco.
For a walk down memory lane there is Erik Estrada, Betsy Palmer, Soupy Sales, Richard Hatch, John Saxon, Adam West and Burt Ward ( Batman and Robin) , Julie Newmar, Peter Mayhew, Eddie Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip), Erin Gray (Buck Rodgers), Gary Coleman, Lou Ferrigno and on and on. Some are from your childhood others are from your parents childhoods. I can tell you that when I unexpectedly got to meet the very ladylike and gracious Betsy Palmer it was a thrill.
The bottom line is conventions are places where adults can go and play and slough off the average workday week . Have fun !!
by June Williams.