Okazu: August 2003

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Events: Shoujocon 2003

Shoujocon Schedule

As promised, Yuricon will be at this year's Shoujocon, the largest convention celebrating girls' and womens' anime and manga. We'll have a table in the Dealer's Room, selling out high-quality shoujoai and yuri manga and dispensing wisdom and humor as always. if you're going to be there and want to join the fun, drop by anytime!

Here's my schedule for the weekend:

Friday:
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Yuri Panel

Saturday:
3PM - 4PM Writing Fanfiction Workshop
7PM - 8PM Reality in Fanfiction

And, if you're feeling energetic, there's an Images and Symbolism in Yuri discussion group Saturday night at midnight (although, what kind of coherent discussion we could have beyong roses and lilies at midnight, I can only guess. LOL)

So definitely stop by our table and say hi to myself or Kun. (When you pick up a copy of Yuri Monogatari, make sure you get her to sign the cover she drew for it!)

And don't forget - the "So you think you know shoujo mangaka?" contest, round two is still on. I've had no takers yet. Three series, at least one untranslated, from this well-known author who has been writing popular shoujo manga for decades. See below for details. be the winning entry, get a little prize!

Saturday, August 16, 2003

So you think you know Shoujo, Round 2

We have a winner!

I guess Saito Chiho *was* too easy to start with, because within one day, I had two people who sent me correct answers.

So, for the next one, I'm going to have to be devious...

The next name on our "So you think you know shoujo" game is:

Akaishi Michiyo

Akaishi Michiyo has scores of manga to her credit...and to make this round a little tougher, you can't just send me three series titles, you have to give me a one-line synopsis, as well. LOL I don't want anyone cheating and using Google or anything. :-)

I'll run this round until Next Friday, or until someone sends me a winning entry - remember three sseirs titles, and a one-line synopsis of each to anilesbocon01@hotmail.com

Friday, August 15, 2003

Yuri Anime: Autumn 2003 Season

Watch for upcoming series Air Master and Steel Angel Kurumi Second. They couldn't be more different, but they have one thing in common, they are as yuri as can be. Air Master is the story of a female street fighter who used to be a champion gymnast. Steel Angel Kurumi is one of what I call the "Paper Doll" anime, also known as bishoujo. The main plot is pretty much non-existent, but we see Kurumi dressed in a variety of cute girl outfits. There's one legit lesbian character and everything, but no story to speak of.

So you think you know shoujo?

As I labored to assist Animerica with a Must-Read List" for shoujo manga fans, I noted that there are many mangaka who are incredibly popular and well-known in Japan, who have been shaping shoujo manga for a gazillion years there, but whose names are practically unknown here in America. I thought it would be fun to make this into a game.

Each time I update, I'll put out the name of one of these well-known mangaka, and you have to email me at anilesbocon01@hotmail.com with *three* titles that the mangaka has written. The first person to send me correct titles wins. But there's a catch, of course. :-) I didn't want this to be too easy so, one of those titles has to be something that has not been translated into English.

For example, let's say that we start with one of the obvious choices: CLAMP

This all-female manga and anime production team is as popular here in the west as it is in Japan, with many manga series running in English. In order to win, you'd have to send me at least one title that has not been translated, is not being translated or and probably will not be translated anytime soon. So, no cheating and looking at Tokyo Pop company Press Releases. ;-)

A winning response might be: Chobits, Card Captor Sakura, Shirahimesho. The first two are already translated, but the third isn't and probably won't be anytime soon. However, it's a beautifully drawn, very grown up ghost story collection and I highly recommend it. :-)

So, to start off, here's the first mangaka of the "So you call yourself a shoujo fan" game - we'll start with an easy one:

Saito Chiyo

Saito Chiyo is well-known for her beautiful and surrealistic settings. She draws heavily on earlier works by shoujo mangaka and has luscious characters, and stories that are filled with nobility of all kinds.

Remember...the first person to email me three titles, at least one not yet translated to anilesbocon01@hotmail.com and you'll get some kind of prize! :-)

Tuesday, August 05, 2003

Events: Autumn 2003

The One-Armed Bandit

Wow. Having a broken arm totally sucks, let me tell you.

Now that I have basically able to type with both hands again, I can update you on the Yuricon/ALC Publishing schedule for the next few weeks:

Otakon - August 8-10, Baltimore Convention Center

Yuricon will be sharing a table with our friends from Anime Next and Shoujocon. Which means that ALC Publishing will be on hand to sell you good, high quality English- and Japanese-language shoujoai and yuri manga! How cool is that. No panels or lectures this time - you'll find me in the Dealer's Room or tagging along behind one of the three women in this world I worship.

Shoujocon - August 22-24, Rye Hilton

ALC Publishing and Yuricon have a table in the DR, so you'll see us there, you can be sure. We'll have more manga for you - maybe even a sneak preview of our next publication! More importantly, you'll have a chance to get your fill of shoujoai and yuri in the many panels, discussion groups and workshops that I'll be doing. You know I love to meet you all, so stop by and say hi.

Important Animerica Scoop

The September issue of anime and manga monthly, Animerica has been taken over by Yuricon!

I wrote an article about yaoi/yuri, which dovetailed into a detailed conversation with Editor-in-Chief Julie Davis about shoujo anime and manga, which became a second article with which I assisted her (and in turn was assisted by Jenn Dittrich and Paulette Hodge, two very fine shoujo KOLs.) To top it all off, check the New Manga section for a release notice for Rica 'tte Kanji!? our delightful second manga, by Rica Takashima. All in all, it's a Yuricon-filled issue. And you hear it here first. :-)

Don't forget to stop by at Otakon, buy some manga, say hi to the Erica and leave presents. I'll see you there!