If your library is in the D.C. area you will definitely want to let your gamers know about this upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian Art Museum. During March 16 – September 30 the Smithsonian will have an exhibit entitled “The Art of Video Games”. During it’s opening weekend they will be having an additional event “GameFest”. During “GameFest”, on March 17, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. the Art Museum will host Metal Gear Solid’s game series designer Hideo Kojima in the McEvoy Auditorium. Follow the second link below to the Smithsonian’s Exhibitions page for more information.
Sakura-Con
For all the libraries in the Seattle, Washington area, the Sakura-Con is coming April 6 – 8. Some guest have already been announced on AnimeNews Network, which include anime director Yoshiaki Kawajiri and cellist/vocalist Kanon Wakeshima. You can find additional guest listed at the below links.
K-ON! Series Two go’s to Sentai
Sentai Filmworks has announced that they have licensed the second season of K-ON! So all you K-ON fans rejoice. I speculate that it will probably be released during the third or fourth quarter of the year. So if you have an anime section within your library mark your calendars to begin looking for the ordering information and get it to your purchasing department as soon as you get it.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-20/sentai-filmworks-licenses-k-on-anime-season-2
World Cosplaying
This year’s preliminary for the American Region for the World Cosplay Summit was held at Katsucon. This year’s winners and the American Region Representatives to the World Cosplay Summit is the team known as “Coconut Bubble Sex Cosplay”. They performed a skit from Princess Tutu for their win. As being representatives to the Summit they get a free trip to Japan for the finals and other awards. Congratulations on the win and good luck to you and all of the other regions representatives during the finals which is this Saturday.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-cosplay/2012-02-19/world-cosplay-summit-2012-team-usa-chosen
The Next Step Forward
It has nearly been a year since the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck the Tohoku coastal region of Japan. Stu Levy, the founder of TokyoPop, has been living in Japan to help with relief and filming a documentary of the disaster and recovery efforts. On March 14 at 7:00 p.m. AMC theaters will be screening his finished documentary, Pray For Japan. Tickets are available at Fandango website, linked below. All proceeds of the screening will be going to the rebuilding efforts taking place in Tohoku. Thanks to YouTube and “PrayforJapanFilm” for the trailer below.
AMV of the Week
This weeks AMV comes from YouTuber Pugmasterjack. Pugmasterjack takes the song “Here We Go” by Jason Gochin and edits images from Air Gear to it. The song is a great catchy song and the editing cuts between scenes is well done. All in all a nice AMV that doesn’t have that many views. So check it out on YouTube under the tag “Here We Go Air Gear AMV” or below.
Convention showing Ace Attorney
Anaheim, California, is the host city of AM2 convention. The convention will be June 15-17 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Hilton. The library’s in the area might want to advertise the convention and spotlight the convention. Why spotlight the convention? Well first to let your anime fans now it’s coming, but also because the convention will be having two showings of the live action film Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.
Come into our Secret World
This is one for the whole family. Disney is releasing The Secret World of Arrietty. The anime is based on the novel The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. When you visit with your patrons remember this will appeal to your Japanese Anime fans since it originates from Studio Ghibli in Japan. Thanks to YahooMovies for the following trailer.
Sentai gets Gintama
You might want to alert your purchasing department to be on the look out for Gintama: The Movie so you can add it to your anime collection. Sentai Filmworks announced that it has acquired the license for the Gintama: The Movie. The company is planning on releasing the movie later this year on DVD and Blu-Ray.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-09/sentai-filmworks-licenses-gintama-the-movie
Monsuno Entering the Anime and Trading Card Arena
Nicktoons will be debuting Monsuno on February 23. So tell you anime and gaming fans in the library to check their local listings for the time. If you remember the reason gamers will be interested is because it will be supported by a CCG that Topps Cards will be distributing so the gamers will want to check out their local card show and the cards will more than likely be in department stores as well.
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22101.html