Come see us at Anime Los Angeles next weekend!

Anime Los Angeles is a small, very friendly fan-run convention in the Los Angeles area.  (Although it’s not so small any more – attendance has risen lately and is now in the low thousands I’d say)  But it’s still small and friendly.  We’ve written and talked about it before.  Anyway, it’s coming up next weekend — Friday through Sunday, January 7-9, 2011 to be precise — at the LAX Airport Marriott:

Los Angeles Airport Marriott
5855 W. Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Guests of Honor include Gina “Red String” Biggs, webcomic artist; Helen McCarthy, manga expert and author of the Osamu Tezuka book we recently featured in the 12 Days of Kurisumasu; Patrick Seitz, voice actor on many projects including Hetalia, One Piece, Ouran High School Host Club, and Hellsing; Taliesin Jaffe, ADR (dub) director; and, of course, the inimitable Tadao Tomomatsu, toastmaster and all around man about con.  And, of course, there’s plenty of con staples, including a rather nice dealer’s room, artist’s alley, various panels and workshops, karaoke, various music acts, cosplay contest (aka masquerade), AMV contest, cosplay gatherings, gaming (both console and tabletop), and much much more.

Speaking of panels… (yeah, I bet you saw that one coming a mile away) the Otaku no Podcast crew will once again be doing our song and dance.  If you’ve ever wondered how we do the thing that we do (namely this here podcast), come to “Anime Podcasting for Beginners” on Saturday, January 8, from 4 to 5 PM, in LP3 (Imperial A).  And if you’ve ever had that experience where you excitedly hurry home from taking con pictures, only to find that you’ve ended up with a bag of hurt, get yourself to “Convention Photography 101” on Friday, January 7, from 3 to 4 PM, again in LP3 (Imperial A).  (There will be swag…)

Of course, in between running our panels, eating, sleeping, and zoning out in general, there will be time to run around and maybe get some con coverage.  But as I’ve learned countless times before, I’m not going to make any promises.  Just keep an eye on our Twitter feed as well as the Otaku no Podcast website (especially the livestream page).  You just might see some stuff go up. Maybe.

Unfortunately, pre-reg is closed so you’ll have to register at-con.  Prices are $50 for a full weekend, $25  for Friday only, $30 for Saturday only, and $20 for Sunday only.  As part of their “Parent in Tow” system, any child 14 or under who pays for a full membership can bring a grown-up for free (doesn’t have to be a parent; could be a friend of the family, uncle, teacher, neighbor, etc.)

Hope to see you there!

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