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Panels,
panels, and more panels, and did we forget discussion time for Q&As?
From voice acting sessions to anime clubs, Guests of Honor to game shows,
AX2006 had more panels and events than even the craziest single attendee
could even attend. With so much stuff to see and do, it proved
extremely challenging to provide coverage on most of the panels, but LLNN
managed to capture some of the highlights of weekend. |
Anime Expo 2006 |
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 Gaia
Online: With
over 100,000 users, Gaia Online has enjoyed incredible success at being
the king of the anime and manga online community featuring a library of
fan-inspired anime art, popular links of the day, RPG discussion forums
with unique customizable visual interfaces, and a money system allowing
credits to enjoy additional features for the dedicated fans. |
Prominence
of Visual Novels: Not
just another video game, PC games for the Japanese Otaku have always been
in the bishoujo genre and generally have a decent storyline to get one
through the experience of owning more than just a game. Visual
novels are unique to the gaming culture and thanks to them, partnerships
have been developed that also help sponsor some mainstreem anime. |
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| Mechanized
Propulsion Systems: Panels
gathered again to talk about their latest endeavors. Primarily
focused on military and city fleet usage, MPS is still working on their
current prototype, have hired many new employees, and pretty much
rigorously testing all the elements of designs that include guidance
systems, electrical, mechanical and so forth. |
How
to Draw Manga: So
you wanna be a manga artist? So you wanna be a really COOL manga
artist? Well, you gotta start small and work your way slowly
upwards. This workshop explained the basic elements of face and
figure drawings and then moved towards planning and use of panels and
placement of word balloons. |
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| JET
Program: Yep,
there is a way to live in Japan and see and feel the experience without
going broke. JET Program is basically sending graduated collegiates
to Japan to teach English to Japanese kids, sometimes in the urban
regions, sometimes further out. Former JET teachers gathered
together to talk about their rewarding experiences about real Japanese
culture and also provided a list of requirements in order to be sent over. |
Fruits
Basket: So
what the heck is Fruits Basket? Well, this comedy of the mostly
animal party variety still remains quite the fascinating anime series for
its insane play on the Chinese Zodiac as characters are mixed into every
facet of the animals in the horoscope. Basically they turn into
their animal forms when a member of the family is embraced by a person of
the opposite gender. Yup, pure craziness, and the fans love it! |
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| Additional panels and workshops
held throughout the busy Anime Expo weekend included: NEEC Voice
Acting Workshop, How to Learn "Moe", Cel Collectors, Anime
Singled Out, Robotech the Shadow Chronicles, J-Pop Culture 101, Copic
Markers, Model Building, Geneon Entertainment, Funimation, Dark Horse
Manga, Viz Media Shojo Beat, Bandai Visual, Go! Comi, Broccili, Toshiba,
How Anime Comes to America, Production I.G., AD Vision, Newtype USA,
Traditional Grilled Foods, Sushi Demonstration, Kimono Demonstration,
Working with Leather for Cosplay, TokyoPop, Digital Manga Publishing,
Gundam Experience, Frying Foods Demonstration, Art of Glowsticking, Whose
Line is it Anime, Pop Japan Travel, and more. |
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[Panels and Workshops]