We know, most of you are at home right now, sad that another year of fun, games, events, and friends has passed.
We’d love to thank all of our attendees, who came once more (or for the first time) to join in our weekend festivities.
Some of the highlights of this year included our international AMV contest, the extremely popular sake tasting panel, live yaoi readings by Jason Thompson and Carl Horn, and of course the marriage proposal during closing ceremonies (she said yes!). Also, this was the first year that we went 24 hours, so we hope you stayed up late and checked out some of our new events!
As always, the staff were absolutely amazing. Many staff members worked sixteen hour shifts, slept for a few hours, and then got right back to work. Kumoricon would never survive without its dedicated staff.
Lots of charitable attendees showed up for this year’s charity auction and we have raised another $3787 for p:ear! We can’t wait to give them their check.
We are still tabulating our final attendance for this year, but we appear to show a small growth from last year. So don’t forget to pre-reg early, because we may need to cap again! We’re simply too popular for locations in Portland.
This year was a learning experience in our new location, challenging us with a new layout and capacity limits on certain floors, but we’re working very closely with our staff and with the hotel to take what we’ve learned this year and make big improvements for 2010.
And if you’re sad another year has come to a close, be sure to check out all our mini-events this year as well as come visit us at other events, like the Festival Japan at Uwajimaya on September 26-27!
We’ll be back next Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6, 2010.
See you next year!
]]>http://www.kumoricon.org/schedule/
If schedule changes occur during the con, they will be updated on the live schedule. Also follow our Twitter feed for live announcements of schedule changes: http://twitter.com/Kumoricon
With the con just a day away, remember, registration opens Friday at 4pm! This applies to both pre-registration and at-the-door registration. Show up before the crowds!
Remember to bring your photo ID (regardless of registration method or type), parent permission form if under age 18, and, of course, your badge, if you pre-registered and had it mailed.
Finally, we have another quick installment of our KumoriContent newsletter: Download [PDF]
]]>First, the entire schedule has been posted online. Download the pocket guide, and view online descriptions of every convention event. Check out the event map, hours, exhibitors, artists, a map and index of local food and stores, and everything else you want to know about the convention. The number of event rooms is huge this year, with more to do than ever before.
Schedule page (Download the pocket guide here!)
Hotel page (Find event and food/area maps here.)
Second, for the first time, Kumoricon is a 24-hour convention. The fun never stops with things to do every moment of the day. Panels and dances run late, viewing rooms are open 24 hours, and several gaming rooms are open 22 hours a day.
Third, our registration hours are longer than ever before. Arrive as early as 4pm on Friday, the day before the convention, to either check-in if you pre-registered, or to register at the door. That’s right—for the first time this year, even if you didn’t pre-register, you can arrive on Friday to register for the weekend. Show up early to reduce your wait! Be ready and checked in when the events start at 8am Saturday morning! To help move the line, registration opens at 6am on Saturday.
Please see the registration page for very important information on what you need with you to check in, and details on our policies.
]]>Mascot 2010 entries
Program book cover 2009 entries
Pocket guide cover 2009 entries
The mascot contest winner will be announced at Closing Ceremonies. The book cover contest winners will be announced when those books are published (pocket guide online, and program book at con).
Also, our photos from Dance Dance Kumoricon in July have been posted. Enjoy!
]]>The exact room is still being determined. To check the room, please see the hotel event listing when you arrive which is posted on a wall near the lobby elevators.
Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
921 SW 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97204
Google Maps with aerial view
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
This meeting, we will put a revision of the Altonimbus Entertainment bylaws to a vote of the staff. Any bylaws amendment or revision requires both a two-thirds vote of the members (staff), and a two-thirds vote of the board, to pass. The bylaws committee has been working on this revision for months, and after incorporating some of the suggestions which were posted in the public comment thread on the forums, feels it is ready for a vote. To read the revision which will be up for vote, as well as comments, please see this forum thread.
]]>Carl Horn is a local manga editor at Portland’s Dark Horse Comics.
Toshi is a voice director, producer, and manga translator, and his voice directing work includes Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha.
The Anime Hunters are a cosplay skit and parody group who will be performing in our opening ceremonies.
]]>Central Library Block Party (event page and location)
]]>Walt Disney Pictures’ PONYO, the latest film from world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki, will be released in theatres August 14, but you have a chance to see it sooner. Kumoricon is hosting a drawing to give away 10 admit two passes to a special advance screening on Monday, August 10 in Portland. This is your chance to bring a friend to see an early showing of PONYO.
Please note: All winners must pick up their passes at our general meeting on Sunday, August 9, between 1pm and 3pm at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower (follow link for address, map, and information). We’re sorry, but winning passes cannot be mailed.
Entries must be received by Saturday, August 8, at 8:00pm.
To enter, please email publicity@kumoricon.org, include “Ponyo” in the subject line, and include your name, email address, and phone number in the body of the message.
We will hold the drawing as soon as the entry period ends on Saturday, August 8, 8:00pm, and email the winners as soon as possible.
Walt Disney Pictures’ PONYO
In Theatres August 14
The exact room is still being determined.
Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
921 SW 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97204
Google Maps with aerial view
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>Cynthia Martinez has voice-acted in numerous anime series. Jason Thompson is a comic writer, artist, and editor.
For full information, please visit our guests page.
]]>Kirk Thornton has voice acted in nearly 200 anime roles, video games, and other projects, and voice-directed several series. Kirk returns to Kumoricon for his fourth year as a guest.
Kaja and Phil Foglio are writers and artists currently most known for the comic Girl Genius, returning to Kumoricon for a second year.
For full information, please visit our guests page.
]]>Salem Public Library – Central
Anderson A room
585 Liberty St SE
Salem, OR 97301
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>Dance Dance Kumoricon is a celebration of gaming culture. Join us for an evening of video game and video game-inspired music spun by a live DJ from CMD Productions.
Cosplay as one of your favorite game characters to compete in our costume contest. Social gaming in the lounge is encouraged—bring a Magic deck, Pokémon deck, or a DS. There will be snacks provided, and also concessions.
The dance will feature new tracks from The Slants’s upcoming album Slants! Slants! Revolution.
The dance event will be held the evening of Saturday, July 18 at Norse Hall. For information on pre-registration, age policies, and dress code, visit our Dance Dance Kumoricon invitation page.
]]>Kumoricon will be running stage activities and an exhibitor table at the Dragon Moon Festival the weekends of June 6-7 and August 1-2.
We have a half-hour cosplay skit planned Sunday afternoon but are looking for more skits. If you are a cosplay skit group please contact us as we’d love to have you.
Kumoricon also has the opportunity to bring artist tables to the festival. If you would like to host a table during the weekend and sell your work, please contact us. Another possibility, if you are unable to staff a table for the weekend, is for Kumoricon to sell prints of your work and pass on the proceeds. Talk to us for arrangements.
The Dragon Moon Festival is a three-weekend Asian cultural festival this summer in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown. Check out our forum thread for complete event details, and our meet-up thread if you’d like to come in cosplay and meet with other attendees.
]]>Eugene Water & Electric Board
Training Room
500 E 4th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
Google Maps
Driving directions (EWEB web site)
Please note that the date has changed. The meeting has been moved to Sunday, May 17, from its original date of Saturday, May 16.
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>Clark Community College
Gaiser Hall
1933 Fort Vancouver Way
Vancouver, WA 98663
Campus Map
Parking Map
Google Maps
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>As a special Kumoricon offer, we’ll be giving away four tickets in a drawing this week. Email publicity@kumoricon.org and include “Change the world” in the subject line by Friday, April 24, 11:59pm, to be entered in a drawing for a free ticket to the subtitled showing on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30pm, at the Lloyd Center 10 theater. Please include your name, phone number, and mailing address in your email so we can mail your ticket immediately once we select a winner. We will notify winners and all entrants as soon as possible after midnight on Friday so you can decide to buy a ticket online if you are not a winner.
For a list of theaters, to buy tickets online, or for more information about the screening, visit our information page on the Kumoricon calendar.
]]>Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
921 SW 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97204
The meeting will be on the 23rd floor.
At this meeting there will be special elections to fill vacancies in the positions of chair, and director of operations. Discussion about these elections is continuing in the forums.
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>Gresham Library
385 NW Miller Ave
Gresham, OR 97030
The meeting will be in the main meeting room.
At this meeting we will open nominations for candidates to the Director of Operations position. After the meeting, nominations will continue online in the forum. There will be a special election at the March 22 general meeting to fill the vacancy in the position.
General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open staff positions.
]]>Kumoricon’s activities run from 11:00am to 5:00pm on each day.
]]>The staff retreat has been moved to June 12-14, from its previous dates of April 24-26. Because of this, we have added a general meeting in April, and canceled the general meeting on June 7. The April general meeting will be on either Saturday April 25, or Sunday April 26, depending on location availability.
In addition, we have decided on the cities for each general meeting, though the exact locations have not yet been reserved.
Here is the current general meeting schedule. The schedule and details will always be kept up-to-date on the calendar.
Saturday, February 21 – general meeting – Portland, OR
Sunday, March 22 – general meeting – Vancouver, WA
Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26 (TBD) – general meeting – location TBD
Saturday, May 16 – general meeting – Eugene, OR
Friday, June 12 – Sunday, June 14 – staff retreat – details TBA
Saturday, July 11 – general meeting – Salem, OR
Sunday, August 9 – general meeting – Portland, OR
Saturday, August 22 – general meeting – Portland, OR
Soul Candy – an “otaku rock” cover band consisting of talented musicians who are also otaku—big anime fans. As such, they specialize in playing songs and music from your favorite anime series. Hailing from the Seattle/King County area in Washington, Soul Candy is quickly being recognized as a formidable performer in various conventions, rock shows, and festivals. They look forward to get a chance to play for fans of similar interests at events such as Kumoricon.
Last Stop Tokyo – founded by current members of The Slants, who also happened to be former members of San Diego pop punk heroes The Rockaway Teens: Simon Young and Johnny Sars. Joined by AC Slayer (of The Gentry and also formerly of The Slants) and Aaron Sixxx (of Stranger’s Six fame), they are Last Stop Tokyo, a straight up punk rock & roll machine with catchy hooks, driving guitar riffs, and an in-your-face attitude.
Svetlana Chmakova – born and raised Russian, and came to Canada at the tender age of 16. She finished high school here, then graduated Sheridan College with a three-year Classical Animation Diploma and is currently a freelance artist, as well as a fledgling North-American equivalent of a manga-ka. She has been in a love-hate relationship with comics and manga for several years now because she is too weak to break it off. Popular titles include Nightschool and Dramacon.
Watch our Guests of Honor page for more announcements as the con approaches, as well as more details and photos of our current guests.
]]>Borderlands Games
546 High Street NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
The meeting runs from 1pm-5pm. General meetings are open to the public. Meet and plan with other staff, join staff or become a volunteer, and learn about open positions.
]]>Kumoricon’s next mini-event will be held on Saturday, February 7th, at the Milwaukie Community Club.
This dance is a casual event, with cosplay acceptable (no flip flops, T-shirts, or ripped jeans) and an optional black and white theme.
Take a break in the Monte Carle gaming room, with light concessions for sale.
Pre-register online or by mail for a discount.
Please visit the themed Winter Ball area of the web site for full details including how to register and policies.
We look forward to seeing you there!
]]>“We (The Slants) got the green light to invite a limited group of friends to the filming session on January 31st in Portland for “Oregon Music Live” (which will be broad casted across a few Comcast Access channels).
This will be a fun, intimate setting where you can watch the Chinatown face-melting action up close and personal. Crazy, excited behavior such as singing and dancing strongly encouraged. Cosplay, Lolita, or whatever you like—be yourselves and represent who The Slants rep!
If you want to attend, filming will take place on Jan. 31st at 4pm. Just let us know if you want to come and how many so we can reserve a spot for you! Email theslants@theslants.com ASAP!!!”
]]>Mail-in pre-registrations must be postmarked (not necessarily received) by December 31. Online registrations have until midnight. (We recommend not waiting until the very last minute, though!)
To pre-register, please visit our registration page to find everything you need.
]]>This festival features taiko drumming, mochi (Japanese sticky rice cake) creating, folk dance, storytelling, Japanese food specialties, calligraphy demonstrations, and a cultural fair featuring organizations like Kumoricon with hands-on crafts and activities.
Stop by our table to pre-register for the con or participate in cosplay crafts including cat-ear making.
In addition to the cultural fair, Mochitsuki features stage performance shows at 1:00pm and 3:15pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for students and seniors (age 62 and up), and $5 for children age 3 to 11. Children age 2 and under are free. The deadline to purchase tickets directly from Kumoricon has passed. However, you can purchase tickets online from Mochitsuki directly for a small service charge. Also, most likely tickets will be available on the day of the cultural fair, or if not, Kumoricon has a few extra tickets which may be available at its table.
We’re looking for volunteers to help setup the table, handle registrations, and create crafts and activities for the booth. If you are interested, please post in this forum thread or contact publicity@kumoricon.org.
Mochitsuki has had an attendance of over 2500 and this year will be its 13th year. Kumoricon returns to the festival after a very successful event last year.
For full details, including activity descriptions, background, and a map and address to the location, please see the Mochitsuki 2009 calendar entry.
]]>Mail-in pre-registration forms are also available, as is information about all types of registration for Kumoricon 2009: Registration Page
The attendee and staff hotel rates are available as is the attendee discount code: Hotel Page
]]>General meetings are open to the public and intended for potential and current staff and volunteers.
Staff registration for 2009 opens at this meeting. Please see the Get Involved section of the forums for staff position openings, and talk to the director of the department for any positions you are interested in.
Maps and location details are on the calendar entry.
]]>Presented by the Portland State Anime Club and Random Select, Kumoricon Lite features gaming, viewing rooms, a costume contest, manga library, and more.
Admission is free!
Bring a volume of manga to donate to our library, and receive a free raffle ticket.
Update: Unfortunately, due to changes in what the PSU campus will permit, we will no longer be able to host vendors or sell concessions at this event, nor will we be hosting karaoke due to reduced space available. We are very sorry for the change. However, attendees can bring food informally to share.
See the calendar entry for the Kumoricon Lite flyer, location, maps, check-in information, and contact info. Please visit the calendar details page again as the check-in room has changed. Discuss in the forums.
See you there!
]]>Your elected directors/officers for the 2009 year are:
Convention Chair and President: Michael Andrews
Director of Operations: Kenton Cook
Director of Programming: Jaki Hunt
Director of Publicity: Jeff Tyrrill
Director of Relations: Dawn Hewitt
“The Japan-America Society of Oregon, Uwajimaya, and NW Natural will be presenting the eighth annual Festival Japan on Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28, 2008 (11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at Uwajimaya Plaza in Beaverton, Oregon. This exciting community event has been organized to bring about awareness and appreciation of the Japanese culture. It showcases a wide variety of performances, exhibitions, cultural demonstrations and Japanese children's games, everything from taiko drumming and ikebana to martial arts and cooking demonstrations. Festival Japan is focused and designed for family entertainment.”
We will be selling pre-registrations to Kumoricon 2009.
Any volunteers who would like to help staff the booth, answer questions, and take registrations, please email publicity@kumoricon.org.
]]>A huge thanks to those people, staff, volunteers, and guests, who built an environment for fun that exceeded everyone’s expectations!
The biggest thank you goes to every person who was at Kumoricon this year for having a part in making this the most fantastically fun weekend in Kumoricon history!
Our paid attendance was 4470, nearly 50% larger than last year.
We also raised $4550 in the charity auction for p:EAR—double the amount we raised last year!
This year saw an amazing amount of entries into the mascot contest. The staff cast their votes to determine the winner and we are pleased to announce our new mascot for 2009:
Chevelle Abad – Be sure and thank her for an awesome job!
We are also excited to announce our new hotel for Kumoricon 2009 and 2010:
The Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
This venue, located in the heart of downtown, with plenty of food options and easy MAX access, will allow us to grow main events by roughly 50% and have a better stage arrangement using the Grand Ballroom. We will also have several more options that haven’t been possible in the past due to space constraints in previous hotels.
The dates of Kumoricon 2009 and 2010 are:
September 5-7, 2009 – Labor Day Weekend
September 4-6, 2010 – Labor Day Weekend
We are looking forward to continuing to provide opportunities for cosplay and anime fans to get together and have fun over the coming year. Keep an eye on the website for outreach events that will be happening during the year. We will be working with many college campus clubs to help sponsor events on campus.
Watch for announcements on 2009 guests and we look forward to seeing you at the next Kumoricon!
Elections
The Kumoricon 2009 elections and October general meeting will be held at our new hotel:
Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
Pavilion Room
921 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Saturday, October 11, 2008
11:00am-6:00pm
Nominations opened for Kumoricon 2009 officers at the Rant and Rave at the con, and remain open in the forums. As the date gets closer, more details will be posted including question and answer threads for the candidates and details on the agenda for the elections meeting.
]]>Download it here [PDF, 2.2MB], or browse past newsletters.
]]>Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your weekend.
When you show up for registration, you must have photo ID (whether registering at-the-door or checking having already pre-registered). If you pre-registered and your badge was mailed to you, you must bring the badge also.
If you are under age 18, you must either bring your signed parental permission form [PDF] or have already mailed it.
Registration hours:
Friday: 6:00pm-10:00pm (pre-registration check-in only; no at-the-door registrations)
Saturday: 8:00am-7:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am-7:00pm
Monday: 8:00am-3:00pm
Convention programming runs from 8am to 2am on Saturday and Sunday, and 8am to 5pm on Monday.
All attendees need to familiarize themselves with the convention policies. It’s mostly common sense, but it’s important information to know to be sure everyone is safe and in compliant with our rules.
There’s been one important policies change: The midnight curfew for minors has been extended to 1am for only the dances on Saturday and Sunday night. The curfew remains at midnight for all other events and convention space.
For the full schedule and pocket guide download, complete list of events, room hours, and a highlight of major attractions on all three days, check out our schedule page.
Want a map of the event space? Looking for nearby food? Check out our new maps page for all the info you need on the hotel and the nearby area.
The fun starts in just 3 days!
]]>We have had several last-minute hotel room cancellations. If you need to cancel a room that you have previously reserved at the attendee rate, please email hotel@kumoricon.org first to cancel, and please send from the email address you used to pre-register and provide a phone number for verification. We will transfer these rooms to those on the waiting list.
]]>Doubletree Portland-Lloyd Center
Adams-Jefferson Room
1000 NE Multnomah St
Portland, OR 97232
In addition to the usual department reports and opportunities for staff and volunteers to meet up, there are two other notable events:
Swag bag-stuffing. Fill 4500 bags with the program book, pocket guide, and goodies!
Changes to the bylaws have been proposed and the amendment details are being discussed in this forum thread. Changes to the bylaws require a 2/3 vote of the staff and a 2/3 vote of the board. We’ll be voting on one or more proposed bylaws amendments at this meeting if any staff member makes a motion to vote on it.
]]>Doubletree Portland-Lloyd Center
Broadway Room
1000 NE Multnomah St
Portland, OR 97232
There are two general meetings in August, and then the con is right around the corner! Both of the remaining meetings before the con will be held at the hotel.
]]>All general meetings until the convention will be held at the hotel.
Doubletree Portland-Lloyd Center
Broadway Room
1000 NE Multnomah St
Portland, OR 97232
Important announcement for potential staff: To be assured of having your name and staff position listed in the staff list in the con book, you must register as staff no later than at this meeting. Registrations within a few days after the meeting might make it in, but not if it would risk causing us to delay printing.
]]>We hope to see you on the evening of Saturday the 19th!
]]>Clark Community College
Foster Auditorium
1933 Fort Vancouver Way
Vancouver, WA 98663
Full details including maps and parking are located in the calendar entry.
]]>Kumoricon is giving away 4 tickets to the June 11, 7:30pm screening of Bleach: Memories of Nobody, courtesy of VIZ Media. The movie will be showing June 11 and June 12 at the Cascade 16 Cinemas in Vancouver, WA.
Hurry! This giveaway is running until Monday only! Tickets will be given in a random drawing. To be eligible for the drawing, you must enter the drawing by the end of Monday, June 9 (11:59pm), and you must be pre-registered for Kumoricon, or you must pre-register by June 9.
See our Bleach event page for full details on how to enter the drawing, and the Cascade 16 Cinemas location. The Bleach movie will also be playing at other theaters in Oregon and selected theaters nationwide. On the event page, there is a link where you can search for theaters near you.
Tickets will be sold to the public for both the June 11 and 12 showing at the Cascade 16 Cinemas. If you attend, be sure to stop by Kumoricon’s promotional table in the theater lobby and say hi!
]]>Saturday, July 19th
6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
at
Norse Hall
111 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
Tickets are available for pre-order online here for $12, or you can buy them at the door for $15.
Cosplay, Western or Asian attire is acceptable. For guidelines on acceptable attire, please read the Summer Swing Dress Code. Prizes will be awarded for Best Attire and Best Cosplay, and there will be a dance contest as well, so brush up on your dancing skills.
For those looking to take a break from dancing, you can try your luck in the Monte Carlo gaming room. Light refreshments will be served, and concessions will be available for purchase.
Please see the Swing Dance page for full details on the night’s schedule, registration, and our wonderful new Swing Dance mascot!
We look forward to seeing you there!
]]>If you are still having problems with the hotel code JPA, please contact the hotel directly to be sure they apply the code to your room or to place a room reservation by phone. Also if you let us know at hotel@kumoricon.org we can check in to any difficulties you might be having.
]]>If you registered on or before March 22 and have not received your badge, please email registration@kumoricon.org and we will make sure you get your badge.
Badges registered after March 22 will be mailed out in groups approximately once per month until the convention.
]]>It is from 1pm to 5pm and held at PSU in the same building as Kumoricon Lite:
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Student Union
Rooms 327 and 328
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
Please see the calendar item for full details.
]]>Tier Two (January 1 – March 22) should be in the mail by next week!
The early Tier Three badges will be following Tier Two soon.
If you registered in Tier One (anytime before or on December 31) and do not get your badge by the beginning of next week, let us know at registration@kumoricon.org and we can make sure your badge was mailed.
Thanks for your patience and we look forward to seeing you all Labor Day weekend!
]]>Kumoricon Lite
Activities Include:
Email questions to psuevent@kumoricon.org.
See you there!
Free admission. Runs from 12noon to 9pm.
Location:
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Student Union
Check-in: Room 296
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
May meeting notice: Our May meeting was previously scheduled on the same day, May 10. We will likely move this meeting to avoid the conflict, but have not settled on a definite date yet. When there is any change in the May meeting date, it will be announced in a separate news post and updated on the calendar.
]]>Let the world know what you love about Kumoricon in an article between 400 and 800 words. The staff will vote on the winning entry at the staff retreat in late April. Hurry—you only have until midnight at the end of the day of Thursday, April 24.
Please see the full rules and details in the forums. Good luck!
]]>Borderlands Games is just a few blocks away from the library in Salem where we have frequently met in the past. Please see the calendar entry for the address and map, and visit the Borderlands Games web site for more information on the venue.
]]>Come to our table to register for the con and pick up flyers. Visit our events in the Youth Room:
Saturday, Feb. 16 | |
4:00pm-4:30pm | Anime Cat Ear Workshop |
5:00pm-8:00pm | Hare Hare Yukai Dance – Learn to do this popular dance from the Anime Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. |
5:00pm-8:00pm (depending on attendance) |
Cosplay Fashion Show – Dress as your favorite Anime characters or in Goth Loli or current fashions from Japan. Fashion show also open to Lolitas, Gothic Lolitas Wa-Lolis and people in Harajuku fashion. |
Sunday, Feb. 17 | |
4:00pm-4:30pm | Anime Cat Ear Workshop |
5:00pm-6:00pm | Anime Karaoke – Come sing along with your favorite anime theme songs. |
Much thanks to COPIC Marker for helping to arrange this special opportunity with Kumoricon!
The Asian Celebration will be held at the Lane Events Center at the Lane County Fairgrounds.
796 W 13th Ave
Eugene, OR 97402
Admission:
$4 for Adults and ages 13 and older
Free for Children ages 12 and under
Update: The meeting will be in the Foster Auditorium.
]]>Kumoricon will be hosting a table at Mochitsuki, a Japanese American New Years celebration and cultural fair.
This festival features taiko drumming, mochi (Japanese sticky rice cake) creating, hula dance, a sushi bar, and a community stage featuring organizations like Kumoricon and hands-on crafts and activities. The event organizers will be showing the anime film Nitaboh.
Stop by our table to pre-register for the con or participate in crafts—we’re working on activities that will show what Kumoricon is all about.
As part of our involvement as a Community Partner, Kumoricon is selling tickets to two stage performances during the event. Shows are at 1:00pm and 3:15pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for students and seniors, and $5 for children age 2 to 11. We have extended the original deadline to buy tickets online! Because the event is now very close, tickets can only be purchased online and there is a $1.25 fee. Please purchase tickets online here. We recommend choosing the will call option due to the short time until the event.
Our involvement in the Mochitsuki festival is made possible by selling tickets, so if you are planning to attend, please buy a ticket to the stage performance! If you would like, please stop by our booth and let us know if you bought a ticket, or tell us at publicity@kumoricon.org, so we can get an estimate of the number of ticket sales we have promoted.
We’re looking for volunteers to help setup the table, handle registrations, and create crafts and activities for the booth. If you are interested, please post in this forum thread.
Mochitsuki has had an attendance of over 2500 and this year will be its 12th year. Kumoricon joins it for the first time in what promises to be an exciting event!
]]>Saturday, February 2nd – 6:00 PM to Midnight – Milwaukie Community Club
Tickets are available for $15 ($10 if you attended Kumoricon 2007 or have pre-registered for 2008) here.
Come join us for a night of music and dancing. This is a formal, masked event—formal dress and a mask are required. Formal Western or Asian attire or formal cosplay are acceptable. For guidelines on acceptable attire, please read the Masquerade Ball Dress Code. Prizes will be awarded for Best Formal Attire and Best Formal Cosplay.
Please see the full invitation, schedule, and details.
]]>All meetings are from 1pm to 5pm. The locations of the meetings have not been determined yet, but they will be announced once they are set. The calendar contains an entry for each meeting and will be kept up to date with details for each meeting.
There is no general meeting in December or April. In April, there is a weekend staff retreat, but the details and dates have not been determined yet.
All general meetings are open to the public. They are intended for potential and current staff and volunteers. The meetings provide an opportunity to give news updates on the progress of planning for the convention, and for staff to meet in small groups to plan work and projects.
]]>Pre-registration for the full weekend is only $25 until December 31. You can pre-register until August 15, 2008, or register at the door, but the earlier you register, the lower the cost.
In addition to online pre-registration by credit card, you can pre-register by mail and pay with a check or money order.
Please review the full registration and convention policies, and all registration options, on the registration page.
Those of you looking for the royal treatment can opt for our special VIP Registration. Only a limited number are available. For $200, you will receive no line at the door, priority seating to all events, a ticket to the limited admittance guest dinner, a free Kumoricon 2008 T-shirt, and a special VIP-only badge.
]]>Second update: The street address of the library on the calendar entry was incorrect and has been corrected. If you already viewed the page and wrote it down, please check it again. We apologize for the inconvenience.
]]>Board-elected
Facilities Liaison – Rian Mueller
Secretary – Ryan Stasel
Treasurer – Eric Teitzel
Vice Chair – Dawn Hewitt
Membership-elected
Director of Relations – John Krall
Director of Publicity – Jeff Tyrrill
Director of Programming – Jaki Hunt
Director of Operations – Jess Shelton
Chair – Mike Andrews
We’ve already been working hard to make the next convention the best yet. We will also be hosting smaller events during the year so keep checking back to stay informed on current happenings!
The first general meeting will be in the Salem area on Sunday, the 11th of November. We will announce the exact location here shortly. General meetings are open to the public and intended for potential and current staff and volunteers. On this date, we will open online pre-registration for Kumoricon 2008, and open staff registration at the meeting.
]]>10:00am – 12:00noon
Social Hour and Poster Signing
12:00noon – 2:00pm
Informal Election Debates and Closing of Nominations
2:30pm – close
General Meeting
Elections
Attendance at the general meeting and elections is open to the public. Anybody may participate in discussion, but only staff for Kumoricon 2007 may vote.
Nominations are currently open. Nominations may be made, and discussion of the candidates may be held, in this forum area.
The hotel address and map are available on the calendar entry for this event.
]]>A few facts demonstrating our growth:
Paid attendance: 3003 (up 33% from last year)
Charity auction money raised for p:ear: $2776 (up 13%)
In 2008, Kumoricon will be returning to our most popular past hotel: The Portland Doubletree at Lloyd Center, our home in 2005. You, the attendees and staff, asked for this, and we heard you. We were very happy with the Hilton in Vancouver this year but we’ve already outgrown it and the Doubletree will nicely accommodate our expected growth for 2008.
General elections for the 2008 officers will be scheduled and announced shortly on the front page right here, and the nominations will be posted in the forums.
Look forward to the Kumoricon 2008 website, opening in less than a month featuring a new design and our 2008 mascot as voted by the staff and announced at closing ceremonies.
]]>We’re selling registrations for 2008 at the lowest pre-reg rate of $25! If you register at this event, we’ll mail your badge no later than just after the end of the first tier of pre-registrations (roughly the end of 2007).
A-Key Kyo, a guest of honor at Kumoricon 2006 and 2007, will be performing here. Come see them again! Their two performances are scheduled for Saturday, Sep. 15 at 3:15pm, and Sunday, Sep. 16 at 1:45pm. Each is about one hour long.
The festival also features Japanese cultural activities including taiko drumming, koto, martial arts, and Japanese children’s games.
We need volunteers to help with this! If you are interested in volunteering, please post in this forum thread, and please specify which days and times you are available.
We’ll see you there!
]]>Update: An itemized list of the lost and found items will be available at the next three general meetings.
]]>Download it here [PDF], and browse past newsletters here. This issue features tonight’s kickoff party at Backspace, a sampling of Kumoricon 2007 expectations, a look back at Mini-con (with photos!), and, of course, news on our favorite snack—and more! Enjoy it while you wait the remaining two days for Kumoricon to start!
]]>If you pre-registered, and opted to have your badge mailed to you, then you need to bring it! We will charge a fee for replacements.
Regardless of whether you already pre-registered, or are registering at the door, you need:
If you are under age 13, then you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is also a paid attendee of the convention.
We’ll see you in a few days!
]]>Backspace, Portland’s entertainment hub, presents a night of nerdcore, with performances by three local artists featuring techno and hip hop set to otaku and Japanese themes. While there, check out previews of Kumoricon content playing on a large screen along with open Wii gaming—plus the usual LAN gaming and cafe at Backspace.
See performances by Ultraklystron featuring otaku ryhmes, Rai with nerdcore/electro in Japanese, and Gradual Meltdown featuring Wii-mote/Guitar Hero-controlled techno.
The party runs from 8:00pm to around midnight, and is open to the public with free admission. Kick off Kumoricon early at this special party. For con staff who will be showing up for prep on Friday, this party is the perfect gathering the night before. We’ll see you there!
As a special incentive, we’re offering one last opportunity to pre-register for Kumoricon. From 8:00pm to 10:00pm only at this party, you can pre-register for a weekend membership at Kumoricon for the $35 price.
Please refer to the entry on the Kumoricon calendar for full details, performer details, and maps.
]]>On the schedule page, you will find: A download of the pocket programming guide; con hours for each day; a list of always-open rooms (things to do between scheduled events); Exhibitors Hall and Artist Alley hours; a quick reference for times for major events and concerts; the entire event and video schedule; a hotel map; and descriptions of nearly all scheduled events. These pieces of information will be in the program book and pocket guide, but the latest, most up-to-date information will always be on the web site.
Important check-in information, including registration hours on Saturday-Monday, and pre-registration check-in hours on Friday, has been added to the registration page.
We’ve also posted a map of local restaurants including approximate open/close times for some of them. See the hotel page for this information. It will be included in the printed pocket guide for your convenience, so you don’t need to print it out.
We promised the galleries for the mascot and cover contests before the con, and here they are! Mascot, program cover, and pocket cover. Staff have voted on the entries in all three contests. The cover winners are revealed; the mascot is still shrouded in mystery until Closing Ceremonies. View the gallery, get your hopes up for your favorite, let the suspense build, and find out if your favorite won on the last day of Kumoricon 2007!
We’ll see you in 9 short days. And the clock is ticking down…
]]>There’s still time to register! You can do so online until 11:55 PM tonight, or at the Kumoricon Minicon Event tomorrow. If you register now, you can receive your badge in the mail next week!
VIP slots are limited, so be sure to act now if you’d like to receive your invitation to the guest dinner, free tee shirt, priority seating, and NO LINES!
The official end count will be posted shortly after pre-registration closes to give us time to count the remaining mail-ins.
]]>Note: Staff or volunteers involved in Mini-con setup or the envelope stuffing may still need to arrive earlier.
]]>We have received over 900 pre-registrations so far, which is more than 50% higher than at the same time last year. This number includes the 28 who have chosen our special VIP membership.
Pre-registration closes on Friday, August 10, at 11:55 PM for online registrations. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by August 10. (Those received by August 10 will be mailed slightly sooner than those received afterward, but postmarked on time.)
After pre-registration closes, registration will be available at the door for $40.
Kumoricon is just a little over a month away. We look forward to seeing you!
]]>For us this is a chance to to work the kinks out of our untested systems before the con, so please be patient if anything goes wrong. For you, we hope this will be a chance to relax and have fun and enjoy what we can offer.
Anyone who already has a badge or is registered as staff can attend this little event for $5. Anyone who doesn’t have a badge or isn’t signed up as staff as of before the meeting can get in for $10. We are accepting manga for a generous discount of $5 off your entrance—that means if you have your badge and you have a manga you get in at no additional cost, or if you don’t have a badge but you brought two books, you get in free!
(We are only accepting manga to supplement our library for Kumoricon so please bring some cash just in case we already have too many of whatever manga you bring and cannot accept yours. Please no NewType or Monthly Shonen Jump.)
We will be deploying our new registration system at the door, but we will only be able to accept cash or checks (or manga).
You can attend the general meeting and the envelope-stuffing at no charge, but we will be asking to see your admission at the doors of any other room.
Please see this forum thread for news, updates, and questions.
We hope to see you there! Bring your DS.
]]>We’re featuring local clubs in the Kumoricon program book and on the web site. If you are nonprofit, meet regularly, and your membership or at least some of your events are open to the public, then you’re eligible to have your name and blurb printed in the program book, and we will feature your meetings in the Kumoricon web site calendar.
Please contact us soon, as the book must be printed shortly. Email us at publicity@kumoricon.org.
]]>We’re still working on our schedule for 2007, but until then, if you haven’t attended Kumoricon before and want to get an idea of what it’s like, this is a great way to explore what we’re all about.
Enter this page in the Kumoricon gallery to begin browsing. Enjoy!
Separate reminder: The mascot and cover contests have only a little bit over a week remaining until entries are due, which is at July 15, 11:59:59 PM. Please see this forum thread for complete rules and instructions for entry.
]]>The date and time of the meeting have not changed. The meeting remains on Saturday, June 16 from 2pm to 5pm.
]]>Artists, here’s your chance to make your work a part of Kumoricon. The winner of the mascot contest will receive a free Artist Alley booth at Kumoricon 2008!
The mascot will be prominently used in Kumoricon art and publicity material for the 2008 convention year, including but not limited to the web site, promotional flyers and posters, advertisements, merchandise, and badges/membership cards. It should be an immediately attractive, original, anime-style character or characters reflecting the “cloudy” theme of Kumoricon, typically with an umbrella. We need two versions: one adult or teen, and one chibi.
The cover of the 2007 convention program book introduces attendees to the convention upon arrival; every attendee receives one. It is full color and letter size. Fully detailed, colorful backgrounds and foregrounds work best.
The cover of the 2007 pocket programming guide is a smaller, simpler design. It is grayscale, possibly with lower resolution than the main convention book. Lightly detailed and shaded or all-white backgrounds, with strong, contrasting shades, lines, and geometric patterns work best.
Entries must be received by Sunday, July 15, 2007, at 11:59:59 PM, Pacific Daylight Time. [Update: This has been extended by one day so that entries can be turned in at the July 15 general meeting.]
Please read the entire rules and instructions for entry in this forum thread.
We have also just posted galleries of entries from the last two years’ mascot contests, and last year’s cover contest (as well as photo galleries from recent events at which Kumoricon has appeared).
Good luck!
]]>A-Key Kyo is a J-pop and anime cover band formed in Portland, who plays at Japanese cultural festivals and events.
Kirk Thornton has voice acted in over one hundred roles for anime and video games and has voice directed many series.
Please visit our guests page for full bios and photos of all our guests!
]]>Please visit our forum thread for detailed information and showtimes and to discuss meet-ups with other forum members.
You can also visit the NW Film Center’s website for information. Here is a Google Maps link to the Portland Art Museum.
Quick reminder: On a separate note, the current tier of registration ends tonight at midnight! Until then you can pre-register for $30. After that, the price goes up to $35.
]]>We’ve just passed 400 preregistrations. With so many registrations at Sakura-Con, Sakura Fest, and online in the past few weeks, we can see increased excitement this year over last.
So register today! Let’s shoot to get 600 registrations by Monday, 11:59 pm!
Update: The day of week was previously incorrectly stated as Sunday. The last day of the tier is actually Monday, April 30. We apologize for the error.
]]>As a special surprise, two new guests of honor are announced in the newsletter. We’ll post their info in the guests area of the web site shortly, but until then, the newsletter is the only place to find out the new guests we have planned for Kumoricon!
The newsletter is primarily distributed online. Here is the direct download/viewing link [PDF].
We’ll have sample printed copies on display at our booth at the Uwajimaya Sakura Festival on Saturday, April 21. Stop by to take a look! (Due to printing costs, we can’t hand out copies, but you can read it at our table.) Along with the articles, the newsletter features important details about Kumoricon including the dates, registration details, location, and a general meeting schedules, so those browsing at the festival can quickly learn the important info.
]]>This is a great volunteer opportunity to help out Kumoricon. Earn volunteer hours by manning the table, helping with registrations, and answering questions. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteers@kumoricon.org.
The festival runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, April 21. If you are volunteering, setup starts a bit earlier. For the address and directions, please see the event in the calendar.
]]>Kumoricon will be in attendance, with at-con registration. Those who register for Kumoricon at Sakura-Con will have their badges printed on the spot! Be sure to stop by, as the $30 tier will end April 30th.
We wish great attendance, round-the-clock fun, and all the best to Sakura-con. Special thanks as well for their cooperation in our April Fool’s fun. The color may be in jest, but the con is no joke! Follow the link in our sidebar for more information.
Update, April 2: If you missed it, see our gallery for screen shots.
]]>If you have not received this email, it might be because of one of the following reasons:
If you have not received the message about your staff account but are registered staff, please email webmaster@kumoricon.org and include your name and the email address that you want to use with the staff account (if you don’t specify, we’ll assume it’s the email address from which you sent the message). If you know that your email address has changed, please include the old address also. Thank you!
]]>Update: The room is Anderson B.
]]>Kumoricon had a successful booth presence over the last two weekends at two Asian-themed events: The Asian Celebration in Eugene and the Chinese New Year Cultural Fair in Portland. These were great opportunities where we reached out to new audiences and promoted Kumoricon to potential attendees and vendors. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who manned the booths over these two events. Kumoricon extends a special thank you to Copic Marker for sharing their booth with us at the Asian Celebration.
Visit our gallery for photos of the Chinese New Year Cultural Fair.
The information page has been updated with our new Kumoricon 2007 promotional article, written by Maura Lydon, the winner of the contest to re-write the info page.
An update on general meetings: All previously-announced general meetings that were to take place in the Salem, OR area have now had an exact location set: The Salem Public Library, which was the location of the January meeting. (The Salem general meeting are those in March, May, and June. All meetings after this until the con are at the hotel.) Please refer to the calendar for full details on meeting dates, times, locations, and maps.
]]>DIVA classroom (Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts)
110 W Broadway
Eugene, OR 97401
The meeting will be from 2pm to 5pm and is open to the public.
Thanks to Copic Marker for arranging for us to use this space! The meeting directly follows a manga character drawing class from 12noon to 2pm.
Update: Those interested can attend the Manga Character Drawing for Teens class from 12noon to 2pm before the meeting. The cost of the class is $25.
]]>We will be taking registrations at the booth. As a promotion, badges will be mailed out on Monday for registrations taken at the Chinese New Year Fair!
Any staff are welcome to help us behind the booth, and volunteers will earn hours by doing so.
The fair is located at the Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C (address and maps). Admission to the fair is $3. Last year, this fair had 10000 attendees, so this is sure to be a popular event. For more information, including a floor plan and event schedule, please visit the official web site by the Portland Chinese Times.
Please note that this is the same day as the general meeting. If you aren’t able to make it down to Eugene for the meeting, you can visit us at the fair in Portland…or vice versa.
Update: Kumoricon is booth 225 (floor plan [PDF]). There doesn’t seem to be a booth 225 on the floor plan, but it’s probably near booth 223 and 227.
]]>The registration list has also been updated. Just a note – only the first tier badges have been mailed. If you ordered after Dec. 31st, 2006, you will receive your badge with the next mailout, shortly after April 10th, 2007.
If you do NOT receive your badge by Saturday, February 3rd, please contact chair@kumoricon.org. Use the words “Badge not received” in the subject line for faster service.
]]>The February general meeting will be in or near Eugene, OR on Saturday, February 10. The exact location will be determined shortly.
Here are the future meetings for 2007:
All general meetings are from 2pm to 5pm. The meetings have been entered into the calendar displayed on the right sidebar and on the calendar page.
All meetings, except for the staff retreat, are open to the public.
]]>Those of you who are still leery of replying, please send the information to chair@kumoricon.org.
This is our first year mailing out badges, and our first year not requiring Convention Guardians. We really appreciate your patience as we smooth out the bumps in our registration process. In the end, you will be able to walk through the door with a simply flash of your badge and ID.
The registration form is now correct, so this only affects those who received an email. Again, I thank you for your assistance and patience.
Meg Uhde
Convention Chair
Kumoricon 2007
The first tier registrants can look forward to seeing their new badges in the next few weeks, as we complete the printing and mail them to their expectant owners. The list of registrants is now available in the Registration tab.
We hope for the best for you and yours in the year to come.
]]>101 Liberty St. SE
Salem, OR 97301
Like all general meetings, it is open to the public.
Further details on agenda items will be posted as the meeting approaches.
]]>115 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
Easily accessible from the MAX
Google Maps view
MapQuest view
Console gaming on our new Wii consoles, our PS3, and giant flat panel LCD TVs.
Tournaments and raffle, LAN gaming room, pool tables for non-gamers, and FREE FOOD!
This event is restricted to Kumoricon registered staff. If you have not signed up yet, please arrange in advance to meet with your director at the party. Staff membership fee is ten dollars. You must have your form filled out, and paid the staff membership fee, before the party, or have arranged with your director to do it at the party, to be considered staff!
Sunday, December 17th, 3pm – 8pm, food served at 5.
]]>Details on the Staff Holiday Party for Dec. 17 are now up on the calendar. Click on the calendar square for more details.
]]>Seen here are four convention Wiis, in addition to five additional Wii-motes (for the one additional system we have pre-ordered and will pick up later today). We will be acquiring Nunchuks, Classic Controllers, and component cables shortly, but they were out of stock today. Staff get to play with our Wiis at special events such as the holiday party. The rest of you get to play them at the con.
]]>Best Buy has been watching over us, providing us with free pizza, drinks, hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies. Thanks to general manager Sam and his awesome, courteous staff at the Beaverton, OR Best Buy for an awesome console launch experience!
]]>Where: Vancouver Hilton & Convention Center
301 West 6th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Staff registration will be available starting at 12pm, please meet with the director of the department you are working with to get approval and have them sign off on the registration forms. Staff will be able to pay with credit or debit cards through Acteva, if they are interested in this avenue.
]]>If you are interested in becoming staff for 2007, please contact personnel@kumoricon.org to get in touch with the proper directors. Be sure to bring your $10 membership/registration fee if you are accepted. We will not be able to add you to the staff areas of the site or the staff email list until you speak with a director, fill out the proper form (available at the meeting), and pay your membership dues. As always, meetings are open to the public. More info will be posted as available. (Early this week.)
]]>For Convention Chair – Meg Uhde
For Programming – Brenda McFadden
For Operations – Brownie Williams
For Publicity – Jeff Tyrrill
For Relations – Sean Larson
Please welcome your new execs!
]]>This gives you a bit over two weeks more to write your article telling the world about Kumoricon! (We thought this was more reasonable than just a 3-day extension. ) See further down the page to review the official rules. Good luck!
]]>General elections start at 12pm SHARP and will continue until all elected positions are filled. For more information on nominees, or to add a nominee, please click FORUM above and visit the thread under ‘Meetings’. This is the most important meeting of the year! The directors you elect will run Kumoricon 2007.
Starting at 2pm, Etherguild presents LANime! This being the weekend before Halloween, J Horror and Cosplay will abound! Enter the DDR tourney, view the Kumoricon 2006 and Gameshow footage, and dance at the ANIME RAVE!
We’ll see you there!
]]>This is your chance to write the article that everyone should read about anime conventions. If you’ve got the journalistic touch, and can inspire others to share in the love of anime and Japanese culture, then this is the contest for you! The article you write could be Kumoricon’s official info page and press release.
Requirements are as follows:
1. The submission should sell Kumoricon to the general public, focusing on those with little or no experience with anime/ Japanese culture.
2. The submission should be between 600 and 800 words long.
3. The submission should endeavor to use proper grammar and spelling.
4. The author may submit one photograph which enhances the value of the article. The author must have permission to use the photo with credit to the photographer, or be the photographer.
5. Submissions are due by no later than Saturday, November 11, 2006, 11:59p.m. (extended from October 21)
6. The contest is open to all, including current Kumoricon Staff.
The winner will be chosen by the board of Altonimbus Entertainment. All submissions and corresponding photos become the property of Kumoricon/ Altonimbus Entertainment. Articles may be edited for spelling, grammar, statistical corrections, and content.
Send your submission with your real name and forum name (if applicable) to
chair@kumoricon.org
The winner will be announced on October 29th, 2006.
Good luck to all our entrants!
In the meantime, here are some stats to chew on for the 2006 year:
Attendance: 2257, up from apx. 1700 in 2005
On line pre-registrations: 1035, up from 720 in 2005
Total pre-registrations: 1257 (Same as total attendance for 2004)
Charity Auction Sales: $2455, up from apx. $1600 in 2005
Your directors for 2006 were:
Relations Director: Brian Hammond – Got us all those great guests
Programming Director: Brenda McFadden – Brought you events and panels at con
Publicity Director: Kri Bartholomew – Made sure everyone knew about the con
Operations Director: Ryan Stasel – Maintained the back end of the con
Convention Chair: Meg Uhde – The face of the con, fearless leader and evil mantis
Vice Chair: David McCarley – The other half of Meg’s sanity
Be sure to watch the forums and main page for more information on the 2007 elections, including a listing of all the nominees.
]]>We will be electing the officials who will steer the direction of Kumoricon for the 2007 convention year.
This meeting will take place at Chemeketa College, Salem OR, Building 9.
More information to follow.
]]>Kumoricon executive staff
]]>