Join us as we kick off our convention for a tenth year! Find out what's in store for the weekend.

Kumoricon partners with the Sunshine Division for a third year to bring you our annual Live Charity Auction. Come early for a chance to bid on exclusive, one-of-a-kind lots and stay late to bid on your chance to be next year's Badge #1! It's a lot of fun and best of all, it's for charity!

Come visit the Gull's Nest room in the Red Lion for Kumoricon's silent auction. Exclusive art prints and posters, unique anime goods, and collectibles are all being auctioned off for charity! Get there early to check out what's new and get a first look at some of the featured items in our Live Auction.

Come visit the Gulls Nest room in the Red Lion for Kumoricon's silent auction. Exclusive art prints and posters, unique anime goods, and collectibles are all being auctioned off for charity! Get there early to check out what's new and get a first look at some of the featured items in our Live Auction.

You are invited to attend the Kumori Ball! Come in all your finery—semi-formal or cosplay only, please. Bring a partner, find one among the other dancers, or dance with one of our hosts. Attendees must follow the dress code—staff reserves the right to deny entry to anyone inappropriately attired.

Sunday night get ready to strut your stuff. Join DJ DiscoSnake and DJ Gino Mari as the play a mix of some of your favorite music—with more cowbell!

Join us immediately after The Slants for an all K-pop and J-pop dance party. Nothin' but HITS and DANCEFLOOR JAMS expertly mixed by Initial P and DJ Hojo.

Come sit, relax, and read your favorite manga in Kumoricon's very own manga library! Open from 8am to 2am all weekend, it's a great place to take a break from all the con chaos!

HELLLLLOOOOO KUMORICON!!!!

Oooo, ooooo, oooo, guess what!!!! Time for Kumoricon 2012 and year #4 of On The Spott PhotoBooth. This year PhotoBooth will run pretty much the same as last year. Same room, same no charge for PB time, free digital copies, and same general hours. Friday PB will be open in the afternoon/evening depending on when we arrive and how quick setup is. We plan to be open between 9 and 10 Saturday and Sunday morning. We will close about midnight each night, or when I am just about too tired to drive home for the night. PB will be closed during Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremonies and possibly during Cosplay Chess. Please have a USB drive with you so we can give you copies of your images from your time as a PhotoBooth guest.

Want to help out the con staff for a few hours, but not sure what to do? Come to the volunteer meeting; speak with dedicated staff who will tailor your great contribution around the stuff you want to see anyway! It's one of the best ways to show Kumoricon your support!

The final event of Kumoricon—contest winners are announced, highlights are replayed, and the venue and mascot for 2013 are revealed.

Was there something you loved, or something you thought could be improved? Good feedback or bad, we want to hear your thoughts. Stop by after Closing Ceremonies to tell the staff what you thought of the con.

A look back at Kumoricon's past, hosted by Slightly Anime. We will be telling stories of drama and insanity from all the past Kumoricons we can remember (that would be all of them). Want to see some of the very first cosplay? How about some random hallway shenanigans from the early years? We have it all and more.

Some have called them "the hardest working Asian-American band" while others simply say they are "melt-your-face-off awesomeness", but for those of you who haven't heard: they are back! Taking to the Main Events stage at Kumoricon for a long-awaited encore, be prepared to dance, scream, and enjoy one of Portland's best success stories. They've toured the world, and now they return to the town, the convention and the fans that started it all. Chinatown dance rock, synth-pop, eletro-rock, whatever you want to call it, this is The SLANTS at Kumoricon!

You've all heard of AMVs but what about CMVs? Cosplay Music Videos have begun popping up everywhere and the members of Ninja Of The Night have collected some of their favorites to share with you! Come get acquainted with "Live Action AMVs"!

Portland's own Dark Horse Comics has been publishing manga, Japanese artbooks, and light novels since the 1980s! Come and see what we're doing in the 2010s, including news, previews of our upcoming titles and information on the web and iPhone versions of our manga. Bring your questions, too!

Learning how positive self-image and confidence can go away for attracting potential partners, how to get beyond the "friend zone", and learning when it's time to move on.

It's never easy being backup to an unstable individual. Especially when he plays with fire. Oh! Have you seen the latest pics of my daughter! Isn't she adorable?! I will show you those later. I have a story to tell. It deals with the factual truth of what really happens in Central Command.

All the latest news and information from FUNimation, one of the leaders in North American anime.

Extended look and exclusive clips from FUNimation, one of the leaders in North American anime.

If you want face time with all the guests in a more intimate setting, this is the event for you! Advance paid ticket required. Entry for VIPs is included in the cost of registration.

Cosplay Guests Ninja of the Night discuss the ins and outs of skit writing, rehearsing, and performing cosplay skits! They will be going over the Dos and Don'ts and what to look out for when planning your next contest entry! Don't miss it!

Simon Young, from The Slants, talks about experiences where Eastern and Western cultures have clashed… and how that has resulted in being banned from clubs, detained at an international border, and being accused of being racist towards himself!

Ever wondered how Simon takes his tea? Or what products Aron puts in his hair? Get up close and real with the men who make the music of The Slants. It's every Slants army member's dream! Find out what's new with the band and maybe even hear a road story or two.

An open, candid question-and-answer session where band members can talk about upcoming projects, tell tour stories, and answer questions about The Slants.

The Slightly Anime Dating Game is a 1970s-style game show. We pick people out of the audience to compete for our "prize" cosplayers. The Date is a lie, so you have no reason not to come, participate, and laugh.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

The 18+ Slightly Anime Dating Game is a 1970s-style game show. We pick people out of the audience to compete for our "prize" cosplayers. The Date is a lie, so you have no reason not to come, participate, and laugh.

Lauren Landa discusses her various roles in both anime and video game titles such as Madoka Magica, Redline, Familiar of Zero, Soul Calibur V, BlazBlue, Tales of Graces, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, and more! Be sure to bring your questions!

Folks from different areas of the anime and manga industry lay it on the line for fans—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Join voice actors from around the industry to learn how they got started and what's really involved in the business.

Finally! The long awaited sequel to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Sorry Shakespeare, we could wait no longer. Come listen to Sonny talk about his journey in writing this comic that blends elements from The Ugly Duckling, Arthurian legend and A Midsummer Night's Dream into a modern day, wacked out tale of its own with snappy dialogue, dead-on comic timing and trippy visuals.

You WILL believe that a voice actor CAN draw! Sonny Strait is here to tell you how it's done and how to have fun doing it.

Food fans unite! The Slants help you discover new types of Asian cuisine, how to find quality eateries, and answer questions about the dishes you've always been afraid to try yourself.

(Ticketed event—see Programming Booth)

Before the contest, come and watch the "best-of" collection of AMVs created within the last year.

(Ticketed event—see Programming Booth)

AMV Show: Before the contest, come and watch the "best-of" collection of AMVs created within the last year.

AMV Contest: Kumoricon's Anime Music Videos competition, created for fans, by fans. Entries are grouped into categories, and you the audience vote for your favorite videos. Come see how your video does, or just sit back and watch! Winners will be announced during Closing Ceremonies.

Later in the evening, this selection of AMVs may contain audio with more explicit lyrics or exposure than the regular contest and show. This is NOT a HENTAI show.

If you missed the original contest, or want to take another look, join us for a replay of some of the contest favorites (as previously determined by audience vote), and a selection of past AMV Show entries and winners.

Come join us in exploring the wonderful world of Plus Sized Cosplay! We will go over several topics, including the Dos and Don'ts of cosplaying for larger body types, makeup and hair styles, self-esteem and bullying in the cosplay community, ways to improve your cosplays and how to design your cosplays around your body type, healthy eating and dieting, and so much more! All are welcome to come and enjoy!

(Ticketed event—see Programming Booth)

Come see your favorite characters battle it out on a giant chessboard stage! Cosplay Chess is an event where convention attendees in cosplay serve as the pieces, and at the direction of two chess masters, will move, fight, and die, live on stage. The combats are not pre-scripted—anything can happen!

Meeting for Cosplay Chess participants. This is an opportunity to discuss battle techniques and work out strategies. Mandatory for all participants.

(Ticketed event—see Programming Booth)

Whether you prefer competing as a contestant on stage or viewing the skits and costumes from the audience, the Cosplay Contest is Kumoricon's main costume event where entrants compete for recognition and top prizes. Join in the fun yourself, or cheer on your favorite characters as they perform original skits and dazzle the audience with amazing costumes.

First official meeting for all Cosplay entrants, and FINAL DEADLINE for all Cosplay entry forms. Costume Workmanship slots and Skit technical rehearsal slots will be assigned. The Cosplay Coordinator will describe the technical rehearsal and costume workmanship judging processes. At least one member of each group must be present or the group will be disqualified. Costumes NOT required at this meeting.

Costume Workmanship judging for costume entries in Cosplay Contest. During the cosplay pre-meeting, entrants will be assigned a time slot for judging. Be sure to arrive at least 5-10 minutes prior to your scheduled time slot. Costumes REQUIRED.

The Cosplay Green room is the room reserved for Cosplay Contest entrants to wait in during and 1/2 hour prior to the Cosplay Contest. A video feed from Main Events room will be provided to allow entrants to view the other entries while waiting for their time on stage.

Technical rehearsal for ALL Cosplay entrants. This is a quick walk-through of the Cosplay Contest to coordinate ninja assistance, adjust lighting, and test music and audio. Costumes NOT required at this meeting.

An opportunity for participants in the Cosplay Contest to discuss what did and did not work in this year's Cosplay Contest. The Workmanship judges will be present to provide feedback and suggestions for the Workmanship entries.

Join the hunt! Keep your eyes open and on the lookout for clues as you wander the convention. For more information, please check in the pocket guide, or go to the Programming Booth.

Have you competed in the Cosplay Contest before? Do you want to? No matter what your circumstance, come and join us to learn a few tips, tricks, and techniques for writing, recording, making, and performing your award-winning skit!

To promote parents who like to cosplay. To provide some information for parents who have kids that are into anime and cosplaying. To show parents that they are never too old to cosplay.

Once again, our Hall Cosplay Staff will be roaming the halls on the lookout for outstanding costumes and cosplayers. Act your part, or just have fun—you never know where they will be!

Come to this workshop and learn how to make your own purrrrfect cat ears! Materials are provided, and instructors will be there to help you along. Space is limited, so be sure to come early. (For those who cannot attend the panel, you will be able to purchase the materials and make your own ears at the cat ear table in the Vancouver Hilton garage, next to Video Gaming).

So, you've decided that giant swords, neon hair, and miles of ruffles sound like your idea of a good time—but you don't know where to start. Maybe you tried it that one time twelve hours before con… with hilarious results. No idea what to do when a camera's shoved in your face?

I've spent ten years learning the ropes and I want to help. From figuring out what you really want out of your cosplay experience to how to win the war between animation and reality, let me show you there's more to cosplay than hot glue and hope!

An overview of the basics of bodypainting, from the minor to the magnificent. Topics will include surface preparation and masking, paint application tips and tricks, as well as a section on fixatives and topcoats (avoid staining that epic costume you spend 100 hours sewing and learn how to sleep—yes, SLEEP, in full body makeup). Whether you're looking for guidance on making an exquisite Dark Mark or trolling around Homestuck-style, there's a little something for all. Experienced artists are also welcome; come share your favorite tricks with newcomers, and maybe learn a few yourself.

As cosplay evolves, so must the cosplayer. With the increasing complexity of character designs and digital effects, the seasoned cosplayer must use ever more sophisticated techniques in order to produce a finished design that truly ~pops~. Where once was a flashlight and a piece of cellophane, today you find advanced circuitry, fiber optics, and more. Come join us as we cover the range of the possible, with tips on both basic wiring to light your first LED to designing a collapsible circuit to create that MacBook sleep effect. "All are welcome", from beginner to expert, and remember: Head towards the Light.

The 2012 Kumoricon Fashion Show will showcase the latest in Lolita, J-rock/J-pop, and Japanese traditional dress as well as costumes from all genres. Any outfit that fits within the Kumoricon dress code is eligible to be shown during the Fashion Show. Sign up 30 minutes prior to stage time. All participants will have up to 30 seconds to showcase their outfit on stage—no skits and no judging, just fun.

A panel of Kumoricon Forum guest speakers to discuss the four Ms of prop weapon production: Making, Materials, Methods, and Madness. We will show you the Dos and Don'ts of making your props. What materials you can use and where to get them. Tools of the trade and the methods we employ. And the "OMG con is in a week and I'm still laying down resin!" madness.

Come sing your heart out, or have a seat and relax. Last, but most of all, enjoy the music!

See cosplay and karaoke collide once again at Kumoricon's Cosplay Hybrid contest. Contestants will put on skits, perform artistic acts, and go for audience appeal, all the while performing songs to complement their performance. be goofy, be serious, the point is—have fun with your music!

Listen as contestants perform beautiful Japanese songs. Idol contestants are judged on vocal ability and talent.

Edward Elric or Roy Mustang? CLAMP or Shonen Jump? Mario or Sonic? Have you ever wanted to decide once and for all, which is best? In Anime Debate, you can do exactly that. Fans will be given a chance to debate various subjects ranging from major topics like the "Best Anime Character" to the more interesting, such as "Weirdest Moment in an Anime."

Bored? Tired? Got nothing better to do? Then pass your time laughing and having fun trying to figure out who killed who with your own assumptions and ways on how one person killed the other! No need for shyness cause who knows you might be the Killer! Or maybe you're already the victim.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

Bored? Tired? Got nothing better to do? Then pass your time laughing and having fun trying to figure out who killed who with your own assumptions and ways on how one person killed the other, except in a little more perverted manner! No need for shyness cause who knows you might be the Killer! Or maybe you're already the victim.

Come share your stories of soul crushing moments from your favorite shows. Part therapy, part comedy, always a bit weird. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hear at least one person blame a certain video store's lax age restrictions on renting anime for ruining their childhood.

Feeling a little shy on the dance floor for the Kumori Ball? A ballroom dance class is planned earlier that day for those of you who would like to learn a few moves, meet potential dance partners, or just brush up on your technique. There will be three one-hour sessions.

Discussion about the latest shounen-ai anime, manga and games. Free prizes for those who like to participate in fun games.

Join the Bleach captains for a debriefing on the overall Aizen incident.

Bressler returns to Kumoricon with NEW game shows! And because we want the most people to attend, we are putting them all in one panel! Staples like Press Your Luck will be there, plus a debut of a NEW game! Come for the games, stay for the raffle at the end!

Interested in making a pair of cat ears for yourself but missed the panel? You're in luck! Come to the Cat Ear Booth near Registration and choose from a variety of colors and styles of ears to make. Open all three days, as long as supplies last. Cost: $1

Portland attorney Matthew Abts discusses copyright law and your creative works, including how to register and protect your own work, and when you can and can't use the work of someone else (fair use). Matthew is a small business attorney whose clients include DeviantArtists, webcomicers, T-shirt printers, and video game creators, both in and outside the United States. His website is OregonStartup.com.

Have you ever pretended to be Excalibur from Soul Eater while sitting like L from Death Note and talking like Mieu from Tales of the Abyss? Well now here's your chance! Or better yet, here's your chance to make your friends! The party game, Curses!, has been redesigned to be anime-themed. Play to curse your friends or play to become your favorite characters from various animes! Either way, it's guaranteed to keep the laughs coming!

Lavi, Lenalee, and Komui has decided to put on an improv show. Lucky for you guys you can participate in some of their fun games such as Park Bench, Freeze, Dinner Plate, and Puppets. Come and enjoy the show.

Cybermen, Time Lords, and Daleks, oh my! Win Whovian prizes for your best cosplays, props, fan creations (fics, filks, Trock, art, crafts, vids), line readings, scene recreations, or flirting a la Captain Jack Harkness. Share your memories, jokes, trivia savvy, curiosity, and collectibles relating to any of the 50 years of classic and new Doctor Who and related series (Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures, K-9). Photoshoots will take place during and after the panel!

Popular, local webcomic creators Jake Richmond (author and artist for Modest Medusa) and Ben Hsu (author for Dubious Company) return to Kumoricon. Join them as they give an in-depth talk about what it means to run a webcomic: from how to get started, to seeing your book in print, as well as other general advice for up and coming webcomic creators.

The Fangirl/Fanboy Support Group is back! Come and learn about fan etiquette, glomp etiquette, have a squee-tastic time and of course fan stories! So come one, come all for a fantastic time!

Have an intense love for a pairing? Feel as if you're the biggest shipper out there? Do you want to rant and debate how your pairing is better than all the rest? Categories range from slash to crack to crossover to canon couples. Let's see if you can win the audience's hearts with your ship!

The Gamer Girls panel is back, and this year Ally does not game alone! Talk to and ask questions about games and the girls who play them. Meet the women who keep dice next to their lip-gloss and have opinions about everything from efficient leveling to cheat codes. What's a gamer girl? Do they exist? Should the industry care about girls who game? Be at this panel and find out!

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

Some people believe that moments of sheer epicness should be re-enacted or, at the very least, re-told. We are some of those people. We want to hear them all! Anything from an anguishing TPK to a cool scene in a LARP, the crown jewel in your card collection to that raid in your MMO that went horribly awry (or was perfect), that character you created that you want to be like or whose massive powers people have to flee from to that sweet headshot you got without even using VATS. Those are your epic glory stories as a gamer and we think that they are awesome—so awesome, in fact, they deserve to not only be shared but to earn prizes too! (For extra bonus prizes then we'd recommend cosplay, telling a story in character or re-enacting it with a friend!)

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

A basic discussion of hentai and the different types. Come join us and share your favorite titles as well as discuss upcoming ones! We will be viewing one or two episodes of one as well as have a brief reading from one of our manga!

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

A hentai viewing room with a twist! The audience gets to take turns dubbing over the hentai! This panel will be cleared of people after 30 minutes to give other people the chance to try it out as well. So if it's full please come back 30 minutes after it starts to get in.

Calling all nations and non-nations! The world is in crisis and issues need to be discussed! Topics from obesity and yaoi, whether you join to become the hero or to try to make others one with Russia; come along and join the debate!

A panel for fans who like both Hetalia AND Homestuck, and like to mix them up together should the opportunity arise. Do you want to meet other HetaStucks? Do you want to see what a face-off between Dave Strider and Sweden would be like, or find out what would happen if Francis hit on Rose Lalonde? Karkat versus England, who is more tsundere? If these sorts of questions have been nagging at you, the HetaStuck panel is the place to find out. Trolls, humans, muggles, anthropomorphic blob/alien/animal things, all are welcome, as long as you bring your sense of humor, and are prepared for an interesting ride.

It's time to break it out! Get your funky side grooving with this hip hop dance workshop. Learn a choreographed dance to an anime-based hip hop song! Come on, have fun and break a sweat!

Have you entered Cosplay Chess without knowing how to attack or wish to know how to improve your abilities to entertain during the fights? Well, this is the panel for you. Here, you will learn different techniques on how to fight, including throwing punches, using props, and how to react with a non-fighting character. There will also be a session to discuss possible attacks for your characters. So come on by and be ready to FIGHT!

Looking to get in to the world of improvisational acting? How about improving on what you already know? Maybe you want to add a new level to your scripted acting? Or you're possibly just looking for something fun to do? Then come and join us for improvisational acting workshop! Learn about the finer points of improv acting while having fun and meeting new people!

Candlestick charting is a graphical method of depicting the open, low, high, and closing prices of commodities to predict price stability and future movements. The method was developed in Osaka in the early 18th century for trading rice futures, but was only introduced to Western exchange traders in the 1980s.

As each month passes, Tetsuya likes to tease us about releases, hidden secrets, unknown truths, and the more you try to keep up the more you feel like you are falling behind, kupo? Well how about we make things easier for you and get all the characters from every world, and bring them to you just so you can understand what is going on, kupo! Sadly our funds can't support this, but how about coming down and joining the Kingdom Hearts Unlocked team again this year for an all new update on the newest news of the world of Kingdom Hearts! Let us explain what is going on, while we have some fun with some contests for the audience! One lucky winner will win an awesome prize, while the two runner-ups get exclusive Square Enix merchandise! Now doesn't that sound nice, kupo!

Come and play a six round trivia game about anime, manga, general Japanese knowledge and more! Win fabulous prizes, but the real prize is bragging rights. Either make a team of four beforehand, or meet up with some fellow geeks at the panel. If you have the best team name we may throw chocolate at you or something.

Wanna meet the people behind the silly avatars on the forums? Are you curious about joining the forums? Up for some fun games? Here's your chance! The forum "family members" can get to know each other in a group setting at this panel. You'll love it!

We reminisce about old Kumoricons—how this all started from TUNAC onwards.

We're back! For the third straight year, we present time to sit back and laugh away at the crazy tales and jests of your fellow otaku! Past Kumoricons and other con experiences, cosplay mishaps, food, non-nerds, and social interactions are among the many things you'll hear about! Come on in, get cozy, and bring some tissues, because you'll be crying with laughter! (Or close to it). XD

You may have noticed in recent years that cons have been overrun with hordes of grey people with candy corn horns, and guys in blonde wigs and aviator shades. And you may have asked yourself, what exactly is this "Homestuck"? Come to our informative panel to learn more about the series—or, if you're already a fan, for fun games, trivia, and maybe even some prizes!

Here you'll learn what goes behind the production of an online publication. Jon Nielsen and Josh Rivas of Massive Pwnage will talk about how to effectively maintain your work online and how to establish and keep a fanbase. You also learn all about how they process a script, make artwork, and develop their website! Whether you've just got an idea, or you want to learn more about the craft, this is the panel to attend.

Roy Mustang's dream: a world where all female officers have to wear TINY miniskirts! It is Travis Willingham's dream too. We, the Miniskirt Army, are bringing this dream to life one skirt at a time. We are the few, the TALL, the Miniskirt Army… join us.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

You know us… we wear the skirts. You love us, might even worship us secretly. Now get to know the REAL us. It's time to take off the uniform (leaving on the skirt) and talk about who we really are.

A Homestuck-based murder mystery comedy show starring everyone's favorite type-quirky trolls. Can you help Prosecutor Terexi figure out the killers? Only Doc Scratch knows for sure.

A great way to get your questions answered about the fandom and show if you are a curious potential brony or just confused by the entire idea. Also a great way for already bronies to meet other bronies! So come play games, laugh, and sing! After all this panel is magic!

A panel designed to focus on audience driven discussions, where the audience decides what the next topic is. We take on everything from con related topics, to anime, to even real encounters of the "normal" kind. Won't you join us?

In this panel, people will take turns telling a story about an experience that relates to anime. Then everyone else will have to guess if it's true or false. After the storyteller gives the answer, anyone who guessed right gets a point and the storyteller will get a point for each wrong guess. Whoever has the most by the end of the game will receive a prize.

This panel will be going over the basics of online roleplay in the forum, chat, and Livejournal/Dreamwidth mediums. We will be discussing finding games, apping into them, codes of conduct, and other essential elements to online roleplaying.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

We will be covering what is considered adult roleplay and examining the different factors that make a roleplay adult. We will also be going over basic ground rules and tools one can use to help make adult RP more comfortable for oneself and others.

Shonen, sholo, seinen, josei; anime for adults or anime for children, or does it really matter? Come join us in an open forum as we discuss what it means be an older anime fan. All subjects are open from relating to a younger fandom, participating in the anime fandom, cosplay, to the anime we love.

(Includes gun gaffes!) Share your favorite over-the-top unbelievable scenes, tropes, and settings from recent shows and older works as well. Hilarity ensues…

Running a panel this year at Kumoricon? Come to this meeting to learn more about running panels during the convention as well as to ask any questions you may have. If you have any last minute tech needs or just want to confirm what you requested, this is also the place to get it taken care of.

We are trying to get the word out about Kumoricon, so we want to use parades as advertising! Come on in and help brainstorm! We want to hear about local parades, and try to work it so we can be in one!

This is a panel for all those selfless parents and guardians that come every year, yet don't know much about anime. We will help you understand the rating systems, where to get anime for your kids, how to supervise what they're watching, and best of all, answer your questions. Find out what is so great about anime to begin with and how you can be a part of your child's world.

If you've ever gotten blurry shots, out of focus subjects, or overexposed/underexposed photographs, this is the panel for you. Part 1 of this multi-part panel will cover the mechanics of how your camera works, how to avoid any mistakes you might be making with your camera, and how to get that perfect effect you're looking for.

Most of what makes a great photograph occurs outside of the camera. Part 2 of this multi-part panel will cover the technical and artistic aspects of lighting and position, with direct examples and plenty of time for questions. It's recommended that you attend the previous panel before this one.

Photography is all about attention, how and where you distribute your attention will profoundly affect the results you get. Part 3 of this multi-part panel will focus on where your attention will tend to go for the different styles of photography. It's recommended that you take the previous two panels before this one.

From the original manga to the anime, the musicals, the radio programs, themed Nico Nico shows, seiyuu festas, the Chinese drama and character CDs to the new manga series and anime, what makes Prince of Tennis so awesome? There will be spoilers for the original Prince of Tennis and for Shin Prince of Tennis, but staged so you can leave when we get to where you are.

Or, "Applying Basic Psychological Concepts to Understand Characters Better".

Ever wonder "Why did they do that?" This might be the answer. Highlighting: Saiyuki, Trigun, Fruits Basket, Host Club, FMA, and many others. Improve your fanfiction and make better original characters.

The Random Panel of Doom is back and better than ever. We had a whole year to purge ourselves of our sanity. We are now big balls of crazy wrapped in a masochistic psyche. From this point on, all your opinions will be twisted and later used against you! Fool!!!!

A returning popular panel about religious symbols, settings, costumes, and tropes as they are depicted in anime. Panelists come from a very diverse religious mix; all fans are welcome.

Come hear about our leader Vic Mignogna, Edward Elric, what the fanclub is, and play some more trivia with us.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

You know him. You love him. You also probably hate him? Anyway, one of the most beloved (good job if you read THAT with a straight face) guys from Kumoricon and Sakura-Con is going to get the roast he deserves, that troll. Join the Whose Line cast, as well as appearances by other folks from both Kumori and Sakura! (WARNING: REALLY BAD LANGUAGE AND JOKES WILL BE SAID HERE.)

(Age 21+ only—ID required at door)
(Ticketed event—see Programming Booth)

Kumoricon is proud to welcome back Portland's sake sommelier Marcus Pakiser for a fourth year. Marcus will talk about making sake and the various types of sake. A sampling of traditional Japanese sakes as well as American sake will be tasted. Advance ticket purchase required at the Programming Booth. Ticket fee: $10 (ID required at the door)

Initial P, music producer and owner of the Disko Warp label, gives you a crash course in selling your music online. Discussion topics will include distributing your music through iTunes and Bandcamp, licensing, how to legally release cover songs, accounting, and the all-important PROMOTION! This panel is great for any aspiring music producers or singers who want to know more about the business.

Join DWMA teachers, students, and a certain legendary sword for a class demonstration! Discuss the anime and manga, test your symmetrical drawing skills, get instructions from an expert on proper Shinigami-chops, and learn how to be the coolest Death Scythe ever. Prizes are going to be awarded to winners of our mini-contests and all panelists will be open to answering your questions and telling you all about the world of Soul Eater. Anyone is welcome to come!

Did you get three of the same Gashapon in the Exhibitors Hall? Have volumes 1, 2, and 4 of Naruto and are looking for 3? Come to the Swap Meet and try your luck! Bring your unwanted wall scrolls, figures, anime, manga, and anything else to trade. (Remember, this is intended for trading; if money must be used to even out a trade, please keep it under $5.)

Team Haberkorn is an official fan site created by and dedicated to Todd Haberkorn! Proceeds help out the animals at Acadiana Humane Society. This panel will present information on how to get involved with Team Haberkorn and answer questions from fans. Also, there will be lots of trivia, prizes, a compilation of scenes from Todd's works, games, and so much more! It's sure to be fun for everyone! Stop by and become a Haberkornian today!

Heard of Touhou? Want to find out more about Gensokyo and Danmaku? Or maybe you just want to hang out with other fans? All are welcome to the Touhou Project Panel! There, we'll have things set up for new, veteran, and any other type of Touhou fan, so swing on by and say hello!

Blocks, kicks, and self-defense techniques—come see the students of U.S. West Taekwondo demonstrate the basic elements of Taekwondo.

Have you ever wanted to do an anime crossover based on your own fan fiction or fan art? At Ultimate Anime Crossover, you can bring your own work to share with others. Everyone will then look over each other's work and come up with their own creative ways to connect it all into one epic story.

Always wanted to be a voice actor? Come and get some instruction on how to use your voice as an instrument to embody text. We'll be experimenting with Shakespeare and the Alexander technique.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

Come one, come all, and witness the terror! The horror! And the lulz! Come ready with your Dramamine and your sense of humor—we're going to read the worst fanfic that's out there. Please keep in mind that this is all done in lighthearted fun and no insult is intended.

Congratulations! You have made it to the part of the fan panels guide right before Yaoi and right after Slightly Anime Dating Game! You know what you should do? Treat yourself to Kumoricon's BEST (and only, shut up, we're cool) improv panel! Anything can happen here, because of your suggestions—we can even have a guest crash and make them be a Godzilla movie! You don't want to miss this!

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

Hi, I'm Sterling Archer, the world's most famous secret agent. Know how I am so awesome? I used to do Whose Line with Bressler and his friends. Plus he let me swear like an ADULT. AN ADULT. So no, you can't go, little kid. The wee baby Seamus can't go, and neither can you. But if you are an adult, you should go. Because those guys are pretty awesome. Now leave me alone, I have a Burt Reynolds movie marathon I am finishing up on.

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

A basic discussion of yaoi and the terminology used in it. Come join us and share your favorite titles as well as discuss upcoming ones! We will be viewing one or two episodes of one as well as have a brief reading from one of our manga!

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

This is the game where con culture and pop culture COLLIDE. Are you prepared for Dis or Dats, Impossible questions, and screwing your opponent? Then join us at Kumoricon 2012!

(Age 18+ only—ID stamp required—see Programming Booth)

A basic discussion of yuri and the terminology used in it. Come join us and share your favorite titles as well as discuss upcoming ones! We will be viewing one or two episodes of one as well as have a brief reading from one of our manga!

LARP, or Live Action Role Playing takes role-playing games to the next level. Instead of sitting around your table, rolling dice, you dress as your character, act as your character, speak as your character. Think of it as a mesh of role-playing games and drama (theatre, TV, movies, anime, etc.). For the games below, you don't need to know how to act. If you get the general idea of "playing pretend" you have all you need to know. All the rules will be explained to the players at the beginning of games, and a Storyteller (that's the person in charge) will always be available if you have any questions. Costumes are highly encouraged (we'll be dressed up, so should you!).

Amtgard is a battle-gaming and live-action fantasy role-playing and boffer combat game, primarily based in the United States as well as other countries (Germany, Croatia, Canada, Korea, and a few more). In short, we are a combat LARP based around medieval fantasy. This panel will consist of a quick intro to the rules, basic boffer combat, and an open Q&A at the end.

"Kill" your friends before they "kill" you. Complete special missions. And WIN PRIZES!!!!! All while enjoying the convention.

Need to blow off some steam, or burn some energy? Test your skill in grand melee as well as your tactics in a small group scenario. Combat will be safe and structured. One-on-one, small-group, and last-man-standing scenarios will be played out. Padded weapons will be provided; no outside weapons will be allowed. Waivers will be required to participate, and those under 18 years must have a parent or guardian sign the waiver.

You're already dressed up in costume as your favorite character? Then come and play them in this silly, fun live-action role-playing game, along with other characters from all over time and space. Granted, that happens a lot at The Floating Vagabond, the odd little bar in the middle of space with the special time/space portal built in. Meet new people, have a drink and maybe try to find your way home (or just hang out and enjoy!).

It's that time of year again, and the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are gearing up for another round of Quidditch! It's just a bit of friendly competition, but everyone wants their own team to come out on top. Who will walk away with the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup? Show your house pride and aerial skills in the wizarding world's most popular sport. Keep an eye out for that Snitch, and help lead your team to victory!

Fill the role of a "cosplaymon trainer", or the cosplaymon themselves as you battle your way to fame and bragging rights in this Pokémon-inspired tournament LARP. Waivers will be required to participate, and those under 18 years must have a parent or guardian sign the waiver.

The Chibi room is a place for exploring the natural cultural curiosity of children and teens through simple arts and crafts. Be it by coloring manga style artwork or recreating their own Japanese style garden, the Chibi Room will help nurture the ever growing creative bonds through simple arts and crafts. For a schedule of activities, please see the pocket guide.

Please remember that children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. A Japanese promise ring or bracelet is a symbol of good luck. Make one for yourself, or give it to a friend or loved one.

During these periods we will have manga-style artwork and traditional items used or seen commonly to color.

We have a fairly good sized selection of items that we will be going over and learning how to fold.

Create your own sumie style painting, or make a Japanese-style fan.

Make a koi kite to fly from a pole or hang.

Create your own construction paper lantern.

We'll provide the outlines, you provide the inspiration. Leave the workshop with a fully jointed paper doll dressed in your choice of costume. We'll have several doll templates to choose from; you get to customize it into the character of your choice.

You see them on the chests of the military, on the headbands of the brave, on the sashes of the wise. There's always some sign of what or who a person is. In this panel we will be making badges, pins, rank insignia, or patches. We'll be using hot glue and needles (but no sewing!) so little fingers shouldn't come alone. If you can't find the badge you want, why don't you come make it?

Call them softies, plushies, stuffies or just good ol' stuffed animals, plush toys are amazing to make and quite the rage. This panel is for people with a bit of sewing know-how who want to learn how to make and modify a four-legged friend pattern. Several patterns will be on hand to choose from, or make up your own! Basic sewing skills helpful, but not required.

Sometimes we just want to draw adorable chibis! If you're looking for some tips and hints on how to make your chibi maximum cute, come to this panel!

Want to make a dolly but don't have the time? Is your pocket crying out because you don't have a little friend to carry around? Is your life less fulfilling because you just aren't covered in chibis?? Have no fear, CHIBISPLOSION is here! Using a bit of sewing and the magic of needle felting, we will create tiny chibi versions of anyone you wish.

Come make dollies with us! We will supply the felt, stuffing, needles and know-how, you supply the fingers and frontal lobes. Each person will get to make their very own dolly, and be able to dress it, too! Beginning crafters welcome. Tiny fingers may need help with sewing and scissors. Who will you make to take home with you?

Do you like paper? Do you like to fold paper? Then this is the panel for you! All experience levels are welcome, from first-timers to origami veterans. Learn to fold the elusive crane and much more! Stay until the end for a special surprise!

Even if you're not an artist, Photoshop and other programs can be used to contribute to the artistic fan community in other ways. LiveJournal and other blogging sites use 100x100 icons, banners are great for advertising (or just telling the world about your favorite show), and sometimes an e-greeting card can be all it takes to cheer a friend up. Learn some simple methods of creating awesome graphics to use just about anywhere! (Includes a segment on coloring black and white images.)

Like to draw, but find your art is lacking something? Then let Jeni teach you the ways of traditional art methods! Combining Western-style aesthetics to anime-style artwork, this workshop will give you a breakdown of how to use hue, value, and shading to make your art pop, as well as a basic lesson on proper anatomy to help with those annoying little proportion issues.

Regular dollies not your style? Do you like the horror, the splatterpunk, the undead? Come join us for the darker version of our dolly making class. We'll be making voodoo and zombie dolls, with less emphasis on costumes and more on brains, guts, and the magic that holds them all together. All ages welcome, as long as you don't mind a little stuffing showing.

An old Kumoricon classic, a silly game of mixed up stories and anime characters! Players are given a ridiculous story with blank spaces, and others give them prompts to fill in the blanks and create an even sillier story!

Tips on writing all forms of short stories, such as standalones and drabbles. Assisting with story plotting and form will be available.

Meet up with other participants in the Kumoricon Fan Art Contest and talk about drawing, get critiques, tips, and tricks from other fan art lovers, or just have fun! Contest results will be announced during the panel.

A time for the Kumoricon Fan Fiction Contest authors to meet, discuss fan fiction reading and writing, and get critiques on their work from the judges. Contest results will be announced during the panel.

Experts in the art of fanficcing will explain the basics of writing good fanfiction, lend some helpful tips and tricks, and be willing to answer any questions you may have. Both newcomers to the fanfiction world and seasoned writers are welcome!

Some fanfics are like a good novel. However the fans who write them aren't just superbly talented and unreachable. With some tricks, tips, a lot of practice, and good criticism, anyone's writing (including yours!) can be of that level.

Tired from a long day of Kumoricon fun? Grab your pillows, bring a blanket, and join us for an evening of fun and fanciful stories, starring your favorite fictional characters! Print out your own stories and take a turn reading them out loud! Didn't bring your work along? Borrow a staff laptop and look it up online! All writers are welcome… just don't forget to warn for spoilers!

Whether you're a first-time filker or a veteran performer, everyone is welcome to come filk up the con with your own original anime and gaming song parodies! Try out a new song in a friendly setting, get feedback on your lyrics and performing skills, chat with other filkers, or just drop by to watch the fun! 'Cause, baby, we perform this way.

Are you wild for Weird Al? Do you sing along with Doctor Demento? Have you always wanted to try writing a song parody, but weren't sure how to start? Drop by to hear a rundown of the basics of "filking" (fandom song parodies), see a sample performance by FilkAeris, and participate as we write and perform a brand-new anime filk right here at the con!

A Creation Station classic! Scenes from a Hat is a fanfiction, fanart, and fan improvisational theater contest wherein participants are challenged to produce a piece of written, drawn, or performed fanwork inspired by a written prompt, but the results that they produce will be for adult eyes only. Prizes will be given to the best participants!

A Creation Station classic! Story, Story, Die is a round-robin story game with a twist! Groups of people get together to tell a story out loud based on prompts given by the audience, but should a person fail to come up with the next part of the story in a timely manner they are "killed" by the crowd calling out "Story, Story, DIE!"

Located at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, Console Gaming and Legacy LAN Gaming are back at Kumoricon, now better than ever!

Down in the parking garage, Console Gaming will be offering a wide selection of titles of both old and new across all of the current generation systems for your enjoyment. Itching for some Gundam? Tetris Attack? Naruto? Check out console signups for a late night tournament slot. We'll be throwing together some side tournaments over the weekend!

Be sure to check out our hosted tournaments for popular hits such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Persona 4 Arena, and Soul Calibur—times can be found in the schedule.

On the 2nd floor, Kumoricon offers LAN computer gaming with open play to our attendees. We feature games like Minecraft, Earth's Special Forces, Magicka, and Tribes: Ascend. Casual gamer looking to kill a few minutes? Hardcore gamer looking to crush your foes? You've come to the right place!

Test your team against our Pokémon expert! Battle to try to win your very own gym badge for free.

If IVs and EVs mean nothing to you, swing by to learn about the competitive world of Pokémon VG. Learn tips and helpful information on how to breed your very own competitive team without the use of Pokésav or Action Replay.

Want to know what it's like to compete in an official Pokémon tournament? Come play in our free competitive structure tourney. Each person selects 4 Pokémon to fight with and uses them in a double battle. You could win Dream World ability Pokémon!

More used to playing single battles? Want to try it out? Test your team against other con members in our free 6 vs. 6 tourney! You could win Dream World ability Pokémon!

Located in the Hilton parking garage, Tabletop Gaming will be open for the duration of con for anyone to play CCGs, RPGs, or any of the board and card games available. Open Play opportunities are available at all hours. Don't see your favorite game on the schedule? Be sure to check Tabletop Gaming for additional gaming events not listed below.

Celebrating its seventh year in Portland's gaming community, Guardian Games is Portland's grandest game store. We've survived two moves, an epic windstorm, and a brutal recession, so we're here to stay! Come check us out as Tabletop Gaming's 2012 in-room vendor, drop by our retail store at 303 SE 3rd Ave, or visit us online at www.ggportland.com.

With 14,000+ game items in stock every day, if we don't have what you're looking for, let us endeavor to find it. From the latest and greatest, to the nostalgic and ancient, we love games and the people who play them! Our goal is to bring the community together. Guardian's monthly calendar is jam-packed with recurring and special events to fit every gamers needs. You name it, we play it!

Come join the Thunder Gym for free Pokémon fun! Get your picture taken with your favorite Unova Pokémon at our AR photo booth. Participate in our trading card and video game tournaments to win great prizes. Don't miss out on our giveaways, raffles, and so much more!

Once again, GameStorm is bringing their famous library of hundreds of board and card games to Tabletop Gaming at Kumoricon. Drop by the parking garage of the Hilton to play a few games and check out the selection. Look for orange cones to find a game that need more players to start, or check out a game yourself and place an orange cone on your table to attract players.

GameStorm is an annual gaming convention that takes place in the Hilton every March. GameStorm 15 will be March 21-24, 2013. See our web site at www.gamestorm.org or follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/gamestormcon

You are a monarch, like your parents before you, a ruler of a small pleasant kingdom of rivers and evergreens. Unlike your parents, however, you have hopes and dreams! You want a Dominion! But wait, several other monarchs have had the exact same idea. You must race to get as much of the unclaimed land as possible, fending them off along the way. To do this you will hire minions, construct buildings, spruce up your castle, and fill the coffers of your treasury. Your parents wouldn't be proud, but your grandparents would be delighted.

The worlds of Fallout and My Little Pony collide in a game where you take control of a character in the blasted wastes of Equestria and fight to survive. Choose your role in a team of four and duke it out with the other team for dominance in a custom-built combat system striving to emulate the feel of the Fallout games. Why ponies? Well, little candy-colored equines shooting at each other in a magically blasted wasteland are just adorable little things, aren't they? Plus the magic inherent in Equestria adds a whole new dimension to the Fallout formula.

The game is 4 vs. 4, with each team having 4 different pre-built characters that the players can choose from. The roles the players can pick up are: Soldier, Mage, Medic, and either Demolitions expert or Magical Energy Weapons expert. We fight until one team remains. Miniatures will be provided.

Brought to you by Stable-Tec, the best in post-apocalyptic survival technology! Reserve your spot in a Stable today!

The card game with ever changing rules! It starts out simple, with just the Basic Rule card: draw one card and play one card during each player's turn. But New Rule cards quickly make things chaotic. Even the object of the game will change as you play, as players swap out one Goal card for another. Can you Rocket to the Moon before someone changes the goal to Death by Chocolate?

It's midnight, and the munchkins come out to play! Come join us for an epic round of Steve Jackson Games' Munchkin card game. Play with cards from every available Munchkin set and expansion! Feel the effects of sleep deprivation! In these wee hours, who knows what might happen… but some things are certain. You will kill monsters. You will steal the treasure. And you will stab your buddy in the back.

Come compete in a three-day, four-round Munchkin event. Each round will be played with a different combination of Munchkin sets and expansions. Backstab the competition to the grand prize!

Declare your allegiance in this cosmic struggle! Combining Munchkin Fu and Munchkin Booty from Steve Jackson Games' popular Munchkin card game line, this event promises to be a historic moment in the ultimate showdown for supremacy. The line has been drawn. Will you karate chop your buddy or make him walk the plank?

Now you can join the elite Ninja Burger delivery team! As a Ninja Burger trainee you will learn the secrets of stealth, swordsmanship, and customer service as you deliver tasty burgers and fries throughout the world. You will bring honor to your franchise. Failure is not an option.

Puzzle Strike is a card game played with cardboard chips instead of cards that simulates a puzzle video game called Puzzle Fighter that, in turn, simulates the fighting game Street Fighter that is emulated in Puzzle Fighter. If you don't understand any of that, that's ok! Just choose one of ten playable characters and get ready for back-and-forth craziness and wild combos in this unique deck building game.

Neko-chan, the catgirl, is cute… therefore she must be pelted with various objects! Plushies, water, fangirls, you name it! Build up an arsenal of items to throw at the catgirl, or use them as bait to lure her over. The player with the most points at the end is Champion of Everything. And you want that.

Tournament duration, promos, and prizes will be based on the number of participants. Registration starts one hour before the event.

Bring an Emperor Edition deck and come play in our L5R CCG constructed tournament. Entry fee: none.

A fun alternative to a normal draft, in a Chaos Draft each player chooses three 15-card booster packs from any set or expansion to draft with. There will be a variety of packs available, but if you want to open packs from a particular expansion (such as Unhinged) you may want to bring your own. Entry Fee: about $10 (includes 3 booster packs), but may vary based upon the price of packs chosen.

Bring your favorite EDH (aka Commander) deck and compete in this variant multi-player constructed tournament. Entry fee: none.

Draft is a staple format for trading cards games in which players take turns selecting cards out of three packs and then building a deck on the spot. Players will be selecting cards out of booster packs from the Avacyn Restored set. This is a DCI sanctioned event. Entry fee: $10.

Grab a partner and join us for a Two-Headed Giant Sealed Deck tournament using Magic 2013. Each team receives eight booster packs to construct two decks with. This is a DCI sanctioned event. Entry fee: $25.

Draft format using booster packs from the latest core set, Magic 2013. This is a DCI sanctioned event. Entry fee: $10.

Modern is the newest constructed format for Magic: the Gathering. Decks are built using cards from sets printed in or after Eighth Edition and the first Mirrodin Block. In other words, any card with the new (or modern) card frame. This is a DCI sanctioned event. Entry fee: none.

Bring a Standard Legal deck and come play in this MTG constructed tournament. This is a DCI sanctioned event. Entry fee: none.

See who's the best deck builder! Each player receives six booster packs which they will use to build a 40-card deck. Prizes available! Entry fee: $20.

Test your Pokémon card game skills in this fun, casual tournament. Battle against others using provided theme decks. Entry fee: none.

Have your Pokémon deck on you? Come play in our unlimited tournament. Feeling rusty? Attend one of our Learn to Play events to get a refresher.

Experience raiding content through the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. Play the role of a hero as you storm Icecrown Citadel with your friends against the evil that has plagued Northrend for too long. Play as Highlord Tirion Fordring, Lady Jaina Proudmoore, or Queen Sylvanas Windrunner and battle against the Lich King! Each player takes a deck, and the three heroes of Azeroth team up to free the land from the threats of Icecrown Citadel. Entry Fee: none.

Bring an Advanced Format legal deck and come play in our Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG constructed tournament. Entry fee: none.

Each player receives 5 booster packs to construct a deck with. Entry fee: $20.

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a real live Pokémon master? Now you can! Swing by for one of our Learn to Play sessions to find out all you need to know to get started in the Pokémon TCG.

Take home a great Kumoricon souvenir! Come get your picture taken free with your favorite Unova Pokémon.

Come by to help vote for the winners of our art contest. The winners each day will be chosen by the crowd so make sure to send all your friends to vote for your piece!

Come show off your coloring and artistic skills. Enter your piece into the contest for a chance to win for free. Winners will be chosen at 5pm, so make sure to come vote for your favorite!

Want to win awesome Pokémon stuff? Well you've come to the right place! The more Pokémon events you participate in throughout the day, the more raffle tickets you will earn. So come on by and play in a free tourney, learn how to play the game, and have some fun!