Ninja magic: iconic anime hero Naruto is coming to Manchester and Glasgow!

 Ninja magic: iconic anime hero Naruto is coming to Manchester and Glasgow!

It's official, anime fans; Manchester and Glasgow will be playing host to much-loved ninja Naruto later this year! Maile Flanagan, the voice of iconic anime hero Naruto Uzumaki, is to be a special guest at both July's MCM Manchester Comic Con and September's MCM Scotland Comic Con, show organisers have announced. As well as meeting fans and signing autographs, Maile will be taking part in on-stage panels at both events.

Since taking on the role of Naruto in 2005, Maile Flanagan has played the hot-blooded über ninja in more than 200 episodes of Naruto and over 275 episodes of sequel series Naruto: Shippuden, as well as appearing in numerous spin-off feature films and games.

In addition to voicing one of anime's most famous protagonists, Maile's live action appearances include US sitcom Lab Rats, Jim Carrey comedy Yes Man and acclaimed indie rom-com (500) Days of Summer. She has also voiced characters in animations such as Rango, Ice Age 3 and kids' cartoon Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, for which she scooped a Daytime Emmy Award.

Tickets to MCM Comic Cons are available at: www.mcmexpostore.com

MCM MANCHESTER COMIC CON – MANCHESTER CENTRAL – 25-26 JULY

 MCM SCOTLAND COMIC CON – GLASGOW SECC – 26-27 SEPTEMBER

Website: www.mcmcomiccon.com
Twitter: @MCMExpo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcmexpo
YouTube at www.youtube.com/mcmexpo

Writing for Afa Channel

Recently I was honoured to have been asked to write for Afa Channel - this is a massive convention based in Singapore headed by the likes of Danny Choo one of my idols. This event is split into several and tours different countries.

To keep up with updates, footage, interviews, cosplay and reviews they have a beautiful packed website for all your needs. At the moment I am doing cosplay features and the odd feature including my opinion of Pharrel William's new anime-video game video It Girl and My review of the anime Golden Girl.

This site has lots of enjoy so I recommend you peruse if you are an Otaku or want an honest opinion.

View my recent tribute to the now ended Manga, Naruto, with my cosplay photo set on the strong and beautiful Kunoichi (part 1):

http://www.afachan.asia/2014/10/cosplay-our-favorite-naruto-cosplays-part-1-the-beautiful-strong-kunoichi/

Keep dreaming high,

Aisha

LAGC 2014

Cosplay !

London Anime Convention with additional Gaming has set out in the same venue but with an extra building to accommodate the games and with a sponsorship of £1000 from Game, they had lots of offer.

With a whopping turn out of 2,000 people, LAGC really performed better than it’s predecessors with a more spaced out games area showcasing Game, Namco/Baindai, League of Legends and even card games.

The Otaku Fashion show was now overseen by new management and Boy Kitten selected models for their fashion input which had to be Japanese related. They had a mix of Sweet Lolita, punk and corsets with an array of models with variety of looks and sizes. The cosplay varied and they had some League of Legends mascots turn up alongside some popular anime series characters like Danganrompa and human-pokemon variations.

Otaku Fashion show with me

Alongside the Cosplay guests including Chiquitita Cosplay, Stacey Rebecca, Lisa Marie, Tabitha Lyons with Artyfakes. Chiquitita Cosplay, Stacey Rebecca, Lisa Marie, joined myself and Rebecca Moriarty on stage for the cosplay on TV panel, where we talked about the perceptions of cosplay, how staged TV is and how you film a lot of footage but alot can be used to convey the opposite.

Sweet Lolita's at Otaku fashion show :)

One of the joys LAC is famous for is bringing over fantastic voice actors. This year it was the friendly Coleen Clinkenbeard. Voicing many of our favourite characters like Yuko from xxxHolic, Trinity Blood – Esther Blanchett, One Piece – Monkey D. Luffy, Fairy Tail – Erza Scarlet, Summer Wars – Noriko Jinnouchi, Borderlands – Lilith,  Space Dandy – Scarlett and so much more. Despite being pregnant, she happily signed peoples posters, took photos with fans and did a great Q&A.

Chiquitita Cosplay, AlienQueen, Hariett and me

YY Kawaii decoden XD

The cosplay masquerade was an especially great show this year, with impressive character skits and on stage marriage proposal between Zelda and Link, people really got their monies worth with tutorials with ArtyFakes, performances from Ellie Monty, Maid’s of England and Abridgers.


Ai My Maid set up a pop up cafe at LAGC supplying some delicious cakes by D’s Karen’s Kakes and

Selling out fast on the Saturday, get your hands on one of these quality art pieces here: https://www.facebook.com/canime.ltd

Another highlight was YYKawaii run by Yik Yun the CEO who makes decoden phone cases and now mirrors to suit our kawaii needs. Using Japanese figures and cute accessories to make commissioned pieces too:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/YY-Kawaii

Charming Kitsune studio makes some of the highest quality animegao kigurumi masks out of Japan. You may have seen them at Hyper Japan and MCM not saying a word but posing for photos. They also offer skin suits to go with the heads. I took the opportunity to try one on and suprising it is comfortable, light weight and easy to navigate as the eye holes are reasonably sized.

Prices vary on the models: http://www.charmingkitsune.com/
Krafts, it’s great to see the anime community working side by side together. Great stalls around the venue include Caime selling there exclusive print canvases designed by the brothers themselves.

www.charmingkitsune.com/

As the evening went on the live music began on stage by the bar and people were partying hard. A great event to socialise, enjoy fashion, cosplay and buy merchandise.

This article was originally written for Animepicks.co.uk which is no more, photos belong to Caroline Mound photography.

Find out more about London Anime & Gaming Con here: http://www.londonanimecon.com/

For more events, news on anime, games, J fashion and Jculture follow me on Twitter and Facebook. ^_^ Aisha Anime

Asian Kung Fu Generation at O2 Academy Islington

Since the arrival of Big Bang, Kyari in the UK even classic indie rockers Asian Kung Fu Generation came to town. For £18 (per ticket, standing only) Asian Kung Fu Generation performed to a packed out O2 Islington Academy venue. The Queue spanned from the door, to outside the mall, to the street. If you were one of the lucky go-ers then you will shout "Naruto" with pride.

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Yokohama, Japan, in 1996. Formed with the members band Masafumi Gotō (vocalist), Kensuke Kita (guitarist, Takahiro Yamada (bassist), and Kiyoshi Ijichi (drummer). The band's musical style is influenced by seminal Western punk and alternative rock acts in conjunction with their own local Japanese indie rock background. As a result, their songs maintain a balance of various aspects of the genres, most typically expressing fast-paced tempos and prominent, hard-edged guitar riffs as well as rhythmic flow and emotional lyrics.

Despite the indie nature of their music, the band has enjoyed worldwide commercial success in addition to critical acclaim. They have done songs for anime such as: Naruto, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist and many more. They have even featured in Nintendo and Konami musical games.

The venue itself was intimate which was perfect. You felt so close to the stage and band. If you had queued early to get a good spot near the front then eating would of been an essential. Casually strolling in McDonalds you would have bumped into the band themselves having a quick burger before the show with their entourage.

The gig started promptly at 6:30 with a mixture of hits from all their albums with a lot of otakus pleasers, it had a great vibe - everyone was head bopping and foot taping on the second floor, looking from the balcony to the stage. A great addition was a TV screen for the 2nd floor s if you wanted to rest on the sofas you could still watch the show.

Then a great keepsake of the event was to use the 02 Academy Islington photobooth, where you could get photos with your friends to remember the event. It was an event where you would bump into your anime community friends and catch up. You also had access to two bars, upstairs and down with the usual refreshments including jelly shots for just £1.

For more adventures into anime, cosplay, gaming and events follow me on Facebook and twitter. 

^_^ Aisha Anime