It is almost time for the 20th edition of AnimeCon, the biggest anime convention of The Netherlands, with as theme Queens of the Round STable. From Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June, the organisation behind the convention, J-POP Foundation, will have a grand celebration at the World Forum.
The program is pack-jammed with interesting (cosplay) contests, workshops, video programs, music programs and more. The convention will run 52 hours and offers more than 200 events that are related to Japan. There are still tickets for the convention, if you are still interested to go last-minute.
With so many interesting events during Anime 2018, it was really difficult to find 10 interesting events, without naming all the musical artists in a list. But let’s start counting!
1. Musical artists from main act JAM Project to NECRONOMIDOL to Speakerheadz to X Made Alcoholic Santaclaus
The main act of Anime 2018 is already very impressive, JAM Project is for the anime lovers a big name, but the organisation behind the convention didn’t stop there. They announced 6 other acts that will perform live for Anime 2018. This musical line-up shows that the organisation wants to celebrate their 20th anniversary big, it has never been this big.
For the live show of JAM Project is an extra concert ticket provided, which you can buy in advance at the Information desk during the convention (or you buy it now online at the Ticket booth). The concert will take place on Saturday from 20.30 at the King Willem Alexander Theater.
The other Live House concerts will mostly take place on Saturday at the Amazon starting with Speakerheadz (11.00), NECRONOMIDOL (13.00), Numb’n’Dub (15.00), Savage States (16.00), X Made Alcoholic Santaclaus (18.30) and on Sunday the anime cover band Dress Up Town will perform at 14.30.
During Deshima Sounds will Numb’n’Dub and Savage States take place behind the DJ table to give a special live show. Deshima Sounds will take place on Saturday from 22.00.
With some of the musicians, it is possible to have a Meet and Greet at Anime Open Stage. More information can be found on this page.
2. Early Queens of Japan
To fit with the theme of this year, there will be a lecture about the seven empresses that reigned in Japan from the 6th until the 9th century AD. In ancient times Japan was not the patriarchal society it is today. The very first mention of Japan in ancient Chinese describes it as the country of Wa, reigned by a queen Himiko, as only her wisdom could stop the chieftains from fighting each other.
This lecture, that will be given on Saturday from 16.00 at Antartica, will paint a picture of life in early Japan and the court and military tradition of the times. Why was Japan reigned by so many empresses in the Asuka and Nara periods? What did it mean to be empress in those days and did they really reign? What changed in Japanese culture that there were only two empresses since then?
3. A discussion on the 2018 Underground Tokyo Idol Scene
Having spent years attending shows and also working in the Tokyo underground idol scene, Japanese horror author and idol expert Derek Vasconi will discuss and outline the 2018 Tokyo chika idol scene. This lecture will be given on Saturday from 22.00 at South America.
4. Studio Ghibli & Michael Dudok de Wit
The Red Turtle is the first animated feature film by Michael Dudok de Wit, an Oscar-winning Dutch director and the first co-production from Studio Ghibli. In this lecture you learn more about de Wit’s work and this film. The lecture will be given at Antartica from 10.00 and at 11.40 you will have the chance to watch the movie at Mississippi.
5. Japan Travel Guide
For those who want to go to Japan, but feel slightly intimidated about it, this lecture might be interesting for you. Gino, a Akihabara explorer, Japanese baseball fan and onsen enthusiast, and Sanne, a lover of (almost all Japanese foods, skincare fanatic and Rurouni Kenshin fan, will tell you all about how to organise your trip. What do you need to have with you and which places are best to visit. The lecture has a combined 20 years of experience in travelling to Japan, and we love to share what they have learned in that time. They will start with the very basics, but also talk about other necessities. The lecture will take place on Sunday from 12.00, will take 1 hour and 30 minutes, and will take place at Antartica.
6. Talking about the Japanese underground rave scene
Have you ever heard of the legendary club “Mogra”? To a few among us, they know it’s one of the most popular clubs in Japan which frequently hosts Nerdcore (geek) rave parties in Akiba. But there are certainly more out there! Numb’n’Dub will be talking about the Japanese Underground Club Culture, specially for Hardcore, Anime, Breakcore, Funkot and Bass music within the Nerdcore scene in Japan. He will also talk about his frequent experiences as performer within these clubs. Want to know more or have questions, come join the lecture on Sunday from 12.00 at Anime Open Stage.
7. Singing workshop
This workshop is for those who love karaoke, but has friends who are always complaining that you are always singing off key or are not confident enough to sing with full power. Katja Theresia, better known as Murasaki Mahou, will teach you some basic techniques of singing, such as proper breath support and singing from the stomach instead of the throat. And of course it’s also about having fun singing together and perhaps gain some confidence which you can take with you to the karaoke room! The workshop will take place on Saturday from 15.00 at Europe.
8. Maid-, butler- and ninja café’s
This year there will be a few maid- and butler café’s at the convention, but also a ninja café straight from Japan! One of the best known café’s are Sparkling Potpourri and Royal Roulette. Both cafés are placed at The Lobby (Archonia Event Plaza) on the Ground Floor on all days from different times. Neko Neko Ni Maid Café will have two sections with a maid café experience and food stall where you can get fresh meals. On Saturday the café will be seifuku themed, where the maids will wair Japanese school uniforms. There will also be singing performances. Neko Neko Ni Maid Café will be open on all three days and can be found on Archonia Event Plaza. Sakura Suigetsu (桜水月) is a maid and ninja café in Akihabara in Tokyo, especially for Animecon’s 20th anniversary they will fly to The Hague to offer the visitors an authentic maid and ninja café experience. On Saturday they will operate as maid café, and on Friday and Sunday they will be a Ninja café, and that will be the first time. The café can be found at Volga 1 and to visit the café it is based on first come, first served.
9. DIY Matcha freakshakes
InfiniTea will take you into the world of Japanese Matcha. At this workshop you will go on a journey of Matcha. You will learn what you can do with this healthy superfood tea, will work with Matcha drinks and will receive delicious Matcha Madness. To take part in the workshop, you need to buy a ticket of € 2,50. You can get one at the Information desk during the convention. The workshop will take place on Friday from 21.00 at Antartica.
10. A chat with…
During Anime 2018 there will be a few cosplay events, such as Clara Cow’s Cosplay Cup, CICAF, Euro Cosplay, World Cosplay Summit, among many others. For those interested in what goes in the minds of the judges and contestants, the interviews at Anime Open Stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, are maybe interested to visit. Different judges and contestants will take place at Anime Open Stage and will talk about cosplay and life during a relaxed conversation. The exact planning can be found on this page, but the interviews are for example with Jessie Pridemore, Elina Cosplay, Tae Yeon and the champions and runner ups of The Clara Cow Cosplay Cup. Some of these interviews will also be live streamed through the Facebook page of Animecon.
There is of course much, much more to do at Anime 2018. Everything can be found on the website of the convention itself, with an easy hour-to-hour timeline to make your planning easy. It will be the last time that Animecon will take place at World Forum, the organisation has announced to move to Ahoy in Rotterdam next year.
Source: Animecon
