Is it already this time again? Abunai! 2019 will start in less than two weeks and the programma has been announced by the organisation. With High Tech, Low Life as the theme for this year, it is expected that a lot of cyberpunk references will be made during the weekend of 23, 24 and 25 August at the usual location, NH Hotel Koningshof in Veldhoven, near Eindhoven.
Like every year, AVO Magazine picks out 10 activities that you cannot miss during the upcoming 2019 edition of Abunai!
1. Lecture: Abunai! Presents: Cyberpunk in Anime
The theme of this year’s convention is High Tech, Low Life and that is the description of cyberpunk, but what exactly is cyberpunk? What makes a work of fiction cyberpunk? Why is it a genre commonly associated with anime? What are some of the most famous anime examples? There are quite a few anime series shown during this edition of Abunai! that fits in this genre, but get your introduction in this lecture. This lecture is age-restricted (16+) and will be given on Saturday from 13.30 in Room 52.
2. So You Think You Know Anime?
So… You think you know anime? In that case, now is your chance to show it! Join the game show with a team of 4 and compete against another team to answer questions related to all kinds of anime. From knowledge of the characters, story points, openings, and even the production staff, anything can be asked! This show will be held twice during Abunai! 2019 on Friday from 15:00 to 16:30 and Saturday from 20:30 to 22:00, the location is the Parkzaal.
3. Veggie Gyoza Workshop
As you might know, ramen and gyoza are Japanese dishes that are currently big and booming in the world. However, not many people know that gyoza originally came from China, after which it was adapted to the Japanese style. Noriko Aoki, also known as Tokyo Doll will give a workshop at Abunai! 2019 where you will learn how to make vegetarian gyoza. As this is a food workshop, please wash your hands beforehand! Signing up is required beforehand, you can sign-up during the convention at the info desk. You will need to pay a €10 fee to attend. The Veggie Gyoza Workshop will take place on the lazy Sunday of the convention at Room 55 which is a special workshop room for food.
4. FAKE ISLAND
Metalcore band FAKE ISLAND will start the musical Saturday evening on the mainstage from 17.30. The band consists of two female vocalists, YuuriBjoux and Erica. In terms of vocals, they are quite the opposite of one another but do also complement each other: one does the growls section, the other the clean vocals. In September 2017, FAKE ISLAND released their first self-titled mini-album. In January of this year, bassist HARIBOW decided to leave the band, but since the end of June bass player Igarashi, who acted as one of the support members, became officially the newest member of FAKE ISLAND. Furthermore, FAKE ISLAND consists of guitarist Matsumoto and drummer Reiji, the person who started with FAKE ISLAND in early 2017. After the performance, it is possible to get your merchandise signed and ask some questions.
5. Sci-fi Manga and Anime Quiz
Want to test your knowledge of science fiction anime and manga? In this quiz event, presented by Aniway, the whole audience gets to participate and everyone gets a shot at winning prizes. Join the quiz on Saturday afternoon from 14.00 at Boszaal.
6. Abunai! Presents: Dutch Dubs From Your Childhood
Get ready for episodes of anime you saw in your childhood… in Dutch! You can only watch them on the Friday evening, just after 21.00 at the Auditorium. Which anime series you will see haven’t been announced, but if they don’t show an episode of Barbapappa, then it is expected that it got stolen by [redacted]. Please note: this is a video showcase of anime dubbed in Dutch. As such, all video fragments shown will be in Dutch. English subtitles are not available, but maybe it is interesting to hear some Dutch language for study purposes.
7. Cyberpunk themes anime series and films
Dive more into the cyberpunk world through the various anime series that you can watch during the 2019 edition of Abunai!, series like Serial Experiments Lain and Akira will be shown at the Auditorium. It is also possible to watch newer anime series at the Video Room. Check the programme for exact times and locations. On Sunday evening you will be able to watch a Mystery Movie.
8. Fandub Competition
FanDubFans will be hosting the fourth annual fandubbing competition at Abunai! 2019. On Saturday afternoon from 15.30, you will see the several fun submissions. The location for this competition is Parkzaal. It is still possible to join this competition by sending your submission before 21 August. On the website of Abunai! it is possible to find more information about the rules and such.
9. Interactive LARP Experience
This year the organisation will mix a traditional convention with an interactive live-action roleplaying (LARP) experience in this year’s theme. Abunai! 2019: High Tech, Low Life gives guests the possibility to become part of an interactive live-action roleplaying experience. This possibility is entirely optional and free to join.
Eindhoven, Sector VH-117 aka King’s Court. The Near-Future.
The Abunai! Festival will once again mark the end of the summer. However, Direktor Mar-K of megacorp NSI has a vision for the much-beloved get-together. A cold vision of regulated “fun”. A mysterious hacker known only as the Phantom Fox has vowed to stop him, to make sure the festival stays true to its free fun roots. Will you join his cause? Or would you rather see Mar-K’s goal succeed? Or simply join the merchants to cruise along and rake in huge profits from the good vs. evil chaos.
Before starting this experience, you should read the Player’s Guide and more that have been published on a special page of the website of Abunai! and do read the special newspaper that was linked on the flyer as well.
10. High Tech Low Life
It has been a while that two musical acts performed at Abunai! and it is especially intriguing that this year the band with the name of this year’s theme will perform at the Dutch convention. All the way from Okinawa, the cyberpunk act HighTechLowLife (or High Tech Low Life, as they write in two ways) will perform in The Netherlands for the first time. The band from the year 2069 and combines industrial sounds with retro synths with raw guitars, drums, and a wide range of intense vocals – they bring immense energy to the stage – the audio and visual experience paints a picture of their inevitable dystopian cyberpunk future. The group started out in 2017 and comes from Okinawa. HighTechLowLife consists of vocalists Remy, Misako and Deathco, guitarist Tony, drummer Iwao and DJ Maiki. Don’t want to miss the performance? It will take place on Saturday from 20.30, the location is the mainstage.
Tickets for the 2019 edition of Abunai! can be purchased on the website of the convention. Find here all the activities that will take place during Abunai! 2019.
Source: Abunai!
