Anime News

Wasabi Animusical to Premiere at JACON 2005
Date: 3/21/2005
WASABI ANIMUSICAL TO PREMIERE AT JACON 2005 CONVENTION ?
ORLANDO, FL, MARCH 21, 2005: Wasabi Anime is producing a one time presentation of the Wasabi Animusical ? an amalgamation of anime, manga, video games, ?cosplay,? music videos, dancing, comedy, and Broadway show tunes. The one hour show takes place at the JACON Japanese animation and culture convention Friday, April 15th at 8:00 PM in the main events hall (seating 2200) of the Sheraton World Resort. It will feature over 56 costumes, 22 anime, 19 performers, and 10 songs and is a unique treat for both Broadway fans and anime enthusiasts.

Since 2001, Wasabi Anime has been producing events for the ever emergent Japanese animation (anime) and pop-culture fandom. This richly diverse genre has reached mainstream proportions over recent years through the popularity of shows such as Pokemon, Dragonball Z, and Fullmetal Alchemist. The film Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (Spirited Away) even went as far to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 signifying a cultural acceptance of the art form.

JACON is a Japanese animation and culture convention started on the campus of the University of Central Florida in 2000. It features viewings, panels, events, game shows, and more surrounding all aspects of the genre including anime, manga, ?j-pop? and ?j-rock? music, and much more. This year?s convention takes place the weekend of April 15th ? 17th at the Sheraton World Resort at the west end of International Drive in Orlando, Florida. Admission prices are as follows:
? FRIDAY - $20
? SATURDAY - $25
? SUNDAY - $15
? WEEKEND PASS - $45

ONLINE REFERENCE INFORMATION
Wasabi Anime ? http://www.wasabianime.com
JACON ? http://www.jacon.org
Sheraton World Resort ? http://www.sheratonworld.com
UNIQUE TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
ANIME - A style of animation developed in Japan. Commonly referred to in the 1990s as ?japanimation.?
COSPLAY ? The practice of making costumes and acting like popular anime and video game characters; practiced in Japan and at American ?genre? conventions. Popularity for this is so large in Japan that ?Cosplay Shops? exist across the country.
J POP ? Pop music that is Japanese in origin. Some of the more popular artists include Ayumi Hamasaki, Utada Hikaru, and Koda Kumi.
J ROCK ? Rock music that is Japanese in origin. Much of this music has been compared to the 1980s American ?glam rock? era. Artists include Dir en grey, Glay, and Malice Mizer.
MANGA ? Japanese graphic novels and/or comic books.
Source: Anime News Network