I have a lot to say about ConnectiCon 2014. My second year at the convention cements it as my favorite. Period. It is just so well run, packed with great people, and layered with so much diversity in fan content no one could go home disappointed.
Below the jump is a modest gallery of some of the insanity from the weekend. Yes, that is a life-size Monopoly board in the game room. No, I did not get to teach a masterclass in how to manipulate people and win every game you play.
At ConnectiCon this past weekend, I debuted two new panels. The all ages panel was The Play’s the Thing: Shakespeare in Anime. It’s, as you can imagine, about anime adaptations of Shakespeare. I will be broadening the focus in the future to include manga so there is more territory to cover.
The panel was well-attended and led to some lively discussion about Shakespeare, anime, and the nature of translation/localization. I’ve embedded the full presentation below as well as video references (not the exact cuts due to copyright issues).
Unfortunately, the alternate video references are NSFW. I made it a point to selectively choose all ages-appropriate references for the live presentation, but I do not have the luxury when working with the available clips online. The Power Point is still safe for all ages, but the videos get more violent and sexual.
This weekend at ConnectiCon, I debuted two brand new panels. The 18+ panel was called Lovecraft on the Silver Screen. It was an exploration of the best and the worst attempts to bring H.P. Lovecraft’s stories to film.
Unfortunately, there were some major tech issues during the panel and the projector kept freaking out, preventing any of the full videos from playing. I want to thank everyone who came and stuck with the panel that largely turned into a lecture with guest appearances by convention A/V staff trying to fix everything from muted audio to the blue screen of death.
Below the jump, I’ve embedded the full PowerPoint presentation as well as the videos from the panel in order. You can read along if you choose or just jump straight to the videos for NSFW Lovecraftian madness.
It’s a very busy week. We’ve hit the ground running on the first of two stage musicals at the summer camp, so I’ve been finishing up all the rehearsal material for the campers to use at home. It’s also ConnectiCon this weekend and I’m furiously polishing all my panels and cosplay.
On Saturday at 11:30 AM, I’m debuting my panel called The Play’s the Thing: Shakespeare in Anime. This is all about Shakespeare adaptations in anime. I’ll be touching on everything from Disney’s theft of Kimba, the White Lion to the insanity of “Willy” Shakespeare writing unsuccessful plays while young Juliet Capulet hides from the vengeful dictatorship of Lord Montague in Romeo X Juliet. It’s going to be a good time. Room MR 23.
On Saturday at 9:30 PM, I’m debuting my 18+ panel called Lovecraft on the Silver Screen. Another creative title. This one is about the best, the worst, and the most confusing H.P. Lovecraft film adaptations and the pursuit of a truly great adaptation. Many film clips will be presented to an eager crowd of horror fans. Room MR 15. You must have ID and obtain a wristband at any information kiosk before you can get into 18+ panels at ConnectiCon.
I hope to see you there.
In honor of the 4th of July, I’ve an exercise in movie marathoning for you if you dare to undertake it. I’m going to leave wildly different suggestions for red, white, and blue films you can stream right now (and where you can stream them) and let you make your own visually patriotic celebration.
Let’s start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.
DC Comics once again did not have a traditional booth presence at a NYC convention. Like last year’s Superman celebration, DC went all in with Batman branding for their role and single panel at Special Edition: NYC.
When you walked into the con, you were greeted by eight cutouts of various iterations of Batman (gallery at the bottom of this post). They flanked the entrance way. This is the year of Batman and DC will not let you forget it.
I’ve lived my entire life in NJ and NYC. I’m used to massive conventions with thousands of people creating an unending traffic jam from morning until night for the duration of the event. There’s an energy a crowd that large brings, but it also makes it harder to actually have really personal interactions with guests, artists, and other exhibitors.
Special Edition: NYC, the newest fan convention to hit the Jacob Javits Center in NYC, finished its two day run last night. It was not the kind of convention you would expect in a venue that large and that’s a very good thing.
Another day, another panel accepted at ConnectiCon 2014. I’ll be discussing Shakespeare and anime on Saturday, 12 July, at 11:30AM. This is not an attempt to impose a Western reading on Japanese animation but a celebration of the times when Shakespeare is adapted, referenced, or revolutionized in anime. Think Blast of Tempest, which will figure heavily in the discussion. Details.