Ahoy, I'm Peter Tatara. In brief, I'm left-handed, a vegetarian, and my blood type is A. I work for the New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival and have a cute girlfriend and a Space: Above & Beyond boxset. I'm generally a happy guy.

Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at Kinokuniya

The New York Anime Festival and partners Del Rey Manga, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures are proud to announce the first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day at the largest Japanese bookstore in North America -- New York City's Kinokuniya Bookstore. Taking place Saturday, June 7 in celebration of International Lolita Day, Kinokuniya Bookstore located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan will present a day-long series of events showcasing the diverse world of cute, cool, elegant, and hip fashion in modern Japan.

Lolita and Maid fashion have quickly become two of the most prolific ambassadors of anime, manga, and Japanese culture in America, and the New York Anime Festival couldn't be happier bringing these fashions to New York City -- the fashion capital of the world.

Kinokuniya's Lolita and Maid Fashion Day will include special all-day activities as well as a series of Lolita and Maid-themed speakers and presentations…

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day All-Day Events

Anime And Manga Discount: Any customer who comes into Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas on Saturday, June 7 wearing a Lolita or Maid dress or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive 10% off all anime and manga purchases.

Lolita And Maid Sweets: Café Zaiya on Kinokuniya's second floor presents a special menu of Lolita and Maid-themed desserts made especially for Lolita and Maid Day

Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Giveaway: All customers who come into Kinokuniya Bookstore can enter to win a number of prizes from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures. Prizes include a collection of 100 of Del Rey Manga's best-selling and fan-favorite books, free tickets to this September's New York Anime Festival, and select films from the VIZ Pictures catalog. Winners will be drawn at the end of the day, and customers must be present to claim their prizes.

Kinokuniya Lolita And Maid Fashion Day Event Schedule

10 AM: Kinokuniya Bookstore opens. The first 50 customers dressed in Lolita or Maid dresses or anime, manga, or video game cosplay will receive a Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Gift Bag including presents from Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, and VIZ Pictures.

10 AM to 3 PM: Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Tea Party. All customers who order a cup of tea from Kinokuniya's Café Zaiya between 10 AM and 3 PM will receive a complimentary assortment of Japanese treats along with their drink.

3 PM to 4 PM: An Introduction to Lolita and Maid Fashion. An overview of the diverse world of fashion in modern Japan. Lolitas and Maids are just the beginning.

4 PM to 4:30 PM: Akiba-Kei Music Scene. Maid fashion began in Tokyo's Akihabara. Samurai Beat Radio presents a look into Akihabara's music scene today, how it influenced Maid fashion, and how Maid fashion now influences Akihabara's music.

4:30 PM to 5 PM: A Reading from Maid Machinegun. Maid Machinegun, a new light novel from Del Rey Manga, follows the misadventures of Aaliyah, a recent recruit at one of Akihabara's busiest Maid Cafés. Del Rey Manga presents an overview of the world of Maid Machinegun, including a special greeting from the author written just for today and selected readings from the book.

5 PM to 7 PM: Screening of Kamikaze Girls. Momoko is a super-sweet Lolita. Ichigo is a tough-talking thug. They couldn't have come from more different worlds, but somehow the two become the closest of friends and embark on the most incredible of adventures. Screened with permission from VIZ Pictures.

7 PM: Raffle Drawing. 100 books from Del Rey Manga and free tickets to the New York Anime Festival are just two of the prizes up for grabs in the Lolita and Maid Fashion Day Giveaway. Customers can enter all day long, and to win, they'll have to be present at 7 PM for the giveaway's drawing.

Kinokuniya Bookstore, Del Rey Manga, the New York Anime Festival, Samurai Beat Radio, and VIZ Pictures invite anime fans, Lolita and Maid fashionistas, and New Yorkers up for a unique and unforgettable experience to come out to Kinokuniya's first Lolita and Maid Fashion Day on Saturday, June 7! I hope to see you there!

Vampire Hunter D Creator At NYAF

Over the weekend at Fanime in California, Dark Horse's always awesome Carl Horn gave a little panel about Dark Horse Comics and what to expect from them coming up. What can you expect? Hideyuki Kikuchi -- the creator of Vampire Hunter D -- at the New York Anime Festival.

If you dig back to some of the stuff I've previously written about this year's NYAF (like the introduction to the 2008 website) you'll see I've been planting the D name a fair bit, but Carl's panel is the first public announcement that NYAF and Dark Horse have been working since the start of the year to bring Kikuchi-san, the author of all the Vampire Hunter D novels, as well as Kikuchi-san's friend and translator, Justin Leahy, to the 2008 New York Anime Festival.

The New York Anime Festival is a showcase for best of Japanese pop culture, and while we will be devoting a lot of time and energy to guests and events around titles which are currently captivating both America and Japan -- I want to focus beyond just what is big and popular now and explore the creators and the creations that first and forever defined anime and manga in America. Since the first Vampire Hunter D film was released in America, it was been creating followers. Even now, more than 20 years since the movie's debut, it is a staple among America anime fans -- a classic and timeless work. And, now that the original Vampire Hunter D novels are finally available in America, fans are discovering D as never before. D is a character who some have loved for over 20 years and others are falling in love with only today, and I want Kikuchi-san -- the man behind D and all his adventures -- to meet the men and women in America who have been shaped by his words and dream nightly of D.

Vampire Hunter D is what got me into anime, and bringing Kikuchi-san and Mr. Leahy to NYAF personally means very, very much to me, and I hope they'll both mean a lot to you, too.

What Are You Doing Over Memorial Day?

Memorial Day Weekend is here. Three days of fun, sun, and awkward time with family. So, where are you going? What are you doing? And, more importantly, what are you going to be playing or watching? Personally, I'm off to Boston to visit my girlfriend's family and when I'm not explaining my intentions towards their daughter, it's my plan to work my way through as much of The World Ends With You as possible. I love you, Nintendo DS!

Talk about your Memorial Day plans with people who understand you on the NYAF forum right here...

http://newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com/topic/560

NYAF Poster Revealed!

About two hours ago, I posted a blurry image of the NYAF 2008 poster, and forum member Cimi figured the picture out fast -- scarily fast. So, not waiting any further, I'm pleased to reveal to you all the New York Anime Festival's 2008 poster featuring Bandai Entertainment's Gurren Lagann...

http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2008/05/nyaf-2008-poster-revealed.html

A big thanks to our friends at Bandai and Aniplex for making this happen.

Cimi will be getting a copy of this poster sent out to him immediately. If you'd like a copy, head to Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Ave of the Americas on Saturday, June 7 as NYAF's having a little party at Kinokuniya. What's the occasion? You'll find out soon.

Guess The NYAF Poster!

The New York Anime Festival's 2008 posters have just come into the office, and I'm excited. They look great and, personally, they make me geek out just a little bit. If you live in NYC, you'll start seeing them hanging up in Kinokuniya, Image Anime, Midtown Comics, and a few other comic and anime shops in the next few weeks. If you don't live in NYC, you'll see them at the NYAF booth at AnimeNEXT and Otakon.

But what if you're not in NYC or aren't going to any summer cons? Or what if you're impatient? Well, I've got just the thing for you! The New York Anime Festival's Guess The NYAF Poster Memorial Day Contest! You'll find the New York Anime Festival's 2008 poster right here...

http://www.newyorkanimefestival.yuku.com/topic/559

Notice anything odd? That's right, somebody pixelated the whole thing. If you're the first to guess which show it is over at the NYAF forum (just follow the link above), I'll be sending you out your very own copy of this non-pixelated, movie-theater-sized poster! A big huzzah and kudos to the mysterious anime company who made this poster possible.