This WORLD features all official updates from our network.

New York Anime Festival Mascot Contest

The New York Anime Festival is moving to October! Taking place October 8-10 in the Jacob Javits Center in NYC beside the New York Comic Con, NYC's celebration of Japanese popular culture will be bigger and better than ever, but before the 2010 New York Anime Festival can take place, it needs a mascot – and the New York Anime Festival is looking for your help!

In 2008, NYAF put a spotlight on Chibizilla, a minute giant monster. In 2009, NYAF's mascot was a shiny, sparkly bishounen taxi driver. In 2010? It's up to you! Wouldn't you love to see your character at the biggest anime festival in the North East? Thanks to Del Rey Manga, theOtaku.com, Kinokuniya Bookstore, and the New York Anime Festival, you can!

Between now and May 20th, Kinokuniya, theOtaku.com, Del Rey Manga, and the New York Anime Festival welcome artists and anime fans from around America to think about what “Anime”, “New York City”, and (because we're in October) “Halloween”, mean to them and draw these thoughts into an original character. Whether it's big, small, a towering mecha, or chibi, we want to see your entries!

Once all the entries are in, Kinokuniya, theOtaku.om, Del Rey Manga, and the New York Anime Festival will be selecting ten finalists that will be put on display at Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC (1073 Ave of the Americas). Kinokuniya visitors will vote for their favorite, with the character receiving the most votes crowned NYAF's 2010 mascot. On June 26, as part of a day of anime events at Kinokuniya, the winner will be revealed!

Sounds good? What are the rules?
1. You must be 13-years-old or older.
2. You must be a US or Canadian resident.
3. Your art must be original. (No using the characters from Negima.)
4. Your art must be at least 300 dpi.
5. Your art must be in JPEG format.
6. Your art must be accompanied by your full (real) name, e-mail address, age, and phone number. (Use this form to fill in your information)

What about the prizes?

This is your chance to get your artwork in front of over 20,000 anime fans! The 2010 New York Anime Festival mascot will grace the convention's program guide and appear on signs throughout the event, and to make sure the winner's name is known, he or she will be profiled in the New York Anime Festival's program guide beside the mascot.

And, there's more! The creator of the winning New York Anime Festival mascot will receive a copy of all of the New York Anime Festival's swag with the mascot appearing on it (T-Shirts, Posters…) and take home 10 weekend passes to the 2010 New York Anime Festival!

We're not done yet, as Del Rey Manga will be giving the winner an instant collection -- 50 volumes of manga!

Our nine other finalists will each receive two weekend passes to the New York Anime Festival and one volume of manga from Del Rey.

So, break out the pencils, fire up the Photoshop, read through the official rules, and submit your original mascot right here!