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.
- Created By ptatara
Super Para Natural Manga Day at Kinokuniya
NYAF’s proud to announce Super Para Natural Manga Day at New York City's Kinokuniya Bookstore. Taking place Sunday, May 17 at Kinokuniya Bookstore (located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan), NYAF will present a day of events celebrating the creepy, spooky, and cool side of Japanese comics and animation. Super Para Natural Manga Day partners include Alone Together NYC, Dark Horse Comics, Del Rey Manga, FUNimation Entertainment, The Right Stuf International, Samurai Beat Radio, VIZ Media, and VIZ Pictures.
Super Para Natural Manga Day Event Schedule
11 AM: Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody Screening. After unidentified beings known as "Blanks" start popping up, they are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more, but uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna. The first Bleach feature film! Screening courtesy of VIZ Media.
1 PM: Vampires In Manga Presentation. Performance group Alone Together NYC presents an educational and entertaining presentation on the most famous (and infamous) vampires in manga and anime history. Alone Together will discuss vampiric powers, social classes, and interesting facts about Japan's bloodsuckers.
2 PM: Ghost Hunt Screening. Psychic freshman Mai Taniyama has joined the ranks of the Shibuya Psychic Research Team. Led by the enigmatic Kazuya "Naru" Shibuya, Mai works alongside a spirit medium, a shrine maiden, an exorcist, and a monk to uncover the darkest mysteries of the unseen. Screening courtesy of FUNimation.
3 PM: Del Rey Manga Presentation. Del Rey Manga publishes some of the best manga in America -- and some of the creepiest, too. Join representatives from Del Rey as they talk about upcoming releases and some of their best sellers that all share a spine-tingling twist.
4 PM: D.Gray-Man Screening. Darkness has spread across 19th Century Europe, and young exorcist Allen Walker is humanity's greatest hope against the wicked forces conspiring to bring civilization to its knees. Akuma -- cruel spirits born of tragedy -- lurk in every shadow, willing and eager to do the bidding of their leader, the Millennium Earl. Screening courtesy of FUNimation.
5 PM: Samura Beat Radio Broadcast. Samurai Beat Radio broadcasts across Japan through Tokyo FM. Sit in on a live taping at Kinokuniya and be prepared for a few special announcements as the Samurai Beat Radio Team talk about Hyde, K.A.Z, and the upcoming VAMPS concert in NYC!
6 PM: Boogiepop Phantom Screening. Five years ago, a string of grisly murders shook the city to its core and now the rumors have begun once more. Boogiepop… Everyone knows the urban legend, meet her one dark night and you are taken. People tell each other the stories and laugh. No one believes that Boogiepop can possibly exist in this day and age. Screening courtesy of The Right Stuf International.
7 PM: Raffle. NYAF sends Super Para Natural Manga Day out in style with an amazing raffle. Attendees can enter all day long, and to win, and they must be present at 7 PM for the drawing. Prizes include…
- 50 books from Del Rey Manga
- Five Bleach prize packages from VIZ Media
- DEATH NOTE posters and pins from VIZ Pictures
- Two tickets to the VAMPS NYC concert from Samurai Beat Radio
- Boogiepop Phantom and The Third: The Girl with The Blue Eye sets from Right Stuf
- Vampire Hunter D busts, artbooks, figurines, novels, and manga from Dark Horse Comics
Utada NYC Event Cancelled
Excited to see Utada tomorrow in NYC? So were we, but she’s had to cancel her upcoming USA events because of health-related issues. For more, visit http://blog.utada2.net/?p=1508. Get well soon, Hikki!
Nippon Jazz NYC
Like Japan? Like jazz? Well, then, you may like Nippon Jazz NYC, a concert series at the Blue Owl Cocktail Room (196 Second Ave) in NYC. The next event takes place May 17 and features Meg and Aki(www.myspace.com/megandaki). For more, visit www.meetup.com/nippon-jazz-nyc-meetup-group/.
Interview with Mel - Creator of the NYAF 2009 Mascot!
In 2007, NYAF chibi-ized the Statue of Liberty. In 2008, NYAF’s Chibizilla attacked NYC. In 2009, NYAF’s mascot will be taking fans on the ride of their lives. Fan and artist Mel’s artwork was selected from 200 entries, winning the praise of Mascot Contest partners theOtaku.com and Del Rey Manga and the votes of attendees at Brooklyn’s Sakura Matsuri, and after collecting her thoughts, Mel took a few moments to talk to us about creating the NYAF 2009 Mascot…
NYAF: What was your inspiration for your mascot design?
MEL: Taxis. The main thing I think of when I hear New York are taxis.
NYAF: Have you given the mascot a name?
MEL: Ron. Based from my delivery-driving boss.
NYAF: The mascot has a very polished and stunning style. Are there any artists - American or Japanese - who inspire you?
MEL: I feel Hiromu Arakawa inspired me a lot in my style.
NYAF: What materials did you use to create the mascot, and - overall - how long did it take you to design?
MEL: Photoshop CS. To design it took me about two days to decide on what I wanted it to be like.
NYAF: There are a lot of minute details, such as the street motif incorporated into the outer border. Anything you want to say about the little thing we may not notice at first?
MEL: Maybe the button on his shirt that is secretly a street light?
NYAF: What will you do with the instant library of 50 manga Del Rey will be sending your way?
MEL: DEAR. Drop Everything And Read.
NYAF: How long have you been posting art at theOtaku.com? How'd you discover your site?
MEL: I want to say about two years. A piece of art caught my attention and the site looked pretty friendly.
NYAF: What manga are you reading and anime are you watching right now?
MEL: I'm watching Axis Powers Hetalia!
NYAF: How long have you been a fan? What got you into manga and anime?
MEL: Since sixth grade, so about six years? Dragon Ball Z was my secret love that pulled me into the anime world.
NYAF: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
MEL: Domino's Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwiches.
NYAF: What do you do when you're not designing mascots, and what do you want to be doing in five years?
MEL: I draw comics, gift art, and more pictures. And in five years, hopefully I'll be entering law school, studying till my hair is turning gray.
NYAF: Any message to the readers at NYAF?
MEL: READ SAIYUKI! It's so amazing.
NYAF: Have you thought about the mascot's taxi at all? Does it fly, transform, or blare J-Rock at 3 AM down Broadway?
MEL: It has a detector that finds and steals away the fans of anime and delivers them to a world filled with anime goodness!
Super Para Natural Manga Day � May 17
May 17 is Super Para Natural Manga Day at Kinokuniya in NYC! Details are coming soon, but, NYC otaku, clear off your calendar and get to Kinokuniya on Sunday!
