Anime Expo 2011 Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Fans headed to Anime Expo 2011 may want to double-check their directions: This year's con takes place once again at the Los Angeles Convention Center, not at the Anaheim Convention Center of years past — though there is another anime convention going on there at the same time, AM2, and it's something of an upstart rival to the original. Guests of honor at Anime Expo include Danny Choo, host of TV show Culture Japan (debuting locally July 5 on cable channel MNet); virtual idol Hatsune Miku, the holographic J-pop star whose vocals are synthesized via Yamaha Corporation's Vocaloid technology; chamber-pop anime-theme-song trio Kalafina; Fred Gallagher, author/artist of American manga title Megatokyo; and many other acclaimed artists, editors and creators. Of course, there's the customary cosplay showcase known as the Masquerade, plus a Pop Shock Masquerade (steampunk and beyond), a Chibi Masquerade (for the little ones) and a "lolita/aristocratic-based" Midnight Tea (don't ask). Relax for a spell at the artist alley, manga lounge, or maid cafe (where cute girls in French maid outfits tend to your every whim) before competing in "AX Idol," "Anime Singled Out" and "Otaku Parliamentary Debate." (Otaku translates as "mega-fan," more or less.) Nota bene: Admission starts at $50 per day, and concerts cost extra, while AM2 is free, and they have a maid cafe too. Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., dwntwn.; Fri., July 1, noon-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., July 2-3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Mon., July 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; $50 one-day pass; $65 two-day consecutive pass; $75 four-day pass; $35 kids 6-12; 5 & under free. (805) 290-1341, anime-expo.org. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, July 1, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 4:22 PM, ,

Everything Is Festival Sunday, June 26, 2011

Everything is terrible? You bet! Witness the epic nature of the awfulness that is the world we live in at the Second Annual Everything Is Festival, a five-day roundup of obscure film and TV brought to you by the incorrigible spelunkers of found footage at Everything Is Terrible. Conan O'Brien's writers past and present open the show with a roundtable on writing for Coco (June 30, 7:45 p.m.); Thu Tran throws a Food Party, her art-world lovechild of Cooking Channel and Pee-wee's Playhouse (June 30, 9:45 p.m.); and "Mondo Wizard Battles" gives kung-fu sorcery the compilation treatment, topped off with 1983 Chinese martial arts mind-melter Devil Fetus (June 30, midnight). And that's just the first day. Still to come: Negativland's Mark Hosler on hoaxes, pranks and "culture jamming"; a live re-scoring of The Pelican Brief by Candybox Violence; "Andrew W.K.'s Party Lecture," the rock & roller-turned-motivational speaker's inspirational talk; viral-video phenomena "Supercuts & Trash Compactors"; faux comedian Neil Hamburger's tribute to "queen of vanity entertainment" Dora Hall; the Firesign Theatre's 1972 concert film Martian Space Party; David Prior's 1983 DIY-VHS bloodscape Sledgehammer; and assorted found-footage battles and showdowns. What, no "Astrology Songs"? Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Hlywd.; Thurs., June 30, thru Mon., July 4; $10 per event ($15 for Andrew W.K.'s lecture). (323) 655-2510, cinefamily.org. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, June 24, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 7:22 PM, ,

Cartoon Dump Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Dive into the trash behind Cartoon Dump and discover lost treasures of TV animation that frankly should have remained forgotten. Hosted by Erica Doering as Compost Brite, this children's show parody co-stars Frank Conniff as Moodsy, the clinically depressed owl, and a wacky cast of other assorted misfits. Betwixt the stage shenanigans are odd, awful, and downright puzzling cartoons of the 1950s and '60s. These forsaken works have been unearthed by Jerry Beck, who regularly screens some of the best of the best from animation's history at Cinefamily, but here you'll find the worst of the worst. It's a dump! Steve Allen Theater at the Center for Inquiry-West, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Mon., June 27, 8 p.m.; $10. (323) 666-4268, steveallentheater.com/cartoondump. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, June 24, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 2:02 AM, ,

Tournament of Nerds Thursday, June 16, 2011

Who would win a fight between Superman and Gandalf? Nerds, of course! UCB's Tournament of Nerds, hosted by Hal Rudnick and Justin Donaldson, pits nerd vs. nerd in impassioned arguments over improbable fantasy showdowns. Thor vs. Voltron? Darth Vader vs. Pikachu? Mr. Miyagi vs. Chewbacca? Jason Voorhees vs. The Hulk? Wonder Woman vs. Idi Amin? Ferris Bueller vs. Manny Pacquiao? Two comedians get one minute each to make their case, with a 30-second rebuttal, until the verdict comes down from the Panel of Doom. It's like debate club for geeks! Oh, wait. Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hlywd.; Sat., June 18, mid.; $5. (323) 908-8702, losangeles.ucbtheatre.com. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, June 17, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 11:03 PM, ,

Insect Ensemble Sunday, June 12, 2011

Insects are creepy, yes, but they also make beautiful music. That's the theory, anyway, of Insect Ensemble, the Hammer Museum's latest "Public Engagement" program, a series of imaginative interactions between museum visitors, artists and staff. Sound curator Jessica Catron brings the noise to the Hammer's terraces, where she and Corey Fogel, Jessica Basta, Paloma Udovic and Leticia Castaneda use hand percussion and mouth sounds to imitate the ambiance of bugs. Can't be any worse than Bjork. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Fri., June 17, 6 p.m.; $10 museum admission, $5 seniors. (310) 443-7000, hammer.ucla.edu. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, June 17, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 2:38 PM, ,

Mugshots Monday, June 6, 2011

While sites like the Smoking Gun specialize in the scandal of celebrity mug shots, the creators of "Mugshots: A Celebration of the Journey From Ruin to Redemption" seek to inspire with stark black-and-white portraits of onetime bad boys and girls who ultimately found salvation. Photographer Jonas Mohr's "mugshots" capture the intensity of the stories that unfold in Jason Porath's text, true stories of addicts, criminals and gang members, and the twists of fate that saved them. Among the misguided lives: rapper Coolio, actor Danny Trejo, writer Jerry Stahl, singer Adele Bertei, BMX pro Rick Thorne, Hollywood agent Manny Jimenez, bluesman Jake La Botz and tattoo artist Mr. Cartoon. Mohr and Tom Moyer, the book's creative director and designer, discuss and sign the book, along with four of the book's subjects, actors Emilio Rivera and Ty Granderson Jones, playwright Stogie Kenyatta, and community activist Luis Rodriguez. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd, W. Hlywd.; Sat., June 11, 2 p.m.; free, book is $39.95. (310) 569-3110, booksoup.com. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, June 10, 2011.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 1:11 AM, ,