Anime Fest 2008 in NYC

     

I went to Anime Fest in NYC yesterday and the above pictures are just a sampling of those I saw cosplaying. The Fest was fun (although the commute into the city was not) but not at all geared toward professionals.

One unique and surprising feature was the manga library sponsored by AnimeNext. There was a separate room away from the exhibit hall where you could select a manga in exchange for your badge. I spent a half hour reading Death Note volume 1.

There were several vendors but the discounts were minimal so I went home empty handed. The best vendors were those selling artbooks and other imports from Japan. I did pick up some cards, the most interesting being Squishables! They are so nice to HUG that I will definitely get one soon.

I’ll Punish You!

So, I know this post is a LONG time coming, but I couldn’t find the pictures (or the time) until today. The Ocean County Library Cart Wheelers participated in the annual Toms River Halloween Parade (the second biggest Halloween Parade in the country) under a pirate theme. Bandanas and our Library T’s in tow, we lined up for the big event. But it took forever to get people organized so naturally, I got bored and wandered around. That’s when I saw them: Sailors Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. All of them, there in front of me, ready to march in the parade. It was awesome. I squeeled and reeled. They weren’t frightened, but elated that I knew their disguises. They made the outfits themselves! They watched Sailor Moon on Toonami in grade school (I watched in high school) before catching the morning bus. We were kindred spirits. So we snapped a few pics!

  

The New Science of Change

“Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get people to alter the way they do things. New research reveals why it’s so hard and suggests strategies to make it easier.”

Based on suggestions from the CIO article “The New Science of Change,” I attempted to change the behavior of the anime club teens during our weekly meetings. Their behavior of late caused alarm to my supervisors and myself. Pushing, stomping, shrieking, and running were disruptive and getting dangerous. Yet the were deaf to my chastisements. So this article provided an alternative: include them! Clearly, things needed to change. They lost their “extra” privileges (the use of two plasma screen TVs and the PS2/DDR) and were in danger of more restrictions (icky word).

 So I plopped them in front of a white board and asked, “Why do you think we lost our extras and what can we do to bring them back.” And the shocker: they knew their behavior was inappropriate and they knew what they had to do to fix it. They ever came up with a better way to run the meetings.

Now, a few weeks later, some of the behavior has improved but the influx of new members and the sheer number of the group has proven too difficult to change. So the extras are still out of play. My new approach, make it a system of reward. I plan to make a card for every member. It will act like an all access pass and a raffle ticket! Those who can have fun without misbehaving can use their pass to play DDR and will be included in weekly giveways. When a pass is taken away, privileges go too. My fingers are crossed!

Asbury Park Press Whatever

The OCL Teen Anime Clubs were featured in Tuesday’s Asbury Park Press. I’m so proud of the Toms River Club especially. They showed up in droves and the costumes were fantastic. It was tough picking a Cosplay winner. The article was written by a teen at the event but part of the Stafford branch’s club. Check it out!

Reflections on Bookfest

OCL had its annual Bookfest celebration last Saturday and, of course, the TR Anime Club was involved. They organized a cosplay contest while I provided games and giveaways. So, what worked and what didn’t?

First, it helped to set the atmosphere by covering the walls with anime posters and filling anime display cases. I provided the posters and display material this time but plan to have the teens bring in their favorite scrolls, posters (blue painters tape is well-safe!), and plushies next time.

I also created a Manga Title Guessing Game. Using manga from the collection and scans on the internet (for lesser known, more challenging titles), I provided a page or image scan from a manga and gave that scan a number. Teens then tried to get the correct title for each number. If done properly, only a handfull of kids should guess all correctly (we had one boy get all 20 titles). Then a prize is given to the winner! The kids really enjoyed hearing the titles announced after guessing so hard.

I also had successful raffle style giveaways. The kids received small things like anime patches, neiko cats, buttons (“nobody knows I’m a ninja”), and anime notebooks (all from Hot Topic).

We could’ve done some things better. A more organized cosplay with a list of questions for contestants (don’t forget to ask about the costume: who made it, what was bought, how was it made, of what material, etc.) and a mic would’ve been good, too.

DDR was a huge hit. Great for all anime events. As well as games for boys like Dragonball or Naruto, Clash of the Ninja.

I also had drawing materials out but added a new twist. I scanned a few pages of funny sceens from some favorite manga (Chobits, Fullmetal Alchemist), removed the dialog, and mass produced the copies. Those less adept at drawing could still color and create their own dialog in the bubbles! Some were hilarous!

All in all, we had around 100 kids, about 30 cosplayers and all had a good time! Next up, Anime Homecoming at the Brick Branch.

We Empower Teens

It’s our motto/montra at OCL – “We Empower Teens.” And while it has been a challenge for me (after all those years being a student) to take input from the OCL teens, I am always well rewarded when I do. Not only is teen attendance at programs up, but their ideas reveal to me that I do not anticipate all their needs! So, after showing the Toms River Anime Club our new website, I got some positive feedback but a lot more suggestions. Here is a sampling of those suggestions, all of which I will act on (because they are just so darn good!):

• include a list of available screening titles
• vote for Operation Anime’s free monthly screeners online (include the pictures/summaries) so that absent members don’t miss voting
• include raffle prizes and past winners, suggested donations
• include anime reviews/member recommendations
• include a photo/video gallery

If there is only one thing I can recommend to new Teen Librarians, it’s get input from your teens on everything you can. Give them what they want!

Anime Club Membership Rockets

Less than two months after holding my first anime club meeting, our membership has soared to over forty teens, with a regular weekly attendance at meetings of approximately twenty-five. Now, I love options. So that’s what the kids have. One TV for DDR and Playstation 2 gaming, a few feet off to the side, tables for fan art drawing (where the library provides heavy paper, pencils, big erasers, Sharpie markers [their favorite], rulers, and snacks), and a portable TV where kids recline and watch the free screeners we receive from ADVocates, Operation Anime, and Newtype.

       

ADVocates | Operation Anime | Newtype

Otakon Wraps Up

Otakon, the largest celebration of Japanese anime, manga, and J-pop in the US, wrapped up its annual gathering today in Baltimore, Maryland. Sadly I was not there but living a little over three hours from Inner Harbor, I think it’s in the cards for 2007.

Otakon | Baltimore | Wikipedia – Inner Harbor