Anime Central Cosplay Pics - Batch #2

YOSHIKI of X Japan at Anime Central 2010

[Chicago - May 15, 2010] This can best be described as one of the best surprise events at any anime convention ever.

Yoshiki, leader of the mega rock band X Japan, delivered a special live internet video interview from Japan to ACen attendees during the Masquerade. The interview was presented on two huge projection screens before a packed house of eager fans. It showed Yoshiki sitting in front of a web cam speaking to the attendees of Anime Central's Masquerade, but some "technical difficulties" had made communication less than desirable. After a few moments, Yoshiki seems to give up on the interview and walk off camera. To this, the audience became upset and many were shouting for him to come back. The hosts were trying to calm everyone down. Then, there was a stirring from behind the curtains. And guess who steps out on stage...

Part One

Part Two

I give kudos to everyone on staff who worked hard to pull off this surprise. Very well executed, indeed.

This may be ACen's best year yet!

Anime Central 2010 - Opening Ceremonies

[Chicago - Friday, May 14] At the introduction of Guests at Anime Central's Opening Ceremonies, Brina Michelle Palencia revealed that she and J. Michael Tatum play pranks on each other. The last one she did to him involved Brina and her brother going into Michael's house when he was not home and rearranging his furniture. Michael came home and freaked. When he was about to call the cops, Brina told him that maybe a bunch of "clowns" did it. She knows that Michael has a certain phobia about clowns.

Knowing that Michael would probably try to get revenge by playing a prank on her at Anime Central, Brina launches a "preempted strike" of her own and this is what happened...

Anime Central 2010's Masquerade Surprise

Anime Central is excited to present the world premiere of "YOSHIKI history through X JAPAN". We are honored that Yoshiki chose Anime Central¹s fans as the first to view his new works.

The film will debut on Saturday, May 15, 2010, during the Anime Central Masquerade intermission.  Anime Central is proud and excited that Yoshiki will personally introduce the films via video chat.  We recommend that the attendees arrive early for this unique experience.

X-Japan is performing in the US this year as part of Lollapalooza, and hopes that everyone can join them in Chicago on August 8, 2010.

Anime Central 2010 - Panoramic Shots

Shot with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Anime Central 2010 Cosplay Pics

First Cosplay Pics of Anime Central

Anime Central the 13th has officially begun!

At last, the event everyone has been waiting for has arrived! Anime Central is this Friday, May 14, through Sunday, May 16, 2010. Bring your friends and family for three days of awesome anime fun!

Keep your eyes on our website for daily reports from the con! We'll have cosplay pics and videos throughout the weekend, so don't miss out!

Anime Comes Naturally

How to Draw Anime

alan / ひとつ

Frank Frazetta, Fantasy Artist, 1928 - 2010

Artist Frank Frazetta passed away on Monday, May 10, 2010, at the age of 82 due to a stroke. Frazetta's career began in comic books before World War II, working on a variety of adventure titles for several different publishers, as well as doing a stint on the Li'l Abner newspaper comic strip from 1953-1961. He is best known for the fantasy and horror paintings for magazines and pulp paperback novel covers, which he began doing in the 1960's for Warren Magazines and Ace Books. His paintings for Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan and John Carter of Mars novels and Robert E. Howard's Conan are iconic representations of those fictional characters and could often sell books by themselves. Frazetta collaborated with animator Ralph Bakshi in the early 1980's on the animated movie Fire and Ice, which was based on Frazetta's fantasy paintings. [Source: ToonZone.net]