Please note that Animethon 17 is starting to collect artists for this year's marketing campaign!

We want to keep the artwork this year stylistically similar, so if you're interested in applying your talents to our event, send me a note with a link to your gallery!

There will most likely be no contests this year, so if you want to try and get on our team, let me know!


ALSO: I'm also in the process of getting this place turned into a group! Wish me luck~

- J-chan

Tara Metcalfe
Animethon 17 Publishing Manager

Anime Alberta LIVES!

[link]

The forums are back up!!

Animethon is currently in the midst of their push for directors! If you want to help Animethon 17 exist, visit this link and send them an email~! Deadline is September 22nd!

[link]

* Staff positions will be released after the directorate has been filled. Vlad wants NO empty seats this year. One hat to a customer. :3

CONTEST~!
It's the Animethon Fan Contest! WHOO!
DEADLINE: Friday, August 14th 11:59 (Edmonton time)

What's your favourite thing about Animethon? Wait, don't tell us - show us! Write, photograph, or make some art about what you like most about our favourite event and note this account with a link to the deviation!

There will be three categories - Art, Writing, and Photography
First place in each is a year subscription to deviantART!
(Second and Third are TBD)

--

Hi everyone! The DevMeet was a blast! Best two hours of the 'thon so far!

... considering all I did was *blahblahblah*

SO~ the following people attended! Everyone else was "busy"

Host:

Alphabetical Order:


















Among the things we talked about:
How awesome *ArtistsHospital is
How useful ~screentones is
HOW AMAZING ~Supernatural-Control is going to be~
and how that comic I kept referring to is so cool! (Fanclub @ ~Inari-to-Momo) </plug>


kohnd - I took your name down incorrectly, it seems. Please correct me.

See all you folks tomorrow~! (especially if you swing by to participate in my booklaunch or comic creation panel...)

- Tara

With Animethon just around the corner, we just wanted to see if everyone's as psyched up as we are!

To ensure that everyone has a good time, I wanted to post a little convention checklist for everyone to use to ensure that they don't forget anything! There's nothing worse than coming halfway across the city/province/country/world and finding out you left your camera charger on your bed. (GUILTY!)

If you pack appropriately/properly (roll your clothes!), you'll need two-three pieces of luggage, depending on their size. One of those pieces should be a collapsible cooler with freezer gelpacks!

General:
- Towel (Even if your hotel supplies them, it's always a good idea to have your own, especially if you're dying your hair or have lots of makeup. Hotels will charge you for damaging their property. Also, as I recall, I don't think the dorms provide them.)
- Shampoo and Conditioner (Those teensy bottles the hotels provide suck if you have long hair, and the dorms -don't- provide them.)
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste (You'd be surprised what three days of pocky and ramune will do to your breath and teeth...)
- Deodorant (If you don't bring this or use it, don't be surprised when people start edging away from you in packed rooms and theatres with uncomfortable looks on their faces.)
- Razor and Shaving Cream/Gel (Especially if your cosplay exposes a lot of skin...)
- Comb and/or Hairbrush
- One shirt for each day of the convention, plus an extra for emergencies.
- See above quantities for pants, undergarments, and socks.
- Swimsuit (if necessary for use at your hotel, or if you're visiting the World Waterpark)
- Jacket or warm sweater (even with the heat we've been having, this IS Edmonton, and the weather does change if you look at the clouds funny enough.)
- Shoes (if you plan on spending a lot of time dancing or on your feet, make sure you have comfortable shoes with you. There's also a product from Band-Aid called Friction Block - it works SO well for keeping blisters from forming.)
- A refillable water bottle (It doesn't take very long to start dehydrating, even if you're indoors, ESPECIALLY if you're in any kind of involved costume.)
- Any Prescribed Medication (You'd be surprised what little things get left behind if you're not thinking about it. Make sure your roommates/con pals know about any allergies/medical issues you may have. Better safe than at the hospital.)
- Over-the-counters for headaches/sore muscles (like Ibuprofen)
- Photo ID/Driver's License/Passport/Car Keys (whatever is applicable to your situation
- Wallet with at least $50 Canadian (That will just about cover your meals for the weekend if you eat out twice a day. If you plan on visting the Artist Alley or the Vendor's Hall, budget accordingly. ALSO: It is a well known fact that ALL the ATM's on site run out of money within the first two hours of Saturday. There are several banks up the street in Oliver Square or by/in City Centre Mall/Commerce Place) Hide an envelope of 'Emergency Money' in your luggage or on your person just in case you need a taxi, bus fare, or food. It should NOT be spent on swag!
- A phone card (not only is it cheaper than charging calls to your room, it alleviates charge confusion if more than one person is using long distance on a phone, and you don't have to dig for change. Remember: Your parents/significant other love to know you're safe and sound in another city!)
- Empty reusable bag (the ones made from woven plastic - about the size of the Chapters ones - can hold/carry up to 37 volumes of manga!)
- An extra pillow and blanket if several people are staying in your room.
- Chargers/AC/DC adapters/Backup batteries for ALL your electronics! (Nothing worse than having your phone/camera die in the middle of something important amirite?)
- Some non-perishable food items from a local supermarket (Think of the con like you would a picnic. Bring sandwiches, bottled water/juice, chips, pretzels, jerky... whatever you think you'll crave at 3 am while watching Dragonball Z. It saves a ton on money, and if a whole group pitches in, you're set! DON'T FORGET: sandwich baggies, plastic cutlery, cups... if you're BYO-ing it, make sure you can prep and serve it! Note: there is a Save-On at 10180 - 109 st - about 4 blocks from site, a Sobeys on 10404 - Jasper Ave (6 blocks), and a Safeway in Oliver Square [11410 - 104 st.] (6 blocks)
- Your best public manners! You'd be surprised just how many people forget to bring these when they head to a convention. (Please remember, if you run into someone at the con that has forgotten, and they don't take your polite suggestions to smarten/lighten up or back off, inform the site mods, or Grant Mac security if it's serious. They will handle it for you.)

ULTIMATE CON CHECKLIST
The following items are for those people who are trying to get their Anime Convention Survival Badge. If you like to pack for any situation, this is the list for you. This list will run about $25-$30 - pack it all in a small/medium (about sandwich-sized) container, and you're good for just about any convention. (Tidbit: I packed this for Sakura-Con one year, and used just about everything! SO HANDY.)

REMEMBER: Some of these items are not flight-friendly, so make sure you put it in your CHECKED luggage, NOT your carry on! Check here if you're not sure: [link]

- Small tube of super glue
- At least 3 straight pins (dressmaker type)
- At least 3 safety pins - 1 small and 2 medium
- Hair pins: 3 medium and 3 heavy
- Small sewing kit (small enough to fit into the palm of your hand - I find the best ones are in the crafts section of Zellers)
- 1 pack of safety matches
- disposable plastic razor
- small emery board
- travel sized container of Aspirin or Ibuprofen
- 6 chewable Vitamin C tablets (at least 500 mg each - good for keeping colds at bay!)
- 2 Vitamin B complex tabs - stress formula
- 1 pack of Tums/Rolaids
- 6 daily multi-vitamin tablets
- travel sized pack of Bandaids (various sizes)
- smallest size of neosporin/polysporin
- 6 antihistamine tablets (general OTC allergy medication)
- 1 travel pack of tissues
- tube of chapstick
- 6 cough drops or throat lozenges (zinc tablets work too!)
- smallest size of tiger balm or campho-phenique oil
- travel tube of spot remover
- spare car and house keys (keep one set on your person, and one set in your luggage)
- breath freshener/mints
- travel pack of moist towelettes (for cleaning hands)
- small pencil w/ sharpener
- small amount of masking tape wrapped around the pencil (about a foot will do)
- small pen
- 1 small pack of post-it notes (the little square ones)
- clear nail polish
- 6 rubber bands
- 3 unlubricated condoms (you never know!)
- small penknife (the little swiss army style ones)
- 3 garbage bag-type twist ties
- mustache/cuticle scissors (kids' safety scissors work well too)
- styptic pencil/qwik stop
- travel size hand lotion
- travel size aloe vera gel
- 3 nail polish remover pads

Cosplayers
This is THE list so you can avoid the tears that come with being the next to go on the stage and finding out you've got a HUGE hole in your costume (or someone else's for that matter!) Most hobby cosplayers don't bring anything on this list, and are usually the ones searching for at least a safety pin by the time the cosplay contest rolls around.

Don't be an hero and sacrifice your street clothes for costume space, either. Pack your costume separate from your clothes in a small duffel bag or dress/suit bag. The following can be packed in a small makeup bag-sized pouch and taken with you during the 'con.

- Scissors (small ones will do in a pinch if you don't want to bring full size)
- Pins (assortment of straight and safety in a small case (like one for throat lozenges)
- bobbins of every color of thread used in your costume(s)
- needles
- sew-on snaps
- hooks and eyes
- spare beads and buttons (if your costume contains those)
- Anything used to make your costume, including small (about 2x2") swatches of fabric for patches
- A list of all components of your costume (so nothing gets left behind coming or going)

The following can be left in your hotel/dorm room for repairs/storage:
- small hot glue gun and 3 glue sticks
- fusible web tape (Stitch Witch)
- fabric glue
- Wig head (if you don't have a wig stand, store your wig inside out - with the hair coiled loosely bun-style inside the wig - and kept in an air tight container or plastic bag with the air squished out.)
- Small travel iron (a clean towel can be put on the floor and ironed on top of in a pinch)

Makeup Kit
A note on the makeup kit: This is ESSENTIAL if you want to make sure you take good photos! DUDES, USE THIS TOO! (A little concealer goes a long way!)
- Facial Cleanser (acne formula), Toner and Moisturizer
- Foundation and concealer that match your skintone
- Eyeliner and Mascara (this is crucial for achieving the 'Anime Eye' look)
- Neutral tones of eyeshadow and blush if your character does not wear makeup (just to 'wake up' your face for photos. Tip: Use a little white/gold eyeshadow in the inside corners of your eyes and halfway along the crease of your lower lid to reflect the light out of that shadowy area.) Neutral makeup tutorial: [link]
- False eyelashes (if necessary) Tutorial: [link]
- Any color of makeup your character needs (I find that colored eyeliner/lipliner works best for colored patches on the face (stripes, moons, stars, etc.) If you can't find the color, the best time to get makeup is just before/just after Halloween, and kept somewhere cool and airtight)
- Various brushes (angled eyeshadow, fluffy blush/powder brushes at a minimum)
- A pair of tweezers for errant facial hair
- Pencil sharpener for lip/eye liner pencils
- Makeup remover, cotton pads, extra foundation sponges
- Loose powder to set your makeup (a small atomizer of cold water will do the trick as well)
- Compact powder for touchups/to remove shininess throughout the day

-- Hair --
If you are lucky enough to be able to pull off using your own hair for a costume, make sure you take care of it! Clean hair styles and photographs better than limp, dirty hair. EVEN IF YOU ARE L.

- hair gel/hair spray (something with a sport formula so that it lasts all day in the hot weather)
- comb/brush that suits your hair length/style
- any hair accessories that your character needs (ribbons, elastics, barrettes)
- hair dye touchup kit (if you have dyed your hair and are using YOUR OWN towels!)
- dandruff shampoo (if needed)
- travel blow dryer

Artists
Finally! The artist's list! WHOO! Most important to least, kids~ Please note: There is a Staples down the street at 10330 101 St. - about 6 blocks away.

- USB/Flash drive/CD with ALL of your print quality-size print images on it! (Just in case something proves to be popular and you need more!)
- Your inventory of prints w/ price list (I like to organize everything in a multi-divided folder-style carrying case like these, but that's me.)
- Displayer for your prints (if you want to use a science-fair style board, that's fine, but I find that you can get better use out of something like this: [link] - it keeps your desk uncluttered so you have more room to draw)
- Air/Water tight containers with other physical merchandise (buttons, bookmarks, etc.)
- Displayers for any of your other product (display board to attach buttons to, baskets for plushies, bookmarks, etc)
- SIGNAGE - make two: one with your name/nickname and whether you are in/out, and one with your items and a price list. Make sure the price list is legible from about ten feet away, and written IN TICKETS.
- Buisness cards (w/ a displayer if you don't want them scattered all over the place: [link] They're $0.99!)
- Drawing Paper
- Drawing Pens
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Pencil Sharpener
- Markers (if you plan on offering color)
- Pencil Crayons (see above)
- Writing paper/pens
- Sketchbook/Drawing Journal
- Whiteout
- Safety Scissors
- Drawing surface (if you're like me, I can't draw on a flat-flat surface. I bring a metal clipboard.)
* - Production kits for physical merchandise (laptop w/ printer, desktop lamination machine, button press w/blanks, cloth, scissors, sewing kit, etc.)

-- The following are nice to have JUST IN CASE. Remember: You are NOT allowed to tape ANYTHING to the desks or walls!
|- Tape
|- Stapler w/ extra staples
|- Rubber bands
|- Glue stick
|- Paper clips


I think that's it! While this list IS large and a little intimidating, once you've got it all broken down and packed up, you'll find that it's not terribly that much! Pass this list on to your fellow attendees, and hopefully the event will run extra-smoothly, at least on the patron's/cosplayer's/artist's end!

Also: If you think that I've missed something from the list, please let me know and we'll get it added!

- J-chan~