MECHACON
VIII
September 7-9, 2012
New Orleans, La.
Welcome to our eigth annual MechaCon! Thanks for joining us for MechaCon’s third year in our new home of New Orleans! Whether you are joining us for your first MechaCon experience or your eighth, our goal is for you to have the time of your life this weekend, and our staff has worked very hard to ensure that happens! We continue to bring you all your favorite events and attractions while making a few tweaks and adding a few surprises to make your con experience better than ever. If awesome anime, video gaming, and mecha merchandise are your thing, you’ll have plenty of shopping opportunities in our Dealer’s Room, Artists Alley, and the MechaCon merchandise booth! Be sure to keep some money set aside, though, for our Charity Auction on Sunday to benefit the NOLA Japan Quake Fund. You will have the opportunity to bid on unique and one-of-a-kind items while helping our friends in Japan who are still re-building from the Tsunami Disaster last year. Throughout this year’s convention you may notice hints of a ‘science vs. supernatural’ theme. The first place you will encounter this is in the Alchemist vs. Exorcist Presidential-style Debate between Edward Elric (Vic Mignogna) and Allen Walker (Todd Haberkorn) at the Formal/Semi-formal Dinner & Opening Ceremonies, as moderated by Richard Epcar. See if you can find more hints of science vs. supernatural as the weekend unfolds! This year, the Formal Cosplay-Optional Ball has transformed into our annual Red Carpet Affair. If you are a My Little Pony fan, you will love the theme for this year’s Red Carpet Affair: “The Grand Galloping Gala.” Not a pony fan? Don’t worry… there will still be lots of fun to be had by all! You can still come and dance into the night with music provided by Mon Negros Productions. Speaking of music, be sure to check out the Eien Strife Concert on Saturday and their special acoustic preview set on Friday night. You also don’t want to miss Saturday night’s MechaCon House Party where DJ Wildfire and two guest DJs will keeping you dancing until 4 a.m. Gamers of all kinds will have plenty to do at this year’s convention as well! This year’s electronic gaming room will once again feature the always popular MechCorps Battletech Simulator Pods, lots of console games and tournaments provided by SuperCon 2K Series, along with cabinet arcade games provided by Zero Limits Arcade. You can also participate in interactive combat using foam weapons provided by Sleeping Samurai. Prefer table-top gaming? We’ve got you covered there, too. Whether your preference is card games, miniatures, role-playing games or Asian board games, there will be something for everyone in our table-top gaming department. Don’t miss the fourth part in our ongoing Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies meta-scenario. Also be sure to check out the games and panels hosted by Jonathan Thompson of Battlefield Press. Of course, you won’t want to miss our Cosplay Competition on Saturday and Cosplay Chess on Sunday! Throughout the weekend, there are also lots of panels to choose from, voice actor signings, the AMV Showcase and more! As always, make sure you remember to find time to eat, sleep, and (most importantly) bathe. We hope you have the time of your life at MechaCon VIII... and may the odds be ever in your favor!
– Team MechaCon
A WORD FROM THE SENNIN “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson So, here we are... our eighth annual MechaCon... MechaCon VII was, in many ways, the fulfillment of one of the very first dreams carried as we embarked upon the endeavor of bringing you MechaCon. Before this convention was ever even an idea in our minds, Jon visited the Hilton New Orleans Riverside way back in 2002 for the very first time and said to his wife, “I want to hold a convention here.” In all the years that followed, one of our defining goals was to eventually see MechaCon make its home not only in New Orleans, but in this specific hotel. Holding MechaCon VII in the Hilton New Orleans Riverside was a fantastic experience as we held what we felt to be our best MechaCon to date. This experience was such a delight, in fact, that we signed-on with the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for not only 2012, but for our 2013 and 2014 events as well. So, we heartfully say to you, as you enter our doors this year, “Welcome home.” In continuing to strive for excellence, we’ve made a few adjustments and additions this year that we think you’ll enjoy. As a part of this, we’d like to welcome SuperCon 2K Series to our family and ask that you show them some love in our electronic gaming room this year. We hope you’ll enjoy MechaCon VIII even more than last year’s show. We think you’ll be pleased with what we’re bringing you in 2012. And as always... thank you for being here. – Jon Russo & Peter Bares Sennin Productions, LLC
CONVENTION FLOORS Hilton New Orleans Riverside – 1st Floor
Hilton New Orleans Riverside – 2nd Floor
FOOTNOTES Organizer’s Plea
Please be on your best behavior and respect hotel property. We ask that you treat the Hilton New Orleans Riverside as your home away from home. If you deface hotel property in any way, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Attendees of some other Anime Conventions in the past have been less than respectful to the convention facilities and hotel, and this type of behavior has given Anime Conventions a bad name. Please do your part to help change that stigma and show that anime conventions can be classy, too. The continued success of this convention is crucial to whether or not there will be future MechaCons. We sincerely appreciate you doing your part to help ensure that the hotel, convention facilities and your fellow attendees are treated with the utmost respect!
A MechaCon Tradition
Team MechaCon is excited to welcome back Harmony Gold and the ROBOTECH Convention Tour to our 2012 convention. Since 2006, MechaCon has proudly included the ROBOTECH Convention Tour as part of our standard programming. Though, it occurs to us that some of our younger attendees may have no idea what this classic anime space opera is all about, so... in a nutshell... ROBOTECH is a sweeping science-fiction anime epic of humans defending their homeworld against alien domination. The saga is told through the eyes of characters caught up in a series of wars that erupts when a mysterious spacecraft crash-lands on Earth at the turn of the millennium. The secrets of alien knowledge aboard this vessel were unlocked, leading to the development of “Robotechnology” and the creation of a vast arsenal of robotic “mecha” to defend the Earth against the alien threats that would eventually strike to lay claim to the mysterious power source known as “protoculture.” And now you know! So, go check it out already!!
MAIN SCHEDULE (Panel schedule located on page 20.)
On Thursday, September 6th, MechaCon’s convention preregistration packet pick-up will open at 6pm and remain open until 9pm. At-door registrations will NOT be taken on Thursday. Aside from Registration, convention floor remains closed.
Friday, September 7th
The following is the schedule for Friday’s convention areas and events. At-door registrations will be taken at 11:30 a.m.
9:00am - Registration pre-reg packet pick-up opens (1st Floor)
11:30am - At-door registration opens (1st Floor)
1:00pm - Convention areas
open (1st Floor)
Dealers room opens (1st Floor) to GoldPass registrants only
1:30pm - Dealers room opens (1st Floor)
Main Events (1st Floor)
Directing for Anime & Video Games
Presented by Richard Epcar, Jonathan Klein
& Mary Elizabeth McGlynn Secondary Events (1st Floor)
3:00pm - Martial Arts with JDF
Presented by Jason David Frank
Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
The Grand Galloping Gala Main Events (1st Floor)
10:00pm - Anime Bloopers
w/ Richard Epcar & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn Secondary Events (1st Floor)
11:30pm - Anime Cat Fight w/ Steve Yun Secondary Events (1st Floor)
1:00am - MechaCon Red Carpet Affair: Grand Galloping Gala closes Panel Rooms close (1st Floor)
Saturday, September 8th
The following is the schedule for Saturday’s convention areas and events. At-door registrations will be taken at 9 am.
9:00am - Registration desk opens (1st Floor)
to all attendees
2:00pm - GoldPass Guided Tour
9:00pm - MechaCon Red Carpet Affair:
10:00am - Dealers room opens (1st Floor) to GoldPass registrants only
Meet Vic Mignogna
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
10:30am - Dealers room opens (1st Floor) to all attendees 11:00am - Voice-Acting & the Industry in 2012
Presented by Richard Epcar
Jason David Frank Signing
Q&A w/ Richard Epcar, Todd Haberkorn, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Jonathan Klein, Vic Mignogna, Daran Norris, Wendy Powell, Ellyn Stern & Steve Yun Main Events (1st Floor)
Power Rangers Q&A
Panel w/ Jason David Frank Secondary Events (1st Floor)
4:00pm - Convention areas 50 Years of Bond
open (2nd Floor)
Secondary Events (1st Floor) Industry Alley (2ndFloor)
5:30pm - Seating begins for
Opening Ceremonies & Formal/Semi-formal Dinner and Alchemist vs. Exorcist debate
Main Events (1st Floor) (reserved seating only)
Cosplay Improv
Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
6:00pm - Opening Ceremonies
Main Events (1st Floor) (reserved seating only)
Batman: Gotham Knight movie screening Secondary Events (1st Floor)
7:00pm - Dealers Room closes (1st Floor) Alchemist vs.Exorcist begins
Main Events (1st Floor) (reserved seating only)
8:00pm - Registration desk closes (1st Floor)
GoldPass Meet-n-Greet with Guests Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
Eien Strife UNPLUGGED! Secondary Events (1st Floor)
1:00pm - Cosplay Participants Meeting Main Events (1st Floor)
Guest Signing
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
2:30pm - Seating begins for Cosplay Main Events (1st Floor)
3:00pm - Cosplay Competition Main Events (1st Floor)
5:00pm - MechaCon High-roller Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Video Game Tournament Finals Secondary Events (1st Floor)
7:00pm - Dealers Room closes (1st Floor) Starship Troopers: Invasion Movie Screening Secondary Events (1st Floor)
8:00pm - Registration desk closes (1st Floor)
8:30pm - Eien Strife concert Main Events (1st Floor)
9:00pm - Vocaloids!
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
10:00pm - 18+ Anime Dating Game
Presented by ~D~
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
11:00pm - MechaCon House Party Main Events (1st Floor) TMI w/ Amelie, ~D~ & Friends Secondary Events (1st Floor) (18+ ONLY) 4:00am - MechaCon House Party closes
Sunday, September 9th
The following is the schedule for Sunday’s convention areas and events. At-door registrations will be taken at 9 am.
9:00am - Registration desk opens (1st Floor) 10:00am - Dealers room opens (1st Floor) to GoldPass registrants only
Seating begins for Cosplay Chess
Getting to Know JDF Q&A
Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
Presented by Jason David Frank
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
10:30am - Dealers room opens (1st Floor) to all attendees
Cosplay Chess
w/ Todd Haberkorn & Vic Mignogna Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
11:00am - Voice Acting as a Career?
Q&A w/ Samantha Inoue-Harte, Daran Norris, Wendy Powell, Ellyn Stern & Steve Yun Main Events (1st Floor)
Batou and The Major: GITS Q&A
w/ Richard Epcar & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn Secondary Events (1st Floor)
12:00pm - Movie Screening (TBA) Secondary Events (1st Floor) 1:00pm - MechaCon Charity Auction
benefitting NOLA Japan Quake Fund Main Events (1st Floor)
3:00pm - AMV Showcase
Secondary Events (1st Floor)
Voice Actor Signing Tertiary Events (1st Floor)
5:00pm - All convention areas close
GUESTS OF HONOR Richard Epcar
One of the hardest working men in show business, Richard Epcar has voiced over 300 characters. He is well known to Animation, Video Game and Anime fans. Starting with ROBOTECH (as Ben Dixon, Lunk, Grel and Capt. Grant), his career has led him into roles such as Batou in GHOST IN THE SHELL and into a new series from Nickelodeon, AVATAR: THE LEGEND OF KORRA. Other notable roles include performances in BLEACH, BOBOBO, X-MEN, NARUTO, MONSTER, OUTLAW STAR, MACROSS PLUS, THE NEW SPEED RACER, RUROUNI KENSHIN, LUPIN the THIRD, DIGIMON, SAMURAI CHAMPLOO, GTO, CYBER SOLDIER 009, NINJA SCROLL, and POWER RANGERS. He is also an accomplished game, animation and ADR director, having directed such games as STAR OCEAN, BLUE DRAGON, UNREAL TOURNEMENT, SMACKDOWN vs. RAW, and JACKASS. He has also done ADR work in such live-action films as OLDBOY, AZUMI, FEARLESS and IRON MONKEY. Some of the shows his directing talents can be seen in are LUPIN THE THIRD, GHOST IN THE SHELL 2, NOEIN, FIGHTING SPIRIT, and ROBOTECH: SHADOW CHRONICLES, to name a few.
Jason David Frank
Best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in the long-running TV show POWER RANGERS, Jason morphed into a series of different rangers over the years: Mighty Morphin’ Green and White, Red Zeo, Red Turbo, and then returned in 2004 as the Black Dino Thunder Ranger. All in all, ‘Tommy’ appeared in more episodes than any other character, 225 in total, and appeared in both full-length movies, MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE (1995) and TURBO: A POWER RANGERS MOVIE (1997). A highly accomplished and respected martial artist with 33 years of experience, Kyoshi Frank currently holds a seventh degree black belt in American Karate and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is the owner/operator of Rising Sun Karate and MMA, with two schools in Texas and one in California. He is also the founder/CEO of Jesus Didn’t Tap, the first Christian-based line of MMA clothing and fight gear. Inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame in 2003 as the American Karate Master of the Year, he is the founder of Toso Kune Do, his own style. ATTENTION – Signing Limit
Jason David Frank will sign your MechaCon program book & one (1) item brought from home. Fans who would like an autograph beyond the limit of one (1) MechaCon program book & one (1) item brought from home must purchase merchandise from Jason’s table, which he will also sign.
Todd Haberkorn
Currently a proud member of the Anime community, Todd continues to be its humble servant by way of English dubbing. Todd received his BFA in acting from Southern Methodist University and continues to work primarily in Texas and Los Angeles as an actor, director, producer, and writer.As far as shows go, catch Todd’s voice in lead roles such as Ling Yao in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD, Keroro in SGT. FROG, Yamato in SUZUKA, Naru in GHOST HUNT, Raki in CLAYMORE, Wataknuki in xxxHOLIC, Allen Walker in D. GRAY MAN, Kyrie in SANDS OF DESTRUCTION, Death the Kid in SOUL EATER, and some others he can’t say right now. Todd is also the lead role Natsu, the fire eating, fire wielding wizard from FAIRY TAIL. A few supporting roles include Itsuki in SHUFFLE, Ichimoruken in HELL GIRL, Firo in BACCANO!, Kono in DARKER THAN BLACK, Hikaru in OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB and Khoza in ONE PIECE. Check out most of the shows listed above (legally) on Hulu. com, funimation.com, and NETFLIX!!
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Mary Elizabeth is a voice over actress, writer, singer and director. As an actress, she portrayed Major Motoko Kusanagi in GHOST IN THE SHELL INNOCENCE, SOLID STATE SOCIETY and GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX for which she won the American Anime Award for Best Actress. You can also hear her as Sei in ALPHA PROTOCOL and Nora in FINAL FANTASY XIII. Some of her other popular roles are Cornelia in CODE GEAS. Kurenai from NARUTO, Julia from COWBOY BEBOP, Helba and Bordeau from .HACK, Jagura from WOLF’S RAIN and Caroline from VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST. As a director, Mary Elizabeth is currently directing STITCH! for The Disney Channel and the ADR on the feature animated film DINO MOM. She also directed Billy Ray Cyrus in LUKE & LUCY AND THE TEXAS RANGERS. Mary is directing NARUTO: SHIPPUDEN for Disney XD. She has directed the 4 NARUTO movies as well as NARUTO the series for which she received the 2008 SPJA Award for Best Director. Among her many other directing credits are COWBOY BEBOP the series, COWBOY BEBOP: KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR, WOLF’S RAIN, the movie APPLESEED and was co-writer for the American adaptation of METROPOLIS. She also directed the original animated series GORMITI LORDS OF NATURE for Cartoon Network and WILD ANIMAL BABIES for PBS.Mary Elizabeth has had the great honor of singing the music of Akira Yamaoka for the movies JULIA X and SILENT HILL as well as the games: SILENT HILL 3, 4, 5, ORIGINS and the newly released SILENT HILL: SHATTERED MEMORIES which she also co-directed. For the gaming world she directed Samuel L. Jackson and Ron Perlman as well as the rest of the original cast in the AFRO SAMURAI game. She also directed the entire cast of iCARLY for their interactive game. Mary Elizabeth has directed the voice work for SOUL CALIBUR LEGENDS, RESIDENT EVIL: UMBRELLA CHRONICLES, DEVIL MAY CRY 3, 3.5 and 4, SPYHUNTER, the NARUTO: CLASH OF NINJA and ULTIMATE NINJA series, as well being second director for KUNG FU PANDA.
Vic Mignogna
Vic Mignogna has been acting for stage and screen since he was eight years old.He started his career in anime a little over ten years ago as Vega in STREETFIGHTER II. Since then, Vic has been in more than a hundred and fifty shows and video games. He is most well known for such roles as Edward Elric in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and Tamaki Suou in OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB. His credits also include performances as Fai in TSUBASA CHRONICLE, Dark in DN ANGEL, Kurz in FULL METAL PANIC, Broly in DRAGONBALL Z, Kougaijji in SAIYUKI, Ikkaku in BLEACH, Yukito in AIR, Takanaga in WALLFLOWER, Tatsu in PEACEMAKER, Luciano in CODE GEASS, Virgil Walsh in TRINITY BLOOD, Hikaru in MACROSS and many more. Currently, Vic is playing roles in the new WOLVERINE and IRON MAN series on G4. He’s also playing Zero in VAMPIRE KNIGHT and Yoshimori in ADULT SWIM’S KEKKAISHI. He is also back in the role of Edward for FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD. He is also currently playing Death Scythe in SOUL EATER, as well as roles in POKEMON, NARUTO, BLEACH and several others. Vic has also voiced roles in a large number of video games including SOUL CALIBUR, DISGAEA, PERSONA III, SONIC COLOURS, PROJECT SYLPHEED, DBZ, BLEACH, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and more. But for even longer than his career in voice acting, Vic has been a professional music composer/singer/ producer who has written and produced hundreds of pieces for TV, radio and CD. He sings the themes for shows like ONE PIECE & DRAGON BALL GT, and has produced several CDs of his own original music, all of which are available on iTunes. Finally, in addition to anime and music, Vic has a degree in film and is deeply involved as an actor and director in several web series like Nuka Break, Starship Farragut, and is executive producer on a brand new Star Trek: TOS based series called Star Trek Continues. Vic works regularly writing, producing and directing video and film productions of all kinds.
GUESTS OF HONOR Daran Norris
DARAN NORRIS has voiced hundreds of cartoon episodes, most notably providing the voices of Cosmo, Dad, and Jorgen (and more!) on the Nickelodeon series FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. Currently, Daran is voicing the Decepticon Knock Out on The Hub’s hit show TRANSFORMERS: PRIME, as well as Chief, Chameleon, and Francisco on Nick’s animated series T.U.F.F. PUPPY. Feature film roles include Spottswoode in TEAM AMERICA, and Louie the pigeon in BOLT. In 2003, he voiced Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Master Barrek & Durge in Genndy Tartakovsky’s STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. Daran is also a busy on-camera actor: series regular as Gordy on NED’S DECLASSIFIED, Cliff McCormack on VERONICA MARS, and currently recurring as the bearded maintenance man Bhudda Bob on Nickelodeon’s smash-hit BIG TIME RUSH. Daran’s favorite anime role (so far) is Vincent Volaju in the COWBOY BEBOP movie. He has also voiced roles in NARUTO, DIGIMON and MON COLLE KNIGHTS, to name just a few.
Wendy Powell
Wendy has been a professional voice actress for Funimation Entertainment and Okratron 5000 for over 8 years. She is probably most well known for voicing a little villain named Envy on FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD. She was most recently in CLAYMORE where she plays the character Ilene. One of her most challenging roles was the role of Iku in SHIRGURI… you need to watch it to understand why! Wendy is also known for smaller parts… in which she usually dies a most painful death. Some of her credits include: Katsuko Momose in CHAOS HEAD, Emi in BAKI THE GRAPPLER, Amick in BLUE GENDER, The Fever Demon in SHIN CHAN, Kyo’s Mother in FRUITS BASKET, Kasuga in NEGIMA and Paula “Lady Death” in TRINITY BLOOD. She has also voiced characters in titles such as: SOUL EATER, SCHOOL RUMBLE, CASE CLOSED, SGT. FROG, YU YU HAKUSHO, ONE PIECE, GALAXY RAILWAYS, TSUBASA and many others. Video Game credits include: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 2, THE GUNSTRINGER, BLOODRAYNE 2 and SPIKEOUT: BATTLESTREET. Wendy’s first love is the Theatre (although Anime is quickly catching up!!!), she works in local theatre in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Ellyn Stern
ELLYN STERN is a classically trained actress, whose career spans from film to television to stage. Ellyn is also widely known for her voice work and the wide range of characters she has played, numbering in the hundreds. She started in anime with the original ROBOTECH series, in which she played numerous characters. Most recently, she can be heard as Dorothy in TRUE CRIMES, HONG KONG and is a series regular on MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN, playing Martha. Ellyn can also be heard as a Mom on BLEACH, NOEIN and MAR. She’s also voiced Haraway in GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE and played Rosalind in ARMITAGE III among many, many others. You’ve also heard her on SHADOW HEARTS II as Veronica Vera and other characters. She’s directed and done voice work in many video game titles such as AERO WINGS 1 and 2, JADE COCOON and SUPER MAGNETIC NEO. Recently, Ellyn was seen on the NBC series called AWAKE. Ellyn also starred in the TV series MILK AND HONEY, in which she plays the top agent in a huge Hollywood agency. Ellyn has also recently finished shooting and starring in, BLOOD ON CANVAS, a story about a mother and daughter relationship.
INDUSTRY GUESTS Samantha Inoue-Harte
Sami co-founded Animetropolis, a trans-media production company, through which she is producing TAILCHASER, an independent 3D CGanimated feature film adaptation of Tad Williams’ acclaimed best-selling fantasy novel Tailchaser’s Song. An accomplished animator, animation instructor and actor, she has also been part of the animation industry since 1997, and heads her own Austin-based animation studio. As an animator, she has worked on projects for Disney, Mattel, Warner Brothers, and Fox Animation. She also served as animation director for Spike TV’s FRESH BAKED VIDEO GAMES television series, and teaches animation at the Art Institute of Austin. A voice actor since 1998, she is perhaps best known for her role as Chocobo in FINAL FANTASY: UNLIMITED but has also voiced in SAKURA WARS, GETTER ROBO, MAZINKAIZER, GATCHAMAN, SAMURAI X, MAGICAL PLAY, NEGIMA!, TRINITY BLOOD, ZONE OF THE ENDERS, TEKKEN THE MOTION PICTURE, NADIA SECRET OF BLUE WATER, COSPLAY COMPLEX, BLADE OF THE PHANTOM MASTER, DAI-GUARD, GETBACKERS, and over 30 more animated titles. Her voice can also be heard in video games including DC UNIVERSE ONLINE as Isis, WORLD OF WARCRAFT, and CITY OF HEROES. Her on screen presence can also be seen in GRINDHOUSE, SIN CITY, IDIOCRACY, OFFICE SPACE, TRUE GRIT, JONAH HEX, and various other films shot in Texas. Samantha’s repertoire of talent also includes cowboy action sharp shooting and FX makeup for films; most notably in the feature TEETH.
Jonathan Klein - New Generation Pictures
JONATHAN KLEIN is the Vice-President and co-owner of New Generation Pictures, Inc. His company produces the English language versions of some of the most popular anime and video games in the U.S. and Japan, including such popular anime as; HELLSING, Â HELLSING ULTIMATE, GUN X SWORD, KAMICHU, R.O.D THE TV, IKKI TOUSEN, NIEA UNDER 7, 3X3 EYES and many other titles. In addition, he has been the director of the English language versions of such anime titles as ERGO-PROXY, HAIBANE RENMEI, TEXHNOLYZE, MELODY OF OBLIVION and PARANOIA AGENT. Jonathan is also the co-founder of Anime Charity Auctions, an organization dedicated to help raise money for worthwhile charitable causes. Anime Charity Auctions donates rare and unusual autographed items from anime and video games to be auctioned off for non-profit charities sponsored by various anime & science fiction conventions.
Steve Yun - Harmony Gold
While still a young college student and part-time hacker in 1998, Steve got his first job at an anime company as a digital animator. It was a dream come true for any fan who grew up on ROBOTECH and MACROSS to be working somewhere in the anime industry. After slaving away through 80hour work weeks and one really bad 100-hour work week where he started hallucinating from being awake too long, Steve called it quits and went back to Riverside for his B.A. in Creative Writing. Stay in school, kids! Fresh out of college and eager to work in the anime industry again, Steve joined Harmony Gold to build the Robotech.com website, and has since co-produced and associate-produced several other projects as well, including the MACROSS restoration, the ROBOTECH: BATTLECRY video game, the ROBOTECH: INVASION video game, ROBOTECH REMASTERED and ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES. Steve has also been featured in an anime documentary called GEEKS, which he has still not had a chance to see.
MUSICAL GUESTS Eien Strife
EIEN STRIFE is a cosplay “adventure-rock” concert that brings to life the story of Terina, a dense forest world that is unknowingly facing its extinction. The four characters of the story – Cheydra, Raien, Lyren and Kale will join together and perform an intense high energy concert that is a truly unique experience both musically and visually. They have been traveling all over the country setting out on new adventures and making new friends while putting on a show that is full of excitement and surprises. The members of Eien Strife are planning to share their story and delivering a performance that the audience at MechaCon will never forget.
COSPLAY GUEST ~D~
~D~ (aka Count D) is a seasoned cosplay personality who has performed at many prominent conventions, including Oni-Con and AnimeFest. He (or she, depending on which costume you catch him/her in) has been basking in the limelight of the cosplay stage for nearly a decade. ~D~ got his start by attending and competing in cosplay competitions throughout the southern United States. Since 2003, ~D~ has competed professionally in competitions hosted by distinguished southern conventions ranging from Project A-kon to Anime Weekend Atlanta. Once he became an established personality in the cosplay community, ~D~ began hosting many different panels at various conventions, covering many aspects of cosplay such as wig care, makeup, and cosplay presentation. His goal is a simple one… to help the next generation of cosplayers to become more fabularious! ~ (He also makes up words!) ~D~ is suuuuuuuuper excited to be the official host of MechaCon’s 2012 Cosplay Competition! This opportunity brings him full-circle, as MechaCon is the convention that helped to kick-off his cosplay career. He’s ready to bring his hilariously unique personality across the universe and into your hearts.
Cosplay Judges
MechaCon’s Cosplay Judges panel is comprised of judges who have proven their expertise in their respective fields through accomplishments and awards. Among these fields are Cosplay Skit Production, Cosplay Craftsmanship, Seamstressing, Photography, Visual FX and Makeup FX. This year, our judges include: Kitty Hebert - Professional Seamstress, Brian Kuragiman - Professional Photographer, Tara Andrus - Special FX expert and representative of Changling FX, and April & Carl Martin - Award-winning cosplayers and representatives of Shinka Studios. Our Cosplay Judges’ bios can be found on our mobile app as well as on our website.
Kitty Hebert
Brian Kuragiman
Tara Andrus
Shinka Studios
TABLE-TOP GAMING GUEST Jonathan Thompson
Jonathan M. Thompson began his gaming career in 1980 with friends at his elementary school, as a way to eliminate the boredom that was called “the lunch break.” He reads enough to own his own library (at least according to others) and is interested in many genres and systems, owning at this time more than one hundred individual core systems (which doesn’t count supplemental material for those systems). He is the owner of Battlefield Press, Inc. based in Shreveport, Louisiana where he lives with his sixteen year old son. Jonathan co-authored the popular Gaslight Victorian Fantasy setting, and the upcoming Warren Norwood’s Double Spiral War. He is also responsible for publishing Eldritch Skies for Cinematic Unisystem and the City of Clocks Industrial Fantasy Systemless book, among others.
FEATURED ARTISTS Amelie Belcher
AMELIE “AMI-CHAN” BELCHER was born in Baton-Bloody-BoringRouge, Louisiana where the combination of chemical plant fumes and river water did major damage to her fragile little mind at an early age. By all accounts, she started drawing at the age of five (when she figured out that the pencil goes on the paper and not up your nose) and didn’t stop drawing until she ran out of paper... twenty years later. Amelie taught high school art for four years, but lost interest in teaching when it started cutting into her drinking time. She now travels the country selling her award-winning art, doing one-of-a-kind commissions for congoers, giving the best damn panels on earth, and being paid tribute to by her army of fans known as the “Ami Army” in the form of Pocky and manga. Known as “the angriest chick on the net,” she is the creator of the popular web comic “The Real Life Adventures of Amelie” at Cordeval.com which is read by desperately bored people all around the world.
Robby Musso
ROBBY MUSSO is a native New Orleanian artist with a lifelong passion for comics, toys, animation, and giant robots. He is best known for his work on popular comic titles such as TRANSFORMERS and SPEED RACER for IDW Publishing and Fun Publications. In addition to drawing comics and sequential art, he has also worked officially with Hasbro Toys, providing pre-production art for several of their flagship toylines including Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Star Wars. Robby’s enthusiasm for the mech/robot genre has also been the inspiration for many of his personal, original fan creations, most notably his own TRANSFORMERS fan character “Rex”, as well as the SPEED RACER-inspired variable racing machines “Mech-5” and the “Cyber-Star”. For more information, please visit Robby Musso on Facebook and MySpace, and also on deviantArt as username “REX-203”.
GUEST AUTOGRAPHS
ELECTRONIC GAMING What would an anime convention be without the hottest in electronic gaming, both the latest and greatest as well as old school? Operating all day and all night, our electronic gaming room doesn’t fail to deliver! This year, we’re proud to announce your electronic gaming needs will be fullfilled by our friends from
The SuperCon 2K Series is the place to be for all gamers to explore all the aspects of the video gaming industry and beyond. This series travels to Anime, Sci-Fi and Comic Book Conventions across the nation providing a home for gamers to meet other gamers, make new friends, play casual games and to learn about the gaming industry. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore gamer we’ve got you covered. There are multiple game set-ups, giveaways, tournaments and cool prizes to be won!! For all gamers, the SuperCon 2K Series can be seen at variety of conventions and events that have some tie-in or cross-over into the video game industry. Don’t miss the opportunity, fun, memories, networking, prizes, education, bragging rights, and/or the chance to be named the most proven player in the nation! Here’s what you’ll find in our game room: Persona 4 Arena Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Skullgirls Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations League of Legends StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty The King of Fighters XIII Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Street Fighter X Tekken Soulcalibur V Gears of War 3 Mortal Kombat 2011 Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition HALO: Reach BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Playstation Move Kinect for XBOX 360
Tournaments
SuperCon 2K Series brings you the following: FRIDAY 5:00pm - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Free for All) Soulcalibur V SATURDAY Noon - HALO: Reach (Free for All) 1:00pm - Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 2:00pm - The King of Fighters XIII SUNDAY Noon - Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Free for All) Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition Persona 4 Arena
MechaCon High-roller Tournament : Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3* * Not part of SuperCon 2K Series
Entry fee: SATURDAY 1:00pm - Tournament Registration 3:00pm - Tournament Begins 5:00pm - Tournament Finals (in Secondary Events)
$10
Featured arcade games:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time Street Fighter: 3rd Strike Gauntlet Legends X-men: The Arcade Game
Every moment counts as you control a thirty-foot tall, 75-ton walking tank, blasting your way to victory. Enjoy the hunt for prey in a futuristic wasteland from inside MechCorps’ BattleMech Cockpit Simulator Pods. During MechaCon, go up against live and additional AI opponents in team or free-for-all mayhem. BattleTech is not hide and seek, it’s seek and destroy. A short training session will get you ready for battle. Afterwards, you can talk smack while enjoying a mission review video of your battle and comparing your scoresheet to the other pilots in your mission.
FANDOM CENTRAL
Artists Alley
101 – Ashley & Ara’s Art 102 – House of Squee 103 – Allison Strom 104 – AniPirates 105 – MONsta Productions 106 – P2 Manga 107 – Marauder’s Masquerade 108 – Alissa Warren Papercrafts 109 – Cellar Skylight 110 – Nerdgasmic Novelties 111 – Apple Pudding 112 – Kittiye’s Kreations 113 – Sorbet Jungle 114 – Papaya Art 115 – Trosclair Studio 116 – Erika & Kelly Verberne 117 – Blasternation.com 118 – Pleasantly Strange
Industry Alley IA1-IA2 – Jason David Frank IA3-IA4 – Antarctic Press
Convention Alley C01 – IKKiCON C02 – LouisiANIME C03 – CoastCon
FanTables
F01 – NolAnime! F02 – LA Renaissance Festival F03 – Louisiana Ghostbusters
201 – 5mm Toy Hacker 202 – Sculptural Renaissance 203 – Monarch d’Amour 204 – Coffee Sheep 205 – Zyeph Crecia Art 206 – Saratonin Studios 207 – Saratonin Studios 208 – Madeline Howard & Angelle Rogers 301 – Eleanor James & Cassandra Tran 302 – Funky Love Designs, LLC 303 – Ta Da Boutique 304 – Plutonian Arachnids 305 – Angelic Gloom 306 – Atelier Black Sheep 307 – The Decora Katbox 308 – Nizzy Stairu 401 – Darmok Clothing 402 – Minty Mix
403 – Wicked Serenity 404 – Thingsies & Whatsies 405 – Tako Taco Sisters 406 – Supernae’s Dots and Doodles 407 – Ryan Has Problems 408 – Shinigami Okami 501 – Vernon Smith 502 – Lonely Bones, Inc. 503 – Nattosoup 504 – ZenOrc 601 – Punk’d Works 602 – Heidi Black & Devin Hillburn 603 – Bandi Studios 604 – Dreamgear Studios 605 – Adorkable by Design 606 – Winking Needle 607 – Winking Needle 608 – Plushies by Jen
IA5 – Eien Strife IA6 – Team Haberkorn
IA7 – Vic Mignogna IA8 – Changeling FX
C04 – CyPhaCon C05 – NatsuCon C06 – Anime Matsuri C07 – BayouCon
C08 – Oni-Con C09 – CONtraflow C10 – NOLA Library Anime
F04 – D20 Girls F05 – Steampunk Americans F06 – Geek Girls with Guns
F07 – Bast Alpha Garrison of the 501st Legion
PANEL SCHEDULE Friday, September 7th
2:00pm - Directing for Anime & Video Games Presented by Richard Epcar, Jonathan Klein & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn • Secondary Events
Being a Brony: The Fandom and the Philosophy
Presented by Nathalie Morris • Panel Room 1
Presented by MehanChan • Panel Room 2
Cosplay 101
3:00pm - Martial Arts with JDF
Presented by Jason David Frank • Tertiary Events
Great Costuming on a Budget
Presented by LARF professional Costuming Team • Panel Room 1
Women in Anime
Presented by Ellyn Stern • Panel Room 2
4:00pm - 50 Years of Bond
Presented by Richard Epcar • Secondary Events
A Beginner’s Guide to Surviving Japan
Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte • Panel Room 1
Pony Power with Amelie
Presented by Amelie Belcher • Panel Room 2
5:00pm - Cosplay Improv
Presented by LisaSailorUranus • Tertiatry Events
Speaking Japanese Without Sounding Ameri-Otaku
Presented by SeraphD • Panel Room 1
Street Fighter and Beyond
Presented by Jonathan Klein • Panel Room 2
6:00pm - Lolita on a Budget
Presented by NOLA Lolitas • Panel Room 1
When the S goes D
Presented by Evanuel Day • Panel Room 2
7:00pm - Makeup and Costume Techniques for the Beginning Crossplayer Presented by SeraphD • Panel Room 1
Sewing for Cosplay
Presented by Louisiana Resin • Panel Room 2
8:00pm - Fashion Talk with LoliBelle Presented by LoliBelle • Panel Room 1
Disney Princess Q&A
Presented by Digital Illusions • Panel Room 2
9:00pm - Silent Era Anime
Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte • Panel Room 1
Carl Macek’s Robotech Universe
Presented by Steve Yun • Panel Room 2
10:00pm - Anime Bloopers Presented by Richard Epcar
& Mary Elizabeth McGlynn • Secondary Events
Presented by SeraphD • Panel Room 1
Korean Pop Sensation
11:30pm - Anime Cat Fight Presented by Steve Yun
• Secondary Events
Saturday, September 8th 10:00am - Meet Vic Mignogna Presented by Vic Mignogna
• Secondary Events
Presented by Louisiana Resin • Panel Room 1
Presented by Jonathan Thompson • Panel Room 2
Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls
The Art of Good Character Design
11:00am - Power Rangers Q&A Presented by Jason David Frank
• Secondary Events
Make-up/ SPFX for Cosplay
Presented by Tara Andrus • Panel Room 1
NOLA Lolitas Q&A
Presented by NOLA Lolitas • Panel Room 2
12:00pm - Cosplay Makeup Presented by SEC - C Cosplay
• Panel Room 2
1:00pm - Leveraging Your Character
Presented by William Delmar III and various ‘la’ RenFest cast members. • Panel Room 1
GM 101
Presented by Jonathan Thompson • Panel Room 2
2:00pm - Geishas: Myth & Mystery Presented by Cynthia Leigh • Panel Room 1
New Generation Pictures Panel and Prize Giveaway
Presented by Jonathan Klein • Panel Room 2
3:00pm - Dance Like You K-Pop! Presented by Evanuel Day • Panel Room 1
Robotech Industry
Presented by Steve Yun • Panel Room 2
4:00pm - Historical and Alternate Historical Role-playing Presented by Jonathan Thompson • Panel Room 2
5:00pm - Japanese Rock: A Brief History Presented by SeraphD • Panel Room 1
DJ-ing 101
Presented by DJ Wildfire • Panel Room 2
6:00pm - Ultimate Hellsing Ultimate Panel Presented by Jonathan Klein • Panel Room 1
Real Gaijin Stories - Part 1 Presented by hebrewtaija • Panel Room 2
7:00pm - How to Make Angel Wings Presented by Saratonin Studios • Panel Room 1
Black Butler
Presented by Black Light Productions • Panel Room 2
8:00pm - Beginner’s Voice Acting Presented by Derek McOmber • Panel Room 1
Cosplay: After the “Play”
Presented by MehanChan • Panel Room 2
9:00pm - Vocaloids!
Presented by Digital Illusions • Secondary Events
Final Fantasy VII Nostalgia
& Mary Elizabeth McGlynn • Secondary Events
No Rest for the Weary: The Art of Game Design
• Secondary Events
Giant Robot Rumble
Presented by Steve Yun • Panel Room 1
Why Sci-fi and Comic Books Belong at an Anime Convention
Presented by Dom Ducote • Panel Room 2
• Secondary Events
Presented by Jonathan Thompson • Panel Room 1
Robotech Free-For-All
Presented by Steve Yun • Panel Room 2
12:00pm - What the Heck is a Sephiroth? Presented by Saratonin Studios
MSPaint Adventures & Info. Q&A Presented by Jessie Schlaudecker • Panel Room 2
• Secondary Events
11:00am - Batou & The Major: GITS Q&A Presented by Richard Epcar
11:00pm - TMI w/ Amelie, ~D~ & Friends Presented by Amelie Belcher & ~D~
10:00am - Getting to Know JDF Q&A Presented by Jason David Frank
Presented by Nerd It Up Cosplay Co. • Panel Room 1
10:00pm - 18+ Anime Dating Game Presented by ~D~
Sunday, September 9th
• Panel Room 1
Browncoats Assemble!
Presented by Nerd It Up Cosplay Co. • Panel Room 2
1:00pm - Webcomics – Anyone Can Do It! Presented by Meaghann Everett • Panel Room 1
Getting Into Character
Presented by LisaSailorUranus • Panel Room 2
2:00pm - Meet Your MechaCon DJs Presented by DJ Wildfire • Panel Room 1
Pitching an Idea 101
Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte • Panel Room 2
3:00pm - Ace In The Hole
Presented by Li Greyjoy • Panel Room 1
Real Gaijin Stories – Part 2 Presented by hebrewtaija • Panel Room 2
PANELS & PRESENTATIONS Informative panels have always been and continue to be in high demand at anime events around the world. MechaCon has gathered a variety of panels on many different subjects for attendees to experience and enjoy!
Directing for Anime & Videogames
Join Jonathan Klein (Paranoia Agent, Ergo Proxy, Final Fantasy), Mary-Elizabeth McGlynn (Naruto, Cowboy Bebop, Soul Caliber Legends) Richard Epcar (Lupin the Third, Blue Dragon) as they share their experiences in what it takes to be a director for videogames and anime. For those who are interested in a career in directing, this is the panel for you.
Being a Brony: The Fandom and the Philosophy
A look into the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic fandom for new fans and Bronies for life alike. We will dive into the show, characters, and where the term “Brony” comes from. Ever wonder why Brony’s always say to love and tolerate? Come and find out why! Presented by Nathalie Morris
Cosplay 101: An Intro to Cosplay
New to cosplay? Trying to get the basics down? This will be a general panel about all aspects of cosplay and craftsmanship. We’ll be talking about how to get started, patterns, sewing, wigs, make-up, where to get materials, and more! Presented by MehanChan
Great Costuming on a Budget
Creating a costume from vision to completion takes knowledge of hardware stores, toy stores, fabric stores, thrift stores, and craft stores combined with an out-of-the-box attitude and a few bucks. Let us give you some ideas on how you can create your desired character. Presented by LARF pro Costuming Team: Carol M. Lynch, Margaret Lipscomb and Kate Womack
Women in Anime
Ellyn Stern will engage the audience in discussions delving into all of the different roles of women in anime, how those roles evolved, and what the future could possibly hold. This is a very interactive panel, so bring you heart and be prepared to share! Presented by Ellyn Stern
50 years of Bond
Richard Epcar, being a huge James Bond fan, goes into everything he loves about the series now that it has reached 50 years old! Come and see what a true fan of Bond has to think about all of your favorite Bond movies, which Bond he enjoys the most, and more! Presented by Richard Epcar
A Beginner’s Guide to Surviving Japan So you want to go to Japan? Some people want to just go there for a visit. Others want to live there. You could always take Japanese language classes, but there are some things that isn’t taught in school. You’ll learn about the best ways to save money, how to not look like a “Gaijin,” how to use the ever intimidating “Sqwatter” and other fun little tidbits of advice that will help you survive Japan. Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte
Cosplay Improv
A fun, high energy panel where we will play games that help develop creativity and help get into character. It’s a family fun panel that will get everyone involved and be very interactive and enjoyable. Like most things, it is not solely anime themed: sci-fi, fantasy, and all other genres are welcomed and encouraged. This panel will be very entertaining and interactive, so bring your friends and family and join the fun. Presented by LisaSailorUranus
Speaking Japanese Without Sounding Ameri-Otaku
Forget “kawaii baka neko desu~!” This panel will teach proper Japanese sentence structure and pronunciation, the very basics of Japanese etiquette in speaking, and the varying forms of addressing oneself, others, and objects, including defining one’s gender in speaking. We will learn some good phrases in the process. Presented by SeraphD
Street Fighter and Beyond
As Capcom celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Street Fighter, join Jonathan Klein, Producer of the English version of Street Fighter IV, Super Street Fighter IV (& Arcade Edition) as well as Street Fighter x Tekken, to learn what new and exciting things Capcom has got planned for celebrating the quintessential fighting game series of all time. Presented by Jonathan Klein
When the S goes D
From zombies and aliens to hurricanes and earthquakes, being prepared for any disaster is essential when “The S goes D.” A fun discussion panel covering disaster scenarios and post-apocalyptic situations in popular fictions as well as real world settings. Keeping it silly yet imformative, Evanuel Day invites you to stop on by and stay alive (longer)! Presented by Evanuel Day Lewis (aka Ai no Shinobi)
Makeup and Costume Techniques for the Beginning Crossplayer
This panel will discuss gender-bending makeup and costume techniques for those who are interested in accuracy of gender in their costumes. SeraphD will go over methods for both males and females with which they can become more like the opposite gender.. Presented by SeraphD
Fashion Talk with LoliBelle
Tighten those threadlocks, set your cosplay make-up, and hang onto your petticoats as the LoliBelle Girls give a run through of past and present-day fashions. Make sure to join the girls as they discuss and give away items related to Steampunk, Cybergoth, Visual Kei, Cosplay, Lolita, and many more! Presented by LoliBelle
Pony Power with Amelie
Disney Princess Q&A
Sewing for Cosplay
Anime Cat Fight
Come and join one of MechaCon’s friends and resident artist, Amelie Belcher, as she dives into one of her favorite topics, PONIES! She will go over everything she knows about ponies, which is a heck of a lot. From Generation One ponies, to the recent pony resurgence, she will talk about it all in a way only Amelie can. Presented by Amelie Belcher Join Louisiana Resin as they go into the basics of sewing your newest costume! Bring all of your questions and these veterans of cosplay will do their best to answer you. Everything from hemming to using patterns to anything you can think of! Presented by Louisiana Resin
Ever wondered how long Rapunzle’s hair is, or what it was like for Ariel to walk for the first time? Well you can ask those mysterious questions at Digital Illusions’ Disney Q&A panel! This family-friendly, fun event allows the audience to ask their favorite Disney characters questions they’ve always wondered about. Presented by Digital Illusions Harmony Gold’s Steve Yun hosts a panel where judges argue over which anime girl would win in a fight, while Steve makes fun of attendees for being huge nerds. Presented by Steve Yun
Silent Era Anime
Before there was Hetalia… before there was Fullmetal Alchemist… before there was Tenchi Muyo… before Robotech… before Astroboy… there was… Silent Era Anime. At the dawn of the 20th century, Japan began creating animated shorts based on ancient folk tales, wartime propaganda, music videos, and comedic shorts. This extremely rare silent era anime is being presented by Samantha from her private animation collection. Come and join us for this unique presentation. Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte
Carl Macek’s
Universe
Directed and narrated by independent filmmaker Keith Maxwell, the documentary features interviews with the cast and crew involved with the groundbreaking Robotech franchise that debuted in 1985. A collection of private photos and stories portray the herculean effort by Carl Macek and his crew to create a dynamic anime series that influenced an entire industry that is still going strong today. Presented by Steve Yun
Korean Pop Sensation
This presenter is among those who would argue that anime conventions are about Japanese culture. However, there is no denying that Korean pop music is rising in popularity among the American anime fanbase. This panel will highlight some Korean groups and artists who have gained recognition across the globe from Japanese animation fans in spite of the difference in country and culture. Presented by SeraphD
GM 101
New to GM-ing, or in need of some tips on how to handle that problem player or maybe you need to know what to do when a party goes off script? Come join our Table-top Gaming Guest Jonathan Thompson, see this panel, and have your questions answered. Presented by Jonathan Thompson
Geishas: Myth & Mystery
An educational panel on Geikos/Maikos where we’ll explore their historical and cultural significance. We’ll highlight various aspects of this insular group including their training, garments, and day-today lives. Come with an open-mind. There’ll be no “Memoirs” here! Presented by Cynthia Leigh
Asian Ball Jointed Dolls
Come join Louisiana Resin as they host their ever-popular Asian Ball-Jointed Doll panel, covering the history of these dolls as they originated in Japan and spread along what can be qualified as an ABJD. Details like pricing, types, sizes, and countries that carry them will all be discussed, along with other tidbits. Presented by Louisiana Resin
The Art of Good Character Design
Join Jonathan Thompson as he shows gamers how to make more developed RPG characters. Including tips on character backgrounds, interaction, quirks and more, this method is not limited to one gaming system. It is meant for general, overall character design improvement focusing more on role-playing aspects rather than technical character tweeks. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Presented by Jonathan Thompson
NOLA Lolitas Q&A
Come join the New Orleans Lolitas as they explain and answer questions about one of the most popular street fashions from Japan, Lolita! They will explain the basics, the “how-to”s and the ins and outs of this cute and fun style! Presented by NOLA Lolitas
Make-up/ SPFX for Cosplay
A panel focusing on professional applications of make-up for cosplay. There will be live demos of Airbrush body painting and Skin Illustrator Tattoos and markings. The last portion will be a Q&A session. Presented by Tara Andrus of Changeling FX
Leveraging Your Character
Using your character to be interactive, interesting and fun. Staying in character is more fun for you, and impressive to others. This panel will discuss the various challenges of getting into a character, and the rewards of staying in character. Presented by William Delmar III and various ‘la’ RenFest cast members
The New Generation Pictures Panel and Prize Giveaway
Jonathan Klein, V.P. of New Generation Pictures discusses what new Anime and Videogame projects he and his company have been up to, working with such companies as Funimation, Capcom, Marvel Comics and many others. Win prizes for asking good questions. Presented by Jonathan Klein
Dance Like You K-Pop!
This here is a dance workshop where you can pick up a few moves and enjoy some jams to one of the fastest growing pop music waves in the last few years. Evanuel Day will be giving fun tutorials in a casual atmosphere on how to step up your groove game. Whether you want to participate or just spectate be prepared to have a great time! Presented by Evanuel Day Lewis (aka Ai no Shinobi)
Industry
Steve Yun, co-writer of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, covers the history of the television series that introduced a generation to anime, and discusses new releases in the wake of the announcement of the live action feature film. We will also remember Carl Macek, the original producer of Robotech who started this whole phenomenon. Presented by Steve Yun
Historical and Alternate Historical Role-playing
Running a game set in an alternate history, or historical setting. Come join our Table-top Gaming guest Jonathan Thompson and see how much accuracy you really need. Presented by Jonathan Thompson
Japanese Rock: A Brief History
This panel will be a discussion of bands and musicians beginning with the earliest, most influential and ending with more recent groups, with a discussion of their musical styles and their fashions. Musical samples and videos will be played, so come and rock out! Presented by SeraphD
DJ-ing 101
Have you ever wondered what a DJ does exactly? How all of that equipment and flashy lights make the music you love so much? Come and get those questions answered straight from MechaCon’s resident DJ! Presented by DJ Wildfire
MSPaint Adventures & Info. Q&A
Come and enjoy the wonder that is Homestuck! Ask your favorite trolls and kids every question you’ve ever had! With this fan panel you can geek all over Homestuck! Presented by Jessie Schlaudecker
Real Gaijin Stories
Come join a real life Gaijin as he lived in Japan for 6 months, and can answer your questions on many interesting topics, such as school life, Japanese food, music, culture, Japanese society and politics (and how to avoid getting locked up in prison), learning Japanese and the language barrier (or how he sucks at dating Japanese women), and much more! So much information that we actually had to split this panel in two! Presented by hebrewtaija (Continued)
PANELS & PRESENTATIONS (Continued from previous page)
The Ultimate Hellsing Ultimate Panel
It’s been 11 years since New Generation Pictures produced the original dub for Hellsing and 6 years since they first started working on Hellsing Ultimate. Now with Funimation about to release the next chapters of Hellsing Ultimate in the US, join Jonathan Klein as he looks back on his company’s involvement in producing one of the most popular Vampire anime titles ever released. He has many stories about working with the cast & crew and Japanese creators to share with all of you. See previews of upcoming episodes to be released with the English dub, utilizing the original cast! And try to win unique Hellsing prizes by testing your Hellsing trivia knowledge. Presented by Jonathan Klein
How to Make Angel Wings
Learn how to make your own costume and cosplay wings with Saratonin Studios. This panel covers all the tips and tricks for making wings on a budget while still achieving professional looking results. Pictures and examples of wings in progress will be shown. There will be time for questions and answers about any kind of wing construction. Presented by Saratonin Studios
Giant Robot Rumble
Remember when you were in elementary school and you argued with your friends about whether Voltron or Optimus Prime would win in a fight? Well, prepare for the ultimate in nerdy panels: Harmony Gold’s Steve Yun hosts a tournament where panelists and attendees argue and vote over which robots would win in a fight. Sixteen robots will enter the arena, but only one will emerge as the victor! Presented by Steve Yun
Beginner’s Voice Acting
This Panel is to teach people how to begin learning about their own voice through impressions, impersonations, and accents. There will also be a chance to hop on the mic and show everyone your best impression. Presented by Derek McOmber
Cosplay: After the “Play”
A sociological discussion on the cosplay community and how the passion for cosplay extends beyond the stage and into our personal lives. What happens when the convention is over? What is everyday life for a cosplayer? Let’s talk about it. Presented by MehanChan
Vocaloids!
Music, dancing and games! Sounds like a party, right? Close! It’s Digital Illusions’ Vocaloid Performance Panel! Join us, along with your favorite Vocaloids as they perform memorable pieces. We will have audience friendly dances along with interactive games! Presented by Digital Illusions
Pitching an Idea 101
There are thousands of ideas in the world, but are they good enough to be made into a Video Game? An IPhone App? A Movie? An Animated Series? Don’t have money to really do anything with your idea? If you have an idea for a project but really don’t know where to go next, this is the panel for you. This panel will cover pitching, raising money, critical thinking, and help you think outside of the box. Presented by Samantha Inoue-Harte
Final Fantasy VII Nostalgia
Reminiscence about the game that defined a generation; Final Fantasy VII and its compilation! This panel discusses the games, characters, music, graphics, gameplay, and story of what is commonly hailed as one of the greatest video games of all time. Presented by Nerd It Up Cosplay Co.
Batou & The Major
Come and experience this momentous reunion as these two actors go into all of their favorite (and maybe not so favorite) Ghost in the Shell moments and memories. Presented by Richard Epcar & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Black Butler
Ever wanted to ask your favorite characters what they actually thought of each other? Well come join us and ask for yourself... and you can also be the deciders of the age old question... Who’s the better young master? Presented by Black Light Productions
Why Sci-fi and Comic Books Belong at Anime Conventions
Delve into one of the hot topics on the convention scene. Why do we see Jedi, Spidermen, and Predators at anime conventions? Why is it okay? Discussions will include how Japanese and Western cultures have influenced each other in pop culture. Presented by Dom Ducote
No Rest for the Weary: The Art of Game Design
Thinking of designing your own game or just interested in how your favorite RPG came to be? Jonathan Thompson runs his own company so come ask questions to get help from a pro. Presented by Jonathan Thompson
Free-For-All
Did you miss Saturday’s panel? Do you still have questions about the past, present or future of ROBOTECH? Here is your chance as Harmony Gold’s Steve Yun opens the floor to fans in a town hall-style discussion. Presented by Steve Yun
What the Heck is a Sephiroth?
Ever wondered what “sephiroth” means, or where some of the strange symbols in anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Full Metal Alchemist come from? Kaballah, an ancient Jewish mystical practice, shows up in Japanese pop culture in some strange places. This panel explores these intersections of two very different cultures. Presented by Saratonin Studios
Browncoats Assemble!
You are invited to join us in talk about Firefly, Serenity and all the great things that go with it. Go through the guidebooks, talk characters, share facts, and of course horribly-out-of-tune sing the opening song! Let’s aim to misbehave! Presented by Nerd It Up Cosplay Co.
Webcomics – Anyone Can Do It!
This panel returns to prove to the masses that making a webcomic isn’t as daunting as it seems! We’ll cover everything from the creative process to budget online hosting – all while trying to be somewhat amusing! Join us! Presented by Meaghann Everett
Meet Your MechaCon DJs
Ever wonder what the DJ on stage is feeling or thinking while performing? Or maybe just wanted to know a little more about the DJs themselves? DJ Wildfire and his buddies are here to answer these questions and more! Presented by DJ Wildfire
Getting into Character
This panel is for all cosplayers. It’s an informational panel about how to become your character at photoshoots, LARPs, etc. We will teach the benefits of staying in character and the importance of respecting the characters and their creators. Presented by LisaSailorUranus
Ace In The Hole
Homestuck Intermission-centric panel where all fans of the hit webcomic are welcome! Discussions include Homestuck music, fan theories and the most recent update, along with just general shenanigans. Music from the comic will be played! Led by your favorite Intermission characters. Come talk about Homestuck with us! Presented by Li Greyjoy
Cosplay Makeup
Have a rockin’ cosplay and want to take it to the next level? We have makeup and we’re not afraid to use it! This is an all inclusive makeup panel covering the basics of cosplay and crossplay makeup with emphasis on stage and photography. Presented by SEC - C Cosplay
18+ Panels
(Only attendees age 18 and over are allowed in the following panels. I.D.s will be checked. If you do not have a legal I.D., you will not be permitted to enter.)
Anime Bloopers (18+)
Showing what happens behind the scenes of voice acting when things go wrong, Richard Epcar once again brings his hilarious blooper reel of some of the characters he has voiced. Includes clips from some of his best known shows, including Lupin the Third, Ghost in the Shell, and Bobobobo-bo Bobo-bo. Presented by Richard Epcar & Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
And more...
The following panels were submitted without any descriptions:
Martial Arts with JDF
Presented by Jason David Frank
Lolita on a Budget
Presented by NOLA Lolitas
Power Rangers Q&A
Presented by Jason David Frank
Anime Dating Game (18+)
This one also makes a comeback, but for the adults of the convention. The gloves are off as Count D lets loose for some even wackier matchmaking. Not for the faint of heart! Presented by ~D~
TMI w/ Amelie, ~D~ & Friends (18+)
Join Amelie Belcher, Count D and friends as they discuss any and everything in this no-holds-barred 18+ only panel. Presented by Amelie Belcher & ~D~
SLEEPING SAMURAI is a company based around bringing Interactive Entertainment to conventions. They supply hand made foam weapons, made to simulate actual weapons with as much historical accuracy as possible. These weapons are created entirely by the staff of Sleeping Samurai. Most all of the weapons they create are Asian-inspired. They do have some European inspired weapons, though. So, whether you are looking for a foam Katana or a foam Hammer, you should find what you need in their wide array of weapons. Custom orders are always welcome! Sleeping Samurai was established in 2007 and since then they have brought their expertise in the field of Interactive Entertainment to dozens of shows across the U.S. Not only do they offer you the chance to participate in the foam battles themselves but they also hold instructional panels, historical panels, choreographed fight routine panels, training sessions and much more. Foam weapon tournaments, exhibition matches and LARPing games are just a few types of battles that they organize and supervise at conventions. Tournament winners receive their pick of one free item from their inventory. Foam weapons, parasols, hand fans, necklaces, prayer stones and sensual oils are just a few of the items that they carry. Panel #1 • Friday 7:00pm • In the Sleeping Samurai exhibition area
Stance & Strike Training (Beginner) Come join us for this basic course in how to hold, stand and strike with a Katana (foam versions will be provided). This Beginner course is a great way for people of all ages to learn the basics of Katana use. Presented by Hosted by Shadow and Dragon (of Sleeping Samurai) Panel #2 • Saturday 11:00am • In the Sleeping Samurai exhibition area
Stance & Strike Training (Intermediate) Come join us for this intermediate course in how to stand, move and strike with a Katana (foam versions will be provided). This Intermediate course is a great way for people of all ages to learn a more advanced way of using a Katana. Presented by Hosted by Shadow and Dragon (of Sleeping Samurai) Panel #3 • Sunday 11:00am • In the Sleeping Samurai exhibition area
Stance & Strike Training (Advanced) We hope you join us for our third and final training course in how to stand, move and strike with a Katana (foam versions will be provided). This training course is only for those who joined us for the beginner and intermediate classes. If you did not have the chance to join us for the other classes, don’t worry because we would still love to have you come watch and learn all you can! For more information, please visit us in the Sleeping Samurai Battle Room. Presented by Hosted by Shadow and Dragon (of Sleeping Samurai)
TABLE-TOP GAMING SCHEDULE Come learn a new game like Munchkin or Vampire: The Masquerade. Come experience RPGs such as Earthdawn, or Dungeons & Dragons. Naturally, we have ccg tournaments for you to show off your deck-building skills. And last, but definitely not least, our epic, unique STAR WARS Meta Scenario, The Sith Prophecies continues to roll on!
Friday, September 7th Gaming Room 1
1:00pm - Go & Shogi DEMOS
3:00pm - Free Play 4:00pm - Shogi WORKSHOP
5:00pm - Go & Shogi DEMOS
6:00pm - Free Play 7:00pm - Go WORKSHOP
8:00pm - Go & Shogi DEMOS
9:00pm - Gaslight RPG OGL EDITION DARK MAGIC IN NEW ORLEANS
Gaming Room 2
1:00pm - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies RPG - SESSION 1
4:00pm - Dragon Age RPG
THE OGRE’S CHOICE - SESSION 1
7:00pm - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies
BALANCE OF POWER, BALANCE OF HONOR SESSION #2
5:00pm - Shogi
STRATEGY PANEL
6:00pm - World of Darkness RPG
6751 JANSEN CIRCLE6751 – SESSION #2
8:00pm - Go & Shogi
TOURNAMENTS
Gaming Room 2
9:00pm - World of Darkness RPG
Gaming Room 3
DEMO
1:00pm - Warhammer 40K MINIATURES DEMO
3:00pm - Frag SPECIAL SCENARIO
MY LITTLE PWNY: FRAGGING IS MAGIC! TOURNAMENT
6751 JANSEN CIRCLE6751 – SESSION #1
Gaming Room 4
Midnight - Magic: The Gathering COMMANDER TOURNAMENT 4:00am - Free Play 10:00am - Go & Shogi DEMOS Slayers RPG BLAST – SESSION #2 1:00pm - Go PANEL 2:00pm - Go & Shogi DEMOS Legend of the Five Rings RPG
6:00pm - Munchkin
8:00pm - Arkham Horror
12:00am - Room Closes
Gaming Room 1
Midnight - DC Adventures RPG IN STRANGE AEONS - SESSION #1 3:00am - Free Play 10:00am - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies RPG - SESSION 2 1:00pm - Vampire: The Masquerade RPG 4:00pm - Pokémon TOURNAMENT 6:00pm - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies MINIATURES - SESSION 2 (THE MAIN EVENT) 9:00pm - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies RPG - SESSION 3
MINIATURES - SESSION 1
Gaming Room 3
Saturday, September 8th
1:00pm - Marvel RPG SESSION #1
4:00pm - Slayers RPG
BLAST – SESSION #1
7:00pm - Legend of the Five Rings RPG
BALANCE OF POWER, BALANCE OF HONOR SESSION #1
11:00pm - Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 EDITION
10:00am - Yu-Gi-Oh! SEALED DECK TOURNAMENT 3:00pm - Yu-Gi-Oh! CONSTRUCTED DECK TOURNAMENT 7:00pm - Magic: The Gathering CONSTRUCTED DECK TOURNAMENT 9:00pm - Monsterpocalypse MINIATURES DEMO 11:00pm - Are You A Werewolf? CARD GAME
1:00am - Zombies!!! BOARD GAME
Gaming Room 4 (Saturday continued)
Gaming Room 2
3:00am - Room Closes until 10am 10:00am - Marvel RPG SESSION - #2 3:00pm - Warmachines / Hordes MINIATURES DEMO 3:00pm - Yu-Gi-Oh! CONSTRUCTED DECK TOURNAMENT 10:00pm - Gaslight RPG SAVAGE WORLDS EDITION DARK MAGIC IN NEW ORLEANS
Midnight - DC Adventures RPG IN STRANGE AEONS - SESSION #2 3:00am - Free Play 10:00am - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies MINIATURES - SESSION 3 11:00am - Paranoia RPG 2:00pm - Star Wars: The Sith Prophecies RPG - SESSION 4 5:00pm - Gaming Room 2 closes
Sunday, September 9th Gaming Room 1
Midnight - Humans!!! BOARD GAME 2:00am - Free Play 10:00am - Go & Shogi DEMOS Legend of the Five Rings RPG
BALANCE OF POWER, BALANCE OF HONOR SESSION #3
1:00pm - Doubutsu Shogi PANEL
2:00pm - Go & Shogi DEMOS
3:00pm - Doctor Who RPG
ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE
5:00pm - Gaming Room 1 closes
Gaming Room 3 1:00am - Room Closes until 10am 10:00am - Slayers RPG BLAST – SESSION #3 11:00am - Magic: The Gathering SEALED DECK TOURNAMENT 1:00pm - Munckin Quest & Munckin Quest 2 BOARD GAMES 5:00pm - Gaming Room 3 closes
Gaming Room 4 1:00am - Room Closes until 10am 10:00am - Marvel RPG SESSION #3 1:00pm - Space Hulk BOARD GAME 2:00pm - Qin RPG WHISPERINGS IN XIQI VILLAGE 5:00pm - Gaming Room 4 closes
Star wars Meta-Scenario
MechaCon is proud to present the latest chapter in our epic Star Wars Minis/RPG scenario, The Sith Prophecies! Hear Me.... When darkness seeks its own, the reflection of the lost master shall seek redemption in the wilds and sow the seeds of the great night. Hear Me... It is a time of brutal tyranny as the evil Galactic Empire continues its stranglehold on the Galaxy. However, the newly formed Rebel Alliance has created a spark, a spark that could become a flame that banishes the darkness....
Team MechaCon is proud to present:
Star wars
The Sith Prophecies: Episode IV – A Rekindled Light
The last few years has found the crew of the Orrineswa living in hiding. However, events will force them to once more go on the run, eventually winding up on the Galactic Fringe. There, they will be caught in a dangerous struggle between the forces of tyranny and the forces of freedom that will ensnare them once again in the web of prophecy and fate. Will they find themselves basking in the light of hope and freedom? Or will they be cast into the darkness of oppression? Join us to help decide their fate.
Star wars
Even light can’t outshine prophecy!
Miniatures
From Wizards of the Coast (Presented by William Hebert)
The Star Wars Miniatures line features hundreds of ready-to-play miniatures from the Star Wars universe.
Star wars
RPG
From Wizards of the Coast (Presented by Stuart Keller)
Take on the role of the heroes of the Star Wars universe and fight against the forces of evil! You might play a Duros smuggler, a Wookiee copilot, a human Jedi, or any of countless possibilities.
TABLE-TOP GAMING Looking to get your tabletop gaming grove on? MechaCon’s got you covered! Come join an RPG run by this year’s tabletop gaming guest, Jonathan Thompson! Test your skills and compete for prizes and glory in one of our TCG tournaments! Spend some time enjoying board games such as Munchkin Quest and Space Hulk! Or stop by our Asian board game room and learn about the games Go and Shogi! Enjoy miniatures games such as Warmachine or Monsterapocalypse! And don’t forget our epic, unique Star Wars Meta Scenario, The Sith Prophecies! This year’s events include, (but are not limited to):
Customizable/Trading Card Games
Of course, MechaCon will give you the opportunity to show off your deck-building skills and obliterate your opponent with TCG tournaments (the sealed deck tournaments will be handled by the good folks from +1 Gaming). Come join us for the return of Magic After Dark as we present a special after hours Commander tournament! This year, we offer the following games:
Magic - The Gathering
From Wizards of the Coast (Sealed and Constructed Tournaments judged by Eric Leblanc, Commander Tournament judged by Dominique Ducote) The Magic: The Gathering game, created by Richard Garfield, established the Trading Card Game category in 1993. Today, it continues to offer a fan base of more than 6 million players the opportunity to play both socially and competitively through leagues, tournaments and in-store events. MTG is the world’s best trading card game, and we support it with our best efforts.
Pokémon TCG
From Nintendo (Tournament judged by Richard Langenstein) In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, players build decks around their favorite Pokémon and then play against each other, sending their Pokémon into battle to prove who the best Pokémon Trainer is.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
From Konami (Tournaments judged by Hoang Hoang) In this game, two players duel each other using a variety of Monster, Spell, and Trap Cards to defeat their opponent’s monsters and be the first to drop the other’s Life Points to 0.
Non-Trading Card Games
And of course, the ever popular Munchkin is back, as well as a couple of other great games from Steve Jackson Games.
Are You A Werewolf?
From Looney Labs (Presented by Jeremy and Josh Gremillion) A mind game for 8-15 players, in which a vengeful group of villagers must figure out who among them is secretly a werewolf (before it’s too late...) Each “night” the werewolves eat a villager, and each “day” the surviving villagers attempt to rid the town of werewolves by lynching one of their own.
Munchkin
From Steve Jackson Games (Presented by Steven Rosenthal) Go down in the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Admit it. You love it. This award-winning card game, designed by Steve Jackson, captures the essence of the dungeon experience... with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff. You and your friends compete to kill monsters and grab magic items. And what magic items! Don the Horny Helmet and the Boots of ButtKicking. Wield the Staff of Napalm... or maybe the Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment. Start by slaughtering the Potted Plant and the Drooling Slime, and work your way up to the Plutonium Dragon... And it’s illustrated by John Kovalic! Fast-playing and silly, Munchkin can reduce any roleplaying group to hysteria. And, while they’re laughing, you can steal their stuff.
Miniatures
As usual, MechaCon will give you the chance to experience the thrill of commanding a powerful army as it mercilessly sweeps aside all before it, as we will have demos for the games Monsterapocalypse, Warhammer 40K, and Warmachine/Hordes.
Monsterpocalypse
From Privateer Press (Presented by Jeremy and Josh Gremillion) This is Monsterpocalypse, a fast-moving, action-packed strategy game played with high-quality collectible miniatures portraying the most fearsome giant monsters on Earth! Each battle takes place in a city that you and your opponent construct by placing buildings on a city map. Players choose their forces from their respective collections of figures and then battle one another with giant monsters and supporting units such as tanks, flying vehicles, and all manner of creatures. When the battle begins, you command your monster and lead your units into the city to hunt down and destroy your opponent’s monster. To accomplish your mission, your monster and units each have weapons and abilities that are activated by special dice. The last monster standing wins the game!
Warhammer 40,000
From Games Workshop (Presented by Paul Mevis) The aim of every person who plays Warhammer 40000 is to pit their force of miniatures against other players across war-torn futuristic battlefields. Win or lose, all battles are entertaining challenges in which you try to out-think and out-play your opponent, taking advantage of what good luck comes your way, but ultimately relying upon sound tactics to win the day.
Warmachine
From Privateer Press (Presented by David Giles & William Hawthorne) Warmachine is a fast-paced and aggressive 30mm tabletop miniatures battle game set in the steam-powered fantasy world of the Iron Kingdoms. Players take on the role of elite soldier-sorcerers known as warcasters. Though warcasters are formidable combatants on their own, their true strength lies in their magical ability to control and coordinate mighty warjacks – massive steam-powered combat automatons that are the pinnacle of military might in the Iron Kingdoms. Players collect, assemble, and paint fantastically detailed models representing the varied warriors, machines, and creatures in their armies. This is steam-powered miniatures combat, and your tabletop will never be the same!
Hordes
From Privateer Press (Presented by David Giles and William Hawthorne) Set in the wilds of the Iron Kingdoms, Hordes is Warmachine’s feral twin. In this award-winning, fast-paced, 30mm tabletop miniatures game, players jump into the action controlling powerful battle-wizards known as warlocks. Warlocks are formidable combatants in their own right, but their true strength is drawn from their synergy with packs of savage warbeasts that allow them to contend on equal footing with the greatest modern armies of the Iron Kingdoms. Players collect, assemble, and paint fantastically detailed models representing the varied warriors, minions, and beasts in their hordes. This is monstrous miniatures combat, and your tabletop will never be the same!
Board Games
Come spend a few hours playing the tremendously fun Munchkin Quest or a late night game of Zombies!!! We even have a special “My Little Pony”-based scenario for the boardgame Frag. And, after its successful debut last year, the Asian board game room returns, featuring all day long demos of the games Go and Shogi, as well as tournaments for both games. This year’s board game line up is as follows:
Frag
From Steve Jackson Games (Presented by Steven Rosenthal) Frag is a computer game without a computer – a “first-person shooter” on a tabletop. Move your fighter and frag your foes. Draw cards for weapons, armor, and gadgets. Move through the blood splatters to restore your own health! If you die, you respawn and come back shooting! Steven Rosenthal presents his own special scenario for Frag, entitled My Little PWNY, Fragging is Magic.
Space Hulk
From Games Workshop (Presented by Jeremy and Josh Gremillion) Space Hulk is a board game for two players, recreating the battles fought between the Space Marines and Genestealers. One player commands the Space Marines as they carry out deadly missions in the ancient Space Hulk, and the other commands the horde of Genestealers opposing them. Space Hulk’s fastpaced rules simulate the tense atmosphere of a mission deep inside the cramped confines of a derelict space hulk, where split-second decisions are needed for victory.
Arkham Horror
From Fantasy Flight Games (Presented by Michael “Q” Ahlf) Arkham Horror was originally published by Chaosium, Inc., in 1987. This new, updated edition features stunning new artwork and graphical design (including a new gameboard, counters, cards, and playing pieces) as well as revised and expanded rules from the game’s original creator, Richard Launius. Players can select from 16 unique playable investigator characters, each with unique abilities, and will square off against the diabolical servants of 8 Ancient Ones, including Ithaqua, Hastur, and the terrible Cthulhu! Arkham Horror is a cooperative game for 1-8 players ages 12 and up, and can be played in 2-3 hours.
Munchkin Quest
From Steve Jackson Games (Presented by Steven Rosenthal) Kill the monster, grab the treasure, stab your buddy. That’s what it’s all about. Now, Munchkin comes to the boardgame, and it’s a hit! You’ll build your dungeon, a room at a time, from 24 heavy, double-sided tiles. Each shows a different room ... some are good for certain characters, some are bad. Fill it with monster standies and let your munchkins run amok! Cooperate with the whole group, adventure with a partner, or strike out on your own. You don’t know what’s behind a door until you open it ... then another room is added to the dungeon. Battle monsters for power and treasure, or send them after your friends. Reach Level 10, and then get out alive if you can...
Munchkin Quest 2
From Steve Jackson Games (Presented by Steven Rosenthal) Trouble Is Good! Trouble means gold. Trouble means leveling up. And with Munckin Quest 2 – Looking for Trouble, you can find trouble with up to six players. More help against the monsters! More friends to backstab! More competition for the loot! Whoops, forget we said that last bit.
Munchkin Quest 2 (Continued) And now the dungeon has Traps. Axes and arrows, flames and falling rocks ... Maybe you can dodge. Maybe you can push your buddy in front of you. Explore 18 new rooms... the Tomb Room! The Doom Room! The Chamber of Horrors! If you survive, spend your gold at Ye Swankie Donjon Shoppe... or Ye Cheape Donjon Shoppe, if you’re not picky. Shake off those pesky monsters in the Sun Room, and get healed at the Temple of Generic Niceness. New monsters! Flee the stomping power of Bigfoot! Fear the tiny terror that is the Fright Sprite! Fight the sticky menace of the Gummi Golem! Plus more weapons, scrolls, and potions to equip your character, new curses to inflict on your fellow munchkins, and a new kind of passageway that lets you grab gold between rooms. As part of our Midnight Madness block, the ever popular Zombies!!! and Humans!!! return!
Zombies!!!
From Twilight Creations (Presented by Anthony Thurber) Zombies!!! puts you in the middle of the action as you try to escape the ever advancing zombie horde. Players must use a combination of wits and brawn to be the first to the heliport and certain escape. The only problem is, the zombies are everywhere, they appear to be very hungry and your opponents would really prefer if you didn’t escape.
Humans!!!
From Twilight Creations (Presented by Anthony Thurber) This time you are playing the zombies and trying to infect as many people in town as possible. This game will be able to be played with Zombies!!! - some players playing humans and some players playing zombies.
Asian Board Games
Returning for its second year is MechaCon’s Asian Board Game Room! This room will focus on two games, Go and Shogi, and will have ongoing demos, as well as a panel and a tournament dedicated to both games.
Go
(Presented by Eric De Las Casas, Amber Lyons and the Crane’s Nest Go Club) Go, for many centuries, has intrigued and entertained players with its simple rules and complex game play. In the game, two players face off, placing pieces called stones on a board, with the goal of trying to capture as much territory as possible. However, due to the game’s great depth of strategy, that goal is not as easy to achieve as it might seem.
Shogi
(Presented by Eric De Las Casas & Amber Lyons) Shogi, this chess like game has been enjoyed for centuries. Just like in chess, two players square off, trying to capture their opponent’s king. But, with more pieces, a bigger board, and reuse of captured pieces, this game can prove to be far more complex and harder to master.
(Continued)
TABLE-TOP GAMING (Continued from previous page)
Role-playing Games
MechaCon has several RPG’s for you to enjoy. Come join this year’s tabletop gaming guest, the owner of Battlefield Press, Jonathan Thompson, as he gives you the chance to be bad yet do some good with the Leverage RPG or a chance to solve a murder in late 19th century New Orleans with the Gaslight Victorian Fantasy RPG. In addition, we will be having game sessions for RPG’s such as The Legend of the Five Rings, the Dragon Age RPG, and DC Adventures. This year’s RPG line up is as follows:
Jonathan Thompson’s RPGs
Mechacon’s Tabletop Gaming Guest, Jonathan Thompson, will be running the following games:
Doctor Who
ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE With the Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space roleplaying game, the power is in your hands! You can go anywhere or anywhen in the universe. It’s not going to be easy. It’ll probably be dangerous. The universe is a hostile place, full of Daleks, Slitheen, Krillitane, Sontarans, Weeping Angels, Cybermen, Silence, Judoon and worse. There will be fear, heartbreak and excitement, but above all, it’ll be the trip of a lifetime.
Gaslight Victorian Fantasy (OGL/Savage Worlds)
DARK MAGIC IN NEW ORLEANS The characters get involved in a murder mystery in 1890 New Orleans, Voodoo is believed to be the key culprit. For 4 players, characters provided, but players must provide their own dice.
Other RPGs DC Adventures
IN STRANGE AEONS (Presented by Karrie Tyler) Explosive first issue! Join London’s newest and most promising superheroes, the Young Paladins, on their first Earth-shattering adventure! What begins as a simple rescue mission will pit them against two of the greatest threats faced by mankind – can these youngsters live up to their name and drive back the darkness?
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Ed.
(Presented by Joel & Crystal Lasill and Rachel Tullier) This will be a simple beginners game in which the players will have to make their way through a level 1 dungeon. There will be pregenerated characters for you to use. If you want to make your own character, please make it prior to game and allow us to review it for approval. All races, classes, feats and gear from the Players Handbook only, please. Gold for gear is 300gp for any class.
Dragon Age
(Presented by Karrie Tyler) “You have been pressed into service tracking down the kidnapped daughter of one of Ferelden’s arls in the Frostback Mountains, where the strange and savage Avvarian hillsmen dwell.”
Legend of the Five Rings 4th Ed. BALANCE OF POWER, BALANCE OF HONOR (Presented by Joshua Barnes) Kaeru Toshi has stood for generations as a mecca for business minded individuals thirsty for the great riches that come from the Burning Sands. An old Imperial decree that designates the city as a special ‘tax-free’ exclusion zone is about to expire, and two great clans meet to decide it’s fate. The players will be part of a special delegation sent to monitor the proceedings, destined to be embroiled within intrigues that will rock the Emerald Empire. Will the City of the Rich Frog peacefully make its transition? Or will chaos and bloodshed reign? Let honor be your guide. For 3-4 players
Marvel RPG
(Presented by Joel & Crystal Lasill and Rachel Tullier) You are playing X-Men to ward off an immediate threat. You are to use the capabilities of your hero to overcome the opposition. This will be a simple introductory game with all characters played being cannon X-Men and with their stats provided.
Paranoia
(Presented by Karrie Tyler) “Greetings, citizen! The COMPUTER has a special task for you.” Paranoia is a light-hearted game of terror, death, mad scientists, and other such wonderful things in which anything goes including lying, cheating, and backstabbing. Remember: Happiness is mandatory.
Qin
WHISPERINGS IN XIQI VILLAGE (Presented by Luke Andis) A tenuous alliance of Kindred from four clans represent the interest of Elders, Anarchs, and neutral leaning factions. This newly formed coterie is soon tasked with investigating the atrocities of a deranged Anarch as well as the masquerade breaches of a renowned Elder. They may well clash over one decisive course, or truly pool their resources and talents to unravel both mysteries.
Vampire: The Masquerade
(Presented by Karrie Tyler) You are a newly released Neonate. However,before you can truly be on your own, the Prince has a special task for you. He wants you to find out the cause of a strange, new disease that is popping up around New Orleans. The strange part is Kindred are contracting the disease. Can you stop it before you too become infected?
Slayers
BLAST (Presented by David Giles) Return with us to the world of the Slayers – a place of great sorcery, powerful swordsmen, and incredible craziness! Join the Seyruun diplomatic corps on their quest to prevent a civil war in Xoana, following the mysterious disappearances of Queen Martina and Prince Consort Zangulus! Can you recover the missing monarchs and stop the machinations of the twisted beastman, Sabre? Slayers BLAST is the three-part introduction to a new, multi-year story presented by David Giles, using the D20 version of the world published by Guardians of Order. Characters will be provided – just bring your dice and your wits! The fate of the world rests on a new generation of heroes...
World of Darkness
6751 JANSEN CIRCLE (Presented by David Giles) 6751 Jansen Circle is a two-part delve into White Wolf’s World of Darkness universe, using the Innocents version of the game, presented by David Giles. Characters will be provided – all you need are your (10-sided) dice. We hope you’re not afraid of the dark... And, as part of our Midnight Madness block, we give you:
DC Adventures
IN STRANGE AEONS (Presented by David Giles) Explosive first issue! Join London’s newest and most promising superheroes, the Young Paladins, on their first Earth-shattering adventure! What begins as a simple rescue mission will pit them against two of the greatest threats faced by mankind – can these youngsters live up to their name and drive back the darkness? That’s up to you! In Strange Aeons, this year’s Midnight Madness offering, is presented by David Giles using Green Ronin’s DC Adventures game. Characters will be provided, so all you’ll need is a single twenty-sided die and the determination to fight for justice!
DANCING MechaCon Red Carpet Affair When: Friday September 7th, 2012 at 9:00pm Where: MechaCon’s Main Events Room Who can attend: Any registered MechaCon attendee Attire: Formal/Semi-Formal Cosplay-Optional The MechaCon Red Carpet Affair is very similar to the format of formals we’ve held in the past. However, where previous events were based on the idea of a formal ball, the MechaCon Red Carpet Affair is more along the lines of the kind of event Hollywood celebrities might find themselves attending after the Oscars. So, pull out your best evening gown or suit and get ready to experience an all-new fancy-pants dance like only MechaCon can bring you! And yes, cosplay formal is still welcome! The MechaCon Formal Cosplay-Optional Ball will close at 1:00 am.
Mon Negros Productions
MON NEGROS PRODUCTIONS is an entertainment force like no other. Antonius Black and Evanuel Day are known for their show stoppin’ and party rockin’. This dynamic duo does it all and are experienced in a plethora of skill sets including music, dance and comedy, doing it all with a unique flair that makes MNP one of a kind. Making their MechaCon debut at this year’s Red Carpet Affair as the musical guests they are ready to make this night one to remember. Providing classy sounds from formal ball room and jazz standards to today’s hottest Asian pop music, they’ll make sure there is something for everyone. Be prepared to dance and party the night away with MNP!
MechaCon House Party
The MechaCon House Party will close at 4:00 am. When: Saturday at 11:00 pm Where: MechaCon’s Main Events Room Who can attend: Any registered MechaCon attendee, At-door tickets will also be available Attire: Something comfortable and breatheable The MechaCon House Party returns with MechaCon’s own DJ Wildfire! Once again, DJ Wildfire will be on stage spinning your favorite dance mixes. So head on down to Main Events and get ready to dance ‘til you drop as MechaCon’s DJ Wildfire keeps the beats rolling through the night and on into the morning.
DJ Wildfire (House DJ)
DJ Wildfire has been regularly hosting MechaCon’s House Party since our first convention in 2005. DJ Wildfire brings intensity and precision with his Rane mixer and pair of Technics to the House Party stage. With his fresh style and constant mixing and sampling innovation, we know DJ Wildfire will make this year’s MechaCon House Party the party to attend. So get ready to dance and enjoy a night you will not forget.
Trioxin (Guest DJ)
Trioxin is a re-animating energy remedy integrating equal parts sick beats, harmonic melodies and absurd bass. Trioxin has been known to cause euphoric feelings in the central nervous system and the uncontrollable urge to dance. Consult a doctor before experiencing Trioxin, as results may vary. There are no known negative side effects from experiencing Trioxin. Do not experience Trioxin if you have a history of being a party pooper or pregnant.
DJ_Wave (Guest DJ)
DJ_Wave is a percussionist, producer, and DJ from Ponchatoula, LA. A musician since Middle School, his original music began to take shape towards the end of his high school career. It started out with percussion ensembles, drum cadences, and symphonic/orchestral works. From there, he branched off into electronic music and, in February of 2010, he released the Bible On the Shelf EP, featuring the hit single “Bible On the Shelf”. Since then, DJ_Wave has expanded his endeavors in electronic music, culminating in the release of his first full length album Be With You, which features a newly remastered copy of “Bible On the Shelf” as well as a remix of the popular “Veggie Tales Theme Song”. Currently, DJ_Wave is pursuing a degree in Instrumental Music Education.
VIDEO ROOMS Friday, September 7th Video Room 1
1:00pm - Table-top Gaming Presentation 1:30pm - Ninja Nonsense Episodes #1-3 • Right Stuf • Ages 13+
6:30am - Princess Jellyfish
Episodes #1-7 • FUNimation • TV-14
9:30am - K-ON!!
Episodes #7-13 • Section 23 • TV-14
12:30am - Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro Manga • Ages 13+
3:15pm - D. Grayman
2:15pm - Macross
6:15pm - Mobile Suit Gundam: War in the Pocket
4:30pm - Mobile Suit Gundam: 0083 Stardust Memory
9:00pm - First Squad
7:45pm - Steins Gate
Episodes #1-7 • FUNimation • TV-14
Episodes #1-6 • Bandai • Ages 13+
Manga• Ages 13+
Episodes #7-11 • ADV Films • TV-PG
Episodes #1-7 • Bandai • Ages 13+
Episodes #1-5 • FUNimation • TV-14
10:30pm - Gantz
10:00pm - Bunny Drop
Video Room 2
11:45pm - .hack//Quantum
New People • Ages 17+
1:00pm - Macross
Episodes #1-6 • ADV Films • TV-PG
Episodes #1-4 • NIS America • Everyone
Episodes #1-5 • FUNimation • TV-14
3:45pm - Durarara!!
Sunday, September 9th
6:45pm - K-ON!!
12:30am - Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Episodes #1-7 • Aniplex • Ages 13+ Episodes #1-6 • Section 23 • TV-14
9:30pm - Boogiepop Phantom
Episodes #1-3 • Right Stuf • Ages 15+
11:15pm - Oreimo
Episodes #1-4 • Aniplex • Ages 13+
Saturday, September 8th Video Room 1
1:00am - Panty & Stocking
Episodes #1-6 • FUNimation • TV-MA
4:00am - Dirty Pair
Episodes #1-4 • Right Stuf • Ages 15+
Video Room 1
Episodes #1-4 • Aniplex • Ages 13+
2:15am - Cat Planet Cuties
Episodes #1-7 • FUNimation • TV-MA
5:15am - Kimi Ni Todake
Episodes #1-4 • NIS America • Everyone
7:00am - Revolutionary Girl Utena Episodes #1-4 • Right Stuf • Ages 16+
8:45am - Bleach: Fade to Black VIZ • Ages 13+
10:30am - Ghost in the Shell SAC: Laughing Man Manga • Ages 16+
5:45am - House of Five Leaves
1:30am - A-Channel
7:30am - Anohana
4:15pm - Sgt. Frog
Episodes #1-4 • NIS America • Teen Episodes #1-4 • NIS America • Teen
9:15am - Fractale
Episodes #1-6 • FUNimation • TV-14
12:00pm - Mobile Suit Gundam: 0080 MS 08th Team
Episodes #1-6 • Bandai • Ages 13+
2:45pm - A-Channel
Episodes #1-6 • Section 23 • TV-PG
5:30pm - Naruto Shippuden: Bonds VIZ • Ages 13+
7:15pm - One Piece
Episodes #206-211 • FUNimation • TV-14
10:00pm - Gantz 2: Perfect Answer New People • Ages 17+
Video Room 2
Episodes #7-12 • Section 23 • TV-PG
Episodes #59-60 • FUNimation • TV-PG
Video Room 2 1:15am - Is This A Zombie?
Episodes #1-4 • FUNimation • TV-MA
3:00am - Noein
Episodes #1-5 • Manga • Ages 13+
5:15am - Mobile Suit Gundam: 0083 Stardust Memory
Episodes #8-13 • Bandai • Ages 13+
8:00am - Macross
Episodes #12-16 • ADV Films • TV-PG
10:15am - Mobile Suit Gundam: 0080 MS 08th Team
Episodes #1-6 • Bandai • Ages 13+
2:15am - Akira
1:00pm - Gasaraki
4:30am - Ghost in the Shell SAC: Laughing Man
3:15pm - Fairy Tail
Bandai • Ages 17+
Manga • Ages 16+
Episodes #1-5 • Right Stuf • Ages 13+ Episodes #1-4 • FUNimation • TV-14
Ratings
Anime covers all sides of the entertainment audience, so the anime rating system was created. In a lot of ways, this is the most successful of all rating systems, as it not only gives a recommended age, but also lists the content in the film and parental guidance warning. TV-Y7: Ages 7 and up. TV-PG: Sometimes contains a little violence. 13+: Contains a little mild language and violence. TV-14: Used often in darker anime dealing with catastrophe and violence, as well as crime or murder. 15+: Comedy anime with this rating sometimes has excessive fan-service, which includes scantily clad beautiful women or men. 16+: This is the most common rating among mature anime. Harsh language is usually the reason. A few of these anime have nudity, perhaps mild fan-service, brief violence, and sometimes bloody endings. 17+: This anime is the closest to adult. It has everything from violence to excessive nudity, but no sex. TV-MA: Unlike 17+, this anime has sex, in the soft-core type, but generally it’s the excessive violence and language that gives the MA rating. 18+: This category is reserved for Hentai and films with graphic sex.
CHARITY AUCTION A Worthy Cause
MechaCon is proud to announce this year’s charity auction will be benefitting NOLA Japan Quake Fund.
We are fortunate to have as our celebrity auctioneer, none other than JONATHAN KLEIN. Mr. Klein is the Vice-President and co-owner of New Generation Pictures, Inc., based in Beverly Hills. His company produces the English language versions of some of the most popular anime and video games in the United States and Japan. Besides anime, Jonathan has also directed many video game projects for Square Enix, Capcom, Namco & other companies. Beyond working as producer and director, Jonathan’s responsibilities also include scriptwriting, script adaptation and even working behind the microphone as a voice actor in anime & video games. For more information on Mr. Klein, please see his bio on page 9 of this book. In addition to Jonathan’s work in Anime & Video games he is the co-founder of Anime Charity Auctions, an organization dedicated to helping raise money for worthwhile charitable causes. Anime Charity Auctions donates rare and unusual autographed items from anime and video games to be auctioned off at various anime & science fiction conventions. All the proceeds raised from the auction are donated to the not-for-profit charity that the convention sponsors. MechaCon is extremely proud to be graced this year with such donations. Our Charity Auction items are on display at the Convention Information desk outside of the Artists Alley on the 2nd floor. Stop by and check out all the great items up for auction.
About NOLA Japan Quake Fund
Following the devastating March 11, 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear crisis, the members of the Japanese community in the Greater New Orleans region, like so many others, felt compelled to aid the victims of this heartbreaking disaster. Having survived Hurricane Katrina, the people of our community share a special bond with the people in Japan whose lives will be forever changed by this disaster. The NOLA Japan Quake Fund Coalition’s hope is that we can assist the Japanese in their time of need, just as they did for us following Katrina. As a unified voice, the members of jetaaNOLA, the Japan Club of New Orleans, the Japan Society of New Orleans, the Japanese Garden Foundation of New Orleans, and the Ikebana International Chapter 97, advised by Donna Fraiche, Honorary Consul General of Japan for New Orleans, have established the NOLA Japan Quake Fund. The delivery of these funds is designed to be as strategic as possible, with the lowest possible overhead. Please give to the NOLA Japan Quake Fund today. This fund is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the region’s oldest and most established community foundation, and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
www.nolajapanquakefund.org
INDUSTRY SUPPORT MechaCon extends its heartfelt thanks to the following donors of prizes and general swag for our event. It is with the support of these companies that we are able to continue providing you, the attendees, with such a great annual event!
DEALERS ROOM 1st Floor – Salon C-D
D01 – Anime Pavilion
D13 – Wizzywig
D25 – Comics Unlimited
D02 – BowenDragon1
D14 – Yes Anime
D26 – Dragonsong Weapons
D03 – Pawstar
D15 – DragonTrading 88
D27 – Zombie Buddy Productions
D04 – Blood Moon Clothier
D16 – Necomimi
D28 – Realms Anime
D05 – Discotek Media
D17 – Exile Into Imagination
D29 – Realms Anime
D06 – Collector’s Universe
D18 – Hana Dolls
D30 – The Contact Lens Store
D07 – Best Anime Shop
D19 – Anime Stuff Store
D31 – Zen Gardens
D08 – Wayne’s Comic Closet
D20 – House of Anime
D32 – IT Cosplay
D09 – Tasty Peach Studios
D21 – Anime Pop
D33 – Sleeping Samurai
D10 – Man in a Dress
D22 – Ziko Games
D34 – AA&A Artistries
D11 – Ichigo Black
D23 – Imagine That Galleries
D35 – White Lightning Productions
D12 – JPN Toys
D24 – Magic of Collecting
D36 – Legends of Gamers
ATTENDEE CONDUCT MechaCon Rules of Conduct (An Overview) These Activities are NOT Allowed at MechaCon: • Loitering in the halls – DEFINITELY NO sleeping in the halls • Engaging in disruptive behavior that disturbs the public or staff • Making a threat of physical or verbal harassment to a member or members of the public or MechaCon staff • Any act that could result in substantial risk or harm to any persons or property • Sexual misconduct such as, but not limited to indecent exposure, offensive touching, or any form of sexual harassment • The selling of any merchandise out of the hotel rooms, hallways, or outside the hotel under any circumstance. We value our dealers and artists, and merchandise is only to be sold, in any form, within the DEALERS room or the ARTISTS ALLEY • Engaging in any activity prohibited by Louisiana and/or City of New Orleans law • Brandishing any weapon that has not been PEACE BONDED. This includes removing a sword from its casing, or swinging a weapon around. All registered or unregistered weapons need to follow the laws of New Orleans ordinances • Distribution of any form of literature without the written permission by the MechaCon organizers MechaCon reserves the right to enforce these rules, and anyone violating them will be asked to leave and their convention badge will be revoked. There will be absolutely no refunds given in the case of any revocation of a paid convention badge due to breaking the convention rules, no matter the reason for the infraction. If the person or persons being asked to leave the convention resist being escorted off the premises by MechaCon personnel, local police will be called in to remove the person or persons from the hotel and/or adjoining areas.
Hate Symbols are NOT allowed at MechaCon Recently, a disturbing trend has developed in the anime fandom that we felt the need to address. Due to the popularity of several anime, manga and J-pop artists using symbols and uniforms from Nazi Germany, there have been some cosplayers at other conventions who seem to think that openly wearing swastikas and other hate symbols is ‘cool’. There have even been instances of groups at other conventions performing Nazi salutes. The Staff of MechaCon shares the sorrow of literally millions of Jewish, Polish, Gypsy and other families who lost children, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives to the evil of the Nazi regime and has the utmost respect for the men and women of our armed forces, who have put their lives on the line to ensure the freedom and civil liberties upon which this country was founded. We WILL NOT, under any circumstances, allow the symbols of these atrocities, or hate symbols of any kind, to be worn or displayed at MechaCon. We reserve the right to ask you to remove any such symbol, or to remove you from the convention floor should you refuse to do so. We do not dispute your right under the First Amendment to express your views by wearing a swastika out in public; MechaCon, however, is a private event, to which we welcome members of every race, creed, religion and orientation. We want everyone to feel comfortable at our event, and these symbols are offensive to many and outright insulting to some, and as such are in direct opposition to the spirit of community and family that MechaCon has tried to engender in our attendees. Any symbol that can be characterized as a hate symbol should not be worn at MechaCon. This includes the swastika. We realize that the swastika originated as a Buddhist symbol and was adopted by Nazi Germany. This does not change the fact that, after years of use as a representation of the Nazi’s attempt at ethnic cleansing by the murder of millions, the swastika is known the world over as a symbol of hatred. It has, unfortunately, taken on a new meaning, and has fallen out of use by most Buddhists. Further, it is absurd to suggest that it is being used for its original Buddhist symbolism while attaching it to a Nazi uniform or other WWII period costume. Other unacceptable symbols are the “SS” thunderbolts, the noose, “HFFH” symbols, and any other symbol that is widely accepted as a symbol of oppression, hatred or violence towards a specific group of people. Again, we want everyone to feel comfortable at MechaCon and have an enjoyable experience. MechaCon is not the proper venue for political or moral debate, and we reserve the right to remove anyone participating in conduct that may be offensive to our staff, guests or other attendees. Please be aware of and courteous towards the feelings of your fellow con-goers. Just because something is not offensive to you, doesn’t mean it is not offensive and hurtful to others. We appreciate your help in keeping MechaCon a peaceful, fun environment.
YOUR STAY AT THE HILTON Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 USA Phone: 1-504-561-0500 Fax: 1-504-568-1721 Web: NewOrleansRiversideHotel.com
About the Hotel
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, adjacent to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Riverwalk Marketplace. Three blocks from the French Quarter. Within walking distance to the Central Business District, IMAX Theatre, Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah’s Casino and National World War II Museum. Only 13 miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. MechaCon is being held on the first and second levels of the hotel’s meeting space. As a host to a majority of New Orleans’ major meetings, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside has 130,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space in classically opulent design featuring a French influence. MechaCon’s floors are just a short escalator or elevator ride apart. Cosplayers, please be careful when riding the escalators! Please be mindful of your costume pieces. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.
Hotel Features
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside, a full service luxury complex, is actually a “city within itself” with a redesigned front desk and guest service area to increase efficiency and enhance service; featuring “BoardEZ” computers to print boarding passes which are adjacent to their full service business center. The lobby also includes River Blends Café, proudly serving Starbucks ®, featuring coffee and pastries or start your day off at Le Croissant Express which features the “Hilton Breakfast”. SPIRITS Bar is located on the main floor of the hotel and features the smooth libation “Delta Breeze” that can compliment many of the menu offerings. Self Parking: $32.00 USD Per Night Valet Parking: $38.00 USD Per Night Self-Parking for hotel guests staying in the MechaCon room block: $10.00 USD per night. Inquire with the hotel for details.
The Riverwalk Marketplace
From beignets and café au lait, to Mardi Gras masks and spices, to pralines, postcards, and a food court... MechaCon has its very own MechaMall attached to our hotel this year! The Riverwalk Marketplace is conveniently connected to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Don’t forget to check it out!
MECHACON POLICIES MechaCon’s Intent
The primary purpose of MechaCon is to provide a fun and safe experience for as wide-range of attendees as possible. Our intention is to bring a balance of Japanese traditional and pop culture to Louisiana through Anime and western animation appreciation.
Hotel Staff and MechaCon
Please remember that you are a guest of the hotel, and that there are other guests utilizing the same facilities. Please remember to be courteous and do not disturb other guests with excessive noise levels. If the hotel staff requests that you quiet down or stop a certain behavior, please do so. If you do not, your badge will be confiscated. We are all here to have a good time, so by acting responsibly, we can continue to bring events such as an Anime convention to New Orleans.
Hands-Off Policy
MechaCon has a strict hands-off policy regarding its mascots, staff, and attendees. This means that no attendee is to make physical contact with any member of MechaCon staff, Hilton staff, or other convention attendees without first getting permission from the person he / she wishes to make contact with. This includes, but is not limited to, unwarranted “glomping”, touching, embracing, or hanging-on. All attendees are expected to be familiar with this policy.
Security Policy
MechaCon security is based on a “three-strikes” rule. Strike One: Attendee is given a verbal warning and informed of the policy being violated. Strike Two: Attendee Badge is pulled for one hour and is escorted from convention function space. Attendee may pick up their badge at the Security Desk after one hour. A State issued photo ID, or student ID must be presented at the Security Desk to reclaim your badge. If underaged, a parent or guardian must accompany you to reclaim your badge. Strike Three: Badge is pulled for the duration of the remainder of the Convention. If a badge is pulled, the attendee can appeal the circumstances to the Security Chief and the Director of Operations during the Convention. The Security Manager or Director of Operations will decide that evening (the day the badge was pulled) whether or not to reinstate the MechaCon Convention Attendee’s badge privileges. Strikes can be issued for the following reasons but are not limited to: Harassment reports, disorderly conduct/ disruption of the convention and/or the hotel, violation of any convention polices as stated in this document, avoiding a Security Staffer trying to speak with you about a policy violation, or flight from a Security Staffer after a policy violation has been declared but before the issue is resolved, or violations of Convention Rules of Conduct. There is NO time limit between strikes. Example, an attendee who harasses another attendee, runs when the Security Staffer arrives to deal with the matter, and then disrupts the convention in the process of getting away can earn three strikes.
MechaCon Security reserves the right to revoke MechaCon Attendee Membership and eject anyone from the convention floor at any time without a refund.
Weapons Policy
Items that could be used as a weapon must be peacebonded at our Security Desk. Even if your weapon is a prop, please check in with our security desk to have it inspected and approved to be on the floor. All bladed items must be kept in their sheaths at all times in public/function areas. Ammunition for Gun replica or other replica projectile weapons will not be allowed anywhere on the floor at any time. If you are found brandishing and otherwise acting irresponsibly with a replica weapon in public/function areas, your registration may be immediately revoked. As for fantasy or costume weapons, if we cannot tell it’s fake from 10 feet away, you should not bring it.
Notice to Parents
If you’re not staying in our hotel, please don’t leave your children here overnight without someone legally responsible for them. We are NOT a babysitting service. We also require a way to reach you in case of an emergency. You will be held responsible (legally and financially) for any damages incurred by your child or charge to hotel and/or MechaCon property. Any criminal damages and/or activity will be met with criminal charges, as well as a permanent ban from ALL future Sennin Productions, LLC events. All attendees are subject to the laws and ordinances set forth by Federal, State, Parish, and City Governments. The ratings of programming available at the convention vary. Due to differences in international rating structures, some adult situations may occur in some titles. Whenever possible, we have indicated these shows on the programming schedule to aid in our patrons viewing choices, but parental guidance is ALWAYS recommended.
Notice to Students & Minors We expect you to behave yourselves so we don’t have to call your parents. Your behavior is what’s important, not your age. You and your parent(s)/legal guardian will be held responsible (legally and financially) for damages incurred by you to hotel and/or MechaCon property. Any criminal damages and/or activity will be met with criminal charges, as well as a permanent ban from ALL future Sennin Productions, LLC events. All attendees are subject to the laws and ordinances set forth by Federal, State, Parish, and City Governments.
Notice to Adult Attendees
ALL attendees are expected to conduct themselves respectably. You will be held responsible (legally and financially) for damages incurred by you to hotel and/ or MechaCon property. Any criminal damages and/or activity will be met with criminal charges, as well as a permanent ban from ALL future Sennin Productions, LLC events. All attendees are subject to the laws and ordinances set forth by Federal, State, Parish, and City Governments.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Convention Organizers
Peter Bares – Sennin Productions, LLC Jon Russo – Sennin Productions, LLC
Senior Staff
2012 Cover Art Courtesy of Robby Musso
A special thanks to Robby Musso for his incredible cover, T-shirt and promotional character art.
Hunter Domingue – Floor Director James “Stoney” Potter – Table-top Gaming Coordinator Melanie Russo – Registration Coordinator / Artists Alley Coordinator Matt Traylor – Stage Director
Staff
Danny Carter – Security Chief Cole Clark – Chief of Operations Brandon Delcambre – Panels Coordinator / Merchandise Sales David Doerr – Overnight Operations Manager David Giles – Table-top Gaming Jonathan Hidalgo – Industry Liaison / Video Rooms Coordinator Gary Navo – Electronic Gaming & Tournaments Coordinator James Parker – Volunteer Coordinator John Parker – Main Events Coordinator / Logistics Ashley Robichaux – Guest Relations Coordinator Kiera Rowland – GoldPass Liaison Sherry Savage – Registration Haniel Thibeaux – Lt. Security Chief
Support Staff
Brad Daigle – A/V Support Justin David – Cosplay Support Taylor Domingue – Videographer Eric De Las Casas – Table-top Gaming Support Dominique Ducote – Table-top Gaming Support Richard Eckert – GoldPass Support Leah Farner – Artists Alley Liaison Jared Frazer – Volunteer Support Jason Graham – Guest Relations Support William Hebert – Table-top Gaming Support Kayla Heinz – Floor Director Support Matt Leviticus Holman – Operations Support Stu Keller – Table-top Gaming Support Michael Lee – Overnight Operations Support Callina McMillan – Main Events Support Claire Paradelas – Cosplay Support Bronson Parker – Logistics Support Rebecca Rathbun – Cosplay Chess Bastian Russo – A/V Support
Event Crew
Mascots
Jacqui Perry - JETT Leslie Williford - ZEE
Guest Liaisons Chelsea Breaux Sean Cunningham Larry Furry June Kim Jeanne Ory Maria Roberts Alexis Tucker Abby Williford
A special thanks to Amelie Belcher for the amazing MechaPony art of Jett and Zee for our Red Carpet Affair.
David Adams / DJ Wildfire – MechaCon House Party Seth Segura – Table-top Gaming Ashley Robichaux / Abby Williford – Opening Ceremonies Hosts Copyright © 2012 by Sennin Productions, L.L.C., Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.A.