aodsf

[aodsf]

Many of you may have heard already, but here is the official statement on what’s been going on with AOD.

We thank everyone that’s been a part of our community and attending for the past 15 years; we couldn’t have done it without you guys.

[aodsf]

Register Online before AOD

We’re just a day out from AOD’s official opening ceremony, but there’s still time to register online at EventBrite! This way, you can simply go to the pre-reg line and pick up your badge, letting you get in even faster! In fact, as long as you register online before you arrive at AOD, you are eligible for the pre-reg line.

tl;dr: You can still register right now and skip the at-con line!

Our schedule is online for you to plan your events this weekend!

Still unsure what else there is? Aside from our annual events like Masquerade, Charity Auction and concerts, why not check out our other events?

Scavenger Hunt: The scavenger hunt will be a photo scavenger hunt, requiring you to take photos of specific items, characters, scenarios, and more! We have amazing prizes provided by Aitai☆Kuji from Japan, so don't miss out! You can pick up the scavenger hunt instruction sheet at Registration or the Scavenger Hunt table located next to Registration. All entries for the Saturday scavenger hunt are due by Saturday 5PM.

Foam Sword Fighting: Belegarth Medieval Combat Society is a fun, safe, and inexpensive sport where participants wear medieval or fantasy-themed clothing and fight with foam-padded weapons. The fighting is hard and fast and has, since 1979, refined into its own brand of martial art. The rules are easy to learn, and after a few practices, you'll be hooked! Come watch a demonstration, or take a few hacks yourself!

Mahjong: Fancy yourself the next “Kaiji”? Want to learn how to play? Check out our mahjong area in the gaming hall and go a couple rounds!

Karaoke Open Mic: Find yourself looking for something to do at night? Just want to sing? We’ll have open mic karaoke starting at 8pm running all the way until midnight on Saturday! (Live Events 3)

We hope to see you there~! ☆ヾ(*´▽｀)ﾉ

[aodsf]

Friday: Day 0

While AOD is officially slated to start on Saturday, 3/18, the secret truth is that Friday, 3/17, has its own little events for those of your earlybirds!

This year, we’ll also be welcoming Californithon Charity Speedrun Event! Californithon is the first major speedrunning event to take place on the west coast, raising over $5600 for Charity:Water in their first event last year. Now coming into their second, with the help of AOD they'll be raising money to support Direct Relief through three days of live videogame speedruns!

They will be starting right at 2:30pm, so if you’ve got free time Friday afternoon, why not check them out and show your support? You can also view the whole thing on Twitch, so be sure to check the schedule for your favorite games.

If you prefer to play yourself, no worries--our Console/Arcade Gaming room will be open starting at 8PM on Friday evening! 

Did I also mention that all games are free to play ALL WEEKEND?!

[aodsf]

More charity goodies!!! The Yurio goods are coming....!!

A double-sided cushion of our favorite Russian punk fairy!

Or if you’d rather show off your Yurio swag in a more clear fashion, you’ll want this cosplay jacket for sure!

Charity Auction

Our annual Charity Auction is back, and as always we are donating all proceeds to our home charity, the California Academy of Sciences. They’re a wonderful place that’s host to a myriad of exciting exhibits and programs, and we’re always glad to help them out.

The auction will take place Sunday, 3/19 at 12:30pm. Below is just a sample of the prizes you’ll be able to get! Check out our full listing on the website.

Hato Moa and Damurushi were guests at AOD 2016 last year; upon return to Japan, they created a doujinshi that documents their adventures in American, which includes AOD! Don’t miss out on a chance to see your favorite AOD staffers and guests–but as birds?!

In 2015, Sekai Project raised funds for its English release of Key’s legendary visual novel about love and family with this limited edition of the game, which includes an album of arranged music, a digital artbook, and much more!

Thanks to Hobbyfan for this donation of 2D husbands - but they’re 2D no longer, as these Sega premium posters bring the boys of Kyoto Animation’s popular swimming anime to glorious three dimensions!

This Blizzcon exclusive features the famed Ghosts of the Starcraft universe, and is signed by the designers of the game

These exclusive and adorable Pichus were made to celebrate the first year of the Shinjuku Pokemon Center store, and they can be yours!

We’ll have even more items ready by the time AOD rolls around (rumor has it a cosplay version Yurio’s jacket will be going up for auction?!)–including our favorite mystery bags! So come check out the auction on Sunday at 12:30pm and test your mettle against the other attendees for a chance to get some really neat goodies you won’t find anywhere else~!

[aodsf]

Hey everyone! I just moved into my new place and I’m almost done unpacking. I’ll be able to get back to drawing soon!

In other news, I’ll be at Anime on Display (AOD) this weekend at the Santa Clara Marriott. Come hang out and chat with me in the artist alley at table A04! :D

[aodsf]

Hideo Concert: Sun @ 2pm

Hideo returns for another year at AOD! If you enjoy beautiful renditions of your favorite anime/video game music, a compelling stage play, or just listening and seeing some really cool performances, then Hideo is a must-go-to event!

The Hideo Concert will be performing on Sunday at 2PM on our Main Stage.

For this year’s performance, they’re doing something a little more special--Team Hideo will be doing a special "choose your own adventure" show where the audience will vote on how the concert--and the story--will progress.

In addition, their latest album, Hideo Live at AOD 2015, will be on sale at con. Check out their Facebook page for the latest info!

[aodsf]

Charity Auction

Our annual Charity Auction is back, and as always we are donating all proceeds to our home charity, the California Academy of Sciences. They’re a wonderful place that’s host to a myriad of exciting exhibits and programs, and we’re always glad to help them out.

The auction will take place Sunday, 3/19 at 12:30pm. Below is just a sample of the prizes you’ll be able to get! Check out our full listing on the website.

Hato Moa and Damurushi were guests at AOD 2016 last year; upon return to Japan, they created a doujinshi that documents their adventures in America, which includes AOD! Don’t miss out on a chance to see your favorite AOD staffers and guests--but as birds?!

In 2015, Sekai Project raised funds for its English release of Key's legendary visual novel about love and family with this limited edition of the game, which includes an album of arranged music, a digital artbook, and much more!

Thanks to Hobbyfan for this donation of 2D husbands - but they're 2D no longer, as these Sega premium posters bring the boys of Kyoto Animation's popular swimming anime to glorious three dimensions!

This Blizzcon exclusive features the famed Ghosts of the Starcraft universe, and is signed by the designers of the game

These exclusive and adorable Pikachus were made to celebrate the first year of the Shinjuku Pokemon Center store, and they can be yours!

We’ll have even more items ready by the time AOD rolls around (rumor has it a cosplay version Yurio’s jacket will be going up for auction?!)--including our favorite mystery bags! So come check out the auction on Sunday at 12:30pm and test your mettle against the other attendees for a chance to get some really neat goodies you won’t find anywhere else~!

[aodsf]

Want to hear your favorite YouTubers talk about their specialties? Our schedule for their panels is now live! This year our lineup consists of:

Random Encounters

The Completionist

Super Beard Bros

The Dex

Be sure to check out their panels and say hi to them at AOD! 

*Please note, that while we always do our best to stick to the schedule, unforeseen events and circumstances can and will (and have) happen, so these events are subject to change at the last minute. For the latest, we will do our best during the con to keep attendees informed, and be sure to ask our Info Booth at the convention if you have any questions.

[aodsf]

Our Event List is now LIVE!! If you want to get a head start on planning out your AOD Weekend, this is the place to check.

*Please remember that things can and will likely be subject to last minute changes--this includes the main stage events (Masquerade, concerts), as well as events like panels (timing/rooms) and guest events (panels, autograph sessions). For the most up-to-date, be sure to follow our Twitter and feel free to contact our Info Booth during the convention!

[aodsf]

夏のお祭り by p19（ピーイチキュー） on pixiv

Our returning artist and one of our Guests of Honor, p19, drew this in celebration of her return to AOD this year! Featuring our adorable mascot getting ready for summer festivals, be sure to check out p19's panels and autograph session and say hi to her at AOD this year!

[aodsf]

Guest of Honor: Ken Pontac

Our next Guest of Honor is one that many longtime attendees--and probably even some new ones--should recognize: the venerable writer, animator, and all-around-outrageously-talented guy Ken Pontac! 

Ken Pontac has been a Migrant Film Worker in the animation industry for over a quarter of a century, writing and directing content for television, film, and various new-fangled thinking machines. His early work includes the stop-motion series Gumby, as well as the various iterations of the classic videogame Clayfighter. In the past several years Pontac has written scripts and dialog for the Marvel Heroes MMO, NSFW barks for Undead Labs’ State of Decay 2, multiple Sonic the Hedgehog games for Sega, an international hit series featuring the ghost gobbling Pac-Man, Disney’s animated action/adventure series Slugterra, the charming pre-school show Octonauts, and the less-than-charming Internet sensation Happy Tree Friends (a show so violent that it's banned in Russia). He is also still receiving royalty checks for writing the LazyTown song "You Are A Pirate," which has become an Internet meme, enjoying tens of millions of hits on YouTube and inspiring multiple mash-ups and drunken karaoke videos. Pontac has recently written for the new Thunderbirds Are Go! series, as well as the Netflix property Kong – King of the Apes. His cult classic stop-motion series Bump in the Night is available in a new compilation produced by Mill Creek Entertainment, and a compilation of his controversial mini-series, Wacky Raceland, will be available on March 14th. Pontacʼs work on the delightfully pro-social animated series Arthur may offset some of the karmic debt incurred by his other literary efforts (MadWorld, anyone?), but will probably only bump him up from tapeworm to tree-frog on the reincarnation cycle.

Pontac lives in Sausalito with a beautiful redheaded nurse and his two crazy dogs, Whistle and Mickey Blue Eyes.

[aodsf]

More Swap Meet!!

Missed your chance to get a spot at our Swap Meet? No worries, we’ve got a few more spaces--but reserve them now, because they’re bound to go fast!

This is the place to be if you’re interesting in selling your wares, come and interact with all the other folks and maybe even find something new!

Swap meet takes place on Saturday from 8p-10p. Get your spot now!

[aodsf]

Tea Time Maid Cafe Returns!

Do you want to have a nice, cute atmosphere to chat with your friends (and even some real maids!) while enjoying delicious tea and snacks? Then look no further than our Maid Cafe, hosted once again by the Tea Time Cafe! 

In addition to interacting with you and serving you great fare, they’ll be doing hourly shows starting from 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, and 10AM to 3PM on Sunday. Shows are $5 each, except for the VIP show on Saturday at 5PM which will be $15 and comes with food.

There are limited seats available for every show, so purchase your tickets now to guarantee your slot!

You can also purchase tickets to the maid cafe at AOD itself, but please note that this will be subject to availability. If you have any additional questions about the event, please feel free to contact the Tea Time Cafe on their Facebook page.

[aodsf]

Music & Performances Line Up!

We’re happy to announce a packed lineup of musical performances and other fun stuff on the Main Stage this year!

SATURDAY

Ayashiki - 3PM

Aivi & Surasshu - 5PM

Lotus Juice - 9:30PM

SUNDAY

Team Hideo - 2PM

Super Soul Bros. - 4PM

All performances will be held on the Main Stage, so make sure you swing by and check them out!

[aodsf]

Last Day for Hotel Discount!

Still looking for a room at AOD? Today is the last day for you to book a room with our con discount!

Rooms are in the Santa Clara Marriot, which is right where the con is as well! AOD has secured a special convention rate of $139/night. This rate is for up to four persons in the room. Book your room now, as there are limited rooms available at our special rate! 

[aodsf]

Guest of Honor: David Hollin

Incoming! New Guest of Honor alert! Today we are happy to announce another guest to our lineup, David Seiji Hollin of Niantic, Inc.!

David Seiji Hollin is a technical artist and designer at Niantic, Inc. He has been with the team since it was still a part of Google and is a core developer for the smash hit Pokémon GO. His responsibilities have ranged from 3D art and animation, visual development for UI, gameplay design, and brainstorming and prototyping new features to add to the game. Two examples of David's contributions to Pokémon GO include the introduction of camera AR and the Pokémon buddy system.

He is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media Division and is also a gigantic Poké fan.

David will be hosting a panel on Pokémon Go and another on online communities and fandoms; in addition, he’ll also be having an autograph session, so be sure to stop by and say hi, and maybe even chat about Pokémon!

[aodsf]

Guest of Honor: Victor Navone

We’ve got another announcement incoming--a new Guest of Honor, from the famed Pixar Animation Studios, animation director and veteran animator Victor Navone!

Victor Navone is a veteran animator and animation director at Pixar studios who has worked on many of their films over the years. Starting with Monsters, Inc. Victor has since worked on almost every subsequent Pixar feature film including Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, WALL•E, Toy Story 3, Brave, and Inside Out. Before he joined Pixar, Victor had worked creative director for Gundam 0079 anime and as a digital artist for the cult classic Titan AE. 

In addition to his film and animation credits, Victor has also worked in the video game industry as an art director, conceptual designer, and and creative director.  His video game credits include Star Trek: Hidden Evil, Journeyman Project 2: Buried in Time, and Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time.  Recently Victor has also taken on the job of co-director of on a number of the Cars Toons shorts. 

In his spare time he loves to teach animation to aspiring new animators. He has taught at AnimationMentor.com for about 7 years and currently teaches at The Animation Collaborative in Emeryville.

In addition to hosting panels during both days, he’ll also have autograph sessions! Be sure to catch his talks on animation and say hello to him!