Panel Room

Animania Festival Weekend will feature a range of artists, academics, industry professionals and community group representatives.

• Animania Classroom - Join us as we raise new questions and seek new answers.
• Animania Insight - Take a deeper look into the anime and manga you know and love and the cultures surrounding them.
• Art Talks & Demonstrations - From copic techniques, to tips on Cosplay make-up, learn the tricks of the trade!
• Asian Ball Jointed Dolls (ABJD) - A range of talks coverin topics such as how to string a doll and what to look for when buying for your hobby.

Cosplay panels are also being held at the Festival over at the Chibi Stage.

Animania Classroom

These introductory seminars aim to help you find your feet in the vast seas of Japanese pop culture and leave you with a greater understanding of anime, manga and the subtle nuances between the two.

Saturday

Spirited Away Workshop
Amy Plumb (Macquarie University)
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Panel Room 1

Learn more about the Oscar and Academy award-winning animated film Spirited Away by acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki in this workshop. Explore themes, characters and cultures  with our panel of academics from Macquarie University. Excerpts from the movie will also be analysed in depth for the benefit of students and educators looking for additional insight into this topic for the HSC Japanese Extension course.

Japanese Popular Culture in Education
James Kelly, Amy Plumb (Macquarie University)
1.15pm - 2:15pm
Panel Room 2

More and more anime fans are expanding their love for Japanese popular culture into their educational options whether it be taking part in exchange programmes, language studies or co-curricular activities. In this panel, we discuss the popularity of Japanese studies at a university level from the perspective of the academic as well as the student, as well as integrating Japanese popular culture in cross curricular teaching. Join us for a look at how interest and studies can intersect!

Sunday

Japan and the World: From Deities to Dragons!
Dr. Rebecca Suter (Univeristy of Sydney), Amy Plumb (Macquarie University)
10.30am – 11.30am
Panel Room 1

A great deal of anime and manga series incorporate elements of Japanese/Asian legends and myths whether in the setting, plot or even reimagining them with new protagonists or antagonists. An equally large proportion also take inspiration from the West/Europe, from mythical creatures and legendary figures to religious symbols and figures. While some animators closely follow the source, there are many more who chose to interpret these freely in these manga “adaptations”. Join our two guest academics from the University of Sydney and Macquarie University as we explore the similarities and differences between interpretations and recreations of Asian and Western culture in Japanese animation!

Japanese Language & Culture Session
DJ Shino (Wasabi/BondiFM)
10.45am – 11.15am
Panel Room 2

Questions about Japanese language and culture? Curious about life in Japan? Come along to watch a special video and a chat with our guest speaker from Wasabi/BondiFM about all this and more in our discussion session on everything Japanese!

Let’s Learn Japanese!!
The Japan Foundation
12.45pm – 1.15pm
Panel Room 2

Get ready to enjoy Japanese film on a whole new level! Come along to this session as representatives from the Japan Foundation, Sydney introduce an easy-to-use aid to learn Japanese. The Happy Family Plan DVD is a fun and interactive way to learn both Japanese language and culture. Don't miss this chance to learn some useful Japanese expressions to improve your understanding of manga and animation.

Japanese Language Seminar
Dr. Mio Bryce (Macquarie University)
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Panel Room 2

Every anime fan knows a word or two of the Japanese language! Is it to increase your appreciation of anime and manga? Or do anime and manga help improve your Japanese? Our guest academic will explore why millions are learning the language and also discuss what their Japanese programs have to offer potential students.

Animania Insight

There is more to anime and manga than meets the eye! Animania Insight provides an open forum for all those niggling questions about anime, manga and wider Japanese popular culture.

In previous years we have explored anime and manga as different genres and/or mediums, sub-groups within the Japanese pop culture 'sub-culture' including collectors, gamers to cosplayers and fan-artists, different themes in anime and more. This year opinions will surely fly! Audience participation definitely welcome.

Saturday

Japan and the World: GAME ON!
James Kelly, Ben Patterson, Matt Hotop
12.00 – 1.00pm
Panel Room 2

Japanese-made games contribute greatly to the range of games available across the many platforms on hand in this day and age. From epic overarching themes in Final Fantasy, catchy rhythms of PaRappa the Rapper, to off-kilter urban settings of The World Ends With You, Japanese games have garnered legions of fans both within Japan and without. Why are Japanese games so popular? Are there notable differences between Japanese-made games and those produced elsewhere? Join our gaming gurus to discover the influences of Japanese culture on various game aspects, whether they be themes and setting, or even character portrayals and voice-acting.

Sunday

Life in Japan! Shopping Mania!
Bianca McKay, Adrian Chew
11.45am – 12.45pm
Panel Room 1

This one’s for all all you tourists and bargain-hunters looking to visiting Japan in the near future! Shopping for electronics? Anime and manga merchandise? Japanese-branded clothing? Delicious local foods and memorable souvenirs? Join our guest panelists as they introduce you to the wonders of shopping in Japan!
 

Art Talks & Demonstrations

Doujinshi, or "amateur work" by fans, is an important aspect of anime and manga culture. These talks will be dedicated to the art forms of Japanese fan culture including drawing basics, how to improve your cosplay and taking stunning photographs of cosplay and ABJDs.

Our excellent line up of experts will teach you the tricks of the trade and answer your questions.

Saturday

Copics Art Demo
Aya
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Panel Room 1

Copic markers are the tool of choice for many manga artists out there. A wide range of colours and the ability to blend them to create new shades creates a versatile medium for colouring and illustration. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to watch a master at work as Aya demonstrates the use of copics and colouring techniques in this handy demonstration!

Sunday

Pixel Magic: Digital Art Demonstration
Pete Chemsripong (One Art Studio)
11.30am – 12.30pm
Panel Room 2

So, you have the tools at hand; a trusty tablet and a graphics program bursting with tools just waiting for your inspiration to strike! Not sure where to begin? Watch as our guest artists from the OneArt Studio guide you through the entire process; from the character design sketch right to the finishing touches using a graphics tablet and ADOBE Photoshop.

The Art of Traditional Media
One Art Studio
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Panel Room 1

Digital art not your thing? Prefer a more hands-on approach to producing inspired artwork? Our guest artist from One Art will demonstrate the use of traditional media in the form of charcoal/pencil for rendering form and bringing illustration to life in this inspiring live demonstration.

The Art of Mixed Media
Jay Lee (One Art Studio)
3.45pm – 4.45pm
Panel Room 1

Join our talented professional illustrators from the OneArt Studio as they demonstrate live the process of producing realistic illustration using mixed media that includes air brush, gouache and pastel/colour pencil. Watch how more than one medium may be used to achieve a realistic yet artistic painting and learn to use colours to create interesting lighting and mood, transforming a normal picture artistically using strong brush strokes that makes the object more 3-dimensional and at the same time it enhances the object's characteristic! This session is not to be missed!

Asian Ball Jointed Dolls Talks

Saturday

Doll Merchandise Show and Tell Panel
Rachel of Ningyotan, Jme of Faireground, Mk13, Krishna and LKJ
11.45am-12.45pm
Panel Room 1
In a hobby where most of everything is purchased online, ever wonder how the real goods look next to the website photos? Well, here’s your chance to have a preview! Attend our panel of show and tell, where a range of doll goodies (wigs, eyes, clothes, accessories, etc) will be on display and a panel will comment on the items and their experience with the companies. As a panel session, you are welcome to join in and bring your doll merchandise that you want to share as well!

Sunday

A Peek into a Doll Company
LKJ
2.15pm-2.45pm
Panel Room 1
This is a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes of Ringdoll, our sponsor, and learn about the history and people behind this young and creative company. We will take you through the fascinating cast that puts together these dolls from an idea on paper to an intricately face-upped, dressed and accessorised character. Come to find out about the general process involved in developing these dolls!

Stringing Your Doll 101
Mk13
3pm-3.30pm
Panel Room 1
Stringing is one of the basic skills within the doll hobby…and yet, it is something that still causes anxiety in several of us! In this session, Mk13 will show you how easy and quick stringing can be. You can bring your dolls along as well and we will assist you with your doll stringing. Please be sure to bring your own elastics!