Uncle Yo

The Return to Drom

Because I can’t say no to a women wearing bunny ears, I’ve got an announcement for January.

Reni Mimura, whom I discuss in my act and may or may not follow with a camera on occasion. She’s a cosplay singer/songwriter who has been living in New York City since 2008, promoting her unique brand of super-cute J-pop with a collection of Japanese dancing maids. Since working with her at the New York Anime Festival, I’ve been very honored to help her at other cons and see her career blossom. She is so good live and gives the same immense performance for five people as she gives for five thousand.

On Saturday, January 16th, Reni will be filmed by the Japanese television studio NHK as part of a documentary. Oh yeah, and she’ll be at DROM, that little place in Manhattan where everybody partied at my live show? Hmm? Remember that? Wasn’t that fun? Sure it was. (And the DVD is here.)

I’ll see you there, guys.

Show Details

• Artist: Uncle Yo
• Date: Saturday, January 16th 2010
• Time: 4:30pm
• City: Uncle Yo in New York
• Venue: DROM
• Address: 85 Avenue A
• Venue phone: (212)777-1157
• Country: US
• Admission: $10.00
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: Hosted by Reni Mimura, the Japanese Cosplay Singer in NY which will be filmed by NHK (yes Japanese TV station NHK). I will be performing with: Promise (3 sister J-Pop singing group) CD-3(Japanese dance＆comedy entertainment group) Myu (Japanese dancer) Hyperlink to pre-order tickets as soon as we get the link!
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Lonley Shinigami

Good turnout for AniFusion with Mario, turns out the snow didn’t slow anybody down.

Definite highlights come from the people we had gathered: Emi and Promise were in rare form and sang beautifully amid to frozen and captivated fans. Forbidden Planet ended up handing me a handful of swag, which I ended up keeping rather than giving to the runner ups in the cosplay competition. Carrie looked great as always as Reindeer Mikuru Asahina.

And even though there was a brief cameo by both Santa Claus and Uncle Buen-Yo, I neutralized both threats.

In addition, I found it necessary to gather as many pictures as possible with my new Christmas present to myself from Image Anime: a Shinigami-sama ski mask. All I got to do tonight was my laundry, so I brought out Shinigami-sama for a night on the town. Sadly, no children would approach him, and no Chiquita would befriend him:

Come to me, bloomers

Doom?

So Ronery. So very, very ronery.

theft

Promise

Haruhi Hair?

The man of the hour and his co-host.

Now, thankfully, I can take a little break until the DVD gets released at Genericon in Februrary. I’ll have it available at Katsucon, of course, since they fall on the same weekend. Everybody out there have a very VERY safe and carefree holiday season. Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, click-click-grunt gurgle for the citizens of District 9, and Happy Decadent-Self-Worshiping Day to Mr. T: you’ve earned it.

Enjoy the snow,
~Yo

Uncle Yo at Forbidden City on 12/20/09

Show Details

• Artist: Uncle Yo
• Date: Sunday, December 20th 2009
• Time: 2:00pm
• City: Uncle Yo in New York City
• Venue: Forbidden City
• Address: 212 Avenue A
• Venue phone: (347) 535-1768
• Country: US
• Admission: $3.00
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: AniFusion NYC will be hosted by cosplay performance artist Mario Bueno and otaku stand-up comedian Uncle Yo. Guests include Patrick W. Galbraith, author of “The Otaku Encyclopedia”, and musical performers Emi and Promise. The whole day wraps up with a cosplay competition, with the first place winner taking home a $75 Forbidden Planet gift card, the 2nd Place winner being awarded a $25.00 Forbidden Planet gift card, and the 3rd Place winner getting a copy of “The Otaku Encyclopedia”. To enter the cosplay contest, you must pre-register at anifusion_register@fpnyc.com, including your name, age, and costume. To attend AniFusion NYC in general, there’s a $3 charge at the door that includes a free soft drink, a 15% off coupon for Forbidden Planet, and a 15% off coupon for Forbidden City. AniFusion NYC is presented by Forbidden Planet Kodansha, Mario Bueno, Forbidden City, and MIE Inc.
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Mokucon Review

There is a thrill and a charm to a college campus anime convention. It’s the chance for younger fans to meet older without the weight of the dubbing industry or the presence of an over-the-top convention security staff.

Casual gatherings like Mokucon of Rutgers University are like private weekends with your area friends. Everyone, from the cosplayers to the dealer’s room feel almost no pressure to succeed or pitch ideas or compete. I’ve got a bunch of highlights that are somewhere in cyberspace I’ve got to post on the photo page.

I have a few highlights:

- The relaxed conference room with the fireplace, fresh snow falling outside the window, a black butler playing the piano, and the other butlers handing out free cake.
- Hei from Darker Than Black shoving me in the trashcan.
- Buying a new tie from the dealer from Resident Evil 5.
- Code Geass photos by the fireplace.
- Image Anime Panel w/ Mario and the cast of Doujinopolis.
- Running a 2 hour comedy panel successfully.
- Hating on Spice and Wolf in the Rage Panel.
- My character sheet for a new Dungeons and Dragons prestige class: Cock-Blocker!
- Mario playing Stone Cold Steve Austin for the Rage Panel.
- Falling asleep on Chris’ couch and waking up surrounded by action figures.
- Dr. Eggman strangling a Sonic the Hedgehog plushie.
- Meeting Rorschach in the men’s room.
- Escaping Rorschach from the men’s room.
- Harassing Hetalia cosplayers.

It’s good to have a community. It’s good to belong. Never forget that. If you’re even on this website, you are a part of that community.

New Doujinopolis Episode is Up

Woot!

When Mario Beuno first asked me to be a part of his live-action fanfic about the cast of Suzumiya Haruhi living in an anime supply store in NYC, I asked first “who is this?” because I hadn’t yet saved his number in my phone.
I’m super-excited because I’m back in as Koizumi Itsuki. We’ve already got plans for the second half of season one as well as…I think you’ll see.

Episode five took us about 3 hours to shoot, mainly full takes and with a LOT of improving, but with a little patience and a lot of quick thinking on the cast’s part, we worked out a thin-enough plot. Never seen anything this metaphysical at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade.

Also, my interview at Zenkaikon was just released earlier this week. You can see it here. Through the Internet! Don’t be scared.

I hope everyone got to be with loved ones for Thanksgiving, good luck to everybody with finals, mailing out holiday cards AND don’t forget December birthdays – they need love too.

As a quick side note, a few people have been purchasing CD’s without sending me their physical mailing address. Until we get the teleporter online, I’m forced to use the USPS, so be sure to e-mail me your home address, otherwise you’re just throwing things at my Paypal.

I’ll see you guys in a week at Rutgers University on Saturday, Dec. 5th.

Live, laugh & glomp,
~Yo

Vide-Yo (Puns Make Everything Better)

So this past week has been a Video Fest that I should probably share.

1) This is the video played at Zenkaikon’s Opening Ceremonies. I helped write the script and with the help of Fighter’s High from Youtube, the staff was able to pull off a miracle of silliness.

2) Cosplay Performers Mario Bueno and MostFlogged are creating a web series based on the epic store Image Anime and the Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi. Episode 3 I got to play their Koizumi Itsuki. Mario’s direction before we improvised the scene: “Can you do openly flaming Mac-nerd?” This was the fruit of our labors. Look for more fun as the season unfolds (wink).

3) Cosplay Masquerade at Zenkaikon. Once again, shared the stage with the talented Reni Mimura But I always feel out of place when I’m on stage with her. I fixed that.

Yes, Uncle Yo has a Sailor Moon cosplay.

Other news, had a great interview at Cos Watch.com. I had a great time working with them, and listen closely for commentary from George Davidson, my fellow “Surviving a Mecha Attack” panelist.

Two private shows this past week that keep me on trains and turn my weekdays into a series of catnaps and free sushi dinners.
Rutgers University is full of people.
In Washingtonville, NY, there is a girl who had no anime club, so she made her own from scratch. Using the backroom of her local library, she hosts nearly 30 area kids a week, creating a solid diet of classic, current, and yaoi-friendly viewings. Her name is Amanda, and, like many fans, her love of Otaku culture has set an example for many to follow. Truly, if you build it, they will come, they will glomp, and they will quote Death Note.

See you guys at Anime USA, then Rutgers University and keep those DVD cover entries coming!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-15

• For the record, a deep fried matzo ball tastes like a regular matzo ball – but with flavor! #
• has once again miraculously avoided being fired today. Would like to thank his dimples. #
• Heading to Rutgers University to do a show. Then Washingtonville tomorrow. Yay last minute gigs. #
• just got back from Beacon, NY w/ good news. New Episode of Doujinopolis is up at http://www.imageanime.com. It's my solo episode as Itsuki! #
• Also, new interview with http://www.coswatch.com from Zenkaikon this year! #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-15

• For the record, a deep fried matzo ball tastes like a regular matzo ball – but with flavor! #
• has once again miraculously avoided being fired today. Would like to thank his dimples. #
• Heading to Rutgers University to do a show. Then Washingtonville tomorrow. Yay last minute gigs. #
• just got back from Beacon, NY w/ good news. New Episode of Doujinopolis is up at http://www.imageanime.com. It's my solo episode as Itsuki! #
• Also, new interview with http://www.coswatch.com from Zenkaikon this year! #

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Fan-based Avatar Group Discovered

As I often say in my act, American fan cliques have a habit of celebrating their loves by taking in their beloved source material, and rework it somehow.

I’m talking about how fans can dress like Pokemon in tuxedos, creating a gothic-lolita version of the Akatsuki from Naruto, and how groups like DoD can exist.

I’d like to call your attention to a fan-based creation based on the acclaimed series Avatar: The Last Airbender. By taking the series 50 years into the future, they are able to play with the most important two words in fanfic-writing: “What If?”

They can be found here, still in their germination stage, but loaded with potential.

The group is called Avatar: The Dawning of Darkness. They work for no profit, they work from home using flash animation, and their dedication is astonishing. Depending on how they treat their world, both their original characters and pre-existing ones from Avatar itself, their season may turn out to be more accurate than whatever M. Night Shyamalan.

Zenkaikon: 3rd Year’s a Charm!

With a new location, and an almost 200% increase in attendance from last year, this year’s ZENKAIKON of Valley Forge, PA was a huge success for the con.

We had just a long line to get in on Saturday the staff was overwhelmed, but the combination of cold, Red Bull and excitement pushed through. I got to meet the staff from Fighter’s High, Trina Nishimura, and perform, once again with Reni Mimura for opening ceremonies and during the masquerade. I may have to upload the video from the masquerade….or I may want to preserve the remainder of my dignity and let it remain hearsay.

And, of course, there was this kid:

They do say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

For Whose Line is it Anime, we had our BEST show of all three years. Turns out, Robert Axelrod (Lord Zedd, Wizardmon) is the MASTER at playing Questions. And Trina Nishimura was fast-thinking, funny and fantastic at improv.

Zenkaikon is my home convention, being the first anime con I ever performed as Uncle Yo, and every year as it had grown, so has my fanbase and so has my confidence. As I said to my parents after my first performance of “Uncle Iro’s Wedding Toast for Zuko,” “it’s good to be home.”

Sold out of CD’s. Oh man, which is gonna make Anime USA in two weeks just a tad awkward. I’ll be running some panels with Mecha Software and working with the Cosplay Burlesque. Stay snappy, America, and stay warm.

Live, laugh & glomp,

~Yo