Uncle Yo

New York Anime Festival ‘09

WHAT: NYAF
WHERE: Jacob Javits Center, New York City
WHEN: Sept 25th-27th
WHY: This Man.

Every year Reed Exhibitions cracks its knuckles and attempts to out due itself with huge guests from Japan, world premieres and much much more. I have my ears against closed doors in this convention, and even I don’t know the surprises this convention has in store. I’ll see you guys with my new stand-up material, at the cosplay masquerade, and maybe at a little Friday Night Variety Show? Yeeeees?

Zenkaikon ‘09

I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 3 years!

WHAT: Zenkaikon ‘09
WHERE: Radisson Hotel Valley Forge, King of Prussia, PA, more info here
WHEN: November 7th and 8th, 2009

A humble convention that nearly tripled in size over the last two years, Zenkaikon is the FIRST anime convention I ever performed to and has since become a very welcoming, almost private place in my heart. Coming here to to Whose Line is it Anime, my stand-up, and their Masquerade is almost like coming home. Expect great things from their gaming room head by the Video Game Zombies.

Connecticon ‘09 Announced!

Connecticon, the enormous GAMING/ANIME/MANGA/VIDEO GAMING convention of New England has signed me up!

WHERE: Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT
WHEN: Fri, 7-31 through Sun, 8-2
WHY: Because I can.
WHAT: Friday 4pm, NEW PANEL: Surviving a Mech Attack, learn how to protect yourself and the ones you can use as emergency food rations. Regular stand-up show will be Saturday at 9pm.

If you need to know more about the epic win of Connecticon, I recommend listening to the Geek Nights podcast at www.frontrowcrew.com.

AnimeNEXT Wrap-Up

AnimeNEXT ‘09 saw a few set-backs but a HUGE fan turn-out, which is why it will return next year, stronger than ever.

Let’s see, what did I like about AnimeNEXT…
1) Location (serving PA, NJ, NYC, L.I, Delaware)

Take that Palette Swap!

The Lovely and Fan-Supportive Michelle Knotz

4) As far as I know, both my performances in main events spread a few smiles, which is the whole purpose of this little journey we’ve all taken together.

5) Discovered an EPIC ’80’s arcade/cheesesteak place called the Break. Find it!

6) Masquerade had only (3) memes! A new record!

7) Cosplay Burlesque had a large turn-out…nothing quite like seeing Chi, Harley Quinn and Sephiroth bear things in ways only fanfics had dared to imagine.

I’ll be posting up all the pics from this weekend on myspace, so for intimate details, we’ve got to be friends first.

Anime Boston and AnimeNEXT ‘09

Anime Boston was BIG. Very big. No, bigger than that, it was BIG.

The city of Boston itself is very charming and I wish I had an extra weekend just to truly explore it. Irish pubs everywhere, historical, square brick buildings full of symmetrical right-angles…*sigh*. Things that most restaurants in NYC have abandoned to appear art deco and/or Asian.

The cosplay masquerade at AB was truly an epic. Costumes were world-class and a lot of the skits had me laughing backstage. It seems, according to the boards at AB, the audience approved. Super thanks go to Lindsay Garside and her dedication to a fast-paced, professional event. With any luck, I’ll be back next year to raise the bar. But this time I’ll leave the Sailor Scout uniform at home.

Another big announcement is…

ANIME NEXT ‘09
WHERE: Garden State Exhibit Center, Double Tree Somerset Hotel
WHEN: Friday, June 12th 6:30-7:30pm and Sunday, June 14th 2pm-3pm
ADMISSION: $45 for the weekend?

Both performances will include new material, skits and giggles including my newest parody to hopefully rival the Naruto Name Song.

I’ll be doing security staff as well as a stand-up show. Plus I’ve been inducted into the late-night cosplay burlesque show. Not sure if this is a good sign or not, but either way the Sailor Scout uniform stays home.

On a side note, I still don’t know why this video has nearly double the views of my actual performances. But life is full of mysteries.

Otakon, Baby!

Uncle Yo has been approved to perform at Otakon this year. Can’t wait to see you there.

I’ll also be presenting a new panel, “Surviving a Mecha Attack” with my co-panelist from last year. We had a great turn-out last year for our “Decade-Long, Decade-Strong panel,” and we hope to take it to the last level. So you’re minding your own business in a large metropolis when, as sure as rain, two giant robots appear in downtown and begin laying the smack down. How will YOU avoid this threat, emerge safely and avoid the riots? You will learn.

The East Coast’s largest anime convention, and all its details can be found here.

WHERE: Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD
WHEN: July 17-19th, 2009
PANEL TIME: TBA.

Take That, Brooklyn ;>)

I gotta thank everybody for making Sakura Matsuri ‘09 a raging success even with the rain. I think we all know who to thank for the sudden sunshine. Big turn-out and a lot of positive energy. After the show, the cosplayers took to the center field and we had a HUGE photo taken of all of us. Fans. Cosplayers. Citizens. Standing together. Good times.

This was a big chance for anime fans to openly gather in a non-convention setting and for Normals to be introduced to American cosplayers. How did the show go? You tell me:

Thanks again to Lawrence and Steve from Kawaii Films for the superior camera-tizing.

Got to see Vampt Vo from Anigamers, and before our moms met to trade trash about us, it was cool to have a mini-Anigamers reunion.

These awesome pics were given to me by a talented photographer named Jason Gardner whose website I recommend visiting here.

Another name to drop is Megumi Sato’s radio show Samurai Beat Radio, who will be posting their show later next week.

Check out the full description at SBR’s blog WITHIN THIS LINK.

I got to sit next to Ai Kawashima (pop-star) and Team USA for the World Cosplay Summit. Thanks to Anita Jacobs for giving me passes to go backstage and eat all the pocky I could swipe, big man Josh and, of course, Peter Tatara of the New York Anime Festival for ALWAYS reaching that extra distance.

Anime Boston is soon, so strap on those Akatsuki robes and brandish your bankais. ‘Cause we’ve got the American Otaku National Anthem to premiere. And that’s BEFORE the skits can even start.

New Podcast: New Anime This Season

Well, hello, unsuspecting web-browsers.

Last week, at Ani-gamers, Web Host Vampt Vo and I recorded a podcast on the latest anime of this season:

CHECK OUT THE FUN HERE, sign up for us on iTunes, and check out my recent review of Gai-Rei Zero.

Be sure to join me on Twitter: I’m stuck on haiku’s.

Coming up this weekend is, of course the Sakura Matsuri in Brooklyn, followed by Anime Boston, kids! And while I make it a rule to NEVER COSPLAY, I have a feeling Anime Boston will bring about many surprises, including the premiere of the American Otaku National Anthem.

Got lined up to be part of a documentary at Queens College in Queens. How much fun is that? I TOLD you people other than law-enforcement are interested in me.

Summer cons, new material, and did I hear free MST3K in the works? …No? Well, there’s always next time.

Anime Boston Update

Show Details

• Date: Friday, May 22nd 2009
• Time: 1:00pm
• City: Uncle Yoin Boston, MA
• Venue: Anime Boston in the Hynes Convention Center
• Country: US
• Admission: $50
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: The fans have spoken. Uncle Yo is MCing the biggest Cosplay Masquerade in the North East. While the judges decide the winners, Yo will be doing his stand-up routine: some new material, some new, something stolen, something Blue Sub 6. What? You thought I wouldn’t make a pun?

Sakura Matsuri Update

Show Details

• Date: Saturday, May 2nd 2009
• Time: 1:00pm
• City: Uncle Yoin Brooklyn NY
• Venue: Sakura Masturi at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
• Country: US
• Admission: $12
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: Location: Osborne Garden (No association with Oscorp Industries. All of our sound tech is provided by STARK Enterprises.)

10:00–6:00 Manga & Anime Artist Alley

Get autographs, CDs, glomps!

Location: Osborne Garden
—————-

1:00–2:00

Uncle Yo & Cosplay Photo Shoot
Giggle along with me and bring your camera as World Cosplay Summit Team USA hosts a Sakura Matsuri photo shoot!

Location: Osborne Garden