The AFA X press conference has come and gone and Animenauts was not invited (sniff sniff). Nevertheless, we are still able to have a sneak-peek into what will be happening at AFA X on the 13th and 14th of November thanks to SGCafe’s Ooga and the official AFA X website. These are some of the highlights that you all can look forward to as well as some of my personal thoughts. More after the jump.
Update: The I Love Anisong VIP passes go on sale on the 23rd of September, 9am while the standing area passes will be available from the 30th of September.
AFA X will be split into different “Experience Zones”. These experience zones at AFA X allow visitors to immerse themselves into the “experience” that is AFA. They include:
The AFA X Akiba Town, where all our hard-earned cash will be spent on seemingly frivolous items…or so most people would think. Anyway, we can probably look forward to the obligatory Bandai booths, Gundam exhibits and the COSPA and BUSHIROAD stores as well.
The Akiba mini stage will feature various activities, right in the middle of the festival grounds. Surprisingly no news regarding AKB48, not sure what has happened to the rumour that they were going to perform at AFA X. Anyway, no other information regarding the mini stage has been released.
Cool Japan features a showcase of the “latest and coolest innovations from Japan”. This seems to be a sort of showcase/exhibit of Japanese culture, technology and fashion. Highlights for this particular “experience” include a Cool Japan Forum, with speakers such as anime producer Go Nakanishi, Dentsu’s Kotaro Sugiyama and Danny Choo.
AFA X will once again host the Regional Cosplay Championship with the top cosplay teams from around the region competing for a trip for 2 to Tokyo, Japan. Cosplayer Kaname will once again make an appearance at AFA X.
The Moe Moe Kyun is back as well, now in school uniform mode. Just imagine if they were to wear real school uniforms…hmm…
AFA X will also be catering to the fairer sex as well, with a shitsuji kissa (Butler Cafe).
Now, this is where it starts to get exciting. AFA X will be screening both Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer and the SEA premiere of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya! For the Gundam fans, if you can’t wait to watch the Gundam 00 movie, you can book your tickets through Sistic right now for the premiere @ Alliance Francaise.
AFA’s I Love Anisong segment is back with new guests. Joining Ichiro Mizuki and May’n are JAM Project, SCANDAL and Angela. Ichiro Mizuki and JAM Project will be performing on the 13th while May’n, SCANDAL and Angela will be performing on the 14th.
Other guest appearances include Kana Hanazawa (Tenshi from Angel Beats!, the titular characters from Kobato and Black Rock Shooter) and the Milky Holmes seiyu unit.
The ticketing system is now slightly more complicated, going on a per day basis. There are now two categories of tickets, Festival and Festival+Stage. The Festival ticket provides access to only the exhibition grounds while Festival+Stage gives access to the main stage as well, where all the movie screenings and guest appearances will happen. Prices are @ SGD8 and SGD15 respectively. Festival ticket holders can upgrade to the Festival+Stage access at an additional SGD10.
The Anisong concert is now a paid-only access event as well. A one day concert pass casts SGD118 while a two day pass costs SGD198. Both concert passes include a Festival+Stage ticket to AFA X and a lightstick. Free standing area concert passes costs SGD55 per day and includes a Festival+Stage ticket.
Thoughts: I am expecting this to be the more-or-less confirmed lineup of guests and events, though you never know if the AFA organising committee has any other surprises in store. I am still conflicted as to whether to go for the Anisong concerts or not. While it is nice to see May’n back, it is starting to get a little stale, especially considering her lower profile in terms of Anisong this year (If I am correct, her only Anisong for this year is READY GO! for Ookami-san, her other single to be released next month is the theme song for The Incite Mill). While Angela seems promising (having Anisong credits for Fafner and Shikabane Hime among others), SCANDAL just doesn’t seem to have that much of an impact as compared to the rest. If it had been someone like Nana Mizuki or Maaya Sakamoto, I would have been more willing to spend my money on the tickets.
I have absolutely no idea about who is in Milky Holmes (besides them being related to the BUSHIROAD game franchise). Kana Hanazawa probably would not get as enthusiastic a reaction as the K-On! seiyus but she is a promising seiyu nonetheless. Seriously hoping for more (good) surprises from the AFA organising committee…
Tags: Anime, Anime Festival Asia, Cosplay, Fanboy, Gundam 00, Movie, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, Tenshi