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Date:

February 1st, 2009 5:43 PM

Header:

A-KON 20 E-Newsletter 1-29-09

Bulletin:

-------------------------

TIME TO GEAR UP…

…for our coming year’s A-Kon. Our 20^th Anniversary! Yeah, we’re that
old! (that’s a GOOD thing, isn’t it? ^_-) We’ve got a bunch of
interesting things planned for our Grand Party Anniversary Celebration
that you’ll want to be part of, so watch this newsletter and our website
(www.a-kon.com <http://www.a-kon.com/>). We had over 15,000 people last
year, and we need to BEAT THAT NUMBER this year!
--------------------------

PRICE CHANGE IMMINENT:

As of Feb 1 at 11:59 pm (between Feb 1 and 2) the price will go to $40
for a full adult (age 13+) membership. Membership includes entry to
A-Kon 20, admission to concerts, and all events (except a few which have
separate charges such as the banquet, or some games), free goodie bag
(while supplies last), collectible badge w/different art specially made
for pre-registered members, monthly(or occasionally more frequent)
text-based e-newsletter (optional), and program book (while supplies
last). Also included are invitations and announcements of other events
of interest to our membership (free movies, occasional gatherings, other
events etc.) as they become available.

GET YOUR MEMBERSHIPS NOW! Use the form below, the online mail-in form,
or online using a credit card at Paypal (you don’t have to have a Paypal
account to use our online registration form, you can use a credit card)
------------------------------

BASIC INFO:

WHAT: A-Kon 20, the oldest continually running, internationally-aimed,
anime-based show in North America
WHEN: May 29-31, 2009 (setup and pre-reg pickup starts Thursday night)
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Downtown Dallas, 400 Olive
St.(at Live Oak), Dallas TX 75201. 214-822-9000 (formerly the Adams Mark
Hotel & Conference Center)
PRICING: Adult memberships: $35 until Feb 1, $40 after Feb 1, $45 after
Mar. 1
Children memberships: (age 6-12) $15 (no further discounts apply)
Children memberships: (age 5 & under) Free
Group memberships: (for groups of 10 individuals or more). $15% discount
(approx. $5 off each adult membership). NOTE: Child memberships stay at
$15, and receive no further discount, but CAN count toward the 10 needed
to make a group. All group registrations must arrive in the same
envelope, but do not necessarily need to be paid with one check/money
order. Each group member must fill out the form below (or the form
online if using credit card) completely. We cannot process membership
requests without full information.
HOTEL PRICE: $154.00 for single-quad (1-4 people), one bed (King sized)
or 2 (queen sized). You can even book the double rooms online this time
via a special link the hotel has set up for us. Simply enter this URL to
access the booking page _http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/Akon2009_

Suite prices start at $200/night and vary depending on type and size.
Our website has more info and pricing as well as a few room diagrams. If
you are booking something other than a regular 2-bed Double room, you
need to call the hotel directly at 214-922-8000 and ask for ‘in house
reservations’ and mention A-Kon. (The hotel is working on a link to
reserve King rooms as well, and we hope that will be active soon). You
must mention A-Kon to get the discounted pricing we have arranged for
suites, etc.. Call the Sheraton at 214-922-8000 (The hotel is now part
of the Starwood family, so if you are a frequent traveler, you may be
eligible for credits & perks if you have signed up for a Starwood
preferred guest card-it’s free.)
-------------------------

GUESTS SO FAR;

This year we have guests that celebrate anime history all the way back
to A-Kon 1!. Some who haven’t been here in YEARS have come back for this
historic celebration show! Check our website for more info on any of our
guests (so far 42 in all) We welcome…..

OUR FIRST MUSICAL GROUP FROM JAPAN: CAMINO

In keeping with our ‘Family Reunion Celebration’ theme, we welcome back
our friends CAMINO, who first appeared at A-Kon 14, who will open our
Friday Night Concert this year. Here is a little about them. For more
detail, visit our website (or theirs).

Genre: Rock
Styles: Japanese pop, Pop/Rock, soundtracks
First appearing at A-Kon 14 and then at 15, CAMINO has been a rising
star in the music scene.

In addition to their two independent albums ‘Arise’ and ‘IC Brain’,
members of CAMINO have worked closely with AYUMI HAMASAKI in
collaborating and songwriting, played supporting music for rapper MCU
(formerly of KICK THE KAN KREW) at ‘Rock in Japan Fes ‘06’ Japan’s most
heavily attended musical festival, and performed as part of the Aichi
World Expo, where the likes of classical performers Sarah Brightman and
Yo Yo Ma performed during the six-month-long cultural extravaganza that
was visited by some 15 million people.
CAMINO also contributed the song "Double Standard" to the soundtrack
album of TV Asahi's "Kamen Rider 555". The yearlong sci-fi series was a
modern take on the cult 1970s "special effects" TV series (and
subsequently a popular Japanese manga) of the same name.
In 2007, CAMINO's "Nostalgia" became the theme song to the TV Tokyo
anime "Kotetsu Sangokushi". Konami released the song as a single in the
summer of that year. CAMINO maintained the connection with the channel
by supplying the theme song to the series "Tomica Hero Rescue Force",
released as a single on the Avex Trax subsidiary Tearbridge Productions
in June 2008.
The band has recently signed with the popular Avex label with their
first two singles, “Story” and “The Life” tied in as the opening theme
song with Tomica’s “Hero Rescue Force” animation series. Look for their
new album to be released shortly entitled “New Life”.
*O*fficial Site: http://www.camino-project.com/ MySpace Site:
http://www.myspace.com/69camino
*Itunes Store
h*ttp://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=21743
8195
<http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=21743
8195>

*(Note, the very limited albums ‘Arise’and ‘IC Brain’ are both available
from the A-Kon website too, in our ‘store’ section –the same area where
you order memberships so go to ‘registration’ to find them. Get them and
get them autographed at the show by the band!)*

MORE GUESTS FOR A-KON® 20:
(in Alphabetical order):

-APPLEGEEKS – popular Webcomics guests
-PAUL BENJAMIN – Writer, game designer, manga creator (Pantheon High), etc.
- STEVE BENNETT- artist & con personality (he’s here so much he’s FAMILY!)
- JOHN CARMACK – co-founder ID Software , creators of Doom, Quake,
Castle Wolfenstein (his 1^st A-Kon)
- ANTHONY BROWNRIGG (independent film director/producer/actor &
occasional voice) www.redvictoriathemovie.com and
www.anthonybrownrigg.com <http://www.anthonybrownrigg.com/> (started
with us at A-Kon 12) CAMILLA D’ERRICO – Manga artist “Helmet Girls”.
Also big in the LA art scene, working on an Avril Avigne project (her
1^st A-Kon). Check her website at _http://camilla.bigcartel.com/ _for
viewing purchasable art or visit her MySpace page
_www.myspace.com/camilladerrico_
-TIM ELDRED – (first appeared at A-Kon 2) One of the early manga-styled
artists, Tim worked on comics for the shows Space Battleship Yamato,
Robotech and Captain Harlock, and shows like “Xiaolin Showdown”, “Dragon
Tales”, “Heavy Gear Animated Series” and “Spider-Man” animated series.
- BILL FAWCETT (pro writer & publisher)
-YAYA HAN – Cosplay & Art Guest. A HUGE name in the cosplay community,
Yaya has an amazing range of costumes & characters. (was with us at A-Kon 7)
- KYLE HEBERT (voice actor: Bleach, Naruto, DBZ, and a ton of others! He
has graciously agreed to emcee our cosplay this year - should be
FUN!)www.kylehebert.com (his first A-Kon was 7)
- SAMANTHA INOUE-HART – VA, producer, writer, all-around-cool person!
(first started with us at A-Kon 9)
-TRISH LEDOUX – A-Kon 1’s first industry guest. Trish has been active
for years with VIZ, edited Animerica magazine, and done a ton of other
things.
-M. ALICE LEGROW – OEM series “Bizenghast”
- KEVIN McKEEVER (Robotech.com) www.robotech.com
-HELEN McCARTHY – Author of anime reference books, Miyazaki history
book, and the latest book “500 Essential Anime Movies” by Ilex.
International speaker on anime. Hosts our Charity Auction
- VIC MIGNOGNA-Voice Actor and fan favorite. (HUGE list of vocal
credits. Also singer & songwriter. )
- WENDY POWELL (voice actor) (Fullmetal Alchemist, Fruits Basket, Baki
the Grappler, etc.)
-SUSAN NAPIER –Professor of Asian Studies, Univ. of Texas. Well known
speaker and cultural expert. (her first A-Kon was 13)
- JODY LYNN NYE – well known SF/F author. (this is her 1^st A-Kon)
- CHRIS PATTON – Voice actor (BIG list of credits, and one nice guy)
-MIKE RESNICK – Best Selling SF Author, one of the top 5 all-time
writers, editor of ‘Jim Baen’s Universe’ (this is his first A-Kon)
-JEREMY ROSS – Tokyo Pop editor.
-TONY SALVAGGIO – OEM artist
- JONATHAN TARBOX (manga editor, head of Arashi Productions )
-MICHAEL ‘MOOKIE’ TERRACCIANO – Webcomic artist/author, “Dominic Deegan:
Oracle for Hire” (his 1^st A-Kon)
- TOSHIFUMA YOSHIDA – Industry guest, worked for VIZ, produced many
anime videos, now works with Bandai. (first appeared at A-Kon 3)

…and a ton more, check the website at www.a-kon.com
<http://www.a-kon.com/> for a more complete list.

Many of our guests have profiles on Internet Movie Database
(www.imdb.com) and you can do a free search to read their credits

We are working on our headlining musical act and will release that name
shortly – looks like Mid-February when we’ll have everything finalized
and can announce them.
---------------------------

MEMBERSHIP REMINDERS & NEW INFO:

Please remember that the Way you register is the way you’re confirmed.
If you register online you will receive an online message/receipt with
your membership number (it will start with NEWAKONXXXX). If you register
by mail, you will receive a membership card in the postal mail.
Also for the first time this year, if you lose your membership badge
ON-SITE (the lanyard-hung hard-card w/your name on it), there will be a
nominal fee for replacement. This doesn’t mean there is a fee if you
cannot find your confirmation email or lose your membership card prior
to the show. It means ONLY if you lose your physical card badge AT the show.
For new members- please know we do not mail membership badges prior to
the show. That is too insecure, they could be lost in the mail, arrive
late, be stolen, or a number of other things. The only way to claim your
entry badge is to physically pick it up at the show, at the
Pre-Registration or On-Site registration desks.
------------------------------

BANQUET TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR OUR LAST BANQUET

This will be the last year that we do the Sunday Brunch Banquet with the
Stars. After many years of hosting this sit-down semi-formal event, it’s
time to do something else on Sunday late-morning. Rest assured we will
be doing SOMETHING, but we haven’t worked out the details yet. So get in
THIS year for the all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, choose the star you
want to sit with (a selection you make AT the show, when we know which
guests will participate). It’s like a mini-panel where you can spend
more intimate time with your chosen guest and a few other fans, get to
know each other and the guest, ask questions, learn, and make new
friends. We will show the winners of the AMV contest, and have surprise
entertainment throughout the meal. Seats are limited and will likely
sell out prior to the show. The price for the ticket only covers the
food purchased from the hotel, and is not refundable once purchased (but
is transferrable to another person if you choose not to attend after
purchase).

If you purchase a banquet ticket online, we will be mailing you the
ticket separately prior to the show. If you purchase it by mail with
your Kon membership, the ticket will be sent along with your membership
card. In either case, bring the banquet ticket to the convention INFO
DESK prior to Sunday morning to choose your guest table. First come
first choice, so have alternate choices available in case your first
choice table sells out.
----------------------------

VOLUNTEER FORM IS ACTIVE

For volunteering, go to www.a-kon.com <http://www.a-kon.com/>, there is
information, staff descriptions, and a link where you can enter your
information, crews you’re interested in working on, times you’re
available, etc. Minimum volunteering to be eligible for free crash space
is 16 hours. Volunteers who are accepted get free badge, access to
Hospitality Suite (for food), and bragging rights that YOU are part of
the crew that makes A-Kon special!
--------------------------------

Use the Handy Order Form below for A-Kon® 20 memberships.

---------------------------
A-KON(R) 20 MEMBERSHIP ORDER FORM:

Make Checks or Money Orders to "Phoenix Entertainment/A-Kon 20"

(How Many)

____ regular membership(s) for A-Kon(R) 20 ($35 until Feb 1, $40 until
Mar 1, $45 thereafter)
____ child membership(s)(ages 6-12) for A-Kon(r) ($15) (5 & under is FREE)
_____T-shirt(s) ($19 each) __S __M __L __XL __2X __3X __4X
(if getting multiple shirts, tell us WHO gets what size, please)If
getting more than multiple memberships, but only 1 or 2 shirts, tell us
WHO gets what shirt please)
_____Sunday Banquet with the Stars $30 (brunch w/your choice of guest
star, the last one we’re doing)

YOUR NAME:__________________________________________________________
(if ordering more than one membership, give us full names of ALL
attendees. Use extra paper if necessary (or print separate forms) and
please PRINT or TYPE CLEARLY). Multiple membership requests WITHOUT
names for everyone cannot be processed. (We would actually prefer if
each member had their own sheet filled out, OR the info all typed into
one nice easily readable sheet)

NICKNAME FOR BADGE (max. 18 letters & spaces) ______________________________
Use Standard Letters or Numbers Only (no symbols or characters)
NO profanity, suggestive, hateful or rude badge names please. A-Kon
reserves the right to require change of badge name at our sole discretion)

ADDRESS:_____________________________________________ APT: ________

CITY:_____________________________________STATE ______ZIP ________

EMAIL:________________________________________________AGE ________

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Phoenix Entertainment/A-Kon 20
SEND TO: Phoenix Entertainment, 3000 Custer Rd., Suite 270-337, Plano TX
75075
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