Long-time Chicago icon and legendary film critic Roger Ebert passed away today after recurring battles with cancer. Ebert was known by the anime community as an admirer and advocate of the genre, giving thumbs up on films such as Ghost in the Shell, Tokyo Godfathers, and a number of Studio Ghibli productions. AnimeChicago member Neil…
I was recently invited to promote AnimeChicago on local podcast Geekspotting, a bi-weekly show that entices listeners to diversify their fandoms. Check out Episode 21 – Super Weaving Power at The Geekspotting Website. A big thank you to James and Ruben (our AnimeChicago board member) for the invitation! It was a great time! And be sure to subscribe via iTunes and LibSyn…
Despite our abundant enthusiasm for a Chicago Uniqlo store, Racked.com has reported that parent company Fast Retailing is focusing their efforts on the East and West Coasts, leaving Chicagoans out of the picture. According to CEO Tadashi Yanai, the company is “playing it safe” as it expands while less seasoned executives learn how to helm the company.…
Big announcement posted on the AnimeWorld Insider blog earlier this month: AnimeWorld Expos is joining forces with Wizard World to offer a range of anime-related events, guests and panels at the veteran comic and pop-culture convention. AnimeWorld Chicago premiered two years ago in August of 2011. The team quickly established a second convention in Indianapolis…
AnimeChicago’s Interview series highlights local organization leaders, artists and personalities. For our fourth edition, we’re highlighting Chicagoan local Brent Rolland and his convention game show, Anime Trivia Trap. AC: What is Anime Trivia Trap? How does it work?BR: “Anime Trivia Trap” is a trivia game show for anime fans based off of the short-lived 1984…
Another year has come and gone, and our small journalism project has grown into a full-scale social organization! Check out our accomplishments and aspirations to date: We have Board Members! Our core members have become a great group of friends and I want to personally thank them for their efforts on promotion, brainstorming, and volunteering…
AnimeChicago’s Interview series highlights local organization leaders, artists and personalities. We’re chatting with Ryan Weimeyer of The Con Artists, an informal drawing circle that runs all weekend during Anime Central. AC: Who are The Con Artists? What do you do?RW: The Con Artists is a pile of people who sit and draw in the lobby…
AnimeChicago’s Interview series highlights local organization leaders, artists and personalities. We’re chatting with Miguel Zambrano, president of Anime Gamer Station, a Chicago-based Internet radio station for the anime and gamer fan. This radio show does have adult humor, and is not recommended for young listeners. AC: Why did you create a station devoted to the anime…
For those who may not know, I’m Jamie, publisher and organizer of this very website. Six years ago, local anime clubs and related organizations appeared to live in total isolation, often missing out on quality anime and Japanese culture events. No public bulletin boards. No local event calendar. No dialogue. And so I registered AnimeChicago.com in 2006 and studied…
We’re sad to announce that Japanese marketplace, J. Toguri, will be closing its doors by February 2013. This large unassuming shop on Belmont has provided everything from specialized cooking ingredients, kitchen utensils, calligraphy tools, bonzai supplies, kimono, gi and other hard-to-find Japanese goods for over 65 years. It also has a small place in history: this store is…