Oni-Con 2004

[Ashley]

Anyone else planning on coming? It's October 22-24 in the North Houston Sheridan--which is just TWO weeks away! This will be my first con ever, and Keely of Anime Angels very graciously asked me to speak with her at a panel on Christianity and Anime this year. I'm very excited about it. But it'd be great to meet a few of you guys too, so I was just curious who I should be on the lookout for...

[agasfas]

I"LL BE THERE! I just asked off this morning since i had no class today . I'm planning to come on Saturday. I may also do friday but i don't want to hit traffic after class, so i'm still debating friday or not. But Saturday i'll will be there. I'm coming from austin so i hope i dont get lost.... But, Looking forward to meeting anyone from CAA that are going. Though it would be nice to set up a place and time to meet and get all the minor details together. In the near future i mean

[Ashley]

Awesome. The panel I'm speaking at is at 9 AM Saturday morning....though coming from Austin, you might not make it. Ouch. Ah well, I'll be there Saturday even if you don't make it so maybe we can bump into each other. Anyone else?

[agasfas]

Well i'm actually leaving austin really, really early. Plus i tend to drive kinda fast if i'm in a hurry... SO i probably be at the con at 8 or so. Hopefully if i dont get lost

[TheMelodyMaker]

I would so much like to come just to meet you guys in person, but it's just too far away (and I think I'm working that weekend anyway... ). But you've got my prayers and support.

[Saint Kevin]

Hmm...I've been wanting to go to a con for some time now. Unfortunately, I'm flat broke at the moment, so I don't think that will be happening. Plus, it's hard to justify driving all the way to Texas for one convention. I'd have to go for more than that...Maybe a W rally, or a roadtrip with my friends to see a Cowboys game or something.

Perhaps in the distant future I will see some of you in person, preferably at a convention, but that will have to wait. Have fun Ash and agasfas and whoever else is going.

Oh, and take pictures!

[Jasdero]

^o^ Have fun, you guys!!! I wish I still lived in Houston.... I would have definitely gone...

Yes, pictures, yes. If possible, of course.

[agasfas]

Just random. I found out that the Texas Renaissance festival is also going on every saturday and sunday in october and november. I was thinking of doing the convention on Saturday the 23rd and then the festival on Sunday the 24th. They are both in Houston. Anyone interested? If not i'll just skip the Renaissance Festival. Though it might be interesting since i've never gone to one.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

houston eh... im going on a retreat this week but even if i didn't go to a retreat, i still probably wouldn't beable to go. So tell us about it!

[Keely]

I can't wait for our panel, I just sent off the little blurb to go on the schedule:

Christianity and Anime: How to explain anime to Christians, and Christianity to
otakus. Featuring Keely Graesser, founder of Anime Angels, and Ashley, founder
of Christian Anime Alliance.

yay!!!

Oh, and we'll be in the Plaza room for our Panel.

http://www.oni-con.com/site_hotel.php has a map of the hotel...I know the plaze room is one of the panel rooms upstairs...not sure which one.

[Rev. Doc]

Don't forget to pass out some flyers. Wish I could be there. But I have it marked on my calendar and I will make sure to lift you up in prayer during your panel.

Any chance you could video record it? I bet a lot of folks here would love to get a copy of that.

[Ashley]

Hmm, well I have a camcorder, if they would let me bring it in...but I don't know how to film myself. >.<

Anyway, I do appriciate your prayers Doc--mostly because I am a very weak public speaker by nature and the very thought gives me butterflies...but I know that God will give me exactly the right words to say because he's done that in the past. ^^ So anyone who's going, right off the bat let me say if a word comes out without stuttering, it's from the Lord. XD

Thanks for the link and the map, Keely!

[TheMelodyMaker]

Any chance you could video record it? I bet a lot of folks here would love to get a copy of that.

Aye, you can count me in for one of those. (Keely already knows where I live, too.)

Ashley -- I know exactly how you feel. I am not only a terrible public speaker, but a horrible private speaker as well. I will most certainly keep you in my prayers next weekend.

[agasfas]

Stuttering while speaking in front of an audience? Sounds like me When you get me in front of an audience i stumble around and look like a deer in headlights. Good thing i took my communication class first semester freshmen year. I know y'all will do fine; plus you got the support of CAA (including me) and God behind you . Ashely, I'll be sure to put in a prayer for you. And Keely, sounds cool, i'll be sure to greet you. Hope to see y'all there.

[Saint Kevin]

Don't worry about the public speaking, you'll do fine. You'll be especially in my prayer the 22-24th. Maybe instead of videotaping it, you can have a tape recorder that you use, and then you can write up a transcript of it. I'd be really interested in what you guys have to say, and what questions you'll be asked.

[agasfas]

Maybe instead of videotaping it, you can have a tape recorder that you use, and then you can write up a transcript of it.

What about taping your voice on a recorder before the "big" day and then use that recording and lip sync the speech Actually, that may not be the greatest idea. Wait, we can ask the panel questions?

[Mangafanatic]

Oh, I WISH I could go!! Afterall, Texas is only several states away! Oh well, maybe someday.

If you have a camcorder and you are permitted to take it in with you, you could see if anyone you know has a tripod. That way, you wouldn't have to work the camcorder, you'd just have to set it up in advance, makes sure it's properly focused and start it recording (or have someone else start it recording) right before it starts. I would LOVE to have a tape of the discussion. It's a great topic, and I'm sure you'll do it justice.

Make us proud Ashley-chan!

[TheMelodyMaker]

If you have a camcorder and you are permitted to take it in with you, you could see if anyone you know has a tripod. That way, you wouldn't have to work the camcorder, you'd just have to set it up in advance, makes sure it's properly focused and start it recording (or have someone else start it recording) right before it starts.

Not to mention that it would also keep people like my dad from getting sick when looking at it afterwards. ^_^;

[skynes]

Just a question, Oni is the name of japanese demons, so is the name of this thing Demon Convention? Or does Oni stand for something else?...

[Ashley]

Well, little update here. Today was the first day of Oni-Con (I have no idea why they call it that Skynes, it has nothing to do with demons...unless you really hate Jpop music ) And it was worth the hour's drive. For all you gundam wing fan girls, I met Scott McNeil, the voice of Duo and hung out with him a little bit in the hall on my way to get my guest badge. Met up with Keely too, and one of our very own members here--Agasfas. Kinda funny, we were on our cells with each other and he came up behind me, and I jumped. But he's a really great guy and fun to hang out/get lost in Houston with---and to school at DDR! At any rate, tomorrow is the big event--9 am. I am indeed going to bring a camera and tripod, God willing, so I should be able to get a tape to anyone who wants it.

And as a totally unrelated comment....dealer room...ooooo! So many things to look at!

[shooraijin]

Best of luck! We're all praying for you and Keely.

[TheMelodyMaker]

Is your speaking event a one-time thing, or ongoing throughout the day?

[Ashley]

It was a one-time thing. We ended up having quite the turnout--I think as many as 8 or 9 people at once. The panel went GREAT, if I do say so myself. We had a lot of really good questions and people were quite open to what we had to say. And I know a certain CAA member that chipped in quite a few times and asked a lot of really awesome questions to boot.

I have the panel on tape too--I haven't checked to make sure I got all of it on tape--it's about an hour and a half or so I think--but when I get a chance I will make some hard copies of it. If anyone would like a copy, please PM me and I'll make some arrangements.

All in all (save some car mishaps--check the testimonials forum), a very good experience--I would love to do it again sometime, if I am given the chance.

[Keely]

FYI, Oni does mean demon - sort of. It means more like ogre though, and they chose the name because of the proximity to halloween. Different connotations for the japanese than for Western culture.

I know, it still is an unfortunate name - but even more reason for us as Christians to make our presence known there! The panel went wonderfully...and as I posted in another thread I think we're gonna be able to do it next year too...and I may even see if AnimeFest would be interested in it, I had several people tell me that the other cons needed something similiar and I know AnimeFest is always looking for panelists, plus it's in Dallas...not too far. Maybe I'll check with UshiCon (in Austin) too.


And isn't Scott the greatest? Did I not tell you that I was his shadow working for Guest Relations? He went out to eat with us after the con...he and a few of the staff heads and me. Head of Guest Relations (Laura) and I made him Wolverine claws out of aluminum (well, had a friend make them) because he did that voice in X-men Evolution? He loved them!

[Ashley]

I'd love to hear what Ushi-con in Austin has to say--that's a doable distance for me and I was considering going anyway, Dallas is a little far, but I guess it would depend on the timing.

And Scott is indeed awesome! He was a blast to be around, you were so lucky to spend so much time with him. He's hilarious, and I loved the X-men claws too.

[uc pseudonym]

Regarding this con... I know what your panel was, and the general topic, but how did it go in specifics? What issues were addressed? What was the general response? Primarily Christians lurking at the convention or non-Christians vaguely curious?

[Ashley]

Well, we didn't have a set schedule to follow as far as topics go...but I think we tended to focus on dispelling the stereotypes that Christians have against anime fans and that anime fans have against Christians. How it's possible to have both. We talked a bit about how each of our respective sites were formed, and our own personal histories. As for the crowd, I was suprised. They seemed to be mostly Christians who definately understood the struggle, and I think there were 9 or 10 of them. We did get a few crass comments though, but we smiled and held our heads high anyway. We had an older gentleman ask us a lot about parents involvement, standards, recommendations, etc. Umm, Keely can you think of anything else?

[Keely]

That was pretty much it, a lot questions about Parents and Anime as well. And I'll go ahead and email the Ushicon people today and see what they say

[uc pseudonym]

That answers my question, yes. Thank you. Glad to hear that it went well.

[Mangafanatic]

I'm so glad to hear it went well. Thank both of you for doing the panel.