Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "anime"

Sacramento's booming comic book business- part 1

2011-12-15T07:26:38Z

The digital age revolutionized the way most people consume print products. But for comic book enthusiasts, the comic book business has remained relatively untouched by the swing toward digital products, said area retailers.

The Sacramento Press hit the streets to sneak a peek at Sacramento’s comic book industry- visiting six stores. Each business has carved out its own niche – as part of a community of stores that support each other – in a city with a surprising number of comic book retailers.

A-1 Comics
5361 Auburn Blvd.
331-9203

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

A-1 Comics has been in business for nearly a quarter of a century. It’s Sacramento’s largest comic book store, said Manager Jared Rudy.

The store specializes in hard-to-find classics and back issues, but also sells tabletop games, graphic novels, anime and manga, toys and figurines. The store is housed in an old bank building, and the bank vault is used to store the most valuable comics.

“We have a terrific back issue section, and everyone here is a specialist in something different,” Rudy said.

The clientele is primarily male, but Rudy said he sees more females in the store than ever before. They are mostly interested in anime and manga – both types of Japanese comics.

One customer travels from Reno each month, because he said he can’t find any good retailers in Nevada, said Rudy.

A-1 also has an online eBay store where it sells a number of rare collectibles, including a “Fantastic Four” comic featuring the Hulk from 1971 that is listed for $2,750 and a “Turok: Son of Stone” book, printed in 1954, for just under $5,000.

Store management uses a pricing guide to determine the value of a single comic or a collection, and Rudy said the store is successful because of a reputation for being honest and fair.

Big Brother Comics

1722 J St.
441-6461

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m - 8 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m - 6 p.m.

Big Brother Comics spent its first year in the K Street Mall but made the move to J Street approximately five years ago. The store focuses on graphic novels, Marvel and DC comics, but also has a significant following from customers who play “Magic” – a card game most often compared to the “Dungeons & Dragons” fantasy role-playing game.

Manager Christopher Alvarez said recent superhero films have revitalized the industry and have developed a curiosity for new comic book fans.

At 32, Alvarez said he’s a good representative of their average customer. The comic book business hit a boom in the ’90s, and that generation continues to support the business. Alvarez added that for many young people, it’s a great way to spark an interest in reading.

Alvarez said digital comics are relatively new and have yet to be embraced by comic book enthusiasts, but they can be purchased for e-readers.

“Our customers are interested in a physical product,” Alvarez said, adding that they receive new books each Wednesday, and that brings regular customers in on a weekly basis.

Empire’s Comics Vault
1120 Fulton Ave. Suite K
482-8779

Hours:
Monday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday noon - 5 p.m.

Empire’s Comics Vault, owned by Ben Schwartz, offers an opportunity for local artists and comic book writers to break into the comic book business. In addition to his storefront that sells mostly modern, American comic books, Schwartz operates a small publishing company, ECV Press, that prints comic books created locally. The website offers information about how to become an artist or writer with the company as well as links to free digital comic books.

“He draws together the local community of artists and writers because he’s very passionate about it,” said Ronnie Ledesma, marketing consultant for the store.

Ledesma said Schwartz sets his business apart from others through a podcast about comics, pop culture and comic-related films. Schwartz also hosts the Sacramento Comic Book Creators group every Tuesday at his store, where artists and writers can hone their skills.

The store carries a large stock of back-issue comics and graphic novels, but staff refer most tabletop gamers to Great Escape Games.

Empire’s Comics Vault has an interesting mix of customers. Mick Martin, a Sacramento blues musician, is a frequent customer, and members from the local band Seeker are regulars as well. Film students from Natomas recently covered the relaunch of DC Comics – and it’s all because of the the community Schwartz has created with his business, Ledesma said.

For Ledesma, his favorite comic book series is “Fantastic Four.”

“When I started reading, it was very accessible,” Ledesma said. “ ‘Superman’ was too cheery, and ‘Batman’ was took dark. ‘Fantastic Four’ was just right.”

World’s Best Comics and Toys
2608 Watt Ave.
973-8973

Hours:
Monday and Tuesday noon - 7 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 7 pm.
Thursday through Saturday noon - 7 p.m.
Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

World’s Best Comics and Toys, has been in its current location since 1999. The store has been in two other locations. The original downtown location, opened in 1985.

"I have always liked reading, and I always liked artwork," store owner Dave Downey, 49, said. "This is a combination of the two."

Downey said that when he was an 8-year-old kid reading comic strips, he would get impatient because of the short stories in the strip, which prompted him to transition to reading comic books.

He said that in his store, Marvel and DC comics are the bestsellers. Marvel comic titles such as “Spiderman,” “Fantastic Four” and “The Avengers,” and DC comic titles such as “Batman,” “Superman” and “Wonder Woman,” which are all superhero stories, are some of the titles from the two main comic book publishers.

A lot of people, he said, know the characters of the DC and Marvel comics because of the movies made about them. Despite the popularity of the superhero characters in mainstream movies, people who do not read the comic books are often surprised to find that comic books are still in print, Downey said.

"You do yourself a disservice if you just zero in only on Marvel and DC," Downey said. "You get a lot more variety if you also read independent."

The store also carries comic books from independent publishers such as Image, Darkhorse and IEW, and since they are creator-owned, produces very individualistic styles of art and storytelling, Downey said.

Kathleen Partington, a 26-year-old customer at the store, said she reads mainly titles from DC comics and independent titles from Vertigo and Image. “Wonder Woman” was the first comic book she read. Partington said that she likes the store because it focuses mainly on comic books and keeps back issues of old titles.

"A lot of the unique things laying around here jar people's memories, (and) give people a tinge of nostalgia when they come in," Downey said.

Besides comic books, the store sells Japanese-imported toys, action figures, classic lunch pails and vintage toys.

The oldest of the vintage toys he has for sale is a Felix the Cat toy from the 1920s.

The store also buys used collectible toys and comic books.

He said that although he carries a lot of other items in the store, it focuses on the comic book collecting community. It also carries graphic novels.

Although superhero-themed comic books are the type of stories most of his customers buy, Downey said he also sells action and adventure, western, romance, comedies and horror-themed comic books. He said the “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic is very popular with his younger audience.

"There is something for everybody," he said.

Manga, Japanese comic books, are also available in the store, such as “Naruto” and, “Sailor Moon I.”

He said that although most of his customers are mid-20s to mid-40s men, 50 percent of his customers who buy Manga are women.

The store also offers a comic saver service, where customers make lists of comic book titles they like, and when those titles arrive at the store, they are tagged with the customers’ names and are ready to be picked up every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The store will also order a comic book for the customer if it is not in stock.

Comic book collecting supplies are also available, such as bags, boards, boxes and title dividers.

Jump to part 2

Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival

2009-09-28T05:44:31Z

High energy and fun brought Old Sacramento to life at the Second Annual Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival.

The two-day festival kicked off Saturday at the Benvenuti Performing Arts Center, which featured Angentine tango champions Miriam and Leonardo. Festivities continued Sunday in Old Sacramento. Both days were a celebration of international cultures through ethnic dancing, musical performances, historical storytelling and traditional reenactments of stories and folktales from all over the world.

Despite the sweltering Sacramento heat, close to 5,000 attendees managed to stay cool under the shade of large tents and trees, and with the aid of popsicles and cold drinks sold by street vendors.

Lina Fat, board chair of the festival and executive chef of Fat's Restaurants, hoped for an even bigger turnout this year by the community.

"Sacramento was named one of the most diverse cities in the United States," Fat said. "We really wanted to showcase the diversity, and one way to really bring people together is through the medium of music and dance."

The creation of the largely tented Global Village area brought children and adults together to learn activities relating to the arts, clothing, writing and traditional music. The Village also functioned as an "international market" for artisans and craftspeople, cultural organizations, and non-profit booths including the Crocker Art Museum, and I Am Peace, Japanese Club, and West African Face Painting.

For adventurous and willing participants, free dance workshops were offered. Audience members could learn everything from West African and Middle Eastern to Irish and old-time European folk dance.

First-time attendee, Maria, participated in manasa, an American tribal-style belly dance.

"I had fun!" Maria said. She enjoyed the natural flow and grace of moving her body, and is considering taking lessons.

Jany Saengsawad, The Anime and Japanese Club from Grant Union High School, assisted children and adults make decorative Japanese-style masks. The masks, according to Japanese tradition, were worn on the face for protection and concealment.

"This is our second year here," said club member Jany Saengsawad. "We are here to promote our club and to just have fun."

First-time attendees Jackie Wait and Katie Hansberry both felt the festival had much to offer to the Sacramento community.

"I really liked the merging of different groups and cultures," Hansberry said.

"I appreciate the diversity of the music," Wait said. "It's neat seeing all these groups of dancers. Without coming out to do this, I didn't even know that some of these dances existed." said Wait.

Two large canvas tents housed all the professional musical and dance performances. At the Passenger Station Stage, located in front of the Discovery Museum, a multitude of ethnic dances troupes included Tong Xin Tai Chi Chinese Team, Kennelly School of Irish Dance and Flamenco Del Oro, which presented both Spanish dance and live music.

The Waterfront Stage, showcased a variety of performances, like Jodama African Drum and Dance, Tezaur-Romanian Dance and Bhaskar's Arts Academy with Indian Dance.

Jodama, who only goes by her first name, calls her North Highland troupe "Sacramento's best kept secret." She felt proud to to have her company show off different cultural dances from everywhere in Africa, she said.

"We have a different variety of ethnic dancers from Ghana, West Africa, South Africa, Morocco," she said.

"If you feel the music, don't be afraid to stand up and dance!" one Jodama dance member shouted from stage.

Thundering drums, whooping and beating of sticks harmoniously on stage, brought many audience members to their feet cheering and grooving in tune with the tribal beats.

"Many of the villages in Africa would play their music loud and strong to communicate with other neighboring tribes," said dance member Joyce, speaking from the microphone. Villages would come together for huge celebrations, such as weddings, and communicate their joy through dance, she said.

"We wanted to show the best performers to really celebrate what each rich ethnic group has to offer," Fat said. "We are lucky to have so many people performing right here in Sacramento."

The Second Annual Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival can be found here.

Jodama's African Drum and Dance website can be found here.

Anime convention celebrates fans

2009-08-31T00:58:02Z

Last Saturday, the SacAnime Convention kicked off with the highest number of attendees in its five-year existence.

Anime, the pop culture term for animation that is distinctly Japanese, was celebrated by fans from all over northern California at the Radisson Hotel. Security official Peter Kraus said that in his four years working the convention, he has never seen a crowd this large.

"Last year we were at the Scottish Rite Center, and it moved to this location, which is significantly bigger. It's pretty incredible, the way it's grown each year," Kraus said. "I just asked the folks up front what the official number was. They said they are low-balling it at three and a half to four thousand."

Attendees, many of them decked out in full costume, walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the hallways to get to areas such as the main banquet room, where vendors and their tables were packed in selling items like original art, costumes, wigs and books on how to draw Manga.

Event-goers could access a video room through a black-curtained doorway in the vending room. A giant screen played anime films in a theater-like setting.

The outdoor pavilion featured live music from bands like Tanuki Suit Riot, which as part of its set covered popular video game tunes. Despite the 100 degree weather, fans peppered the area in front of the stage, waving their weapons the air, moving to the music.

The smaller banquet room featured a stage and seating that hosted a variety of panels as well as the cosplay masquerade, a choreographed spectacle that featured dance performances from anime fans dressed in detailed costume.

In the celebrity panel, voice actors Paul Mercier, Liam O'Brien, Roger Craig Smith and Alyson Court fielded questions about anime and manga, their favorite anime couples and how to break into the industry. More than 200 fans piled into the room to hear the established voice actors speak.

The vibe was interactive, and the actors teased and bantered with audience members. Fans with questions held everything from costume weaponry to stuffed animals to notepads up high in order to attract the panel's attention.

"No one's overcompensating for anything, are they?" asked Smith as he fielded a question from a young man waving a giant sword.

When asked if the panel members had crushes on any anime character, O'Brien started describing a certain female character, but he could not immediately recall her name. The audience was quick to help him out and reminded him almost unanimously that the animated girl in question was Rukia Kuchiki from the anime and manga series Bleach.

"That's it, Rukia," O'Brien sad. "She's a classic, girl's got spunk. Maybe a little young for me though."

The panel's anime and manga favorites were not the only subjects touched upon. Mercier spoke on the process of becoming a voice actor. He told the crowd how he got his beginnings in the theater and on shows ike Beverley Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place. Learning how to act, Mercier said, was the way to enter the voice industry.

The convention offered a slew of other activities such as console gaming featuring the latest games from different consoles as well as all-time favorites such as Guitar Hero and Halo 3. There was also a collectible card game tournament, and later in the evening, attendees could play anime bingo.

However, the most popular activity for those in attendance--being able to interact with other fans in costume--was not on the schedule. Hundreds of different characters gathered in small huddles to socialize, meet, take pictures and admire each other's getups.

One foursome, dressed as Decus, Wonderchef, Genis and Zelos from the video game Tales of Symphonia drove 45 minutes from Galt with a life-size, hand-crafted coffin prop in the back of a jeep. The cost of constructing the coffin alone was close to $300, said Derek England, dressed as Decus.

"It was about eight weeks of frustration and a definite group effort. This is our first time at one of these things, so we're starting off with a bang," England said.

England and his friends have been anime fans since childhood, he said. They respond to the fact that in terms of story-lines, anime doesn't have the same constraints as other entertainment industries.

"There's not the restriction of having to produce something that will make money," England said. "In anime, you can make a movie for the story's sake, and it's really imaginative and unique."

First-time convention goers Carlie and Kayla Guadagnolos said their time at the Radisson was one of the highlights of their year.

"We got stopped all the time! So many hugs from different people, everybody recognized us and wanted hugs," said younger sister Kayla.

"We've never been to anything like this before, like we watch this stuff on YouTube," said Carlie. "Best day of my life."

Photo Credit: anthonybento.com

SacAnime Convention

2009-08-26T21:52:17Z

This weekend Sacramento fans can get their fill of everything anime during the 5th annual SacAnime Convention at the Radisson Hotel.

The event has increased in popularity since its inception in 2004. In an e-mail interview director of console gaming and press liaison Jason Dube said last year's event was attended by several thousand people. This year the numbers are expected to be even bigger.

According to SacAnime's website the convention began as an extension of the Sac Con show, an event geared more toward comic books, toys and collectibles. In 2004, the manager of Waldenbooks at the Sunrise Mall store approached founder and convention organizer Dan Houck and his Sac Anime volunteer staff with the idea of holding an anime convention at Sunrise Mall. The team took him up on his offer and SacAnime held its first convention that July.

Since then, the number of bodies attending has increased so much, said Dube, that the convention moved to the Scottish Rite Center in 2007 and finally to this year's largest location, the Radisson.

The event will feature a plethora of different activities throughout the two days and take place throughout the entire hotel, said Dube. Vendors will show their merchandise in the main banquet hall and art from contests such as Manga and Amateur Art will be displayed in the Small Press Zone, which will run along the hallway. Live music from artists Tanuki Suit Riots, Buranden, and akai SKY will entertain attendees in the outside pavilion.

Saturday will have events such as the "Free Hugs: A Guide to Conventions" discussion panel to educate and answer questions of first time attendees. Storyboard artist Brandon McKinney will be leading the "Storyboarding for Animation" panel, which will review the process of creating storyboards for animated television shows and movies.

There will also be special appearances by accomplished voice actors, writers, artists, and directors such as Alyson Court, voice of Lydia Deetz (originally played by Winona Ryder) in the animated adaptation of the 1988 film Beetlejuice and Claire Redfield in the video game Resident Evil 2, Liam O'Brien, Paul Mercier, andRoger Craig Smith, who will be available for discussion in panels such as the "Resident Evil Panel."

An aspect of SacAnime that is particularly well-received is "cosplay," or costumed role play, said Dube. The event will feature two cosplay displays, a masquerade on Saturday and fashion show on Sunday.

Cosplay is not just for performers, according Dube many of the convention's attendees engage in cosplay.

"It’s a remarkable spectacle to see. The most amazing part is it doesn’t have to even be something in anime," Dube said. "I've seen people in costume from Batman, Dr. Who, and Johnny Depp’s character from his 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.' The only thing that seems to be an unspoken rule is to be in costume."

The popularity of cosplay not only contributes to the colorful atmosphere of the convention, but also facilitates a celebratory and social vibe, Dube said.

"People love to interact with each other in costume," Dube said. "I've seen the attendees get very excited to jump into spontaneous dance circles or line dancing."

The Sacramento anime scene itself is an exciting thing to be around, Dube said. The fans' energy and passion is representative of why SacAnime has had such growth over the past five years.

"I would characterize the scene as being on fire, wild and growing every year. The Sacramento anime fans have a spirited passion for the genre; the likes [of which] I have never seen before," Dube said.

And what of those who are new to anime? Is there room for them at SacAnime?

"The community is the most friendly and welcoming," Dube said. "As long as you are there to have fun and make new friends, you're going to have a blast."

For more info, visit SacAnime's website

WHAT: SacAnime Convention
WHERE: Radisson Hotel. 500 Leisure Lane
WHO: all ages

SAT ONLY: $25
SUN ONLY: $15
BOTH DAYS: $30

SHOW HOURS:

SATURDAY:
10 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday morning
Vendors Room:10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Registration opens at 9 a.m.
Anime Viewing Room: TBA
Console Gaming Room: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Cosplay Masquerade: 6 p.m.
3pm Concert with: Buranden, Tanuki Suite Riot and akai SKY
Sac Club Rave w/the Random Dj's: 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

SUNDAY:
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Vendors Room: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Registration opens at 10 a.m.
Anime Viewing Room:10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Console Gaming Room: 10 a.m - 5 p.m.

Photo Credit to Jason Dube