Summer 2009 anime events in SoCal

Anime Expo is coming soon (July 2-5). If you'll be attending, please feel free to join my colleagues Mikhail Koulikov, Alex Leavitt, and I for the follow panels we're hosting:

Friday, July 3
10:30 a.m.
Live Programming 3
Title: Introduction to Anime/Manga Studies
Description: The Anime and Manga Research Circle is an international community of scholars of Japanese popular culture and its reception worldwide. The AMRC has hosted similar panels at Anime Expo several times in the past, and this year, looks to return with a talk that will introduce the concept of serious academic study of anime and manga, provide tips on researching and writing school-level and college-level papers, introduce a guide to sources and resources, and share our members' own experiences as beginning and advanced anime/manga scholars

Saturday, July 4
6 p.m.
Live Programming 2
Title: Anime and Manga in Academia
Description: Building on the earlier 'Introduction to anime/manga studies' session, this panel is aimed at students at the undergraduate level and above who are already seriously pursuing the study of Japanese popular culture. The panel will provide a brief history of anime/manga studies, introduce the prominent figures in the field, and provide advice on finding programs and courses to pursue, writing thesis papers and dissertations, and even publishing anime/manga research in established academic journals.

Edit (7/3/09): Due to illness, I won't be attending Anime Expo (and the above-listed panels) this year. Sorry about that.

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In other news, Hayao Miyazaki will be appearing at a tribute event (in his honor) at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, hosted by John Lasseter. The event will be on Tuesday, July 28th, at 7:30 p.m. Further information, including details on how to get tickets, can be found here: Summer of Anime Heats Up at Academy (press release)

The Academy is also currently hosting the "ANIME! High Art – Pop Culture" exhibit, running until August 23rd. I happen to have a small handful of items on display there (loaned to the exhibit) and got to attend the opening reception in May. I also contributed an article on Gainax and otaku culture to the exhibit's program book--which might be on sale at the gallery (if they're not sold out yet). The exhibit is definitely worth a look if you're in the area. Best of all, it's completely free to visit!

More info here: ANIME! High Art – Pop Culture