It’s time to feature the cosplay portion of last Saturday’s Teen Anime Fest which was hosted by the Quad City Public Libraries and the Figge Art Museum.  First up we have cosplay designer and workshop instructor, Jenna.  She was kind enough to offer up her experience and fascinating expertise when it comes to all things cosplay.  Jenna provided her audience with great instructions on mask making, sewing skills, costume design, and practical tips for cosplaying in general.  A huge thank you goes out to Jenna for her enthusiastic presentation, as well as bringing in some of her spectacular creations to pass around.  Jenna attends high school in Bettendorf and got started making masks thanks to a knowledgeable and inspiring art teacher.

After the cosplay workshop, supplies such as furry material, foam sheets, felt, socks, gloves, buttons and glue guns were provided for teens to go wild with.  A few made furry gloves with claws and this next picture shows a teen participant who was able to finish his creation in time to parade it through the cosplay fashion show.  Nice work.

After the cosplay fashion show it was time to choose the winners.  Yet, it wasn’t as easy as you might think.  With over 30 teens participating in the cosplay event we ended up seeing more than a few stellar ensembles.  In order to determine the winner of the Teens’ Choice Award we decided that it would be best to let the audience clap for their favorites and whoever received the loudest applause would win.  Well, we narrowed it down to two finalists and had to have a clap-off to try and determine the real winner.  Turns out that even the tie breaker was too close to call.  So, instead of giving out a Teens’ Choice Award and a Librarians’ Choice Award, we spontaneously went with two Teens’ Choice Awards.  Too fun!  Enjoy these pics of the winners who each received $25 gift cards to Hobby Lobby.  Thanks to everyone for participating.

In the top picture, one award winner is the teen on the left with the freshly dyed green hair.  Mello Peterson did a spot on cosplay of Saria from Legend of Zelda.  In the bottom picture, the other award winner is the girl crouching in front.  She left before we could get her name Congratulations to the winners!!

Posted under Libraries Together

The Teen Anime Fest at the Figge was such a great time!  Thanks to those of you who were able to make it to the event on Saturday.  Over 100 people showed up and nearly all of them were teens.  The partnership between the Quad City Public Libraries and the Figge Art Museum was a perfect match for the many teen anime and manga lovers in the area.  They sure seemed to enjoy themselves.  We had 67 art submissions on display for the Manga Art Show.  Way to go teens!!  You all did a really fantastic job!

We decided to break the art contest up into two age brackets, 12-14 yr. olds & 15-18 yr. olds.  Local professional artist, Heidi Hernandez, judged the contest and selected one grand prize winner in each age group.  They were then awarded $25 gift cards to Hobby Lobby.  Five honorable mentions were also chosen in each age group and recipients of those received a tasty Pocky prize.  Also, all of the artists were awarded an official certificate of artistic excellence for participating in the contest.  Following are pictures of the winning artwork:

Age Division: 12-14

Best In Show:  Portrait of A Boy - Clayton Summers

Honorable Mention: Goddess - Emily Stogdill

Honorable Mention: Yin & Yang - Casey Albee

Honorable Mention: Flawed Design - Deme Echelbarger

Honorable Mention: Kawii Kitty Twins - Bailey Hager

Honorable Mention: Dream Wielder - Jacob Joslyn

Age Division 15-18

Best In Show: Guardian - Christopher Mbakwe

Honorable Mention: Yuki - Mimzy Storm

Honorable Mention: The Gang’s All Here - Ruth Sanders

Honorable Mention: Mamimi - Jacob Burns

Honorable Mention: Dangerous Beauty - Sari Moore

Honorable Mention: Believe - Basilia Koster

Stay tuned to tomorrow’s post when we revisit the cosplay portions of the Anime Fest.  Again, great job everyone!  Don’t forget to pick up your artwork at the library that you submitted it to.  Special thanks to local artist, Heidi Hernandez, and, of course, the Figge Art Museum for hosting the event…thank you!

Posted under Libraries Together

The Quad City area public libraries and the Figge Art Museum have teamed up to offer the area’s first anime convention for teens.  The jam-packed event will take place at the Figge on Saturday, October 18th, from 12-4:30.  If you’re a fan of anime and manga, you won’t want to miss out on this unique program.  The lineup of events includes an art show and reception, tea tasting, cosplay and face painting stations, comic book/graphic novel swap, screening of Spirited Away, graphic novel workshop with a local professional artist, cosplay fashion show, and a fun awards ceremony to announce the art contest/cosplay fashion show winners.  There will also be Anime vendors on site, too.  Surely, there’ll be something for everyone at this event!  Admission for the day is just $5 and there is no registration required.

Stay tuned to the blog for more info as the event approaches.  Or feel free to contact the teen representatives at your local public library for more details.  You can always call DPL’s general line @ 563-326-7893, too.

Prior to the anime event, various public libraries will be holding a manga art contest.  Entries will be on display at the Figge the day of the Anime Fest.  Winners will be selected by a professional artist and announced at the awards ceremony.  Check out tomorrow’s post for the specifics on the art contest and submitting entries.

Posted under Libraries Together, announcement

Anime Fest &
Manga Art Show
presented by the
QC Libraries & The Figge Art Museum
Saturday
October 18th
12:00-4:30
@ the Figge
$5 admission
No Registration Required

The Quad City area public libraries and the Figge Art Museum have teamed up to offer the area libraries’ first anime convention for teens. The jam-packed event will take place at the Figge on Saturday, October 18th, from 12-4:30.
More Anime & Manga Details

Posted under anime club, announcement

It’s time! Our Cosplay Fashion Runway is right around the corner. When is it? Well here you go:

Cosplay Fashion Runway
CANCELED

Cosplay is a hobby where people create handmade costumes that celebrate their favorite characters from anime, manga, television, film and comic books. Here are a few photos with examples of cosplay in action:

Posted under announcement

Death Note The Movie Will be playing at Showcase Cinemas Davenport 53 May 20th and 21st at 7:30pm. For more information go here or call Showcase Cinemas at (563) 441-0242.

This presentation is from fathomevents.com. The following description of Death Note is from their website:

DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action-mystery manga, and follows the story of Light Yagami, an ace student who finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective “L” to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be on the side of justice, and the two match wits as they attempt to prove which one of them is “good” and which one of them is “evil.”

And be sure to check out our Death Note manga collection at the Bettendorf Public Library!

Posted under announcement

Anime Club
This Thursday (April 3rd 2008)
3:30 - 5

Don’t forget to join us this Thursday for Anime Club! We will be watching Burst Angel Vol. 1. As always we have an open door policy so make it when you can!

Burst Angel follows the exploits of Jo, Sei, Amy, and Meg as they try to survive in an apocalyptic Tokyo where everyone carries guns and uses them with lethal force. There seems to be plenty of action in this one so DON”T MISS IT!

Burst Angel is rated TV14

Here is the opening theme as a test taste:

Posted under anime club, announcement