POPCULT ANIME CON 2022 PANELS

 ☆ Guest Panels ☆

 

Legend of Larcy Panels

Cosplay Etiquette
Saturday, 2:30-3:30 PM, Panel Room 2
Cosplay is not Consent. As the cosplay community grows so does the attention on cosplay. Cosplay etiquette is about navigating the public safely and comfortably while also maintaining boundaries. Learn how to become an advocate for yourself and others in the community.

Cosplay Modeling and Photography
Sunday, 2:30-3:30 PM, Panel Room 2
New to cosplay photography? No problem! Cosplay modeling and photography is an intro to finding a photographer, how to prepare for a photoshoot and how to model for the best photo. Epic cosplay photos made easy!

 

Comiku Girls Panels

Asian Influences in Star Wars
Sunday, 4-5 PM, Panel Room 2
Star Wars was George Lucas’ take on the pulpy serials of the early 20th century, but old Hollywood wasn’t George’s only influence. From the Zen of the Force to costumes to possible casting choices, come hear about and discuss the many Asian influences to the look and story of Star Wars. 

Color Theory for Anime Artists
Saturday, 5-6 PM, Workshops
Why does everyone say skin tones ‘have a lot of blue in them’? Red and blue make purple… but did you know red and green can make brick red? More than just a color wheel, this panel will talk about how to use color to help define a focal point in a piece using contrast and tone and how to use colors to create harmony (or dissonance) in a piece. 

Introduction to Ball Jointed Dolls
Saturday 1-2 PM, Panel Room 2
Either unbelievably beautiful, or unbelievably creepy (and sometimes both at once), increasingly, you see these dolls at conventions, but may not know much about them. This panel is an introduction to BJDs. We will talk about some of the different types of ball jointed dolls, where you can get them, and how you can customize the dolls to make them your own.

Introduction to J-Rock
Saturday, 6:30-7:30 PM, Panel Room 2
An introduction to some of the big names in Japanese rock music. We will discuss and watch promotional videos and interviews from artists such as Gackt, L’arc en Ciel, Buck-tick, Pierrot, Penicillin, Malice Mizer, and more. Li Izumi has been interested in, and following the rock scene from Japan for more years than we will admit.

Japanese Tea Ceremony
Sunday, 11:30-12:30, Panel Room 2
The Japanese Tea Ceremony panel is a demonstration of the Ryakubon ceremony, a traditional Japanese thin tea ceremony. The panel will also include a discussion on the history of tea in Japan, and the origins of the ceremony, its symbolism, and its roots in Zen. Li Izumi studied the tea ceremony in Akita, Japan and has been hosting the Japanese Tea Ceremony panel with Akiko at various conventions since 2004. 

Kimono & Yukata
Saturday, 11:30 AM -12:30 PM, Panel Room 1
AND Sunday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 1
A demonstration of how to properly put on Kimono and Yukata, including how to tie the obi. In addition, we will discuss the differences between Kimono and Yukata and Japanese ideals of beauty. We will talk about how to make your own Yukata, including where to find patterns and fabric choices. Li Izumi studied how to properly put on a Kimono (a nearly hour long process) in Akita, Japan. Akiko Meigetsu and Li Izumi have sewn their own Yukata and Kimono.

 

Misa on Wheels Panels

Bullying in the Cosplay Community
Saturday, 3-4 PM, Panel Room 1
This panel will discuss the unfortunate reality of bullying in the cosplay community but also what YOU can do to stop this negativity in its tracks.

Cat-Ears & Crutches: Disability in Pop Culture
Sunday, 1-2 PM, Panel Room 2
This panel discusses the presence of disability and characters with disabilities in pop culture. We will look at a wide variety of examples and the impact these characters have, not only on their own stories, but on pop culture as a whole.

Thrifty Cosplay – Cosplaying on a Budget
Saturday, 1-2 PM, Panel Room 1
This panel will explore tips and tricks to cosplaying on a budget. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to have an amazing cosplay!

☆ Fan Panels ☆

 

1998: Forging the Anime Spear to Pierce the West By Jason “critHITjace” Amherst
Sunday, 4-5 PM, Panel Room 4
1998. That year, a great number of shows debuted in Japan and little did we know that a tsunami of pop culture was about to wash over America. Cowboy Bebop, Cardcaptor Sakura, Outlaw Star and so much more. Learn about the shows that would define a generation of anime fans outside of Japan and the impact they made on the world.

AMV 101 By Wendy Mihail
Sunday, 11:30 AM – 1 PM , Workshops
Do you wanna make AMVs? Come to this panel to get instructions for beginner to intermediate levels. Learn the tools &  techniques to make awesome music videos to your fave shows!

Anime Openings That SLAP! By Weeb Palace
Sunday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 1
Gurenge from Demon Slayer? COLORS from Code Geass? Unravel from Tokyo Ghoul? All SLAP! Come join us as we sing and dance along to the best of the best anime openings!

Back In My Day… By Kelly & Fluke of Fate
Saturday, 6-7:30, Panel Room 3
From buying VHS bootleg anime subs to braving the Star Wars AOL Chatrooms, to Party City cosplay wigs and yaoi paddles– whether you want a nostalgic trip down memory lane or you’re a young fan wanting to learn your fandom lore, come join some 30-Something Otaku​​™ as we reflect on the fandom days of old! 

Branching Storylines: The Works of Kotaro Uchikoshi (18+) By Weeb Palace
Saturday, 10-11 PM, Panel Room 3
Get immersed in the overarching themes, methods of story writing, and branching timelines that are present throughout the works of Kotaro Uchikoshi. Join us as we outline his life and best works from the Infinity series to the recently released AI: The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative!

Can A Good Scene Go Bad? By Raul Montero
Sunday, 1:30-2:30 PM, Panel Room 3
Have you ever seen something in a terrible movie that you never could forget? What makes one scene a better bad than another bad? This panel helps break it down via tiered systems and decide if a scene may be bad, but it doesn’t mean it’s a BAD scene.

Chotto Motto! By Dai Kerien
Saturday, 4:30-5:30, Panel Room 3
Welcome to “Chotto Motto!” An audience participation game that requires no prior knowledge to play. Based on the game ‘Wavelength’ but with a weeb twist! Get ready for wacky debates such as “Is Deku (BNHA) the biggest crybaby in anime?” “Is Pikachu an overrated mascot?” “Is Sora (Kingdom Hearts) a Disney Princess?” Correct answers don’t matter, it’s all about perspective!

Drawing Your Idol OC By Taytime Cosplay
Sunday 10-11 AM, Workshop
Sit back and relax as we sit and draw our own idol characters together while listening to some of our favorite anime idol songs! 

Design a Button Workshop! By FlukeofFate
Sunday, 3:30-4:30 PM, Workshops
Create a button for your personal ita bag! Everyone gets a blank button, while supplies last! 

Duel Monsters With Spellbound By Spellbound Game Shop
Sunday 1:30-3 PM, Workshops
Looking for a quick duel? Or maybe you want to enter a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament? Connect with other duelists, trade cards, or even promote your social medias! This is where you want to be if you’re a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh! 

Gaming & Content Creation By Derwin L Rose
Sunday, 2:30-3:30 PM, Panel Room 4
Learn how to create gaming videos with cool elements and concepts with core details. We’ll go over gaming videos as well as mobile streaming on Twitch and YouTube and the things that you will need to get started! We’ll also have a small  Dragon Ball FighterZ competition where the winner will get a prize! Don’t miss out on this mega bottle of fun.

Genderbending Makeup: How to Snatch Your Cheekbones and More By yukigane
Sunday, 1-2 PM, Panel Room 4
Have you ever wanted to crossplay or do drag? Simply looking to express your identity in a new way through makeup? Curious as to how you can create a gender-neutral canvas? Join us as we discuss makeup application for the gender-bending cosplayer. These helpful techniques will provide a solid foundation for those looking to hone their makeup skills! 

History of Tokusatsu By Jason “critHITjace” Amherst
Saturday,  7:30-8:30 PM, Panel Room 4
Tokusatsu: The word translates to “special effects” and is a style of filmmaking with a lengthy history. More recently the tropes of this genre have become the subject of many anime like “Love After World Domination” or even based on the source material like “SSSS Gridman” and “Fuuto P.I.” Learn about the shows and movies that have inspired pop culture in Japan and abroad including Godzilla, Ultraman, Kamen Rider and Super Sentai/Power Rangers.

Horror In Anime By Misty Pendragon
Saturday, 12-1 PM, Panel Room 3
Horror is very prominent in anime. I am going to focus on classics like Vampire Hunter D, Wicked City, Blood the Last Vampire, Hellsing, to more modern anime like Hellsing Ultimate, Parasite, and more.

Horror of Today By Misty Pendragon
Saturday, 4-5 PM, Panel Room 4
Join us as we chat about current horror movies and TV, such as Sandman and What We Do In the Shadows! 

How To Group Cosplay By Weeb Palace
Saturday, 3-4 PM, Panel Room 3
Join us as we discuss tips and tricks to successfully pull off that 9 person (or larger!) group cosplay plan!

How to Run an Idol Group! By Taytime Cosplay
Saturday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 1
This panel will cover the basics of how to effectively run an idol cosplay dance group. We will go over everything from starting the group, scouting, to scheduling, conflict resolution, budgeting, and more!

How to Write Fanfiction By The Daft Hatter
Sunday, 5-6 PM, Workshops
So you ship Kagome and Sesshomaru? Or maybe Kakashi and Jiraya go on an adventure to save a princess. Wait, don’t tell me! You want a crossover between Phineas and Ferb with Batman and Robin! Whatever your idea is, let’s come workshop it while I take you through writing fanfiction for all skill levels!

Idol Dance Workshop! By ThisandThatCosplay
Saturday, 1-2 PM, Panel Room 4
Do you love watching or performing in Idol Showcases? If you do, this workshop is the one for you! Join Eliora from ThisandThatCosplay as we learn a short dance routine together, no prior dance experience necessary!

I Forgot My Hat… Quickly, to the CVS!  By The Daft Hatter
Saturday, 3-4 PM, Workshops
Teams, grab your… office supplies? Inspired by a friend forgetting their Waluigi hat at AB this year, you and your team will have 10 minutes per round to craft a cosplay out of whatever you can find in your team’s box. Will it be printer paper and markers or craft foam and sewing thread? Come battle it out for fame, glory, and prizes!

Improv Lessons for Cosplay Events By Jason “critHITjace” Amherst
Saturday, 2:30-3:30 PM, Panel Room 4
A panel that goes over the basics of your typical cosplay events you see at most cons: dating game, deathmatch and human chess, and how improv plays a big role in performing at them. Not only will you learn the flow of how these events run, you’ll also learn improv basics and play improv games too.

Intro to Foamsmithing for Props and Armor By Jo Fate
Sunday, 12-1 Panel Room 3
EVA foam is a great material for making props and armor that’s lightweight, durable, and beginner friendly. This panel will review how foam is used in projects and the basic techniques used and tools needed for crafting with it. Examples will be shown, and bring your questions for a Q&A!

Introduction to Voiceover By Tristan Stone
Saturday 1-2:30 PM, Workshops
Voiceover is a part of our everyday lives, you probably just don’t realize it. I’m frequently asked “How did you get into voice acting?”. Well, I’m here to help! I started my voice acting journey 3 years ago and I have loved every second of it. We’ll discuss everything you need to get started, from proper equipment, to training, where to find work, and more. Voiceover is all about the community and networking, so I’ll be answering your questions and hopefully getting you started on your voiceover journey as well.

Kitties & Tiddies (18+) By BLACKSTONE, MoMo, and HopisMyHero Cosplay
Sunday, 5-6 PM, Panel Room 1
We did this as a “joke” panel, but for some strange reason, it’s back for its 5th time! It’s your favorite staff members talking about what they love… Kitties and Tiddies. Join us for another year of shenanigans!

Old School Anime 101 Presented by Kelly & FlukeofFate
Saturday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 3
If you’re new to the world of anime, you may have missed some great anime classics that should be on the top of your streaming queue! Come reminisce with some old school otaku, back from a time before the word “weeaboo” had ever been uttered, and find some great new-to-you anime to check out! It’ll feel like sitting down at 4 PM after school to turn on Cartoon Network and watch Toonami. 

Otaku Mad Libs Presented by HopismyHero
Saturday, 11:30-12:30, Panel Room 2
Come join the fun as we fill-in-the-blanks and create some memorable stories that may or may not be rooted in reality. This event is meant to be highly interactive so come with your favorite con-related nouns and adjectives! Bonus point if you remember what an adverb is!

Redpool Hypnosis After Dark (18+) By Colin Mitchell
Saturday, 8-9:30 PM, Panel Room 2
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be hypnotized? Ever wonder if you CAN be hypnotized? If you’ve answered yes, this is the panel for you!

Rubik’s Cubes, Or How I Stop Stressing And Learned To Solve By Raul Montero
Saturday, 11AM-12PM, Workshops
Did you ever want to learn to solve a Rubik’s cube, but found it too complicated? Do you just get mad and want to either shatter the cube or just swap the stickers to save time and your own frustration? Well, with these very simple step-by-step instructions, you’ll finally cross that off your list by the end of the panel! 

So You Want to be a VTuber By LadyManaCos and CinnamonViper
Sunday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 3
Have you ever wondered what it takes to start VTubing? Worried about how expensive it might be? Streaming might not be for you? Well, you can start for free with a TikTok account, or work your way up to streams and go big!

So You Want to Survive a Convention!? By Ocean Man Cosplays
Saturday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 2
Welcome to the con scene!!!  There is a LOT to do and a LOT to know! Join veteran cosplayer Ocean Man Cosplays as he provides advice on surviving a convention! Details covered will include selecting a con, food, hotel + transportation, budgeting, cosplay, and con events. There will be a short Q+A session in which attendees can ask any questions that they’ve been dying to know about conventions. 

Spider-Man (2002), a Greek Tragedy (18+)  By ​​Mossypants
Saturday, 6:30-7:30 PM, Panel Room 2
Since making his comic debut in 1962, Spider-Man has appeared in countless comics, award winning video games, and even an ill-fated Broadway musical. What makes Spider-Man such an enduring character? Is it his wit? His charm? His butt? Or is it the fact that his origin story follows the same path as a Greek Tragedy? Join an overly excited English major on lecture based presentation about masks, fate, betrayal, and Willem Dafoe’s face. 

Symbolism & Trauma in Tokyo Ghoul By Weeb Palace
Saturday, 1:30-2:30 PM, Panel Room 3
Over 10 years after the release of its first manga chapter, Tokyo Ghoul continues to enthrall readers and viewers alike with its complex portrayal of trauma through characters and symbolism. Join us for a review of some of the most striking and memorable psychological experiences from this paramount series. This panel will contain spoilers.

Taking the Stage: A Beginner’s Guide to Idol Dance By Kirameku Melody
Saturday, 11:30-12:30 Panel Room 4
Are you dazzled by the choreography from idol franchises such as Love Live, Vocaloid, Revue Starlight, Million Live, and more? Of course you are! If you’re a fan of idols, this crash course on idol dances 101 is for you! Hosted by members of Kirameku Melody, a New England-based idol dance group, this panel will help you get started in the wonderful world of real-life idol dancing, including tips, tricks, and advice from experienced idols! 

The Black Butler Orientalism Iceberg By Weeb Palace
Sunday, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM, Panel Room 4
What is Orientalism, and how does it impact our love of anime? How can we view the content we love through a lens that both appreciates and critiques stereotypes and tropes? In this deep-dive, we’ll be answering these questions and more, using our favorite characters from Black Butler as examples. It’s bound to be one hell of a panel!  

Theme Song Bingo 4: The Return By Super Fancom Podcast
Saturday, 6:30-7:30, Panel Room 1
It’s the return of Theme Song Bingo! Everyone gets a bingo card and theme songs from anime, TV, and video games will play. Winners get prizes!

The Sultry, The Bad, The My Immortal 18+ Fanfiction Reading By The Daft Hatter
Saturday, 8-9 PM, Panel Room 3
The legendary fanfiction My Immortal rears its ugly head again with some friends in tow. Come on by and join us for an hour of reading the worst fanfiction I could find read by you the audience! (If in cosplay, reading in character is encouraged!)

This Panel Is No Longer Available By Super Fancom Podcast
Sunday, 10-11 AM, Panel Room 4
This panel is only found in Canada and Japan… and maybe eBay! A fun look at discontinued foods and drinks from the late 80s to early 2000s.

Um, Actually (PopCult Edition) By Argenys Maria
Saturday 4-5 PM, Panel Room 2
Introducing a game show of fandom minutiae one-upmanship, where nerds do what nerds do best: flaunt encyclopedic nerd knowledge at Millennium Falcon nerd-speed.

What are Virtual Idols? By LadyManaCos and CinnamonViper
Sunday, 3-4 PM, Panel Room 3
What are VTubers, and what is that anime girl doing on my TikTok For You page? There are so many idols to choose from! Where do I start? Welcome down the virtual rabbit hole.

Who’s The Strongest Main Character In Shonen Anime?  By Derwin L Rose, Desperado Dan & Dragon Senpai
Saturday, 5:30-6:30, Panel Room 4

WHAT UP GAMERS? Derwin L Rose here to lay down the law of Dragon Ball, joined by Desperado Dan! I know what you’re going to say: that Dragon Ball is a MID anime. Well here’s where you’re wrong: without Dragon Ball, there would be no Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, BeyBlade or any other anime with a main character that wears an Orange and Blue jumpsuit! We will discuss our opinions on who we think is the strongest. This will be a heated debate you don’t want to miss!

Who’s Your Anime Daddy? 18+ By Misbehayden Cosplay
Sunday, 5-6:30 PM, Panel Room 3
An in-depth look at the beloved character archetype of ‘Daddy’ and appreciating the wide variety of men (and women) who fill this role.