Due to the Sars-Cov-19 Pandemic that ripped through the world in 2020, PopCult Anime’s fifth anniversary con was formally cancelled on June 9th, after an important announcement from the Massachusetts government. With less than 10 weeks between cancellation and the scheduled convention, our staff volunteered countless hours to put together a virtual convention including Panels, Game Shows, Watch Parties, Twitch Streams, Virtual Vending, a Masquerade, Idol Show, and even a Dance! All of this was free to join from the comfort and safety of anyone’s own living room and attendees hailed from Massachusetts all the way to Australia! As an event that tries to put community first, it was an honor to host even a small event to help maintain some sense of normalcy and bring entertainment to those feeling isolated in the wake of Covid-19. Here are some of the events that were held on Saturday August 15-16, 2020 at PopCult Virtual Con!
PANELS
Manga Recommendations
Presented by HopismyHero
August 15th 11am-12pm via DISCORD
HopismyHero, resident PopCult Manga Librarian, shares some personal manga recs for you to check out!
Con Chair Q&A
Presented by Hemlock Inyx
August 15th 12pm-1pm via DISCORD
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a Con Chair, or anything about PopCult, join our con chair for a Q&A session, featuring the adorable foster kittens Chantilly & Lace!
Otaku MadLibs
Presented by HopismyHero
August 15th 1pm-2pm via DISCORD
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!
Ask a Cosplayer
Presented by Chelle Belle, Ciao Birdie, & HanniBanani Cosplay
August 15th 2pm-3pm via DISCORD
Got questions? We’ve put together a panel of experienced cosplayers to answer them! From sewing to social media, our panelists have a wide variety of skills and knowledge. Curious about competitions? Wondering about worbla? Come and ask!
EVA Foam Basics for for Props & Armor
Presented by Jo Fate
August 15th 3pm-4pm via DISCORD
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!
Intro to Josei
Presented by HopismyHero
August 15th 4pm-5pm via DISCORD
HopismyHero introduces the genre and recommends titles, from the classic to the contemporary.
Old School Anime 101
Presented by Kelly
August 15th 5pm-6pm via DISCORD
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.
How to Write Fanfiction
Presented by The Daft Hatter
August 15th 6pm-7pm via DISCORD
Back again and about time too, to teach you the first rule of writing fanfiction: Don’t rush and enjoy yourself there is no wrong way to write a story. Come by for a chill hour of learning what differentiates the writers from us fanfic creators!
VIRTUAL DEAL OR NO DEAL
Presented by PCAC Game Shows
August 16th 12-1pm via TWITCH
16 cases, 2 contestants, and a chance to win some awesome prizes! Contestants eliminate potential cases from the board and ultimately end up choosing a case or accepting an offer from the mysterious banker. Prizes include movies to action figures and even a free weekend pass to Popcult 2021!
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now to for a chance to play!
Sign ups end on midnight on Tuesday, August 11th.
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Saturday, August 15th, 5pm-7pm
Live-Streaming on Discord
Join official convention artist, OneLovelySin, as she draws on live-stream and moderates an open chat about creating original characters. Be prepared to show off your own OC art as Sin loves to see others’ work. She also loves gift art and will be drawing black&white chibi art for viewers at random throughout the stream. One extra lucky viewer may even get a chibi done in color – wow! So come hang out with this true master at play, only at PopCult Anime Con.
Sin D’Angelo is a Western Massachusetts-based artist specializing in original work, anime/manga and traditional-styled caricatures and web comics. After years of freelance work as a caricature artist, she was discovered by Hemlock Inyx and became the official artist for PopCult Anime in 2006. Soon after, Sin branched out to form Plastic Love Studios and later re-emerged as a solo artist known as “OneLovelySin.” Sin has toured many Northeastern US conventions through the years, and appeared as an industry guest at ConnectiCon and Another Anime Convention. As Official Artist of PopCult Anime Con, she helped develop our mascot designs and created all of the promotional art for PopCult Anime Con. We thank Sin for sharing her incredible talents with us, her hard work and dedication to PopCult Anime, and our years of precious friendship.
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Join us Saturday, August 15 @ 6pm*
on Twitch & Google Hangouts for
PopCult Anime Con’s Virtual Masquerade!
Cosplaying contestants vie for one of six prestigious PCAC Masquerade Ribbons and titles.
Audience participation! Cosplay techniques! Community building! Shenanigans!
PopCult Anime Con Virtual Masquerade Rules & Regulations
- The online application form must be submitted by August 12th, and photos submitted within 24 hours of signup.
- If accepted, you will receive an email with more information shortly after the August 12th cutoff date.
- You cannot enter multiple costumes or multiple times.
- Contestants are required to check into the online meeting (links will be provided) one hour before the contest starts. You must be in your cosplay for the duration of the live stream.
- You cannot compete if you are on PopCult Anime Con staff.
- Your photos and costume must be PG-13.
- Due to the online nature of this event, you must be 18 or older to enter.
Cosplay Source Rules
- Source material for cosplays can come from anime, manga, video games, comics, graphic novels, movies, or tv shows.
- If you wish to submit a costume based on fan art etc. then please contact popcultmasquerade@gmail.com. The masquerade department reserves the right to deny eligibility.
- Cosplays must follow the PopCult Anime Con dress code.
- If the costume has previously won a major award (i.e. placing or Best in Show) at any event, it will not be accepted into the masquerade.
Options for Entering the Masquerade
Process/Craftsmanship: you ONLY want to be judged on the construction and accuracy of your cosplay.
Photo: you ONLY want to be judged on your photos and presentation as the character.
Process/Craftsmanship Rules
- Only one person per entry please.
- Please provide a description and photos detailing the process in making your costume. You can send it via email, or if you have a link to, for example, a google slides document, we can accept that too. Failure to provide material before the August 12th deadline will cause disqualification.
- Examples of things to include are any new techniques you learned while making this particular costume. What element do you think is the best? What were some unexpected challenges? Close up photography of details. Images that portray all angles of your costume. At least a front, back and side view.
- Please include some Work In Progress photos! We want to see YOU making the cosplay!
- Please limit the amount of images to 20 maximum.
- This category will go before a panel of judges and evaluated before the event. The judges will be asking specific questions of the contestants during the livestream.
Photo Contest Rules
- If you are entering as a group, one person must be designated spokesperson. Only one attendant per entry will be allowed for the live streaming event.
- There will be two parts to the photo contest: a vote from the judges, and vote from the virtual attendees.
- Please provide a description and photos of your costume. Failure to provide material before the August 12th deadline will cause disqualification.
- There is a maximum limit of 6 photos for the photo contest.
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PopCult Anime Con Proudly Presents
In Affiliation with Susume→Paradise
.｡༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿ A VIRTUAL IDOL FESTIVAL ✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡
Saturday, August 15th, 8pm
Live-Streaming on Twitch
✧･ﾟ:* Featuring Performances By *:･ﾟ✧
Shiny Dreamers
Instagram / Facebook
Mahou Dreamers
Instagram
Pikari Starlight
Instagram
Queen’s Future Idols
Instagram
First Star Idols
Instagram
Nine Hearts NE
Instagram
Candymon
Instagram / TikTok
Aurora
Instagram / YouTube
Miracle Beat
Instagram
✧･ﾟ:* and…Susume→Paradise! *:･ﾟ✧
Susume Paradise is a cosplay dance group stylized after the popular Japanese media, Love Live! While their reasons for joining may differ, the group believes in a single goal: to perform their best, work their hardest, and be the best μ’s they can be together. Notable accomplishments include winning First Place Masquerade, Novice Division, Another Anime Con 2017 and Best Performance, Advanced Division, PopCult Anime Con 2018, and returning to PopCult Anime in 2019 as guest performers and hosts of the 2019 Idol Festival. INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE
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Virtual Dance with DJ LinkRatchet
Saturday, August 15th, 10pm-12am
Live-Streaming on Twitch
Turn the lights off and grab some leftover glow sticks from the 4th of July – PopCult Anime Con is bringing the nightlife to you, right in the comfort and safety of your own home! DJ LInkRatchet brings the beats with a mix of pop-culture, anime and gaming inspired music and will be taking requests via Twitch. Stay awhile and you might find yourself rewarded with a special winning door prize!
Tune in and enjoy the tunes! Come jam in your pajamas!
It’s always popping at PopCult Anime Con!
DJ LinkRatchet is a local deejay who specializes in mixing live and humorous improvising. Past gigs include the Boston Cosplay Picnic, Cosplay Masquerade Ball, and of course PopCult Anime Con!
Off the dance floor, he’s also a Twitch Affiliate streamer!
Follow on: TWITCH / FACEBOOK
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Stream games with PCAC Staff members on their personal Twitch channels!
Twitch @DragonoidGaming
Staff: Derwin, Advertising
12pm-1pm
Twitch @VirtualPlay
Staff: Katie, Karaoke
1pm-5pm, 7pm-10pm
Twitch @Vonlocke
Staff: Vincent, Video Games
5pm-6pm
Twitch @BlackstoneV1
Staff: DL, Guest Relations
11pm-2am
Twitch @KingoftheCon88
Staff: Matt, Game Shows
12pm-1pm Sunday
(Deal or No Deal)
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