Geek of Oz

Click to enlarge Chris:  SMASH, Rosehill's anime answer to Sydney's Supanova, has come and gone. And what a convention it was! Those looking for cosplay, anime-themed karaoke and a graffiti wall with scribbles from participants need look no further than SMASH! It's a mega-super-hyper-kawaii-awesome con that scratches the manga and anime itches, and even a couple of itches you never knew you had. For instance, I got my photo taken with Evangelion Unit 02, which is something I never knew I wanted until I stood beside the cosplayer and smiled like a dork as Christof took my photo. Never too old, I say. The con this year was packed to the rafters with people, purchases and purveyors of fine artwork; it's easily one of the fullest conventions I've ever visited outside of San Diego, which is heartening to see especially in somewhere a little off the beaten track as Rosehill. Inside and outside the main event I witnessed a cornucopia of cosplay an...

At last weeks Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH) , I had the chance to speak with Tom from HobbyCo who filled us in on what's what in the world of GunPla. GunPla is a contraction or portmanteau of Gun dam Pla stic Model and is quite often given to any anime related plastic model kit. Following the release of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series in 1979 came a line of plastic model kits in 1980. Since its inception there have been hundreds of kits released of nearly every mecha design in varying sizes and levels of detail. Diving into the world of GunPla can be daunting so I had a chat with Tom to tell us where to start.

The Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH!) is Sydney's ultimate day of Japanese pop culture and otaku lunacy. The most obvious and endearing factors into the success of SMASH is that it is a con for fans, by fans - which is probably why it is so much fun!  Today I had the pleasure of speaking to Thomas Munro, the President of SMASH about his geeky habits as well as the past, present and future of SMASH!

Just when you thought that SMASH was well and truly done, it is my honour to bring to you my interview with Shinichi "Nabeshin" Watanabe. The director of Excel Saga, Gravitation: Lyrics of Love, The Wallflower and Puni Puni Poemi, he is the red jacketed, afro haired firecracker of the Japanese animation scene. Looking like an extra from Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy", he (and his interpreter) took the time to have a quick chat to me while in Sydney for SMASH.