On 26th September 2011, a press conference of the next big event in Asia was held in the AKB48 Official Cafe Singapore. 

The conference had confirmed all the performing artists of I LOVE ANISONG concert and confirmed Cool Japan Forum speakers. 

Firstly, I would like to thank our readers that had follow my twitter and tumblr for the first hand news update. 

Lets me summarize what is installed for fans this year. 

COOL JAPAN FORUM

The press conference started with Mr Haruhiko Miyano, Anime Festival Asia 2011 Festival Director with regards to the Cool Japan Forum.
This year focus will be on Music, Novels, Anime, Digital contents. The secrets of the strengths of Japanese contents, eg. strong story plots and uniqueness of Japanese music artists. 

The lineup at this moment are as follow, there will have 3 more speakers to be announce at a later date.

Mr Hirano Keiichiro, renowned novelist
Mr Harumiko Mikimoto, character designer
Mr Sampei Yamaguchi, Sony Music Artists’ Senior Vice president
Mr Takaaki Kidani, President of Bushiroad Inc

Tickets will at 85 per delegate

AFA 2011 Official Theme Song – Dream Shooter by Sea☆A

Mr Shawn Chin, Festival Director of AFA11 continued with the announcement of AFA11 theme song, which is also the ending theme of Cardfight Vanguard anime; Dream Shooter by Sea☆A.

KANAME☆

Celebrity cosplayer KANAME☆ will welcome his wave of fans and visitors alike with his amazing cosplays. From Cloud of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children to Ichigo of Bleach and Portgas D.Ace of One Piece, KANAME☆ continues to wow with his high level of quality and realism in his cosplays.

He will be having a phototaking session with his fans and grace AFA11 as a distinguished judge in the Regional Cosplay Championship!

Danny Choo

Danny Choo will be the AFA 11 Main Host

Danny Choo is one of the most well-known and respected bloggers of Japanese pop-culture in the world. In addition to his blogs, he runs MIRAI Inc, an Internet solutions provider, and produces and hosts Culture Japan, a weekly program on Japanese culture on Tokyo MX. He will be the official host of AFA11 for many of our main stage segments.

AKIBA TOWN

Exclusive event-only items from the brands: Bushiroad, Bandai, COSPA, Nitro+, Kotobukiya, Good Smile Company and more to announce!

Bandai is bringing ONE PIECE augmented reality Carddass card games and cards to AFA11.
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 will be release on the same-day as Japan, and limited DVDs and model kits will be on sale at AFA.

Bushiroad Inc. President; Mr Takaaki Kidani, was present at the conference himself to introduce to us, that there will be exclusive pre-release of the card game Cardfight Vanguard and big-scale tournament to be at AFA.

He is also proud to announce that OKTO will be airing the anime Cardfight Vanguard on 16th October 2011.

He hopes that Vanguard will be a big success in Singapore.

Moe Moe Kyun Café & Atelier Royale

More members and cast for the cafe. 

A video introduction was shown to the media for the new members.
SE Asia's premium Maid Café is back with original MMK looks and uniform! 
Atelier Royale theme this year is "Wonderland"!

Some of the cafe and butlers are introduced 

Main Stage Highlights

Showcasing of some animes at the event.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi ha mada shiranai あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない short for ANOHANA あの花

Masayoshi Tanaka, the character designer for various animes such as Hitman REBORN!, Toradora! and High School of the Dead and the recent ANOHANA will be on AFA11 Main Stage to share his experiences.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ

The seiyuu [voice actress] of Akemi Homura, Chiwa Saitou will be present on AFA11 main stage for a special 'live' dubbing session!

Madoka Magica's Producer Atsuhiro Iwakami as he shares with you insights into creating one of the most influential anime of our time.

Fate/Zero

Join Fate / Zero's producer Atsuhiro Iwakami as he shares insights to the creations of this highly anticipated Anime. What's more, LiSA who is behind the anime's opening theme will also be appearing to perform the show's anime opening theme.

Dedicated Anime Theater

Showing back-to-back anime through the event.

From left to right : 

Full Metal Alchemist: The Star of Milos, Sora no Otoshimono: A Clockwork Angeloid, Naruto: Shippuden – The Blood Prison

For fans that reach early, there will be limited exclusive goodie bags.

I LOVE ANISONG CONCERT

The lineup of the remaining artist are also announced, with the dates of performance.

11.11.11 [Friday] – Day 1

Hatsune Miku

Hatsune Miku is a computer music software that enables users to create synthesized vocals of unprecedented quality and remarkable realism by just typing in lyrics and melody, using voice samples of seiyuu Saki Fujita. Powered by Yamaha's Vocaloid (Vocal + Android) technology, Hatsune Miku was developed by Crypton Future Media in Sapporo, and released on August 31st, 2007.

Since then, there have been more than 30,000 songs and movies about Hatsune Miku posted in a popular Video sharing web site such as YouTube and Nico-Nico- Douga(Japan). In 2008, Hatsune Miku performed for the first time on stage at Animelo Summer Live 2009 in front of a crowd of more than 25,000 people.

This simple software, with a cute voice and an illustration of its avatar on the cover, created not only large amounts of CGM (consumer generated media) music but remarkable numbers of derivative illustrations and dedicated free software as well.

Anime Festival Asia will premiere the first Hatsune Miku concert in Asia. The concert will be a sequel to the most recent live production in Sapporo, which pushed the live Miku experience to a whole new level.

Different from last year on screen performance, this year the performance will be 3D hologram concert.

12.11.11 [Saturday] – Day 2

FLOW

FLOW is a five-member alternative rock band made up of Kohshi (vocals/guitar), Keigo (vocals), Takashi (guitar), Hiroshi (drum) and Yasutaro (Bass). The band dates back to 1998 and made their debut in 2001, with the release of their first single 'Flow #0' and mini-albums, taking the indie charts by storm.

Since then, they have released no less than twenty-one singles and six albums, including 'Colors', opening theme to the first season of Code Geass, and 'GO!!' and 'RE:member', from the Naruto anime. All three singles have brought them success on the Oricon charts, with 'Colors' that ranked 2nd.

At the start of the year, FLOW covered SIAM SHADE's '1/3の純情な感情', ending theme of the Rurouni Kenshin anime, featuring DAITA on guitar. This was followed by a compilation album, 'FLOW ANIME BEST', of many anime theme songs under their belt. Their latest single release is 'Hey!'.

Ichirou Mizuki

This year's Anime Festival Asia marks Ichirou Mizuki's 4th performance in Singapore. With an amazing repertoire of over 1,200 anisongs, Ichirou Mizuki is riding the peak of his fame as the undisputed anisong legend.

More affectionately known by fans as Aniki, meaning "big brother", his Wikipedia entry was also translated into 92 different languages, proving his position as an internationally acclaimed Japanese pop-icon and one of the world's most famous Japanese personality.

As an anisong pioneer, he debuted in 1968 with the theme song for Genshi Shouken Ryuu, Mazinger Z, Captain Harlock, as well as the big TV hit, Kamen Rider, from its initial series right up till now. In 1999, Aniki even made history by singing 1000 songs within 24 hours! He also collaborated with French DJ Dimitri in 2003 while being ordained the "Anime Song Ambassador" in Paris in 2007. Recently, Aniki performed at the 2010 Shanghai International Exhibition's CoFesta.

For over 40 years, Aniki has been raising the dreams and hopes of children with his charismatic singing. Today, he continues to pass on the magic of anisongs with his amazing passion and live performances all over the world.

LiSA

LiSA is one of the hottest, rising stars in Anisong. She has captivated many audiences with her ability to get them into the mood of her performance.

Born in Gifu prefecture, LiSA started her own band while in high school to catch a growing wave of punk rock. In 2008, she moved to Tokyo in order to further her musical career.

In 2010, she was chosen as the singing voice of Yui, the second singer of the fictional band 'Girls Dead Monster', for the hit anime Angel Beats!. Many of the singles and albums released under Girls Dead Monster garnered a lot of success on the Oricon charts.

In the spring of 2011, LiSA released her own solo mini-album, 'Letters to U". In support of the album's release, she toured Japan to perform to sell-out crowds nationwide. Her next single has been announced to be the opening of Fate/Zero.

Sea☆A

From Anime Festival Asia's very own Moe Moe Kyun maid cafe comes the latest Anisong idol unit to debut in Japan, Sea☆A! Made up of Winnie, Beryl, Valerie and Estelle, Sea☆A hopes to capture the hearts and minds of anime fans, both in Japan and overseas, with their own special brand of appeal.

Their first single, Dream Shooter, has been featured as the third ending theme of the hit TV anime, Cardfight!! Vanguard. Their next single, 'DELI-DELI☆DELICIOUS', will be the ending theme of Toriko. Come end November, the girls will be performing at the prestigious Animax Musix 2011, in Yokohama Arena, alongside names such as May'n, Shoko Nakagawa and angela.

The name Sea☆A is made of three parts. SEA is short for South-East Asia, as all four members who come from South-East Asia. The star represents the stars that they hope to be. And finally, A is for their passion for Japanese anime and the wish to spread their songs throughout Asia with their activities.

13.11.11 [Sunday] – Day 3

Kalafina

Kalafina is the latest project by hit composer Yuki Kajiura, the genius behind FictionJunction and See-Saw, keeping Kajiura's signature new age and synthesizer sounds.

The trio debuted with 'Oblivious' from the Original Video Animation Kara no Kyoukai, released in January 2008, with 'sprinter/aria' and 'fairytale' following in the same year. The three singles all hit top 10 spots on the Oricon Weekly charts. Their Oricon success has continued with their subsequent singles and two albums, all reaching top 10 spots.

Kara no Kyoukai, with Kalafina providing theme songs to all the ep isodes, sold a total of 600,000 units over the course of its run.

In addition to performing in Japan, Kalafina has performed overseas as well. In 2010, they toured Asia, stopping in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taiwan. The group has also performed in United States at Anime Boston and Anime Expo.

Kanako Itou + Shikura Chiyomaru

Debuting with 'Reichin Rin'inshan' ending theme to Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer (2002), Kanako Itou is one of the Japanese gaming industry's most prolific artistes, with more than eighty songs to her name. She is known for her songs "Kanashimi no Mukō e" from the School Days game, 'F.D.D' from the Chaos;Head and her most recent release has been 'Hacking to the Gate' from the Steins;Gate animation.

She has performed at many events in Japan and around the world. Itou has performed for three consecutive years at the anisong's largest event, Animelo Summer Live. Her overseas events include trips to Brazil and South Korea. Her 10th year anniversary event was held this year on the 13th of August in the Shibuya Liquid Room.

May'n

A frequent visitor to Singapore, this year will be May'n's 4th Performance at Anime Festival Asia. She also held her very own Solo concert and made her ScreenSingapore movie debut in June this year.

Every single audience who has witnessed her live performance is immediately transported into another world by her mesmerising and powerful vocals that pierce deep into the heart. Despite her young age, May'n is already rising towards her dream of being Japan's top female rock vocalist with sold out concerts at the acclaimed Budokan and all over Asia, including Singapore in June this year.

While she may seem like a carefree and cheerful 20-year-old, watch her transform as she picks up the microphone. Commanding a wide range of singing styles from pop rock, soul to R&B and grand ballad, May'n unleashes her high notes with absolute precision and ease, captivating fans throughout her entire magical performance.

Since her debut, May'n's album and singles have graced the Oricon Chart's top spots. Her phenomenal success has also earned her the support of leading producers who have worked with Ayumi Hamasaki, Porno Grafitti, Ikimonogakari, Chemistry and Misia. This year, she worked with Daisuke Asakura on Scarlet Ballet, opening theme to Hidan no Aria.

Milky Holmes

Made up of Suzuko Mimori, Sora Tokui, Mikoi Sasaki and Izumi Kitta, Milky Holmes is the representative unit of the hit anime and PSP game Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, performing both the theme songs and voicing the main characters.

The unit was formed in 2010 and performed in Animelo Summer Live at Saitama Super Arena in August the same year. During Anime Festival Asia X, the four performed to a sell-out crowd during their main stage segment.

In 2011, Milky Holmes embarked on a sell-out nation-wide tour of Japan, performing in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. They released their third mini-album in August and in September, a live DVD of their performance in Yokohama BLITZ was released.

With their catchy songs and groovy choreography, Milky Holmes wants to bring a smile to everyone's faces and have them enjoy songs such as Ameagari no Mirai, Seikai wa hitotsu! Jyanai!!and Koi no Chousahoukokusho.

TICKETING

ANISONG 1 day vip – #148SGD

ANISONG 3 day vip – 368SGD

ANISONG 1 day standing pass 48SGD

Festival Ticket is from 8SGD /day

Festival + Main Stage is 18SGD /day

SPECIAL GUEST AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE : LiSA

LiSA was invited to the press conference to give the media a surprise and the host had asked LiSA a few questions.

Q: What is the first impression of Singapore prior to coming here?
A: All I knew about Singapore was Merlion, and the word lion. I thought this place was like Safari or jungle. I know it was a very beautiful city and was very excited to come here.

Q: What are your thoughts for performing in Singapore for the very first time?
A: Its my first time here so I can't really feel its gonna be like. The people here are very warm and nice so I think we will have a very good time together.

Q: You are cast as the singing voice of Yui in last year's hit anime: Angel Beats!, as a singing voice what you do to get into the singer role of Yui during recording and performances.
A: I did not change anything about myself or did anything special. I try to send my message and Yui's message together to get into the character.

Q: The next single "oath sign" will be the single of  one of the most anticipated anime Fate/Zero. What kind of song is "oath sign" and how it fit into the show?
A:  Fate/Zero had 7 characters that are participating in the Holy Grail war, that each have their own dream. They get worried, scared, and made me think about myself chasing my dream too. My message is there is nothing wrong with what you are doing right now.

Q: This year marks your first year as a solo artist, how challenging was it and do you have any goals for this year?
A: There is something that I changed about myself, I've learnt so much from Yui, from Girls Dead Monster, I want to work hard so that each of your days is a better one.

That concludes my coverage of the press conference Yesterday. 

Here are some photos.

Thanks for reading!

In the earlier press conference there is mention of AKB48 Experience Zone, which is not mention in this press conference, more updates will be confirmed by the official facebook and webpage of the event soon I hoped. As I am also looking forward to it!

Dear readers,

As representing Kitsunesuki, I will be covering the press conference happening at 11am SGT [GMT +8].

All updates will be updated on my twitter @eriol125 first and a consolidated post will be up by tonight!

Please stay tune with us for more information to AFA 2011!

- Eriol

Thanks all who followed our twitter for live updates, we are sorry that we couldn't provide a twitcasting for it as the network strength is not ideal enough.

We actually have a group interview session with Kipi, the famous cosplayer from Japan, a separate post will be do up for the interview. 

For the time being, please watch this video: 

Here are some photos from the preview itself.

Do look forward to the group interview with Kipi, coming soon. 

ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA 2011

I LOVE ANISONG PRESENTS!

ROCK YOUR SOUL!!!

SUPER ANISONG CONCERT

11.11.11 ~ 13.11.11

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT!

PERFORMING ARTISTES FACT SHEET

AS OF AUGUST 2011

MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA – ANISONG AMBASSADOR

May’n – ANISONG SUPER STAR

A frequent visitor to Singapore, this year will be May’n’s 4th Performance at Anime Festival Asia whilst performing at her very own Solo concert and Screen Singapore movie debut in June this year.

Despite her young age, May’n is already rising towards her dream of being Japan’s top female rock vocalist with sold out concerts at the acclaimed Budokan twice and all over Asia, including Singapore.

While she may seem like a carefree and cheerful 20-year-old, watch her transform as she picks up the microphone. Commanding a wide range of singing styles from pop rock, soul to R&B and grand ballad, May’n unleashes her high notes with absolute precision and ease, captivating fans throughout her entire magical performance.

Since her debut, May’n’s album and singles have graced the Oricon Chart’s top three spots. Her phenomenal success has also earned her the support of leading producers who have worked with Ayumi Hamasaki, Porno Grafitti, Ikimonogatari, Chemistry and Misia.

Notable anime series involved in – Macross Frontier, Shangri La, Ookami-san, Sengoku Basara, Scarlet Ballet

Official Webpage – http://pc.mayn.jp/index.html

—–

ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA – ANISONG AMBASSADOR

Ichirou Mizuki – THE ANISONG LEGEND

This year’s Anime Festival Asia marks Ichirou Mizuki’s 4th performance in Singapore. With an amazing repertoire of over 1,200 anisongs, Ichirou Mizuki is riding the peak of his fame as the undisputed anisong legend.

More affectionately known by fans as Aniki, meaning “big brother”, his Wikipedia entry was also translated into 92 different languages, proving his position as an internationally acclaimed Japanese pop-icon and one of the world’s most famous Japanese personality.

As an anisong pioneer, he debuted in 1968 with the theme song for Genshi Shouken Ryuu, Mazinger Z, Captain Harlock, as well as the big TV hit, Kamen Rider, from its initial series right up till now. In 1999, Aniki even made history by singing 1000 songs within 24 hours! He also collaborated with French DJ Dimitri in 2003 while being ordained the “Anime Song Ambassador” in Paris in 2007.

Recently, Aniki performed at the 2010 Shanghai International Exhibition’s CoFesta.

For over 40 years, Aniki has been raising the dreams and hopes of children with his charismatic singing. Today, he continues to pass on the magic of anisongs with his amazing passion and live performances all over the world.

Notable anime series involved in – Mazinger Z, Iron Jeeg, Kamen Rider, Captain Harlock, Gatchaman

Official Webpage – http://www.mizuki-spirits.com/

—–

FIRST APPEARANCE IN ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA!

FLOW – ANISONG ROCK MASTERS

FLOW is made of five piece alternative rock band made up of Kohshi (vocals/guitar), Keigo (vocals), Takashi (guitar), Hiroshi (drum) and Yasutaro (Bass). The band dates back to 1998 and made their debut in 2001, with the release of their first single “Flow #0” and mini-albums, and taking the indie charts by storm.

Since then, they have released no less than twenty-one singles and six albums, including “Colors”, opening theme to the first season of Code Geass, and “GO!!” And “RE:member”, from the Naruto anime. All three singles have brought them success on the Oricon charts, with “Colors” maxing out at 2nd.

At the start of the year, FLOW covered SIAM SHADE’s “1/3の純情な感”, ending theme of the Rurouni Kenshin anime, featuring DAITA on guitar. This was followed by a compilation album, FLOW ANIME BEST of the many anime theme song under their belt Their latest single release is “Hey!”.

Notable anime series involved in – Code Geass, Eureka 7, Naruto, Naruto Shinpudden, Eureka Seven, Heroman, Persona Trinity Soul

FLOW official site – http://www.flow.mu/

—–

FIRST APPEARANCE IN ANIME FESTIVAL ASIA!

LiSA – ANISONG RISING STAR

LiSA is one of the hottest, rising stars in Anisong to have come out.

She has captivated the many audiences she has performed in front of with her ability to get them into the mood of her performance.

Born in Gifu prefecture, LiSA started her own band while in high school to catch a growing wave of punk rock. In 2008, she moved to Tokyo in order to further her musical career.

In 2010, she was chosen as the singing voice of Yui, the second singer of the fictional band ‘Girls Dead Monster’, for the hit anime “Angel Beats!”. Many of the singles and albums released under Girls Dead Monster garnered a lot of success on the Oricon charts.

In the spring of 2011, LiSA released her own solo mini-album, ‘Letters to U”. In support of the album’s release, she toured Japan to perform to sell-out crowds nationwide.

Notable anime series involved in – Angel Beats!

Official site – http://www.lxixsxa.com/

A media conference was held yesterday at AKB Official Cafe Singapore by Anime Festival Asia 2011 Festival Directors; Mr Shawn Chin and Mr Haruhiko Miyano.

Media were presented by AFA's regional plans, Cool Japan Forum and Festival Highlights that supporters are to expect this year. 

Mr Chin revealed that Anime Festival Asia will be truely going Asia as there will be 2 events of AFA next year in Malaysia and Indonesia,

while AFA will continue to be held in Singapore annually!  More details will be reveal at AFA11 event itself!

Mr Miyano revealed the first guest speaker confirmed for this year's Cool Japan Forum; Mr Hirano Keiichiro 平野啓一郎, Reowned Novelist and Akutagawa Prize Winner.

Regional Cosplay Championship will be held this year and registration will start this weekend with

a audition at the local participating countries to choose the finalists that will make it to the finals at AFA11.

Festival Highlights includes, 

AKIBA TOWN, AKB48 Experience Zone, Maid Cafe, Bulter Cafe.

Movie Screening of Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 are expected to have a same day airing as Japan at AFA itself!

Some confirmed artistes are also announced for the I LOVE ANISONG – ROCK YOUR SOUL concert; Aniki, May'n, FLOW, LiSA. More artiste will be announce when confirmed.

Below will be the press release by Anime Festival Asia. 

Anime Festival Asia returns with Star-studded Line-up and Content 
in Japanese Entertainment and Pop Culture

• Anime Festival Asia 2011 expands regionally to encompass a wider audience
• Bigger and better – Festival sees strong line-up in both consumer and business-to-business aspects with the best of industry leaders and Japanese popular culture

Singapore, 16 August 2011 – Anime Festival Asia (AFA) 2011 returns to Singapore for its fourth year running as Southeast Asia’s biggest and most anticipated showcase of the latest Japanese popular culture and anime content and stars.

From 11 to 13 November this year, members of the public can look forward to three halls in Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Halls, expanded from last year’s two, that showcases of Japan’s top talent and latest offerings in the animation and Japanese Popular Culture scene. One of the festival’s key highlights, the “I Love Anisong concerts”, will take on a rock theme with heart-pumping entertainment over three days. Businesses keen to explore collaborations with Japanese content owners can also glean insights from the Cool Japan Forum’s high-powered speaker list. Organisers gave an update and preview today of some of the developments, activities and guest line-up in what’s shaping up to be the Festival to look out for this November.

Anime Festival Asia Goes Regional

Jointly organised by Dentsu Singapore and SOZO Pte Ltd, the home-grown AFA is today one of the region’s top entertainment convention and showcase platform. AFA saw visitor numbers grow from 46,000 to 71,000 last year over three days, with local and international fans mainly from the region. This year’s festival estimates that it will attract at least 85,000 visitors.

Organisers are in talks with Indonesia and Malaysia to hold overseas Anime Festivals. For a start Malaysia and Indonesia’s Anime Festivals are expected to be scheduled in 2012. The flagship event, AFA, will continue to be held in Singapore annually. While the Singapore event will see a congregation of the latest Japanese animation and popular culture content and host regional events such as the Regional Cosplay Championships, the overseas events will follow a similar format as AFA with the content adapted to the local communities’ interests.

“As AFA grows in popularity, having Anime Festivals in different countries is our next step to reaching out to more audiences in the region. Fans who are keen on animation and Japanese Pop Culture will have an added opportunity to have the content brought under one roof, right at their doorsteps,” said Shawn Chin, AFA 11’s Festival Director.

Reaching out to Businesses – Cool Japan Forum returns as a networking and sharing platform from Japan’s Best

One of the key highlights of AFA 11, the Cool Japan Forum returns on 11 November to showcase several of Japan’s leaders in the music, animation and publishing industries. Cool Japan Forum’s theme this year focuses on methods to monetize content. Talks will include topics on how killer content can be built on the digital field, shared experiences from companies which have developed successful business models using anime content, and how content can be used to boost a company’s brand image. One of the speakers, Mr Keiichiro Hirano, a renowned novelist who won an Akutagawa prize (one of the most prestigious prizes for the industry) when he was a university student, will share his secrets behind developing engaging storylines. 

New Festival Experiences and a Star-studded Lineup

Again in this year, visitors can look forward to the latest and best content from Japan as well as a line-up of some of the biggest and most promising names in the anime and anisong industry. With a larger floor space of 8,000 sq metres (up from 5,000 sq metres last year), highlights include:

            I love Anisong – Rock Your Soul

I Love Anisong will see three evenings of concerts, with a rock theme this year. Visitors can expect Japanese anisong artistes who are behind some of today’s biggest anime titles, with energetic performances, live bands and more. Artistes include those who will perform in Singapore for the very first time, as well as AFA Festival favourites. Organisers are currently finalizing the full line-up and will share more closer to date.

            Regional Cosplay Championship

AFA 11 will host its third Regional Cosplay Championship to showcase top cosplayers from Singapore and throughout the region. This time around, the bar has been raised with an enhanced competition format. Participants will now have to go through a live audition in each country, as opposed to submitting electronic entries in previous years. Winners of each country will have the prestigious opportunity to compete in the Regional Cosplay Championships in Singapore, and prove their worth before a panel of judges that include some of Japan’s top cosplayers. Calls for entry will start this Saturday with application details on the AFA website. Prizes will include a trip to Japan.

Experience Zones for Movie Screenings and Japanese Popular Culture Content

A new AKB48 Experience Zone will also be created. Popular Experience Zones will remain within the festival, with activities such as live dubbing sessions by popular seiyuus, Maid Café and Butler Café. Akiba Town will be bringing in top players direct from the toy and merchandising industries in Japan, including Bushiroad and Bandai.

There will also be a same day screening as Japan of the highly anticipated movie ‘Gundam Unicorn’.

Bringing the Best and More – Anime Festival Asia

AFA 11 will be held at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Halls 402 to 404. Tickets details will be announced closer to date. For more information on the festival, members of the public and businesses can check out www.animefestival.asia and www.facebook.com/animefestivalasia.

Singapore, 30 June 2011 – The Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC) and Marvel Comics – home of X-Men, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, The Avengers, and Thor – will be joining forces again to thrill fans at the 2011 STGCC. Marvel’s international talent scout, C.B. Cebulski, will be back this year to conduct portfolio reviews and spot talented artists. 

He will be joined by writer Kieron Gillen, who has penned stirring storylines behind Marvel titles including Journey Into Mystery, Generation Hope, Uncanny X-Men, S.W.O.R.D and Thor, and regional artist Harvey Tolibao, who has worked on Marvel titles such as Darkhawk, Ultimate XMen and The Mighty Avengers, and has drawn an exclusive Merlion Variant Cover for Captain America #1 that will only be available at the Marvel booth at STGCC.

STGCC will be held on 20 and 21 August 2011 at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibitions Centre.

First Singapore Artist to Draw for Marvel Comics

Marvel is proud to reveal that they have signed on Singaporean artist Mr Benjamin Ang, 27, who made the shortlist in Marvel's Portfolio Review at last year’s STGCC, to work professionally with the comics titan. Mr Ang is the first Singaporean to be signed to Marvel and was handpicked from hundreds of aspirants from around the region.

“It is truly a dream come true to be able to work with Marvel and alongside some of the most renowned writers and artists in the industry. It is great to have platforms like STGCC where local artists can showcase their works. I aim to add a signature touch to my work and hopefully inspire more Singaporean artists to chase their dreams.”

C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Creator and Content Development, who conducted the Portfolio Review at 2010's STGCC, is hoping to discover more new talent at this year’s event. He says, "As I scout talent for Marvel, I only revisit events in countries where I find the level of artistic talent extremely high, and given the amazing comic creators I met in Singapore at STGCC last year, I knew I'd be back before long and hopefully making it a regular recruiting stop!"

Mr Ang’s success story is thrilling news to all aspiring artists in Singapore and in South East Asia, says Ms Yeow Hui Leng, Project Director of STGCC. "We are elated that the convention provides a springboard for budding artists in the region to take their craft to an international level. We hope to see more Asian talent making their mark in the pop culture scene in both the East and the West."

Mr Ang will be working on projects beginning later this year, and aspiring artists eager to pick up a few tips from Mr Ang can meet him at STGCC’s Artist Alley, where he will be exhibiting his works. He will also be joining Mr Cebulski on one of Marvel's forum sessions. For more information on portfolio submission, go to www.singaporetgcc.com/whatshappening/PortfolioReviewByMarvel .

Marvel Exclusive at STGCC 2011

For the first time, Marvel Comics has created an exclusive STGCC variant comic. With a limited run of 1,000 copies, this comic features a specially designed Singaporean cover to Captain America #1 by Ed Brubaker and Steve McNiven. The cover is drawn by regional artist Harvey Tolibao with colors by Chris Sotomayor and features an iconic image of Captain America in front of Singapore's emblematic Merlion statue. Only 500 copies will be available at the Marvel booth each day. Further, artist Harvey Tolibao will be making appearances at the Marvel booth, signing the STGCC variant.

Up Close and Personal with Marvel Writer Kieron Gillen

Marvel and STGCC are proud to reveal writer Kieron Gillen will be appearing at STGCC 2011 as a Guest of Honor. Based in London, Gillen's Marvel work includes Journey Into Mystery, Generation Hope and Uncanny X-Men. Gillen is currently writing Uncanny X-Men and will pen the book's final issue, #544, due out this October.

This epoch-ending issue will send shockwaves through the Marvel Universe, and Gillen is the man trusted to write it. Gillen will be appearing at STGCC on 20 and 21 August. He will be meeting fans and signing autographs at the Marvel booth and STGCC’s Walk of Fame as well as speaking on his work at forums. Before Marvel, Gillen was the founder of the respected video game blog Rock Paper Shotgun (www.rockpapershotgun.com).

"I've never heard anything but fantastic things about STGCC, and I'm grasping the chance to experience it for myself with both hands," Gillen said. "I'm looking forward to Singapore and the fans there enormously!"

Tickets Available Now!

In addition to Marvel Comics, fans can also look forward to the latest offerings from popular brands including Hot Toys, Tokidoki and Nintendo. Tickets for STGCC are now on sale via www.singaporetgcc.com/buy-tickets. For the latest updates, follow STGCC on Facebook (facebook.com/singaporetgcc) and Twitter (twitter.com/singaporetgcc).

STGCC, co-produced by Reed Exhibitions Singapore and ReedPOP, the US-based organisers of the New York Comic Con, is a popular culture showcase for the latest and greatest in comics, anime, toys, collectibles and games.

A video preview of the activities installed and performing guests were being shown shortly into the conference. 

The tag-line of this year's festival is: "ENOUGH TALK, JUST DO"

The Chairman and Co-chairman of the steering committee were brought onto the stage to share with us about this year SHINE Youth Festival.

[Co-chairman - Mr Eric Chua(left), Chairman - Mr Martin Tan]

Eric started with the highlights of the opening of the festival.

One of them is the pillow fight, you didn't see wrongly. On 2nd July 2011, there will be a pillow fight activity happen at *Scape!
The festival this year will be a multi-level concept, he added: "SHINE will be anywhere, everywhere at *Scape."
Other then partying, there are workshops for DJing, photography for participants, fund-raising and more.

Eric : "What we wanted this year is to get the young people to be involve.",  "What we do is to be provide with the mentoring, we open up doors that they can't.", "The month of July is the month of youth, is the month of Shine.". 

Eric also added that the youths have provided them with great ideas and the Facebook game "Power to Shine"

The four pillars of SHINE is: Community Service, Sports, Environment and Youth Culture. 

Martin: "We have always looking for a platform where everybody can work together"

Despite having busy schedules with their work, studies and personal time, the youth of the committee are still full of energy even as they work into midnight with the planning works.

The reason of having multi-leveled activities is the youth may be interested in different things in different time.

The preview of the performances started with Bryan, a member of JUZ B, doing Beatbox.

followed by JUZ B

The trailer for THE BIG GROVE are shown to us.

There will be workshops and dialogue session for hip hop dance. 

Singapore Street Festival has come to celebrate its 10 year anniversary with their opening under SHINE Youth Festival at *Scape. There will be performances and workshops at *scape. To celebrate its 10th Anniversary, they will be coming up with a concert and launch the album featuring the bands and the hip hop at the concert itself happening on the 24th July 2011, 7pm at Vivocity Amphitheatre. 

the Roses are brought onto the stage to give media a preview of the performance.

COSMO Youth Parade as known as Mascot Parade will be back this year under the umbrella of SHINE Youth Festival with the theme : "COSPLAY I LUV". The parade will start at Orchard Central and end point will be at *Scape. Fear not if you do not have a costume of your own, there will be costumes for rental.  

Some cosplayers invited to give media a sneak peek. 

SMU students under the Inspirar project also gave media a demonstration of the seat exercise that they design for all ages to do at their own comfort. This event will be held at Kampong Glam Community Centre on 30th July 2011, 9am – 12noon. 

to end of the Media conference, the comedian magician Kiki Tay was invited to perform for us. 

———————————————–

For the opening of SHINE Youth Festival the featured artistes lineup are :

Derrick Hoh

Ever since attaining 2nd Runner-up in Project Superstar, Derrick has won several local and overseas awards and accolades. His album sales reached Gold status in Singapore and his debut album hit No. 6 on Taiwan Best-selling Album Charts. Recently awarded Most Popular Singapore Artiste, Derrick also performed in various renowned events such as the various Torch Relay Venues of the 2010 International Youth Olympics Games.

DJ Koflow

Wayne Liu aka DJ KoFlow has been spinning music in numerous festivals such as the Youth Olympic Games, MTV Pattaya music festival, Floorskillz, Battle of the year, Beatnik, F1 Racing post parties, Siloso Beach Party, Chingay and The Asian Hip Hop Festival in Bangkok. Truly DJ extraordinaire!

Jack and Rai

Jack and Rai need little introduction as they have been performing regularly as an acoustic/pop-rock duo at popular clubs and nightspots since 2002. Their radio-friendly covers attract a large and loyal following. In 2006, they released their debut album of original songs.

Tay Kewei

Kewei started her career backing up and touring with some of the region’s biggest pop stars: David Tao, Wang Leehom, Amei and JJ Lin. Mandarin pop aside, she is also active in the English pop-jazz scene. In 2010, she launched her debut album, ‘Come Closer With…Kewei” with renowned record label S2S.

Bloco Singapura

Bloco Singapura is Singapore’s most spanking musical collective where their swinging samba and throbbing batucada beat has entertained many at numerous events including Zoukout ‘08, Chingay ‘09, Worldwide Festival ‘09 and the National Day Parade ‘09.

Juz B

This all-Malay acapella group caught everyone’s attention when they sang Mandarin songs throughout their tenure in Channel U’s Superband Competition. Known for their soulful performances and on-stage antics, the award-winning group is also a much sought-after act at local and overseas events.

Event Highlights of the opening as follows, 

Pillow Fight

Just come and have fun and engage yourself in our massive pillow fun!

Percussion Workshop

Get into the groove as our street percussionists bring enjoyment of music to a whole new level!

Magic Workshop

Spot our magicians roaming around and surprising you with their fascinating magic tricks!

Photography Workshop

Get tips from professional photographers on how to achieve beautiful pictures!

Flea Market

Join us and grab all the cheap bargains before they are gone!

Once Upon a Mikshake Food Eating Competition

Challenge yourself and finish up the desserts as fast as you can!

Cosmo Youth Parade

Be there to witness the magnificent sight of 1,000 cosplayers parading down the street of Orchard!

Beatboxing Workshop

Challenge yourself to manipulate your vocal organs and project the beats and rhythm of a drum machine.

DJ Turntablism Workshop

Learn how to cut, scratch and spin from DJ Koflow, voted as the “Best Turntablist 2010”.

——————-

SHINE Youth Festival 2011: BIGGER AND BOLDER

Annual SHINE Youth Festival set to encourage 250,000 youths to “Just do”

SHINE will be back in a spectacular way come 2^nd July, with a launch event featuring Singapore’s first-ever multi-decked concept party in the heart of town at *SCAPE.  Organised by the National Youth Council (NYC) as an annual youth for youth festival to celebrate and showcase youth talent, SHINE 2011 continues to be a platform for youths to indulge in their passion, demonstrate their energy and grow their skills and talents.  The launch of SHINE 2011 does just that, featuring a wide array of top-notch offerings such as a mega mascot parade, quality dance master-classes by American choreographers and community service projects, finally culminating in a night concert featuring local and regional acts.

Bigger Party and Festival Line up

2          SHINE 2011 will be launched amidst a transformed *SCAPE, which will see four levels dedicated to 13 activities, spread throughout the building.  The party radiates outwards, with a 1,000-strong mascot parade spanning *SCAPE and Orchard Road (Orchard Central), a launch concert at the Playspace @ *SCAPE, the Singapore Street Festival’s 10^th Anniversary festivities and an Official Chill-out Corner by KIT KAT® for that much needed break during the mega party.  

3          Youths will be treated to a star-studded show filled with successful local acts that could inspire them to follow their passions and take action as singing sensations Derrick Hoh, Tay Kewei, JuzB and Jack and Rai take the stage at the night concert.  O School, a renowned hip-hop dance school, will also provide an exclusive peek into the groovy moves at Asia’s most awaited hip-hop convention -The Big Groove 2011.

4          Showing its commitment to continuously expand the platforms and opportunities available to youths at SHINE, SHINE’s line-up this year includes those by its fifth, and newest, marquee partner, *SCAPE. “*SCAPE is happy to be the newest addition to the list of marquee partners for this year’s SHINE Festival. As a home-base to diverse youth communities of interest, *SCAPE is excited to present events that can echo the Festival’s objectives of community involvement and showcase opportunities. Two key events presented by *SCAPE include the inaugural Street *SCAPE project, which invites all youth to come forth and show the part of themselves which represents their personality and life role; and the Art Park, which is a part of *SCAPE’s efforts to expose young people to various forms of art,” said Ms Lynette Lee, Managing Director of *SCAPE Co. Ltd.

Bolder Approach and Projects

5          SHINE is also about youth development.  Mr Eric Chua, Co-Chairperson of SHINE 2011 Organising Committee, shares, “The Organising Committee has always been formed by youth leaders and representatives. This year, we were guided by highly experienced Steering Committee members hailing from youth sector organisations like the YMCA, People’s Association Youth Movement and the National Youth Achievement Award Council,” The mentorship model adopted by the Steering Committee allowed the youths access to their mentors’ network of resources and contacts, and helped them better exercise their ideas. The outcome? A bolder launch event concept, a wider array of activities and events throughout the month-long festival and, for the first time, the presentation of SHINE on a new platform. (Please refer to Annex A for a list of SHINE 2011 Steering and Organising Committee Members).

6          SHINE will be presented on a specially-designed Facebook game - power2shine.  “July is the month for youths—the month for SHINE. SHINE is about encouraging youths to adopt the “Enough Talk Just do” attitude. The online platform is the preferred platform to act on amongst youths, therefore we pursued their idea of bringing SHINE to Facebook without hesitation,” said Mr Martin Tan, Chairman of SHINE 2011 Steering Committee. In power2shine, gamers have to overcome obstacles, challenges and zombies (or Tokkies) to gain the power to SHINE.

7          SHINE has also enabled youths to showcase their passion for the community. This year, students from the Singapore Management University (SMU) will take their community projects further by attempting to achieve two firsts during the Festival. In project Inspirar, SMU students will introduce the elderly to a self-defence routine-cum-workout session specially-designed for the elderly that matches their physicality and lifestyle. Another group will be setting a new Singapore record for “Most Number of Cars Washed in 6 hours” to raise funds for My Buona Vista Place.  (For more information on projects and activities by SHINE’s Marquee Partners, refer to Annex B.)

8          SHINE Youth volunteers have also upped the ante, taking it upon themselves to brainstorm ideas to raise the profile of SHINE throughout the month. They have clearly demonstrated their energy and passion, picking up a performing art just to do this. Every weekend during the festival, the advocates will put up living-statue performances along Orchard Road.

9          This is SHINE’s 7^th year, and it is targeting to encourage over 250,000 youths to adopt the “Enough Talk, Just Do” attitude through a host of youth events and activities, organised for youth by youth, throughout its run from 2 to 30 July 2011.  For more information on SHINE, visit www.shine.nyc.sg.

FAN FAVOURITES RETURN TO

THE 2011 SINGAPORE TOY, GAME & COMIC CONVENTION

Singapore, 7 June 2011 – The Singapore, Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC) is proud to

announce the return of some of last year's fan favourites and a new show feature in the lead-up

to Singapore's largest popular culture celebration!

STGCC, which will take place on 20 & 21 August at the Suntec International Convention and

Exhibition Centre, is a popular culture convention showcasing the latest and greatest from the

fantastical worlds of toys, games and comics. Co-produced by Reed Exhibitions Singapore and

ReedPOP in the USA – the creators of the annual New York Comic Convention (NYCC) – STGCC shines a spotlight on what is hot and new from around the planet.

Return of Fan Favourites at STGCC 2011

The fourth edition of STGCC will include familiar faces and new names from Marvel Comics, DC

Comics and the Eastern pop culture space that fans will be eager to meet, and STGCC is proud to reveal that C.B. Cebulski and Simone Legno will be returning to Singapore.

Cebulski is Marvel Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Creator and Content Development. He scouts for talent on an international level, travelling the world on the hunt for the best and brightest new artists. Cebulski appeared at last year's STGCC where he spoke on panels and conducted portfolio reviews with local artists aspiring to work for Marvel Comics.

Cebulski will be back this year to speak more on Marvel's heroes and its upcoming books – and spending more time to meet with local artists and review the portfolios of aspiring creators.

Italian toy designer Simone Legno, the creator of the very popular Tokidoki brand, will also be

back again at STGCC. The charismatic designer has been a staple highlight at STGCC since its first edition, launching exclusive collectibles at the event every year. Last year, Legno collaborated with SingPost to launch a limited edition Singapore stamp collection bearing his signature Japanese-style artwork, and Legno and Tokidoki are currently at work on a limited edition Tokidoki “Zip & Cody” figurine for the 2011 instalment of STGCC.

Ms Yeow Hui Leng, Project Director of STGCC, said: “We hear our fans and know how much they relish the chance to meet their favourite artists. The exclusive opportunity to meet famed artists, illustrators and toy designers not just from Asia, but also from the USA and Europe, right here in Singapore, is something at the heart of STGCC. We are honoured to welcome C.B. and Simone back, and we are excited to be announcing more guests soon!"

She adds: “Looking at this summer's blockbuster movie slate with films such as Thor, Green Lantern, X-Men: First Class, and Captain America hitting the big screen, we can expect more individuals to be inculcated into the world of pop culture. Let us not forget, these movies and their larger-than-life heroes were plucked from the pages of comic books published by Marvel Comics and DC Comics.”

Walk Through the History of the Superhero Movie

STGCC fans can also look forward to a special feature at this year's convention. A series of

superhero movie posters will go on display at the event, showcasing the birth and growth of the

superhero film genre through original movie posters from 1970s classics to today’s modern

movie epics.

Pop Corn Pop, a locally-based company specializing in original movie memorabilia, will be

presenting the gallery at STGCC, starting from a rare, original 1978 Superman print (worth $750

today) to the latest Captain America banners. Between them, attendees can get a glimpse of

other superhero blockbusters including 1989’s Batman and 2002’s Spider-Man.

Fans of Iron Man, Green Lantern and Captain America, which will hit Singapore screens in June

and July 2011 respectively, can also get their hands on the original print posters at the Pop Corn

Pop booth at STGCC. SingPost will also launch a limited edition “Marvel Comics & Spiderman

Ultimate 50 MyStamp Collection” – an exclusive stamp collection featuring Marvel superheroes

and Spiderman’s most unique 50 comic covers. SingPost will also be reproducing Spiderman’s

very first comic book issue for sale at STGCC.

The Complete Pop Culture Fan Experience

Ms Yeow Hui Leng said: “There is no other event in Southeast Asia that provides a more

inclusive experience into what is new and hot in the toy, game and comics worlds from both the

East and the West. We are proud to bring all these realms together at STGCC to create the

complete fan experience.”

Ticket sales will open in mid-June 2011. Ticket purchase will be available at

www.singaporetgcc.com. For more information about STGCC, visit www.singaporetgcc.com.

Synopsis

Based on the very real setting of Kasukabe city in Saitama Prefecture, Lucky Star follows the amusing antics and lively activities of four Japanese high school girls through their seemingly ordinary day-to-day lives in and out of school.

Meet Konata, an athletic and intelligent girl too dedicated to her favourite anime shows to excel in anything but being an anime otaku. There is Miyuki, the bespectacled living example of moe who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of all subjects.

Also, Kagami is a ‘bitter-sweet’ character who is tough but shy to Konata's teases and pranks; and her younger fraternal twin sister, Tsukasa, a kind but air-headed simpleton.

Laughs abound through Lucky Star as the motley crew of teen girls find themselves in silly situations and hilarious misadventures more often than not. Anime fans will especially enjoy the series which is peppered with humorous references to the prevailing anime, manga and Japanese pop culture.

The popularity of the Lucky Star has brought more than 470,000 fans from across Japan over the 2011 New Year holidays to pay ‘pilgrimage’ to the Washinomiya Shrine. As Tokyo area's oldest shrine and real-life backdrop of the anime series, the shrine is where Kagami and Tsukasa work as miko (shrine maidens).  The influx of anime fans over the years has brought more than 1 billion yen to the town of Washimiya town where the shrine is situated.

Opens Earlier in August to Meet Fans’ Demand

Singapore, 4 May 2011 – By popular demand, the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC), a popular culture convention, will be back four months earlier this year. Into its fourth year, the annual pop culture event will take place on 20 and 21 August 2011 at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event is a showcase of the latest and greatest in the toy, games, comics scenes, and the top-notch quality and variety it offers in these sectors have attracted legions of fans locally in Singapore and across the region.

Last December, the show drew more than 28,000 fans and a total visitorship of 72,000, and the online community is already abuzz with excitement and looking forward to the show being staged earlier this year.

An Earlier Date for STGCC 2011

Ms. Yeow Hui Leng, Project Director of Reed Exhibitions Singapore, which organises the yearly show, said: “Bringing the convention to August this year was a decision made after gathering feedback from fans, industry professionals, and exhibitors. The new dates do not overlap with fans’ holiday plans and the peak travel season, making it easier for all pop culture buffs to attend the event and cheaper for overseas fans to travel to Singapore.

“We have also consolidated the show into a two-day format to make the programme more compact, and fans will be able to catch all the action happening over the weekend.”

Ms. Yeow added that the earlier dates also provide benefits to exhibitors, retailers and fans. “August coincides with the period when companies launch new products, and we are looking forward to seeing more exhibitors join us at STGCC this year — promoting and premiering the must-have items for all toy, games and comics fans. We are also in talks to unveil limited-edition collectibles and STGCC exclusives with exhibitors who have already signed up for the 2011 show.”

Same Scale with a Topical Focus

STGCC is co-produced by Reed Exhibitions Singapore and ReedPOP in the USA. ReedPOP is the team behind international events including the New York Comic Con (NYCC), New York Anime Festival and Star Wars Celebration.

Reed, which took over STGCC in 2010, upped the ante when Marvel Comics and its entourage of writers and illustrators such as C.B. Cebulski, Salvador Larroca and Matt Fraction made their inaugural appearances in Asia at STGCC last December.

This year, STGCC promises to delight, tantalize and inspire fans with up-close-and-personal opportunities with heavyweights and cult names in the toy, games and comics scenes. Ms. Yeow said: “We look forward to continue giving fans thrilling opportunities to meet and interact one-on-one with well-known comic creators, illustrators and toy designers.”

NYCC Veteran to Further Boost Programming for STGCC 2011

For this fourth edition of STGCC, Reed Exhibitions Singapore will again be working closely with ReedPOP to create a robust programme dedicated to Asian fans. NYCC veteran Mr. Peter Tatara, Director of Industry Development from ReedPOP, will be based in Singapore during the planning phase to construct a more focused programme with a healthy distribution of toy, games, comics content from both East and West.

Mr. Lance Fensterman, ReedPOP Group Vice President and NYCC Show Manager, said: “One of STGCC’s unique points is its merging of top quality content from the East and West into one nexus in Southeast Asia. We want to build on our successes to give fans a complete pop culture experience, with the bigger goal of developing STGCC into the leading catalyst for pop culture in Asia. With the support of our fans, industry professionals, and exhibitors, we aim to grow STGCC into Asia’s biggest pop culture show, equivalent in both size and scope to its sister events like NYCC.”

Discovering New Talent in Asia

In addition to entertaining fans in Singapore and Asia, STGCC will also continue its role as a talent-spotting platform in Southeast Asia via Artist Alley. Artist Alley is a special segment at STGCC which gives aspiring artists an international platform to showcase their creative talent and artwork. Not just home to pop culture super stars, Artist Alley at last year’s STGCC saw the participation of over 40 talented rising artists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

This year's STGCC takes place 20 and 21 August 2011 at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore. Ticket sales will open by July 2011. For more information about STGCC, visit www.singaporetgcc.com.