* Here's an interview I recently published on GoBoiano. Enjoy, and support the cause!
Last week at Anime Los Angeles a certain Kickstarter project held auditions for their upcoming television series. Cosplayers and convention goers appeared in droves to display their television hosting skills and proudly show off their meticulously designed wardrobes. The name of the series is Anime Sushi, a program dedicated to discussing anime, gaming and other topics that make otaku giddy. The charm with this show is that there will be a heavy emphasis on audience generated content, so fans will play a large part in what gets aired.
Interested in the project, I reached out to producer Karl Laundy to find out more. As it turns out, he's as much of an otaku as the rest of us, introduced to anime through Speed Racer and Gigantor, and then starting a career cutting broadcast versions of works such as Wicked City, Silent Moebius, Neo Tokyo and Akira. Below is a preview of the series, followed by my interview with Laundy. Enjoy!
What are some of the inspirations behind Anime Sushi? The project seems like a hybridization of Danny Choo's “Culture Japan” and some of the programs you'd find on G4TV.
There are some similarities there. I used to work for E! on The Daily 10 and I have joked that we are the D10 or The Soup for Otakus. We will definitely have the latest news about anime and manga and games. But we'll also have some fun too. We've met a bazillion cosplayers, musicians and other creative people. Something very entertaining is going to come up. We've already talked to some fan artists and animators too.
Has there been a lot of public interest in the project? Have you gotten the attention of major anime companies like FUNimation?
We have been talking to the Japanese studios too. We are talking to Madhouse, Production I.G., Toei Animation and Studio Ghibli (through Disney Studios). Funimation has already talked with us about sharing some content on our show. Maybe even an exclusive you can hear only on Anime Sushi?!?!?
How was Anime Sushi received at Anime Los Angeles? What were some of the more interesting experiences for the crew at ALA?
Going to cons is always fun. This year was especially exciting, as we taped some pieces for the show and spent alot of time making people aware of the Kickstarter for the pilot. You can see a video of what we shot at ALA at our Kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/825124915/anime-sushi-tv-the-weekly-series. Everyone is great at ALA and they get geeked about what you are doing even if they're Hetalia fans and you're into Fruits Basket.
What are some of the segments audiences can expect from a typical episode of Anime Sushi? What kind of original content can audiences look forward to exclusively from Anime Sushi?
Well of course, there will be news of the latest releases and what is being worked on by all otakus in the anime, manga, game and convention communities. Our Host Tadao Tomomatsu, is also a great connoisseur of Japanese culture and food! So there may be a lot of eating on our show - but a lot of anime characters are almost junkies for certain kinds of food (Naruto and Ramen, Kululu of Sgt. Frog and Curry). Of course part of the convention scene is cosplay and we'll have lots of how-tos as far as make up and hair and costumes go. One of the vendors at ALA was a Master Costumer and we may shanghai her for something special.
In what ways does Anime Sushi plan on involving audiences and truly creating a product that represents the interests of its fan base?
With everyone in the otaku community creating everything from videos to music to live comedy (Act 03 put on a great "Who's Line is it, Anime?" at ALA), we'll have a special section in our show, just for fan creative called Otaku Generated Content (OGC). We'll also be at gatherings at a lot of conventions to cover what happens (it isn't all just posing).
Where will I be able to watch Anime Sushi pending the success of the Kickstarter campaign?
Most of the people who donate and become part of the Kickstarter will get their own digital download of the pilot. We have started talking about the series to networks like G4, Adult Swim and Spike and will also talk with Funimation as well as web networks like Crunchyroll and Neon Alley.
How can otaku interested in the project contribute, and what are the rewards for doing so?
The best way to contribute is to go straight to our Kickstarter page (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/825124915/anime-sushi-tv-the-weekly-series) and pledge. There are some great rewards - even a chance to have dinner with Tadao and Ella if you're a big spender. But, even if you have just a few dollars left on your gift card from the holidays you can become a founding member, get a digital download and see the pilot before it airs and get your own OGC on the air.
Is there still a chance for people to audition for the show?
Yes! Otaku who want to be involved in the series should pledge at our Kickstarter, because the reward for any pledge at $5 and above is founding member status and a lifetime membership (plus other cool things such as preview download of the pilot). Members get to submit videos and photos to Anime Sushi if – and only if - we reach our $75,000 funding goal before February 2. We look forward to that stage of our project and being able to accept submissions from our new founding members on February 3! Right now please help spread the word, become a backer and tell your friends to become backers!
February 2nd seems a long way from now, but that deadline will creep up before anyone knows it. The real question now is, will YOU contribute to the Anime Sushi cause? Have their antics warmed your hearts? Maybe the Killer Bee Cammy cosplayer caught your eye? This is a rare opportunity for otaku to control the content they consume, both by contributing funds and by submitting their own material. The choice is yours. Visit Anime Sushi's Kickstarter page for more details!
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