Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2011: Full Report

C2E2 2011 - Anime Events

Want to get your anime fix at this year's Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo? We made a list of must-see events, as well as screenings, along with some non-anime panels that attendees might find interesting. To check out all of the programming options at C2E2, check out the official website, as well as the handy Show Planner.

Friday - March 18

Costume Contest - Friday Edition
2:00 - 3:00PM - Variant Stage
For all the cosplayers who can't make it to the Saturday night Masquerade, you have three chances to strut your stuff before a small audience. Just go to the Variant Stage on the show floor half an hour before each contest, and stick your name. on the list. It's first come, first serve, with the first 30 fans getting a chance to compete for prizes and accolades.

Dirty Pair (screening)
4:00 - 5:00PM - Rm 476
Watch as everyone's favorite dynamic duo racks up collateral damage in this screening of Dirty Pair.

Expanding Anime Cons Beyond Cartoon Culture with Anime Central
5:00 - 6:00PM - Rm 470b
Panelists Elizabeth Boyce and Marcques Domask talk about what's in store this year at Anime Central, the Midwest's largest anime convention.

Video Games & Comics with Dark Horse
6:00 - 7:00PM - Rm 474
Jeremy Atkins from Dark Horse talks about the increasing crossover between video games and comics. Fans of video games can come check out their presentation, and hear announcements about their upcoming releases.

Eden of the East - The King of Eden (screening)
6:00 - 8:00PM - Rm 476
Check out the first Eden of the East movie, which picks up directly after the end of the TV series. The remaining Selecao are making their moves, and Takizawa's life is back on the line.

What Happens at the Con, Stays at the Con
6:30 - 7:30PM - Rm 475a
Voice actor Spike Spencer recounts some of the crazy situations he's encountered at anime conventions, as well as behind-the-scenes industry stories.

Saturday - March 19

Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone
11:30AM - 1:30PM - Rm 476
The first of the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series, You Are (Not) Alone retells the first six episodes of the landmark anime series.

So, You Want to Work in Animation, Huh?
1:00 - 2:00PM - Rm 475b
Interested in working in animation? Local animator J.J. Sedelmaier talks about working in the animation industry, and gives advice for those interested in the business.

CSC: Interpreting Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
1:00 - 2:00PM - Rm 473
Join panelists Nicholas Theisen and Rebecca Sader for a discussion on Miyazaki's renowned film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Topics include parallels between the film and classic literature like The Odyssey and The Journey into the WEST., and environmental ethics.

The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye (screening)
1:30 - 2:30PM - Rm 476
Follow the journey of Honoka, a 17-year-old girl with a mysterious blue third eye, as she helps the people she encounters in a post-apocalyptic Earth.

Costume Contest - Saturday Edition
2:00 - 3:00PM - Variant Stage
If you missed the first costume contest, you'll have another chance on Saturday.

Rosario + Vampire (screening)
2:30 - 3:30PM - Rm 476
Hapless freshman Tsukune accidentally enrolls in a school for monsters, and falls in love with a vampire with a taste for his blood.

How to be a Frickin' Genius Voice Actor, Step One: With Spike Spencer
3:00 - 4:00PM - Rm 475a
Voice actor extraordinaire Spike Spencer gives the inside scoop on how to get into voice acting. Best known for roles like Shinji Ikari from Evangelion and Akito Tenkawa from Martian Successor Nadesico, Spike will be giving attendees a chance to practice their vocal skills in this workshop.

Gravitation (screening)
3:30 - 4:30PM - Rm 476
Filled with great music and a sweet shonen-ai romance, Gravitation follows aspiring rocker Shuichi Shindou as he tries to break into the scene, and capture the love of the elusive Yuki.

MARVEL Television Presents: The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Marvel Anime 4:00 - 5:00PM - Rm 471
Check out a full episode of the upcoming Iron Man Anime, as well as an all-new episode of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, currently airing on Disney XD.

Rideback (screening)
4:30-5:30PM - Rm 476
Ex-ballerina Rin Ogata stumbles upon a transforming two-wheeled robot vehicle known as a Rideback. With her grace and balance, she discovers that she's a natural rider.

C2E2 Saturday Night Masquerade
7:30 - 9:00PM - IGN Theater 375e
Come watch Saturday night's biggest event, the Masquerade, as cosplayers compete for a grand prize of $1,000.

Sunday - March 20

El-Hazard: The Wanderers (screening)
1:00 - 2:00PM - Rm 476
A science experiment gone wrong transports a group of students to the strange land of El Hazard. Now they must figure out a way to get home.

Costume Contest - Sunday Edition
2:00 - 2:30PM - Variant Stage
Last call for the daily costume contest!

Evangelion 2.22 Plus Q&A with Spike Spencer (screening)
2:30 - 5:00PM - Rm 474
Voice actor Spike Spencer (Shini Ikari, Evangelion) hosts a Q&A and introduces the second Evangelion movie, You Can (Not) Advance.