Naka-kon

Contests

AMV Contest Rules

Only the first two hours of AMV footage received will be entered into the Naka-Kon AMV Contest.
We will only accept one entry, per person, pre-convention. If space allows at convention, we may allow additional entries at-convention.
Videos must be no longer than five (5) minutes.
Videos must contain at least 75% Anime or Japanese Video Game footage. (This includes games like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.)
No credits may be included in the AMV; they will be listed on the AMV registration form (to be included with your submission).
Videos must be kept at a PG-13 Rating in both music and clips. If you are unsure if your video will meet this requirement then feel free to ask us to preview it and we will let you know if you are within bounds.
Judges reserve the right to rearrange the categories if there are not enough entries received.
Please send all submissions to contests@naka-kon.com, or as a data file on a CD or DVD to the address listed on the AMV registration form.
Until the AMV registration form is available on the website, please e-mail contests@naka-kon.com and request the form.
All electronic submissions must be received by February 1st. All mailed in submissions must be postmarked by January 25th. If space allows, we will be accepting entries at Contest Registration through 4PM Saturday.

Anime Clue

Detectives, we need your help! We have an unsolved murder mystery on our hands. The Ghost of The Blue Lady haunts the Marriott, and her spirit will not rest until we uncover the mystery behind her death. The Coordinators and their trusty Staff are digging up all of the clues, but it will be up to you to put them together and bring this criminal to justice! Check the program, or drop by Contest Registration throughout the weekend to learn more about participating.

Cosplay Quest

For those of you who missed out last year, we're bringing back the hit contest from Naka-Kon '07. Printed in the program is the first clue of the day. The clues pull on both a physical description and a knowledge of the character. For example, "What's black and red and calls himself an Avenger?" The correct answer? Sasuke! So now that you've interpreted the clue, your job is to hunt down the correct Sasuke, this may involve you shouting the clue at every single Sasuke until you come across the right one--the one with the next clue. This process repeats itself until you reach the one that says "Congratulations, you've won! Head to Contest Registration to collect your prize!" Check out the program for when this contest will be held!

Do Your Own Dub

Think you're funny? Can't stand the character's dialogue? Think you'd make a good voice actor? Come to the DYOD contest and have fun! You can either enter by yourself or with a group of friends (though keep in mind that the prize is usually not something easily split). Tell us what the characters are really saying. Check the program, or drop by Contest Registration to learn more about signing up for this competition.

Fanfiction Contest Rules

Submission Format

All entries must be typed, 10-12 pt. easily readable font, single-spaced with a line break between paragraphs.

Entries can be in .doc, .wpd, .txt, or .html format (emailed as an attachment to contests@naka-kon.com or mailed on CD to: Attn: Contests / PO Box 442640 / Lawrence, KS 66044.)

An entry form must accompany all entries.
Optionally, you may provide up to a one-page plot/character summary for the work on which your entry is based. This will help the judges if they are not familiar with your work.
If you wish your physical work to be returned to you, you are responsible for either picking it up at-con, or providing postage for it to be mailed to you.
Deadline for all submissions is January 25th

Categories

Vignette/Drabble - Under 500 words
One-shot - Under 15 pages, one chapter only
Short Story - Multi-chaptered, under 75 pages
Novella - Multi-chaptered, over 75 but less than 150 pages
Novel - Multi-chaptered, over 150 pages

Genres

Action/Adventure
Romance
Drama
Comedy
Adult

Any story that contains graphic sex scenes should be entered in this category. Judges retain the right to categorize entries as -Adult- even if they are not entered as such.
Adult fics will be judged separately from the other genres. If there are enough entries, sub-genres (i.e. Adult Drama, Adult Comedy, Adult Romance) may be created.
Author must be 18 to submit an entry in this category.
Regardless of age in canon, characters in adult situations in an entry must be portrayed as being over the age of consent.
Judges reserve the right to disqualify an entry if it portrays acts that break any federal or local laws.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded by categories and/or genre, potentially divided by author age/experience as well.
Judges reserve the right to combine or split categories and/or genres depending on number of entries.
Winners are responsible for arranging pick-up of their prizes at-con, or providing postage for their prize to be mailed to them.

General Rules

Entries must be based on works originating in Japan, such as anime, manga, games, live-action television series, J-rock groups, etc.
Previously published works are acceptable.

We will be investigating all entries for plagiarism, so if your work is previously published, please note on your entry form where it is and under what pen name.

If your work is found to be plagiarized, you will be disqualified and banned from any further Naka-Kon fanfiction contests in any year.
All entries must be complete. No -in-progress- works will be accepted.
Please have a betareader look at your work. Judges will take grammar and spelling into account in your judging.
Judges reserve the right to disqualify an entry if it is not up to a reasonable, readable standard.
Original Characters are allowed, but the story must include characters from the series/game/group as well.
Crossovers are allowed, but all must be from works originating in Japan, as stated in rule E-I.

Iron Fic Naka-Kon

Are you prepared for the battle of your life? Get your pens and pencils ready for the first ever: Iron Fic Naka-Kon! Join us for a grueling two hours while you put your creative juices to the test. Can you make the judges pick your work over all the rest and name you the Iron Fic Champion?

Paper, pens and/or pencils, and writing surfaces will be provided, but feel free to bring your lucky pen, pencil, or crayon if you think it will help in making you the next Iron Fic Champion! As you are scribbling away, remember to keep it legible. If they can't read your submission, it will be disqualified.

Bribes are accepted (and will be donated to the betterment of Naka-Kon), but will not influence the judges' opinions, especially not their opinions of your handwriting.

Karaoke Contest Rules

Songs must of some sort of Japanese Origin. (Songs from Anime, Sung by a Japanese Band, Japanese Lyrics...)
Songs may be no longer than 5:30. If you feel you need an extension, please send in a request, and we will review it on a case by case basis.
Songs must have lyrics in at least 75% of the song.
Songs must not contain swear words.
Songs must be on the list or sent in at least 24 hours before the contest takes place. We will not be removing vocals on site this year.
Singers must memorize the lyrics to be eligible to receive the Best Lyrical Knowledge prize.

If you are unsure if your song meets the criteria for the contest, email us at contests@naka-kon. We will be happy to investigate. You may also send song requests or files that need vocals removed.

Project Cosplay

Bringing Cosplay to the Runway! Can't get enough of seeing your work strutted down the runway in front of a panel of judges? Do you want to showcase more of your work than the Cosplay Competition allows? Now, don't go running off to your sewing machine just yet! This isn't something you're going to be able to make in advance. Just like Bravo's hit show, Project Runway, all of the work is done on site. Check out our rules to see how you can become Naka-Kon's first Top Designer!

Rules

The elimination round will be held on Friday, February 8th at 7PM. You must attend this or you will be disqualified. If you know you will not be able to attend at this time please do not enter the competition as we would like to give all of our elimination round slots to actual competitors.
During the elimination, we will give the participants a challenge (i.e. Sexy no Jutsu Shippuuden Gaara) and ask them to create a unique spin on it with the provided materials (scissors, fabric, and fabric glue and/or tape). Don't worry; we'll even include a reference shot of the character we're asking you to alter.
If you make it into the finals, you will be given a two hour block in which to work on one challenge that will be showcased during the halftime of the Cosplay Competition.
Designers may enter the Cosplay Competition, however models may not enter.
You must provide your own model. In keeping with the spirit of Project Runway, all models must be female.

If you are interested, send a portfolio of your sewing prowess--anything from Cosplay, personal and commissioned, to the cute little pumpkin costume your aunt forced you to make for your three month old cousin last Halloween (and anything in between!)--to contests@naka-kon.com. Please include a short write-up about why you feel you are qualified to enter the competition, a short blurb about each outfit which must include when you made it and how long it took. You may also include why you made it (i.e. I made Gai-sensei's green spandex uniform because I just learned how to sew on stretchy material) and anything else you think is pertinent. Also, please include a two line, or less, snippet about who you are as a designer. Last day to submit your portfolio is January 25th.