Naka-Kon Announcements

Vote on our new mascot's name!

March 6, 2010 at 8:10 PM

We've collected your name suggestions, and the top five submissions are now available on the Naka-Kon forums.

The poll will close on Saturday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. All voters must sign up for a free forum account. Please register well before the voting deadline, as our director of online media must authenticate your account before you can log in.

Cosplay Cosmic Bowling - March 20

February 28, 2010 at 3:53 PM

Cosplay Cosmic Bowling

Place: Olathe Lanes East, 303 North Lindenwood Drive, Olathe, KS 66062

Time: 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Cost: $12 per person, including non-bowlers. Price includes shoe rental for bowlers. We will also be selling kon swag such as t-shirts and dog tags, so bring a little extra money for swag and snacks.

Attire: Feel free to wear modest cosplays or your rave gear. Cosmic Bowling means black lights and disco balls!

Here’s how it works:
1. Arrive at Olathe Lanes East any time after 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.
2. DO NOT PAY THE BOWLING ALLEY – PAY NAKA-KON.
3. Head to the back room to pay (cash or check), get your hand stamped and be assigned to a bowling lane.
4. Show your hand stamp at the shoe counter to get your bowling shoes.
5. Go to your assigned lane and bowl away!

Bowling lanes are first-come, first-served. If you don’t like the lane you have been assigned to, you can swap with someone on another lane if you both talk to the Naka staffer who assigned you lanes before you switch.

Please RSVP no later than 24 hours before the event on Facebook or shoot an e-mail to konclub@naka-kon.com.

2011 Badge Contests and Commemorative 2010 DVD

February 23, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Thank you all for coming to Naka-Kon for a spectacular sixth year!

If you plan to come to Naka-Kon 2011, make sure you fill out a survey and tell us what you thought of 2010. We’ll be using your answers to decide on a location for Naka 2011 (which is why we haven’t announced that yet). You also have a chance to win a free badge to Naka 2011 just by filling out this short survey, so make sure to take advantage of that!

We’re also having a contest to name our new phoenix mascot. Here’s how it works:
1. E-mail your mascot name suggestion, along with your real name, to phoenix@naka-kon.com.
2. Let the Naka-Kon staff narrow down the name choices to the top five names.
3. Visit the Naka-Kon forums two to three weeks after the convention to vote on your favorite phoenix name. Visit the Suggestions section and look for the sticky topic named “Mascot Naming Contest” to place your vote.
4. Watch for an announcement of the winning name three weeks after the convention.
The person who suggested the winning name will win a free badge to Naka-Kon 2011.

Finally, if you never want to forget your experiences at Naka-Kon 2010, you can order a commemorative CD or DVD containing photos and video (including the cosplay contest) taken by our official photographer and videographer. They only cost $15 including shipping (or $20 for the CD and DVD set), so make sure to pre-order your copy today.

Once again, thank you all for making Naka-Kon 2010 the stunning success it was. We’ll see you all next year!

Love,
The Naka-Kon Staff

Naka-Kon 2010 Attendance

February 21, 2010 at 5:39 PM

Numbers for this year: 222 staff, guests and vendors, and 3862 attendees. That's 4084 total people here for kon! Woohoo!

Naka-Kon 2010 Schedule and Program Book available online!

February 19, 2010 at 10:49 AM

Hey everyone, for your viewing pleasure I give you the Naka-Kon 2010 Program Book (.pdf) and the Naka-Kon 2010 Schedule of Events (.pdf) for 2010! Download them to your laptop or smart phone and have all the information you need for this years convention at your digital fingertips. Then come by and get the real ones with your badge. Trust me, this year's program book is really cool!

Naka-Kon 2010 revs up today!

February 18, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Pre-registration badge pickup starts tonight from 7:00 to 10:00. That means staff members are already on-site, and may not have access to the Naka-Kon forums, Facebook page, Twitter or e-mail accounts.

If you have a question that you need answered, please read the Naka-Kon website to make sure the answer is not already listed. If you still have questions, you can ask any staff member (we'll be wearing bright red shirts that say STAFF on them) once you get to the convention.

See you soon!
<3, the staff

Last call for convention assistants!

February 15, 2010 at 3:35 PM

Naka-Kon still needs more people to help things go smoothly this year! We're looking for a few good people who can help run the volunteer desk this weekend.

Here's what you get:
* One free badge (we'll refund yours if you paid already!)
* One free staff shirt (they look really cool!)
* Unlimited access to the Kon Suite (drinks and munchies for free!)
* Access to the 'Dead Dog' party on Sunday night (even more drinks and munchies for free!)
* Access to the convention assistant subsections on the Naka-Kon forums
* The pleasure of knowing that you were an integral part of Kansas City’s premier Anime Convention!

Please apply as soon as possible if you're interested. We really need your help!

2010 Vendors and Artists

February 10, 2010 at 10:27 AM

A listing of 2010 vendors and artists is now available on the Exhibit Hall page.

Panel listing and schedule

February 6, 2010 at 5:36 PM

The panel listing and schedule for Naka-Kon 2010 are now live at http://naka-kon.com/panel.

Registration lines and room parties

February 4, 2010 at 9:36 AM

Want to know what to bring to get through the reg line as fast as possible? Check out our updated registration FAQ.

Thinking about having a room party? Make sure to OK it with the convention committee no later than February 16. All the room party rules are on our rules page.

Kon Rate Hotel Room Deadline Extension

January 21, 2010 at 11:15 AM

Forgot to get your hotel room booked before the 16th? Lucky you - the Hyatt has graciously extended Kon rate reservations to February 6. Until that date, rooms only cost $119 per night via this link. Regular rate hotel rooms cost upwards of $177, so make sure to book your room before the 6th!

2010 Staffing and Volunteering

January 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM

Want to be staff but thought it was too late to apply? Great news: it's not! Naka-Kon is still hiring reliable staffers for 2010. In addition to a free badge (we'll refund yours if you pre-registered), you also get a nifty staff t-shirt and access to the (very cool) Dead Dog party on Sunday night.

Right now we need people for the following sectors: A/V, contests, guests, information desk, programming, registration, security and volunteers. For deets on how to apply and what all of your benefits will be, check out our state of the art registration system. (You have to have a forum account to apply, but it only takes a moment and is completely free.)

If staffing doesn't float your boat, consider volunteering instead - you can earn back up to half of your badge cost and get a free, limited edition volunteer medallion (while supplies last). If you pre-register to be a volunteer, you will receive a work schedule via e-mail two weeks before the convention.

Remember, without people like you Naka-Kon wouldn't exist. Join in on the fun today!

Did you miss the final guest announcements?

January 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM

Never fear - just click here to listen to Saturday night's Deadly Loofah Radio podcast. Listen closely to find out who our final six guests will be - we announced our musical guest on the podcast as well!

2010 Volunteers Needed

January 16, 2010 at 3:47 PM

Want to help out the kon but don't have time to be a staffer? No problem - just sign up to be a volunteer! Volunteers are needed in all areas of the convention, from the information desk to the cosplay contest.

When you volunteer at least four hours, you will earn a quarter of your badge price back; when you volunteer at least eight hours, you will get half of your badge price back. This year, volunteers who work four hours or more will also receive a limited edition Naka-Kon Volunteer medallion featuring our new mascot.

To find out more about volunteering and its requirements, please visit our volunteer page.

P.S.: You don't have to sign up online to be a volunteer, although we do recommend signing up ahead. We will also offer volunteer positions at the convention.

Five Live Guest Announcements Saturday 1/16

January 15, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Itching to know who our next five guests will be? Tune into a special episode of Deadly Loofah Radio, a Kansas City based podcast, on Saturday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. to find out! Come with questions - we'll also be doing a Q&A session after the announcements.

Deadly Loofah Radio is hosted on Talkshoe, a free commmunity calling service. Registering for Talkshoe is optional but recommended.

Kon Rate Hotel Rooms

January 14, 2010 at 9:39 AM

Planning on staying at the Hyatt for Naka 2010? Book your room by January 16 (that's this Saturday) to guarantee your kon room rate of $119 per night. If you're not sure if you'll need a room or not, go ahead and reserve one - you can cancel your reservation free of charge until 3:00 p.m. the day before your stay.

Staying at the Hyatt doesn't just guarantee you a comfy place to crash during kon - you will also get up to four Kon Supporter cards per room! Kon Supporters get the following benefits:
* Access to the Kon-suite, a room with drinks and munchies available for free!
* A $5 discount on Kon t-shirts
* One extra guest autograph session
* A first look in the Vendor room on Saturday and Sunday
* Reserved seating at special events

This year, your limited edition Naka-Kon hotel key card will double as your Kon Supporter card. Just be careful not to lose it once you get it, because the hotel will give you a plain keycard as a replacement.

For more details on the Hyatt and on the Kon Supporter system, check out our Location page.

Pre-Registration Closes Jan. 12

January 8, 2010 at 9:50 AM

Remember: you have only 4 days left to pre-register for $35! After midnight on January 12, you'll have to buy badges at the door for $45. http://naka-kon.com/registration

Naka-Kon hits the airwaves

January 6, 2010 at 3:22 PM

Tune in to anime internet radio station 91.8 The Fan on Thursday, January 7 at 3:00 p.m. central time to hear an exclusive Naka-Kon radio interview with Aeris.

Game room donations now open

January 6, 2010 at 2:46 PM

Naka-Kon's game room runs off of donations from staff and attendees alike.

Do you have a TV, game, or console to loan to Naka-Kon's game room? Check out our forum donation thread for details: http://is.gd/5NaTG

You do not need a forum account to view the thread or donate.

Artist Alley

January 4, 2010 at 9:50 AM

Artist Alley tables for Naka-Kon 2010 are now sold out. Thank you to all of the artists who applied.

Formal Ball and Lolita Tea

January 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Members of our forums asked for it, and we listened: Naka-Kon 2010 will feature both a formal ball and a Lolita tea party!

The formal ball will be held on Friday night of the convention. While the ball is not necessarily a black tie affair, it is certainly not a causal event. Dress up your best cosplay, wear your formal mecha pilot uniform, or just something elegant that will catch the eye. Make sure you can dance in it!

The Lolita tea party will be held Sunday afternoon of the convention, and will include tea and refreshments. Tickets to the tea will be available at the information desk during the convention for $10 to offset the cost of catering.

P.S.: Are you an Otaku USA fan? Be sure to check out the new February issue, which is on shelves now, for a Naka-Kon reminder in the Shotengai section.

Greg Ayres and The Balloon Guy

December 19, 2009 at 5:32 PM

Greg Ayres, voice actor and DJ, will return to entertain Naka attendees with panels and party tunes. Dustin "The Balloon Guy" Reudelhuber and his wife Angela will also return to deck the halls of Naka-Kon with fantastic balloon art. You can read more about them on our guest page.

Contests, Game Shows and Fanfiction

December 16, 2009 at 7:22 PM

The Fanfiction, Karaoke and AMV contest rules are now up on the Contest page. Game show teasers are also available on the Game Show page.

We're doing a little something new this year with the fanfiction contest, as well - outstanding stories may be featured in the Naka-Kon 2010 program book. If you would like your story to be considered for inclusion in the program book, submit your story via the Fanfiction submission form no later than midnight on Dec. 31. The final deadline for Fanfiction contest entries is Feb. 5.

Naka-Kon on Ice

November 12, 2009 at 5:36 PM

Suffering from Naka-Kon withdrawl? We've got a cure: join your fellow kon-goers at the Crown Center Ice Terrace this December 12th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You'll also be able to pick up free kon swag.

Regular admission to the ice rink costs $6, or is free for adults over age 60 and children ages 4 and under. Skate rental costs $3, or skaters may bring their own.

Cosplay is, of course, encouraged but not required. See you there!

P.S.: This will unfortunately not be a private Naka-Kon party, merely a time when we descent on the Ice Terrace en masse. Please do your best not to scare the normies.

First Five 2010 Guests Announced

November 9, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Start collecting anime and manga for our 2010 guests to sign. Here are the first five 2010 guests, and a few reasons why you will love to meet them all.

Voice actor Kyle Hebert is Kiba of Naruto, Kamina of Gurren Lagann, and Gohan of DBZ.

Voice actor Chris Ayres is Johnny of One Piece, Camillo of Romeo x Juliet, and ADR director of Nerima Daikon Bros.

Webcomic artist Amelie Belcher is the creator of "The Real Life Adventures of Amelie" at http://cordeval.com.

Voice actor Wendy Powell is Envy of FMA, Ms. Hongo of Burst Angel and Hevlaska of D.Gray-Man.

Writer and manga artist M. Alice LeGrow is the creator of Bizenghast.

Vendor, Artist and Panel Submissions Now Available

November 9, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Want to display your wares at Naka-Kon 2010? Put in an application to be a part of our vendor room today.

If you'd like to host a panel, submit one today for consideration. Panelists must be 16 or older. The primary panelist for each panel will be reimbursed $10 for each panel hour.

Naka-Kon 2010's first five guests are...

November 1, 2009 at 7:15 PM

...a closely guarded secret! However, we'll let you in on the conspiracy this week via our Twitter account and Facebook fan page by releasing one name per day, starting Monday.

Our friendly directors will also have information about guests and other convention happenings at Anime Nebraskon this weekend, November 6-8. Stop by to say hi, grab some freebies and pre-register.

Hotel and Badge Registration Now Available

October 16, 2009 at 10:19 AM

Hotel registration for Naka-Kon 2010 is now available for only $119 a night. Attendees who stay at the convention hotel will receive up to four free Kon Supporter badges per room. Kon Supporter perks include early entrance and/or reserved seating at special events such as autograph sessions and the cosplay contest, discounted Kon swag, and access to the Kon Suite (a room with free drinks and munchies).

Badge pre-registration is also available online. Registration prices for this year are as follows:

Early Pre-Registration (submitted or postmarked by November 30, 2009)
Full Weekend Adults (13 and up): $30
Full Weekend Adult Group Members (7 or more people): $25
Full Weekend Children (6 to 12): $10
Children under 6: Free

Late Pre-Registration (submitted or postmarked by January 12, 2010)
Full Weekend Adults (13 and up): $35
Full Weekend Adult Group Members (7 or more people): $30
Full Weekend Children (6 to 12): $10
Children under 6: Free

At-Door Registration
Full Weekend Adults (13 and up): $45
Full Weekend Children (6 to 12): $15
Friday Adults (13 and up): $25
Friday Children (6 to 12): $10
Saturday Adults (13 and up): $30
Saturday Children (6 to 12): $10
Sunday Adults (13 and up): $20
Sunday Children (6 to 12): $10
Children under 6: Free

January 12, 2010 is the last date to pre-register for Naka-Kon 2010. After that date, registration will only be available at the door. Please note that children are not eligible for group rate prices, and group rates will not be available at the door. In addition, single-day pre-registration is not available at this time.

For more information about registration, please visit Registration FAQ or e-mail registration@naka-kon.com.

Staff All-Call on October 11

September 23, 2009 at 6:19 PM

Are you interested in helping staff Naka-Kon 2010? Join us at the final staff all-call on October 11 at 3:00pm in the Pershing Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. We still need both pre-kon staff and on-site staff (a.k.a. con assistants) for many sectors, so this is your chance to interview with directors and find out where you can help.

You can either apply at the all-call or on our application site (forum account required).

Free parking is available at Crown Center, across the skywalk from the Hyatt. Hope to see you there!

Pre-Register at Archon

September 23, 2009 at 6:18 PM

Pre-registration for Naka-Kon 2010 will be available at Archon, St. Louis's science fiction convention, October 2-4. You can pre-register for only $30, visit with Aeris, Ryltar, Teto and VoijaRisa of the Naka-Kon forums, and enter to win kon gear in a free raffle.

2010 Web Site Now Online

September 9, 2009 at 1:10 AM

Have you been itching to see the new 2010 site design? Check it out for yourself at naka-kon.com. We'll be adding updates as the convention gets closer, so be sure to subscribe to our new RSS feed, Twitter feed, LiveJournal feed or Facebook fan page to be notified as more kon information becomes available.

Play in the Naka-Kon Gaming Room at JapanFest

September 4, 2009 at 9:25 AM

Hang out with all your Kon friends in the Naka-Kon Gaming Room at the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival on Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 to 8:30. Play games such as Blazblue, DDR, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Taiko Drum Master and more. Don't forget to sign up for the 2:00 BlazeBlue tournament for a chance to win fabulous kon swag.

You can also pre-register for a 2010 full-weekend badge for only $30, and this weekend only you will receive a FREE 2009 dog tag with the purchase of every badge while supplies last. Cash or check only, please.

The festival will be held at the Carlsen Center of Johnson County Community College in Overland Park. Details about the festival can be found on the JapanFest Web site. Festival admission costs $7 for adults and $4 for students and children.

Pre-register for only $25 this weekend

July 7, 2009 at 11:32 PM

Going to Anime Fest Wichita or Tokyo in Tulsa this weekend? Bring an extra $25 in cash and you can pre-register for Naka-Kon 2010 at the lowest price of the year.

You can also enter a FREE raffle for a badge, t-shirt, or dog tag, so be sure to stop by and say hi!

2010 Staff All-Call

June 23, 2009 at 4:25 PM

There's a few updates to the staff system for Naka-Kon 2010.

First, would you like to help out the convention while still enjoying everything Naka-Kon has to offer? Put in an application to be an Ops Convention Assistant! Naka-Kon is looking for 3-5 dedicated Convention Assistants to work approximately 20 hours total: some on Thursday and Friday before the Kon helping to set up, and some on Sunday night and Monday after the Kon helping to teardown and pack out. If you're available on those days you can fill out an application here: http://naka-kon.com/mako/applications/ Special priority will be given to people who have the qualifications, experience, and willingness to drive a large truck, so if that's you be sure to include it in qualifications. This is a great way to get all the benefits of being a convention assistant while still having the freedom to attend every event you can cram into 3 days!

We're setting up a staff all-call meeting for everyone who wishes to be staff, convention assistant, or director of Naka-Kon 2010. The meeting will be held July 19 at 3:00 pm in the Hyatt Regency Crown Center's Choteau B. If you haven't yet filled out an application we will have them there for you to fill out. This meeting will be a great chance to find out what we have planned for Naka-Kon 2010 and find out how you can help!

Parking for the meetings is being checked on. I believe there will be free parking at the hotel for stays under 4 hours, we are checking with the service to make sure. Watch the announcements on the forums for more information. If not, Crown Center's garage is free and you can walk the habitrails over, just be sure to plan enough time for walking after you park.

Hope to see you there!

~Aurora Celeste
Naka-Kon 2010 Con Com

2010 Staff Applications Now Open!

June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM

As Naka-Kon grows in size, it needs more and more people to help organize and run. If you're interested in finding out how the premier Kansas City anime con runs and want to help make Naka-Kon 2010 even better than 2009, apply to be a staff member today!

You can even be staff if you aren't local to the Kansas City area, or if you can only work the weekend of the convention. Find out more on the application page.

You will need a Naka-Kon forum log in to apply.

P.S.: Poke your friends if you think they'd be interested as well. More help = a better convention!

Re-Kon Date and Location Change

June 4, 2009 at 1:37 AM

Due to park availability, Re-Kon has been relocated. It will now be held on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 to 8:00 at Kill Creek Park in Olathe. For more information, please visit Facebook event page and the forum thread.

Re-Kon: The Naka-Kon Reunion

May 28, 2009 at 10:02 AM

Come have fun with your fellow kon-goers at Shawnee Mission Park! We're planning DDR, a water balloon fight, lots of food on the grill and more. Included in the cover charge: one hot dog and one hamburger (or boca burger) per person. We'll also have those stickers and bendy pens you've been hearing about, and a free t-shirt or three.

Date: Saturday, June 13
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Approx. $5 (TBD when RSVPs are in)
What to bring: games, snacks to share, drinks to share

A rule of thumb on bringing snacks and drinks: if you plan to have some, plan to bring some.

To RSVP, please mark yourself as an attendee on the Facebook event page no later than May 30. If you're not on Facebook or you'd like to bring a guest that isn't on Facebook, let us know how many people you're bringing at press@naka-kon.com (same deadline). In addition, please let us know what food or games you can donate to the cause via e-mail or the Facebook wall. That way we can figure out how much food to get and let you know the final event cost (which shouldn't be more than $5).

P.S.: We love homemade goodies!

Forum Rules Updated

May 19, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Please read over the updated forum rules, several items have been changed. On May 26, any violations of these modified rules will be taken care of by the moderation staff. The most common item that will be changed by the new rules are signatures. Any that don't follow the rules will be modified and/or deleted.

Forum software upgrade tonight.

May 17, 2009 at 7:21 PM

Hello, all. Just your neighborhood SysOp letting you know to expect a few hours of forum downtime tonight as we upgrade the board software. We'll try to make this as painless as possible. Recent posts and PMs may be consumed by the void so I would avoid using the PM system for critical messages, use the email function instead. Again, this upgrade should not take more than a couple hours and will begin tonight. Thank you for your patience.

Freebies at ConQuesT

May 15, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Are you suffering from kon withdrawl symptoms? Relieve them by visiting the Naka-Kon table at Kansas City's sci-fi convention, ConQuesT! Grab some cool new free stuff and enter to win kon shirts and dog tags this Memorial Day weekend, May 22-24.

ColossalCon 8 Badge Drawing

April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM

Want to go to ColossalCon, the only anime convention with a built-in water park? We've got five certificates to give away, each worth one badge for you and two badges for your friends! Fill out this form by midnight on May 2, 2009 to enter a drawing for a chance to win one of these fabulous prizes.

ColossalCon takes place June 4-7, 2009 in Sandusky, Ohio. Click here to visit the ColossalCon Web site.

Good luck!

Steve Blum and Jerry Gelb at KC Con!

April 22, 2009 at 5:36 PM

Need something to do over Memorial Day weekend? Guess what! Steve Blum and Jerry Gelb are going to be in KC, and you can go see them! The local sci-fi convention, ConQuest, has two special anime guests this year. Steve Blum (Spike Spiegel-Cowboy Bebop, Luke Storm-Scrapped Princess, Orochimaru-Naruto, Vincent Arthai-Last Exile) and Jerry Gelb (Master Kobari-Witch Hunter Robin, Shadkins-Cowboy Bebop the Movie, Eagle Vision-Magic Knight Rayearth 2) will be doing panels and signing autographs.

For Naka-Kon attendees ConQuest should seem very familiar. It's at the same hotel (the Hyatt Regency Crown Center) and even though it's a sci-fi convention, it'll have a lot of the same events, like panels, a game room with lots of DnD and roleplaying games, a cosplay contest (called a masquerade), a vendors room with cool stuff to buy, and lots of fans dressing up. Here's the basic info:

ConQuest 40

May 22-24, 2009

Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, MO

$45 Adults until April 30

$55 Adults at door

http://www.conquestkc.org/

Hope to see you there!

Dear Naka-Kon 2009 attendees

March 25, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Dear Naka-Kon 2009 attendees,

All the staff members wanted to send out a great big "thank you" note to everyone who came and helped make the kon a success this year. Without all of you, our loyal attendees, Naka-Kon wouldn't exist and Kansas City would be just another boring dot on the map.

As some of you may have heard already, we had a grand total of 2,915 paid attendees. If you include staff, vendors, artists, guests, and others who received complementary badges, we had 3,125 attendees! Last year only about 2,200 people came. Thanks for coming back and bringing your friends with you.

Even though the kon just happened last weekend, we'd like you to do us a favor. Grab your calendar for next year and mark off February 19-21. Naka-Kon will be returning to the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, and pre-registration and hotel room reservations will be available within the next few months! The kon room rate is staying at the remarkably low price of $109 a night (plus tax and fees) - that's less than half the normal room price.

To make it easy for you to get updates about next year's convention, like when pre-registration opens and what guests we've invited, we're posting news on several different sites. In addition to the Naka-Kon announcement page (which is RSS-friendly), you can follow us on Twitter, friend us on LiveJournal and MySpace, and become our fan on Facebook.

Lastly, we'd like to ask you one more favor. If you didn't get a chance to fill out a paper survey at the kon, we'd love to hear what you think worked and what needs improvement for next year. In addition to helping us make next year's kon even better, if you fill out an electronic survey by April 1, you'll be entered in a drawing for a free Naka-Kon 2010 badge!

Again, thank you for deciding to spend your time with us last weekend. It was great fun to see you all, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

-The Naka-Kon Staff

Greg Ayres

March 11, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Due to health concerns, guest Greg Ayres will not be able to attend Naka-Kon 2009. More details can be found on his Facebook and MySpace friend pages.

Naka-Kon in the News

March 4, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Naka-Kon will be featured in the Sunday, March 8 edition of the Kansas City Star. Be sure to pick up a copy!

p.s.: If you were part of the Naruto photoshoot last year, pick up a few extra copies. You might see a familiar face or two.

2009 Panels and Convention Schedule Available

February 23, 2009 at 7:14 PM

The 2009 convention schedule is up! Download it here.

Descriptions of all 2009 panels and events can be found on the Panels page.

We're on social media sites!

February 21, 2009 at 12:08 PM

If you don't like checking the Naka-Kon Announcements page for updates, you're not alone. That's why we're delivering news to you on the sites you're already on all the time!

Facebook Fan Site (new!)

MySpace Profile

Twitter Updates

LiveJournal Feed

RSS Feed

General Rules, Gaming Room Rules, and Weapons Policy

February 18, 2009 at 1:58 PM

The Naka-Kon general rules, gaming room rules, and weapons policy have been posted.

Pre-registration has closed

February 18, 2009 at 1:04 AM

Sorry, but pre-registration has closed for Naka-Kon 2009 is over. You may still purchase a badge, but only at the convention. See you there!

Pre-reg Deadline Tomorrow (Feb 17)!

February 16, 2009 at 5:54 PM

I just wanted to remind you guys that tomorrow is the deadline for pre-registration! Here are a few pointers for those who are planning to do the last minute rush:

1) Mail-in Registration: As long as the forms and payment both are postmarked by February 17, 2009, your pre-registration will be accepted. It does not have to reach us by February 17, 2009. To be on the safe side, consider getting mail confirmation or insurance to ensure your registration form arrives safely. If you decide to insure your mail, insure it for the at-door registration price.

2) Group Mail-in Registration: If you are pre-registering for a group discount, please send all forms and payments TOGETHER. It makes it easier for our registration staff to organize and keep track of your information. If any groups do decide to send the forms separately, please e-mail registration@naka-kon.com to give us a heads up.

3) Last minute questions: If you have any questions, please try to ask them as soon as possible, preferably today (Monday, February 16). Although we will try our best to accommodate last minute questions that may surface tomorrow, we cannot guarantee that we will answer the immediately upon receiving the questions. Don't forget to check the registration FAQ at http://naka-kon.com/registrationfaq.

After February 17, 2009, badges will only be sold during the convention in March, so pre-register right away and save some money!

Last Chance for Naka-Kon Hotel - Deadline Today!

February 13, 2009 at 5:43 PM

This is your last chance to reserve your room at a reduced rate! You don't have much longer as the deadline is today!

If you cannot reserve a room info@naka-kon.com as we will have a few extras.

Pre-registration deadline extension

February 8, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Because February 16 is President's Day, the pre-registration deadline has been extended to February 17. Register online or have your mail-in registration form postmarked by the 17th or risk getting stuck in line at the door!

Romeo x Juliet Premiere and other updates

February 4, 2009 at 9:42 PM

You've heard the hype, now see the anime for yourself: Naka-Kon will host the U.S. premiere of FUNimation's Romeo x Juliet!

Contest descriptions and rules are now available on the Web site.

The list of 2009 Vendors and Artists has also been updated. Table space in the Vendor room and in Artist's Alley is now completely sold out.

Guest Update and Deadlines

February 3, 2009 at 5:56 AM

Sadly, guest Todd Haberkorn is unable to attend Naka-Kon this year. However, Leah Clark of FUNimation will be joining us in March! Check out her profile on the guest page.

Have you pre-registered for a badge yet? Make sure to register by February 16 to receive a $10 discount.

If you haven't reserved a hotel room yet, book a room by February 12 to receive a room discount and a Kon Supporter ticket.

Announcements galore!

January 17, 2009 at 9:46 PM

Now you can follow Naka-Kon on your favorite microblogging site, Twitter. You'll get Kon updates, fun facts, and guest information. Just go to http://twitter.com/nakakon and click 'follow'.

Our MySpace page has also been revamped and updated. Friend us today!

Have you been waiting for more guest announcements? This is your lucky day: Todd Haberkorn, Brina Palencia, and the band LeetStreet Boys have all signed on to be a part of the biggest anime weekend in the Midwest. Check out the guest page for bios and a music video.

Still trying to get your parents to let you go to Naka? Send them over to the Parent Resources page. They'll find tons of useful information that might help you convince them!

For all you cosplayers out there, the official Cosplay Rules are up! Find out everything you'll need to know about Kansas City's best cosplay contest.

The application deadline for Anime Singled Out is January 31, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

Mail-in AMVs must be postmarked by February 1, 2009.

The Panel Submission deadline is February 2, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

More new guests for 2009

January 2, 2009 at 12:26 AM

Merry Christmas from Naka-Kon! Our gift to you is a little late this year, but we hope you'll like your improved guest line-up. In March, you will be able to see Kevin McKeever of the Robotech Convention Tour, Yamila Abraham of Yaoi Press, Amelie Belcher of Cordeval, and the ever-popular Greg Ayres. Register today and see them for yourself!

Pre-Register by December 16!

December 15, 2008 at 2:50 PM

Are you dying to go to Naka-Kon? The early pre-registration deadline for your local anime convention is Tuesday, December 16. If you register online or have your mail-in registration form postmarked by tomorrow, you save $15 (that's 33%!) off the door price.

Hotel Reservations Available

December 10, 2008 at 12:43 AM

Have you been waiting patiently to book your hotel room?

You'll be glad to know that the wait is over. Check out our Hotel FAQ before you register, then book your hotel room today!

Website!

November 9, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Naka-Kon 2009 Web Site Update

Good news, everyone: the Naka-Kon Web site has been updated with a new design and tons of information about the upcoming Kon. Our first guest of honor has been announced, as have several of our special events. Be sure to subscribe our new RSS feed to stay on top of new information as we announce it.

See you at Naka-Kon '09!

Mascot Art Contest

November 6, 2008 at 10:13 AM

Mascot Art Contest:

Artistic ladies and gentlemen! The time has come once again to take up your pens, pencils and tablets for the Naka-Kon Mascot Art Contest!

Rules:

-- No copyrighted (©) material allowed.

-- Content MUST be appropriate for all ages.

-- Entrant must be 18 or older. Entrants younger than 18 MUST have SIGNED parental permission.

-- The artist will assign all of the rights of the artwork for use by Naka-Kon.

-- Entries cannot have been used/submitted in other contests at other conventions.

- We reserve the right to disqualify an entry at any time if it is discovered that either the artist or the art has broken one of the rules of the contest.

- All decisions of the judges are final.

Regulations:

There are three possible forms for entry.

T-Shirt Art Must fit on 8.5" W x 11" L (Vertical Only)

Badge Must fit 3" x 4" (Either Orientation)

Program Must fit 5.5" W x 8.5" L (Vertical Only)

You may enter all three.

-- The submitted images MUST be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch).

-- Submit the files in either .jpg or .png format. If using .jpg leave uncompressed/"best quality."

Deadline for entry submission is December 25th. (Yes, Christmas Day.) Send your entries or any further questions you may have to Hari-chan at contests@naka-kon.com

Good luck to all entrants! We look forward to seeing your work.

Online Registration

November 4, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Online registration is now open.

http://naka-kon.com/registration

also, there is a Registration FAQ at http://naka-kon.com/registration_faq

If you have any further questions, please email registration@gmail.com

Registration!

September 25, 2008 at 6:15 PM

REGISTRATION PRICES FOR NAKA-KON 09

NOTE PRICES LISTED ARE PRICES FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL BADGE

Early Pre-Registration – Register/Post Mark by December 16, 2008

Full Weekend Individual $30

Full Weekend Group 5-9 people $27

Child Weekend Group 5-9 people $7

Full Weekend Group 10 people or over $25

Child Weekend Group 10 people or over $5

Single Day Individual (Fri, Sat, or Sun) $15

Child Full Weekend $10

Child Single Day $5

Late Pre-Registration –Register/Post Mark by February 16, 2009

Full Weekend Individual $35

Full Weekend Group 5-9 people $32

Child Weekend Group 5-9 people $7

Full Weekend Group 10 people or over $30

Child Weekend Group 10 people or over $5

Single Day Individual (Fri, Sat, or Sun) $20

Child Full Weekend $10

Child Single Day $5

At-Door Registration March 13-15, 2009

Full Weekend Individual $45

Friday $25

Saturday $30

Sunday $20

Child Badge Full Weekend $15

Child Badge Individual Day $10

Online registration, mail-in forms, and the registration FAQ will hopefully be uploaded on website soon. We apologize for the delay and the frustrations this may be causing. If you have any immediate questions regarding registration, please send them to registration@naka-kon.com.

Naka Kon 2009 Date and Location!

July 27, 2008 at 4:24 PM

Naka Kon 2009 is pleased to announce our date and location! We will be at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center March 13-15th! Room rates will be $109 a night. More information will be forthcoming about how to book a room at this amazing rate on the website's Location page.

13th Annual Vince Koehler Film Festival

July 23, 2008 at 9:20 PM

Naka Kon wants to make sure everyone knows about this FREE opportunity to view anime and connect with fans! Cosplay is welcome, and the Naka Kon 2009 Convention Committee will be on hand with a VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!! You'll want to be there!

Here is the information that was posted in "General Discussion":

FREE ADMISSION

Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008

Time: 6:00 PM to approximately 10:15pm

Location: UMKC's School of Education Building, 52nd & Holmes, main entrance: 615 East 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110

FREE PARKING: Parking in the adjacent UMKC lot is free on Saturdays

Digital projection and sound

We'll be selling some "specialty" Japanese food items at our concession stand, such as bubble pop, pocky, and ramen noodles made by our "Iron Chef Tim"!

For those who prefer American food, there will be the usual hot dogs/ chili dogs, chips, soda, candy, cookies, etc.

Here's an easier link to remember for our website:

www.vkff.org

Here's what we'll be showing:

Patlabor: "Ingram Activated"

Last Exile: "First Move" & "Luft Vanship"

The Story of Saiunkoku: "Every Good Deal Has a Catch"

Read or Die (OVA)

PuniPuni Poemy: "Poemy Is In a Bad Mood"

...and a bunch of short bits and funny bits too numerous to mention!

So we hope everyone will "spread the word" to their friends who are interested in Anime.

Again, for more info see our website:

www.vkff.org

If you'd like to arrange a carpool or see who's going, here's the original thread:

http://naka-kon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2725

Hope to see you there!

Archiving

July 16, 2008 at 10:29 PM

Just so everyone knows, we are archiving the information for the 2008 convention, so don't be surprised if the forums now are smaller or threads have moved to the 2008 archive section. Thanks so much everyone!

Staff Meeting 2009

May 31, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Hey friends!

Want to help out Naka Kon '09? We are having a staff all-call meeting June 22 at 1 pm the Big 12 Room at the Kansas Union. Staff members must be at least 18 years old and bring paper and a writing utensil to the meeting.

Map to the Kansas Union

If you need further directions, or are interested in being staff but are unable to make the meeting, please email info@naka-kon.com.

Thank You Volunteers!

February 18, 2008 at 5:13 PM

I would like to take a moment to thank profusely all of the volunteers who assisted us in the running of the convention. You may not have gotten the same recognition as the staff workers, but you were essential to making Naka-kon run as smoothly as it did. You were the ones who helped keep the lines moving and guarded the doors. Armed with clipboards, you were the security measures that kept an eye on the crowds and kept the people from getting rowdy. It was through your help that the shows happened on time, and the dealers were happy

You were the Otaku Heroes that made the convention as awesome as it was. I salute you!

I thank you greatly for all of the work you did over the weekend. I believe I speak for the entire staff when I say that we would love to have you all come back next year and help us again.

Composed by Bishie Serge on behalf of the entire Volunteer Staff.

Pre-Convention Deadlines

January 7, 2008 at 1:25 PM

Here are some deadlines that everyone should be aware of. All of the deadlines that have asterisks (*) by them also have times at the convention that you can make your submission. However, it is highly suggested that you make your entry be these pre-con deadlines so you can ensure that your place is reserved for you.

Registration

Jan. 8th – Last day to pre-register for the convention

Jan. 10th – Last day to book hotel rooms

Jan. 17th – Last day to register your room party (room party rules)

Panels

Jan. 18th – Last day to submit a panel

Cosplay

*Feb 1st – Last day to register for the cosplay competition

*Feb 1st – Last day to submit skit script

Contests

Jan 25th – Last day to send in Fanfiction contest submissions

Jan 25th – Last day to send in your application for Project Cosplay

*Jan 25th – Last day for AMV mail-in submissions

*Feb 1st – Last day for AMV electronic submissions

Volunteers

*Feb 5th – Last day to register for volunteering pre-con

Advertising

Jan. 20th – Last day to submit advertising in the program

New Website is Up!

October 21, 2007 at 5:00 PM

The new layout of the Naka-Kon 2008 website is up! The new webiste contains essential information, like date and location of the convention, as well as other tidbits on other areas of the convention. The site will be bombarded with announcements during the next couple of weeks, so make sure to check it well and check it often!

Archiving!

August 21, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Just so everyone knows, we are archiving the information for the 2007 convention, so don't be surprised if the forums now are smaller or threads have moved to the 2007 archive section. Thanks so much everyone!

Tables at Anime Iowa and AFW

August 14, 2007 at 10:56 PM

The Naka-Kon coordiantors just got back from promotions at AI and are gearing up for Anime Festival Wichita! There we will have a table where you can register for Naka-Kon '08 at it's lowest price EVER! Additionally we will be hosting a room party, so you can get to know the staff and other con-goers. We'll also formally announce the dates and location for 2008 and even have a guest announcement!

2008 Staff Meeting

June 22, 2007 at 2:54 PM

If you would like to become apart of Naka-Kon 2008’s staff team, it’s not too late! A staff recruitment meeting will be held in the beginning of next month.

When: July 8th at 1:00pm

Where: Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union at KU: 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045

Staff members must be at least 18 years old and bring paper and a writing utensil to the meeting.

Mascot Art Contest

June 19, 2007 at 6:54 PM

Do you think you have what it takes to be a Naka-Kon mascot artist? We’re giving you a chance to find out! Between now and November 30th, we are accepting mascot art entries. Be creative, but follow these rules:

• No copyrighted (©) material allowed.

• Content appropriate for all ages.

• Have fun!

Entries must be submitted by Sunday, November 30, 2007. Please send them in an e-mail attachment to contests@naka-kon.com. High quality images are recommended as they will allow us to see more detail, but are not required. If your art is chosen, content may be subject to alteration (for example, only ten colors are permitted for t-shirts, etc…).

Applying for Coordinator and Staff Positions for 2008

March 24, 2007 at 7:57 PM

We are now accepting Coordinator and Staff applications for Naka-Kon ’08!

Coordinators are people involved with running a specific sector(s) of the convention. Coordinators manage staff members assigned to their sectors, contact people related to their sector, and generally ensure that everything relating to their sector(s) is running smoothly. Coordinators are required to attend the monthly staff meetings in addition to more frequent coordinator meetings. Daily access to the Naka-Kon forums is required. You must be at least eighteen (18 ) years of age to apply.

Staff are involved with a specific sector, and assist their coordinator with both pre-con prep and ensuring that everything runs smoothly at con. Meetings will be held monthly, and frequent forum usage is encouraged. Please let us know if you live far away and won’t be available for physical meetings until con, and we will do our best to work with you. You must be at least eighteen (18 ) years of age to apply.

Coordinator interviews will be held April 15th and April 29th. You must indicate interest in the position by April 8th (for the meeting on the 15th) or April 22nd (for the meeting on the 29th).

Staff interviews will be held in late May/June. Indications of interest must be received by May 15th.

If you are interested in becoming either a staff member or coordinator, email info@naka-kon.com and specify which position you would like to apply for. You may also email that address if you have any questions about the positions.

We look forward to working with you to make Naka-Kon even better!

Attention New Forum Members

February 6, 2007 at 10:46 AM

We are currently having a problem with spambot accounts on the forums. So, in order to eliminate them, the administrators are temporarily approving new accounts individually until we can update the boards. If you are signing up a new account, please post your correct location, indicate "anime" in your interests, and/or send an email to info@naka-kon.com and tell us your username. Your account will become active in 24-48 hours.

Thank you for your patience.

Forum Logon Issues

November 29, 2005 at 9:32 PM

Many of our members, primarily those running Internet Explorer have voiced that they are having trouble logging in. There is now a solution to these issues. If you are having these issues you must manually configure your browser to accept the cookies from http://naka-kon.com/forums/. To do this either start Internet Explorer and under the "Tools" menu select options. Under the options menu select the "Privacy" tab. On this page select the "Sites..." button. This will bring up a window prompting you to input the address of the website you wish to add. Enter into that box "http://naka-kon.com/forums/" WITHOUT the quote marks. After you have entered our site url select "Allow". you can also access these menus through "Internet Options" on Windows controll panel. If your problem has not been solved, please leave a detailed post about the issues you are facing, as well as anything you have attempted to do on your own to remedy the problem. I would like to stress very much that all scripts pertaining to the forum are installed and are operating properly.

Forum Rules

October 4, 2005 at 9:43 PM

Forum Rules

1) No flaming - Flaming is the use of derogatory terms, name calling, or generally causing an unfriendly or unhealthy atmosphere. Violators to this rule (flamers) will be dealt with by board moderators and administrators.

2) Limit Spamming - Spamming is any blatant off-topic post. Thread topics are set within the title and context of the first post of each thread. Replying to other people's replies will be acceptable if it furthers the original topic in a productive manner. Board moderators and forum administrators diagnose and treat spam, and their word on spam issues is final.

3) Use discretion with regards to spoilers - Please note the presence or possible presence of spoiler information within a topic as early in each applicable thread as possible.

4) Unauthorized solicitation is not allowed - Please contact us at webmaster@naka-kon.com if you feel your post material is questionable.

5) Copyrighted material may not be posted on the forums - Unless you are the owner of the copyright or if the owner of the copyright has given his or her consent, do not post it. This includes, but is not limited to, posting direct links to places to download files, providing information on where to find the files to download, and providing links to places to watch illegally hosted files.

6) No political discussion - Naka-Kon is seeking non-profit status to improve the quality of the convention, and non-profit laws prohibit political discussion on convention turf.

7) Forum moderators reserve the right to edit forum content - This includes, but is not limited to, non-descriptive or inappropriate thread titles, inappropriate post content, signature content, and image linking.

8) Images may not be posted on the forums - If you have an image (other than an avatar or signature file) that you wish to display, please post the URL of that image.

9) Avatars may be no larger than 100 pixels high by 100 pixels wide.

10) Signatures are limited to a maximum size of 175 pixels high by 500 pixels wide or smaller including text and graphics. Signatures may include a maximum of 1 (one) image.

11) Staff, director and convention committee signature tags may not be copied - These signature tags are reserved for convention staff, directors, and convention committee members. Slightly altered or similar versions of these signature tags are also not allowed.