Anime Expo Badge Sale Has Begun & What About WonderCon?

Badge Registration is open for AX! As previously posted, two other anime conventions have already happen in the LA area. Both Anime LA and Anime Impulse took place without being cancelled. So, high hopes that Anime Expo can take place once again at the LA Convention Center.

To Register just head here

 

Anime Expo, July 1-4, 2022, is the largest anime convention in North America and we've covered year after year here on the site. It's our favorite convention in LA. We're so happy to see it's return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WonderCon, which is suppose to take place even sooner, says it's still on for Apr 1-3 at the Anaheim Convention Center, but it doesn't have any details and I don't even see a place to grab a badge. We're just as unsure as you if it's gonna happen. We'll share details if any pop-up. Here's hoping.

Hype: Academy Museum Not As Jewish As People Wanted & Upcoming Exhibitions

Rolling Stone has an article on the brand new Academy Museum and how it forgot about the Jews who formed Hollywood and the movie industry. You can read the controversy here 

 

‘Where Are the Jews?’: Scandal Erupts at the Academy Museum

 

I'm still amazed there's no controversy of it not having it's own parking lot or that the building itself looks rather terrible inside. Woah, exposed concrete, how AMAZING! Yeesh.

 

If still down for the Academy Museum, they do have some great screenings coming up.

• The Godfather Trilogy: In honor of the 50th anniversary of The Godfather (USA, 1972), the Academy Museum will be screening Francis Ford Coppola’s complete trilogy, concluding with the director’s 2020 recut of the third chapter, in new 4K restorations. The March 21 screening is for Academy Museum Members and includes a pre-screening Q&A with Director Francis Ford Coppola. (March 21–24)
• Guillermo del Toro presents Pan’s Labyrinth: A special screening of Pan’s Labyrinth followed by a conversation with writer-director Guillermo del Toro. The film earned six Academy Award nominations including Foreign Language Film, and won for its stunning Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. (Feb 9)
• Everyday Life: The Films of Isao Takahata: Presented in conjunction with the landmark exhibition Hayao Miyazaki, this retrospective includes all of Takahata’s Studio Ghibli features, beginning with the stunning World War II tragedy Grave of the Fireflies (Japan, 1988), as well as a selection of the theatrical films he made earlier in his career. Many of these earlier works also feature collaboration from a young Miyazaki, whom Takahata met when both were working at the famous Toei Animation studio. (Feb 3–16)
• Carnal Knowledge: The Films of Pier Paolo Pasolini: The Academy Museum honors the centennial of poet, philoso­pher, and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini with a complete retrospective of his narrative films interspersed with some unique short and documentary works from his prolific career, all screening on preserved 35mm prints or new DCPs. (Feb 17–Mar 12)
• Special Screening, Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a new print of this 1972 musical satire from the Academy Film Archive. Directed by Robert J. Kaplan, this nearly lost film stars Andy Warhol Factory superstar and Lou Reed muse Holly Woodlawn, as a small-town girl trying to make it in the Big Apple. (Feb 14)

 If down for other exhibits you might want to check out 

Hammer Projects: Ho Tzu Nyen Jan 23–May 8, 2022

 

It looks like you can check out a very strange looking anime on Korea if you go.

 

The 49th Hexagram (2020) is a two-channel video and sound installation that explores the construction of cultural memory and political narrative surrounding the history of the Korean peninsula. Employing the services of an animation studio in Pyongyang, North Korea, Ho Tzu Nyen’s (b. 1976, Singapore) recent work reinterprets scenes of political uprising and mass demonstration as depicted in South Korean narrative film and television. The project aims to form a direct relationship between South Korea’s political history and the tensions that still define the country’s relationship with its northern counterpart. The result is, in the artist’s words, a “game of exquisite corpse across geopolitical barriers.” The video installation is complemented by an experimental soundtrack developed in collaboration with Korean artists and musicians Bek Hyunjin, Park Minhee, and Ryu Hankil. Offering two vocal renditions of texts from the forty-ninth hexagram of the I-Ching, an ancient Chinese divination manual, the installation’s soundtrack composites historical interpretation with translation to speak of revolution and renewal. 

And then is some stranger news The Autry was raising $80 million over the last 6 years-who knew- and will build a "Resources Center—a 100,000 square foot, state-of-the art research and collections-care center—will be home to the combined collections of the Autry and the historic Southwest Museum of the American Indian, numbering more than 600,000 objects, artworks, and cultural materials." But, in Burbank?

Weekly What To Do: What Kind Of Cat Dad Are You?

 

King Kong

Wed, Jan 25, 7:30pm

David Geffen Theater 

Academy Museum

$10

* I know it's stupid, but to get tickets you gotta, choose guest and wait in the que, then you can easily get a ticket 

 

Cakeland Gallery Presents The Beauty War

Jan 27 & More

Cakeland.LA

936 Mei Ling Way

Los Angeles, CA 90012

$15 – $26 

 

"The Beauty War" is a light-and-dark themed immersive art installation: part hall of mirrors, part dark ride, part cake infinity wonderland. The Beauty War's contrasting labyrinth of rooms hold allegorical references to the universal archetypes we all traverse; from birth, independence, fear of the unknown, personal actualization, spiritual illumination and death.

 

Akira in 4k

Friday at Midnight

Nuarte

$14

"Akira, the crown jewel of anime and science fiction, returns to theaters with remastered 4K visuals and remixed audio. In the future, Shotaro Kaneda (voice of Mitsu Iwata) and his motorcycle gang tear through Neo Tokyo, a city divided by growing tensions. But when caught in an accident, Kaneda’s friend Tetsuo Shima (Nozomu Sasaki) discovers a secret government project and receives psychic abilities beyond his control. Originally released in 1988, Akira is based on the best-selling graphic novel by director Katsuhiro Otomo (Steamboy). (Fully subtitled)"

 

 

 

Cat Daddies

Sat, January 29, 2022

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM PST

Laemmle Glendale

207 North Maryland Avenue

Glendale, CA 91206 

 $15

 

CAT DADDIES is a tender portrait of eight men whose love for cats has changed their lives, from internet celebrity to occupational therapy - and in the case of one disabled homeless man, a reason to hope.

 

Uncorked: LA Wine Fest

Sat, January 29, 2022

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Union Station Los Angeles

800 N Alameda St

Los Angeles, CA 90012 

21+

$$

"Join us Saturday January 29th at Union Station for the 6th annual Uncorked: LA Wine Festival. Enjoy over 150 wines from across the globe, gourmet local food trucks, a live band, DJ and more!

There are two sessions for this event. Early admission ($80) is at 5pm and includes an extra hour of tasting plus special pours from select wineries during that first hour. General admission ($65) is at 6pm and the event ends at 9pm. Both tickets include all wine tasting with food sold separately."

L.A.pel Pins Pop-Up 

Sat, January 29

Gallery 1988

 

 "This Saturday, we debut our newest soecil event L.A.pel Pins pop-up, once again curated by Midnight Dogs! Check out this pin from Coolectric Creations! Everything will be released online at gallery1988.com"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOY-ZILLA SWAP MEET #16 

Sat, January 29, 2022 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Toy-Zilla

43 E. Main St.

Alhambra, CA 91801 

Free

 

Come to the TOY-ZILLA OUTDOOR SWAP MEET to buy treasures from different vendors or to sell! Vendors will have an array of amazing pop culture items for sale. Come hang out with local community members and browse for Collectibles - Toys - Games - Comics - and Art while enjoying the beautiful morning air in the heart of Alhambra. Our Swap Meet is always a great chance to get items at great prices!

 

Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined

January 30–February 13, 2022  

LACMA

Resnick Pavilion

$ LACMA Admission

 

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined, an exhibition that revisits groundbreaking music through visual art. Artists often cite music as a source of inspiration, capturing the sonic experience through color and form, or translating musical innovations into their own practices. In this exhibition, a diverse, intergenerational group of contemporary visual artists are in creative dialogue with iconic musical artists. These artists responded to songs and albums released by Interscope Records over the last three decades with works of their own in a range of media. The exhibition will present over 50 artworks by 46 visual artists; a majority of the works are newly commissioned pieces and will be presented for the first time to the public.
 

Featured visual artists include Cecily Brown, Lauren Halsey, Rashid Johnson, Takashi Murakami, Ed Ruscha, and more; many of the artists are represented in LACMA’s permanent collection. Iconic musicians from the last three decades include Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Nine Inch Nails, Lady Gaga, and more. 

 

Citizen Kane 

Tue, Feb 1, 7:30pm

David Geffen Theater 

Academy Museum

$10

Year of the Tiger Celebration

Tuesday, February 1 - Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Santa Monica Place is located at 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, at Broadway and Third Street Promenade. 

 

Guests will enjoy red and gold lanterns draped over Center Plaza that illuminate the night sky, as well as red envelopes with special deals from participating shops and restaurants, take-home craft kits and fortune cookies. Well-wishers will have the opportunity to participate in a Lunar New Year tradition by hanging their wish on the cherry blossom wishing trees for prosperity and renewal for the new year.

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007 

Free, Must RSVP 

Director Joachim Trier returns with another modern twist on a classically constructed character portrait of contemporary life in Oslo. Chronicling four years in the life of Julie, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD examines one woman’s quest for love and meaning in the modern world. Fluidly told in twelve chapters, the film features a breakout performance by Cannes Best Actress winner Renate Reinsve as she explores new professional avenues and embarks on relationships with two very different men (Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum) in her search for happiness and identity.

 

Largo, known for comedy shows, is back open and selling out shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman to name a few.

Smorgasburg Los Angeles

Every Sunday
10am-4pm at @rowdtla

 

 

 

 

 

Film

American Cinematheque

Secret Movie Club

 

 

Cinelounge Drive-In

 

 

Electric Dusk Drive-In

 

 

Hollywood Legion Theater Drive-in 

Murderville & Blacklight

 

Murderville is coming to Netflix Feb 3rd and it actually looks fun. A celebrity guest teams up with Will Arnett trying to solve a murder per episode, except the celebrity doesn't have a script. It doesn't have a lot going for it as Will Arnett tries to produce as many shows as possible and put himself in them all. But, it's only got 6 episodes and I wonder how well it'll work.

It's based on a British show with the exact same concept with even lesser known British celebs as to why you've never heard of it.

And it wouldn't be a new year if 69-year-old Liam Neeson wasn't in a new action movie. And it looks like total c#$p. Blacklight looks like it should already be on streaming and not wasting anyone's time even going into theaters. Does Neeson owe a bunch of ex-wives money? Why does he keep making these?

Look Up Little Tokyo

Should we start with the Otaku tattoo store or rush ahead to the Japanese super market with special treats you can't get anywhere else? Japanese supermarket it is.

And it's all in LA's lovely Little Tokyo, a haven for those fans of anime and of course, wanting to visit Japan. Little Tokyo isn't all that big, just a few blocks, but you can definitely spend a whole day there. With so many stores and places to grab a bite it's just a wonderful spot to visit downtown.. Please, please get some Japanese food and not Subway. 

If you want a snack, treat, meal or just something to show off to friends head to the Marukai Market

123 S Onizuka St. #105, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This is the largest Japanese supermarket in Little Tokyo. There's two more and they just can't compare to the selection. They import candy, drinks and all kinds of snacks from Japan. So, you'll be getting stuff your friends aren't. Try a strange flavor of potato chip or get a special flavor of soda that you can't find anywhere else.

*Though, it's called Marukai Market it's clearly part of the Don Quijote discount store brand of Japan with all the signage of the mascot Donpen, a blue penguin, you can see up in the store.

If you want a real meal and not just snacks and silly hats to put on your hat head over to. Champion’s Curry 136 S Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012. We've got a full review here, but its easily become our favorite place to eat at when we're in Little Tokyo. And so tasty!

If you want something a little bit different, we're saying try this place on the name alone. Pho Ever 319 E 2nd St Ste 205 Los Angeles, CA 90012 is a Vietnamese restaurant with a good looking menu of eats. 

Now, if you want to grab something there's plenty of stores. The multiple store of Anime Jungle 319 E 2nd St UNIT 103, Los Angeles, CA 90012 means you can pretty much get or order and Japanese figure or toy you want, but there's more than that.

You also have the video game store of World 8-2, 319 East 2nd Street Suite #120 Los Angeles CA 90012. A sister store of World 8, they carry a bunch of video games and the older stuff, so you can look for classic games for older systems. Could use a bit more decorations, but it's the only game store in Little Tokyo.

 For what looks like a sketchy online anime store became real you have Style Outlet LA 340E 2nd street, Suite 334-A Los Angeles, CA 90012 . A hilarious name, when inside it's really got the most random of anime stuff. And, it's filled to brim with it.

 

Listen, just be careful if you buy anything and don't expect it to last.

Now about that tattoo parlor, Otaku Vision Studios 123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 can put Naruto or whatever ninja on your skin, but they also have a little retail and it's 18+ inside.

You can get this lovely tote bag from Visions that'll turn heads.

Then from dirty and naughty let's go to bright colors and cute!

My eyes! My eyes! The colors they burn! Like looking into a utopian future LA, we have the brightest of outfits displayed in Mokuyobi 101 Japanese Village Plz Los Angeles, CA 90012. This retail store makes you think you've found the nemesis to Hot Topic as it's so dang positive in here. A rainbow collection to light up your sense of style.

And those are just some of the stores and restaurants in Little Tokyo. There's many other places to peek into or get lost in, but it's a wonderful place to spend a day wandering through. So, head down to downtown, just pay for parking at one of the pay lots and look around for some Japanese themed fun.

And if you see that Arthur, playing music on his keyboard just tip him some money.