No Brand Con
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| No Brand Con | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ramada Inn Convention Center Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| Years in existence | 2002 to present |
| Attendance | 600 as of No Brand Con 2006 |
| List of events | Cosplay contest, panels, variety show, video game tournaments, AMV contest, karaoke, dance, and art auction |
| Official Website | |
No Brand Con is an anime convention held yearly in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the United States. It was, and currently remains, the first and only Anime convention in the state of Wisconsin. No Brand Con is run by the Anime Appreciation Society of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. No Brand Con is most noted for its friendly, communal atmosphere, along with its strange annual themes. It runs 24 hours a day, for three days. No Brand Con guests often dress up as anime and video game characters, also known as cosplay.
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[edit] History
Inspired by their past experiences working at conventions, the membership of Otaku Anonymous, a local anime club, decided to create their own. As most members of Otaku Anonymous were University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Students at the time, they formed an official University organization (The Anime Appreciation Society, or AAS) to be the host of said convention. No Brand Con was first held in 2002 for two days at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Davies Center, with an attendance of 115. Due to growth, the convention was forced to move off the University campus in 2005. Attendance for the most recent No Brand Con was just over 600.
[edit] List of Convention Dates and Locations
- April 5-6, 2002 @ University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- April 4-6, 2003 @ University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- March 12-14, 2004 @ University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- April 15-17, 2005 @ Plaza Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- April 21-23, 2006 @ Ramada Inn Convention Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- April 20-22, 2007 @ Ramada Inn Convention Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
[edit] Origins of the Name
The term No Brand Con is a reference to the OAV series for Here is Greenwood, or more specifically the ending theme of said anime. During the song (which is performed in Japanese) the line "We are the No Brand Heroes" is sung in English. A staff member of No Brand Con is likewise known as a "No Brand Hero."
[edit] The NoBrandVerse
A strangeness to No Brand Con is that it features an ongoing storyline which is continued both through events at the convention, along with Alternate reality game styled events occurring on the official convention website and its forums (the characters sometimes interacting directly with visitors to the site). This, along with a list of various other oddities, are usually referred to as the NoBrandVerse.
[edit] Cast of Storyline Related Characters
[edit] Duct Tape Boy
Duct Tape Boy was introduced as the mascot for No Brand Con in its second year. Varying origin stories of the character have been proffered over time; however, no official story other than "he's a guy covered in duct tape" has been considered convention canon. He is described as a "Discount Super Hero," and thus continues with the theme of "No Brand Heroes." Duct Tape Boy's origins actually predate No Brand Con, the character most notably appearing several years earlier in association with the now defunct WestCon of Wausau, Wisconsin.
During the official convention storyline, Duct Tape Boy has had to suffer various misfortunes, including being killed, resurrected during his own funeral, sent off to work in a Chinese sweatshop, brainwashed by an evil corporation, and finally freed from the clutches of a small, two foot tall robot.
The Actor who plays Duct Tape Boy prefers to remain Anonymous.
[edit] Green Boy
Green Boy is the sidekick of Duct Tape Boy. His costume has varied over the years, but is primarily recognized by his green mask and the large letter Q (written in duct tape) on a green T-shirt. If asked what the Q stands for, he will usually respond with the answer "The Q stands for Green Boy!"
Green Boy functions as the straight man in the convention storyline, often saving Duct Tape Boy from various dangers.
Green Boy is played by Topher Marohl.
[edit] The Gardening Ninja
The Gardening Ninja started as a reference to a minor moment in the first Hanzo the Razor film. Due to ignorance regarding Japanese history, the staff of No Brand Con mistook a group of Edo period Firefighters for Gardeners, and declared them the "Gardening Ninja." The three Hanzo the Razor films are shown at No Brand Con annually (the first as a Friday night midnight showing), and Rocky Horror Picture Show style callbacks are shouted by the audience. The character of the Gardening Ninja (or more appropriately, "The Gardening Ninja Master") began as a non-Storyline character initially, as the actor who plays said character only dressed up as such for the first Hanzo film; however, beginning with the 2006 convention, the Gardening Ninja was incorporated into the overall storyline.
The Gardening Ninja is played by Trae Dorn
[edit] Cardboard Commando
Cardboard Commando is a former compatriot of Duct Tape Boy and Green Boy, who went his separate way due to an absolute hatred of Duct Tape Boy. Cardboard Commando's name comes from the elaborate cardboard armor he wears, although more recently he has been seen with only a helmet. When Duct Tape boy "died," it was Cardboard Commando who performed the eulogy. Cardboard Commando has also appeared during convention events (via a video projected on screen) as well.
Cardboard Commando is played by Steve Gernaey.
[edit] Minor characters
The NoBrandVerse has featured various other characters over the years - including Science Teacher Lady, Bubble-Wrap Girl, Executron/Robo-Gojira (not to be confused with Godzilla or Mechagodzilla), and Wilson Oakes of the evil "BrandCorp."
Real members of the staff have also played themselves within the storyline.
[edit] Non-Storyline Characters
Non-Storyline Characters are those who are separate from the ongoing plot, but who still hold significance to the "NoBrandVerse" in some way.
[edit] The Con-Goers
The "Con-Goers" are a boy and girl, usually drawn in chibi form, created for No Brand Con signage and merchandise. They are designed to represent two average No Brand Con attendees, and nothing else.
They were originally designed by Reanna King for the 2003 Convention, but have also been drawn by various other artists for the convention.
[edit] Brandi
Brandi was the original Mascot of No Brand Con, designed for early promotional materials by Trae Dorn. Brandi was phased out in favor of Duct Tape Boy for several reasons, most importantly that no one would actually be able to play said character during convention events.
[edit] The Is My Roommate Dead? Stick
The "Is my Roommate Dead?" Stick was created by the staff of No Brand Con as a strange promotional item, consisting of a thin wooden dowel (advertised as being made of "Hi-tech, carbon fibers") along with an instruction sheet. Its use is fairly straightforward, as its name would imply. The instructions begin with the sentence, "Poke your roommate with the stick, and see if he or she moves."
