No Brand Con

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
This article has been tagged since December 2006.
? This article or section may contain original research or unattributed claims.
Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.
This article has been tagged since March 2007.
No Brand Con
No Brand Con logo
ノーブランドカーン
(nouburandokaan)
Status Active
Venue Ramada Inn Convention Center
Location Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Country Flag of United States United States
Years in existence 2002 to present
Organizer Anime Appreciation Socitey of UW-Eau Claire
Attendance 600 as of No Brand Con 2006 (excludes staff, industry, dealers, and guests)
List of events Cosplay contest, panel discussions, variety show, video game tournaments, tabletop gaming tournaments, AMV contest, karaoke, dance, artist alley, and art auction
Official Website

No Brand Con is an annual anime convention held 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 organized by the Anime Appreciation Society of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The convention currently runs from noon Friday through 5pm Sunday. No Brand Con attendees often dress up as anime and video game characters, also known as cosplay.

Contents

[edit] History

Inspired by their past experiences working at conventions, members of the anime club Otaku Anonymous decided to create their own convention. Some of the members, who were also University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students, formed the official university organization called The Anime Appreciation Society (or AAS). Through AAS, members were able to meet new people who shared similar interests, recruit new membership at university functions, and utilize university facilities for the nascent convention.

The first No Brand Con was held for two days in April, 2002 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Davies Center, with an attendance of 115.[1] The following year, the convention was expanded to a three-day event. Due to its continual growth, the convention was moved off campus into a convention center and hotel venue. Attendance for the most recent No Brand Con (2006) was just over 600.[2]

[edit] Origins of the Name

No Brand Con is a reference to the lyrics from the end credits theme song to the OAV series Here is Greenwood. It is not unusual for anime themes to utilize some English (or Engrish) in the lyrics, often leading to comical results. During the end theme, the singer proudly proclaims on behalf of the Here is Greenwood characters, "We are the No Brand Heroes". This fit well with the original concept for the convention, which -- in addition to anime -- would highlight related interests such as comic books, video games, and tabletop/card gaming.

The first available T-shirts had "No Brand Hero" on the back to differentiate between staff and convention attendees. The following year, every shirt had the phrase "No Brand Hero" on it.

The name also refers to the cast of NoBrandVerse characters, each known as a "No Brand Hero", or alternatively as a "Discount Super-Hero".

[edit] Convention History

[edit] April 5-6, 2002

[edit] April 4-6, 2003

[edit] March 12-14, 2004

[edit] April 15-17, 2005

[edit] April 21-23, 2006

[edit] April 20-22, 2007

[edit] Events

  • Cosplay contest - Main event held Saturday evening, includes NoBrandVerse skits
  • Dance - Saturday night, following the cosplay contest
  • Variety Show - Venue for performing un-judged skits
  • Guest of Honor [panel discussion], attendee [panel discussion]
  • Vendor Room - Merchandise for anime, sci-fi, electronic and tabletop gaming, and more
  • 24-hour Video Game Room - including Bemani
  • Tabletop Gaming Room - Role playing, collectible card game tournaments, free play space
  • Artist Alley - a.k.a "Korea"
  • Anime Music Video contest (AMV)
  • Karaoke - Friday and Saturday evenings as part of Omake Activties
  • Art Auction
  • Opening/Closing Ceremonies - involving NoBrandVerse skits

[edit] The NoBrandVerse

No Brand Con features an ongoing storyline, which begins as an Alternate reality game on the official website in the form of news articles and/or associated video. Visitors to the site are able to react to these events on the website forums, often interacting directly with the storyline's characters. The storyline continues through the convention weekend, typically culminating at one of the major events.

The annual installments and their related characters are known collectively as the NoBrandVerse.

[edit] Storylines

  • The Death (and Rebirth) Of Duct Tape Boy (2004)
  • No Brand Con 4 Sale (BrandCorp) (2005)
  • 5-Year Reunion (2006)
  • Matsuri / Battle of the Mascots (2007)

[edit] The Death (and Rebirth) Of Duct Tape Boy (2004)

After his successful (re-)introduction at the second No Brand Con, Duct Tape Boy decided he wanted to expand his horizons, going on a world-spanning vacation in the summer of 2003 that ended in his disappearance.[3] All seemed lost a few months later, when Green Boy discovered a clipping which seemed to describe Duct Tape Boy... and his death.[4] The "remains" were sent for, but horribly rerouted and feared lost forever.[5]

Plans for the opening ceremonies were changed to include Duct Tape Boy's funeral, which was attended by old comrade-in-arms the Cardboard Commando, and ex-girlfrend Bubble Wrap Girl.[6] Soon after reading their rememberances of Duct Tape Boy, Green Boy (himself missing in search of his friend) interrupted the proceedings! He poked the body of Duct Tape Boy with an extra-large "Is My Roommate Dead?" Stick, prompting Duct Tape Boy to immediately awaken. Apparently resurrected, Duct Tape Boy explained that he had been asleep (believed to be part of his molting process), and took over hosting the remainder of opening ceremonies.

Strangely, the t-shirts that year bore the phrase "Duct Tape Boy: Death and Rebirth" next to the artwork, using the same font as "Evangelion: Death and Rebirth", a movie for a popular anime. This is probably just a coincidence.

[edit] Cast of 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] Brandi

Original Mascot of No Brand Con, designed by Trae Dorn, for the 2002 and 2003 conventions. Brandi was included in the "Reunion"-themed t-shirt for the 2006 convention (artwork by Reanna King).

[edit] The Con-Goers

A boy and girl, usually drawn in chibi form, designed to represent two average No Brand Con attendees. Introduced in 2003 and 2004 respectively, the original designs were made by convention staff artist Reanna King. They can be found on current convention advertising, signage and merchandise (such as t-shirts), and have been re-interpreted by other staff artists since their inception.

[edit] Merchandise

In keeping with the mission of making the attendees central to the convention experience, even the merchandise offered by convention organizers encourages attendee participation.

[edit] Thing

Less a piece of merchandise than a perennial convention item, the No Brand Con "Thing" originated from Otaku Anonymous, where "thing" was a large, cylindrical shipping tube covered in graffiti. Other conventions might have a signing board, but No Brand Con encourages attendees to deface an object in 3D!

Past "Things":

  • 2003 - A small, triangular shipping tube with a DVD attached to it (DVD signed by staff)
  • 2004 - Duct Tape Boy's coffin, which was left on display for the entire weekend (despite its occupant not being dead after all)
  • 2005 - Neil Before Zod, one of the the staff members (and No Brand Con 2007 President), sacrificed the surface area of his body when no suitable "thing" was be found
  • 2006 - Signage areas available on the back of convention t-shirts allowed all staff and attendees who owned one to collectively become "thing"

[edit] No Brand Comic

A comic anthology for amateur or professional comic artists. Submissions are accepted in grayscale, and can be up to six 8.5"x11" pages in length. Any comic style or subject matter is accepted, as long as it maintains a "PG-13" rating (to be determined by the staff), and generally falls within the interest of anime, sci fi, and similar themes.

The format was expanded in 2006 to include "No Brand Manga", which is printed in the traditional right-to-left reading format of manga-styled artwork. This change accomodates submissions received from manga artists in Japan, as well as those of any North American artist attempting the style.

Copies of No Brand Comic are free for pre-registered attendees, or available for purchase at the convention.

[edit] T-shirts

Every year, a t-shirt featuring the convention theme is offered for purchase to the attendees. On the front is an image related to the theme for that year, while on the back marks the wearer as a "No Brand Hero".

Most designs offer a way for the buyer to "personalize" their shirt. Designs from 2004 onward have a space marked "Insert Catchphrase here" (or something similar), an in-joke based on the original shirt which bore the same phrase, but offered no way to do as it suggested.

In keeping with the Reunion theme, the shirt for 2006 acted as a tradional yearbook: on the front, it featured a space for the buyer to draw their own likeness next to artistic renditions of mascots and other NoBrandVerse characters; on the back was a large blank area for other attendees to sign their names. As a result, everyone who owned a shirt was able to particpate as part of that year's No Brand Con "thing".

[edit] The Is My Roommate Dead? Stick

The "Is My Roommate Dead?" Stick is a low-cost promotional item which consists of a thin wooden dowel (advertised as being made of "Hi-tech, carbon fibers"), painted red at one end, with a handle of duct tape on the other. As the name implies, its use is fairly straightforward; the included instruction sheet begins with the sentence, "Poke your roommate with the stick, and see if he or she moves." It was originally created years earlier by two of the convention staff members who were legitimately concerned with the well-being of their roommates.

The "Is My Roommate Dead?" Stick was first demonstrated at the convention by Duct Tape Boy and Green Boy during the 2003 Cosplay Contest. Variations on include the "Is My Duct Tape Boy Dead?" Stick (which was used only once by Green Boy to prove that Duct Tape Boy had not in fact perished after his tumultuous Summer 2003 Vacation), and a pocket-sized version.

[edit] References

  1. ^ No Brand Con 2002 information @ AnimeCons.com. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  2. ^ No Brand Con 2006 information @ AnimeCons.com. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  3. ^ DUCT TAPE BOY MISSING!. nobrandcon.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  4. ^ No Brand Con News: I can't believe it. nobrandcon.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  5. ^ No Brand Con News: Duct Tape Boy. nobrandcon.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  6. ^ No Brand Con News: Letter From Beyond the Grave. nobrandcon.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/o/_/No_Brand_Con_e17e.html"