Saturday, July 7, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
FREE with museum admission  //  kids 12 and under always admitted free!

Find out for yourself why manga and anime are taking the world by storm!

Don't miss the Asian Art Museum's manga (Japanese comics), anime (animation), and pop culture extravaganza. With a rocket-fueled schedule offering everything from cosplay ("costume play") and music to art activities and Dance Dance Revolution, aficionados and amateurs of all ages and inclinations will have a blast.

Visitors will also have a chance to check out special exhibitions Tezuka:The Marvel of Manga

and Yoshitoshi's Strange Tales.

For more information, e-mail familyprograms@asianart.org or call (415) 581-3666. All dates and times are subject to change.

Click here for the press release.

OPENING CEREMONY

11:00-11:20 am, Front Steps

An opening ceremony with Gen Taiko starts the day off with a bang and hurls you into space for art and adventure.

DRAWING, GAME DEVELOPING, AND PRINTING, OH MY!

11:00 am-4:00 pm, North Court

Jing Bentley and Mark Miyake, of print ‘zine Punk Punk fame, help visitors find their inner mangaka (manga artist) as they explore the world of dojinshi (self-published manga).

Meet game developing wizard/artist Derek Yu and watch him work his magic with a pen and computer.

Artist Hellen Jo demonstrates the process of printmaking. Visitors can watch and learn, and then make their own.

Anthony Wu, local comic book artist and creator of Alice in Wonnerlan’ and Station, is on site to wow audiences with his quick sketching skills.

MANGA LOUNGE

11:00 am-4:00 pm, Lee Gallery

Step into the Manga Lounge to explore the connection between the work of Tezuka Osamu and anime and contemporary manga, watch looping anime clips, check out a fan’s bedroom filled with memorabilia, try your hand at making manga in the interactive drawing space, and see an eclectic display of toys and collectibles.

ART SPEAK TEEN TOURS

11:00 am, 12:30, & 2:00 pm, Meet at Osher Gallery

Attend an informal talk given by teens highlighting artwork the special exhibition, Tezuka: The Marvel of Manga.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS & ARTIST TALKS

Education Studios

11:30 am–12:30 pm: Manga and anime experts Fred Schodt and Gilles Poitras discuss the historical influences which inspired Tezuka Osamu, and his impact on today’s manga and anime artists.

1:00–2:00 pm: Making an Impression: Japanese Pop Images from Meiji to Manga

Artist Marco Flavio Marinucci discusses how ukiyo-e woodblock prints have inspired generations of artists across various disciplines, citing contemporary works such as Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Murakami's Superflat.

2:30–3:30 pm: Visitors can earn about the doll culture that is related to cosplay (“costume play”) from Japanese pop culture guru, Kelly Haines.

PERFORMANCES, Cosplay, & drawing contest

Samsung Hall

1:15–2:15 pm: Natsu Onoda adapts Tezuka Osamu’s story Okina mori no monogatari (The Story of a Big Forrest) into an image-based performance involving video, drawing, and puppets.

3:00–3:15 pm: The manga drawing contest winners are announced and prizes awarded to the winners from the three different age groups. To enter the contest, click here and follow the instructions for posting artwork.

3:20–3:45 pm: Visitors are encouraged to unleash their inner showmanship with cosplay (“costume play”). Dressing up as their favorite anime, manga or Japanese pop culture character and dazzle the crowd in the “talent show.” To register for cosplay, email aamcosplay@gmail.com.

4:00–4:30 pm: Music duo Ramen and Rice perform songs on the cello and violin from popular anime and games. Yes, they are as cool as they sound! 

Film is alive

11:00 am-5:00 pm, Resource Center

Screening continuously during regular museum hours, Film is Alive: Tezuka Osamu’s Films, 1962–1989 (40 min.) and The Story of Tezuka Osamu: Manga (25 min.) offer rare insight into the prolific output of Tezuka Osamu.

Dance Dance revolution

11:00 am-4:00 pm, Education Seminar Room

Dance your heart out with the popular video game, Dance Dance Revolution.

Blast Off! cosponsored by the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007.

Blast Off banner artwork: Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu). By Tezuka Osamu (Japanese, 1928-1989). © Tezuka Productions. Bottom, L-R: artwork by Hellen Jo, photo by Jack Huynh/Orange Photography, artwork by Derek Yu, photo by Elli Sekine, Tomoko Murakami by Marco Flavio Marinucci.