Edinburgh, Inverness & Leicester; local anime-related events

This is perhaps a sure sign of anime growing in the UK, because the following post contains a lot of new information with regards to several anime and manga related events happening in the UK over the coming year.

• The Edinburgh Filmhouse cinema (apparently Scotland’s “foremost independent cinema”) will be holding a “Late Night Anime” event on Saturday, 10th November 2007 – the three movies being screened are Mamoru Oshii’s “Patlabor: The Movie” and a double bill of Makoto Shinkai’s two most recent efforts “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” and “5 Centimeters per Second”; all of these movies will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Check out the official website of the Edinburgh Filmhouse for more information.
• On the weekend of February 2nd and 3rd 2008, the Highland International Comic Expo (a.k.a Hi-Ex!) will be happening in Inverness (Eden Court) and promises to place just as much attention on Japanese manga (no doubt, this includes home-made “global manga”) as more conventional Western comics. Several well known artists and writers have been invited as guests, including the UK’s own Asia Alfasi.
• Alcon 2008 will be kicking off on the 5th of September 2008 (until the 7th of September) at De Montfort University, Leicester City Campus. The anime convention promises guests, anime screenings, a video gaming room and a cosplayer’s hangout. Read their press release or surf over to their official website for more information.
• And finally, registrations for the 2008 UK anime convention Amecon will be officially opening on November 18th, 2007 – the convention itself will be taking place at Leicester University from August 8th to 10th 2008. Amecon is one of the biggest events in the UK anime calendar and last year, “tickets sold out within two months”, so if you are interested in attending – it’s best to move fast and secure your place early.