SMASH! News

As if eternal (SMASH!) fame and glory wasn’t enough reason to enter, we have a whole host of really awesome prizes to win. Prizes so awesome it makes the SMASH! staff weep, because we can’t enter. But you can, so get cracking!

Themed Competition

Using two or more of the contest themes (“Defence of the earth”, “Red and Blue”, “Cello”) create your entry in any media and submit before 3pm on the day to SMASH!

Grand Prize: Creative Suite 5 software package, sponsored by Adobe.
Runner-ups: Your share of $200 in vouchers, sponsored by Books Kinokuniya.

Home-Made Hype Competition

Create a mock piece of advertising, such as a poster or DVD/manga/book cover, to show off your own original characters or series. Open to international entrants: submit to our Deviantart group before July 31st.

1st Place: Manga Studio and Anime Studio software packages, sponsored by Smith Micro. A 12-month Deviantart subscription, and an artwork commission from guest artist Endling.
2nd Place: Manga Studio and Anime Studio software packages, sponsored by Smith Micro. A 3-month Deviantart subscription, and an artwork commission from Rosek, the artist behind web-manga Refraction.

Wacom Doodling Competition

Using only pen and paper, draw your own artwork on the day of SMASH! and submit it before 3pm.

1st place (senior): Graphics tablet, sponsored by Wacom.
1st place (junior): Graphics tablet, sponsored by Wacom.
Special Mentions: Your share of $100 in vouchers, sponsored by Manga Arts.

Cosplay Chess now open!
Feelingly Queenly? Maybe a Rook is more your style, or a daring Pawn ready to sacrifice itself for the greater good. Black or White, Bishop or Knight, sign up your interest in the forum thread today! Love chess but you’re not a cosplayer? We’re also looking for two chess players to put their skills to the test and battle it out on a lifesized chess board.

Charity Artbook applications closed
We’ve got enough artists to fill us up to the end of July, which sadly means we must close applications for our charity artbook. In the mean-time, the artbook page has been updated with a whole slew of new artworks, so take a peek!

In Sydney (or the city) for SMASH? Hang around after-hours and on Sunday to celebrate art, animation and illustration with the GRAPHIC festival, August 7+8. The Sydney Opera house has an amazing line-up of guests and events which you won’t want to miss out on. Highlights include:

• A live reading by Neil Gaiman of his short-story The Truth Is A Cave In The Black Mountains, with projected illustrations by Eddie Campbell (From Hell) and live underscore by FourPlay String Quartet.
• An evening with Kevin Smith, legendary indie filmmaker of the cult classics Clerks, Dogma, Chasing Amy and Zack & Miri Make a Porno. He is also a celebrated writer for both the DC & Marvel comics empires.
• A screening of Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1988 anime classic, Akira, with a live score by Australian experimental art-rockers Regurgitator.

In addition to these stellar events there are a number of panels, workshops and screenings for you to sink your teeth in to, with guests including Gary Groth, W. Chew Chan, Mark Sexton, Chris Georgio, Shaun Tan, Eddie Campbell, and many more. Hang around for the free workshops and Independant Games Festival too!

Find out more on the GRAPHIC website

Create, Animate, and win $20,000
As if all the events weren’t enough, the Sydney Opera House, in partnership with Screen NSW, are holding an online animation competition.

Illustrators, animators and storytellers of all levels – from established to up-and-coming and newcomers – are encouraged to enter to have their animation seen by an expert panel of judges. The winning entry will score $20,000, an Adobe CS5 Master Collection (valued at $4,333) and have their film screened at a major GRAPHIC Festival event at Sydney Opera House. Entries for Round 1 close midnight June 26.

You know those cool scenes in war movies where the generals are all gathered around a table in a war room staring at a map?

Well, we had our own planning session.

More photos are up at Flickr.

Just a reminder to all at Supanova this weekend that we will be there and we will be selling tickets to SMASH!

So if it’s a bit tricky for you to send money online please stop by our booth and we can process your payment in cash over the weekend.

Even if you aren’t buying a ticket, feel free to come by; we’d love to see you!

Check out the SMASH! Booth!

Supanova Sydney is a mere two weeks away (June 18-20), and boy do they have some guests for you! Fans of Joss Whedon get a double-act with Firefly’s Summer Glau (Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Dollhouse’s Eliza Dushku.

Anime fans get a Fullmetal Alchemist trio with voice actors Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric), Travis Willingham (Roy Mustang) and Laura Bailey (Lust).

Other stars in attendance will be Chaske Spencer (Twilight), Leah Gibson (Twilight, Caprica), Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse), Charisma Carpenter (Buffy, Charmed), Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk), Michael Winslow (Police Academy, Spaceballs) and Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett). Artists include the always lovely Nicola Scott, Stuart and Kathryn Immonen, Colin Wilson and many more.

Tickets on sale now from Ticketek, so head over to the Supanova website and find out more.

Ball-Joint Doll competitions
Whether you’re a collector or just curious about the hobby, there are plenty of BJD related events at SMASH! 2010. Alongside our BJD Showcase area, there will be a lucky dip for those doll-owners in attendance. The photography competition is back and open to all, while we bring you an exciting new competition: SMASH!’s Next Top BJD! If you think you’ve got what it takes, head to our website and find out more.

Madman Manga Clearance
It’s End of Financial Year Sale time, and you know what that means? Super bargains! The folks at Madman are clearing out a huge range of manga, and with many titles a mere $3.50, now’s a great time to stock up. Browse the catalogue here.

Go to Japan with JTB!
Our special friends at JTB have cooked up a great tour package for anyone visiting Japan. In addition to transfers and accommodation, the package includes a trip to the Ghibli Museum, tour of Akihabara, visit to a maid cafe and entry to the World Cosplay Championships! So go to Japan and support team Australia. Interested? Visit http://www.jtboi.com.au and tell them you heard about it from SMASH!