One of your first chances to ogle bits of Terracotta's upcoming release, Big Tits Zombie.

Anyway, rather than just regurgitate the edited highlights of all the blurb I’ve been sent about the event, I’m posting the full details below. Be great to see you there. I should be easy enough to spot among all the Goth Lolitas and Astro Boys – I’ll be the one in the jeans and the Bathing Ape T-shirt.

Book your tickets at Fatsoma’s website here or by phoning 08444 771 000 or emailing bookings@criminalrecords.cc

Date: Tuesday 24th August

Event: Harajuku! Autumn Ball 2010

Venue: Proud, Camden. The Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH

Phone No. 020 7482 3867

Door Time: 7pm – 2am

Price: £5 advance / flyers

The Harajuku! Autumn Ball, Tuesday 24th August, London

Event info:

HARAJUKU! returns by popular demand when Criminal Records presents the Harajuku! Autumn Ball at Proud Gallery, Camden on Tuesday 24th August. As the latest installment of London’s most notorious Japanese themed club night, the event features eight different themed rooms, celebrating Japanese wonders like Geishas, Lolita’s, Comics, Gaming, Origami, Karaoke, Manga, Art and a mix of Live Bands, Indie Music and JPOP.

Harajuku! fashion is all about celebrating a love of Japan, being creative and mixing together different styles and influences, and has proved to be incredibly popular internationally. The fashion element is also a potent theme with the event fast becoming a key stop for a number of the freshest London designers. Party goers mix together different styles and influences and the competition for the best dressed character is fierce. Some characters dress up as idols from Anime, Movie while others focus on the looks of Gothica or Lolita.

The event has already gained a reputation with gaming communities as a great place to meet, socialise and play. At the new location, Harajuku! will be an even better experience as the night will benefit from its own Gaming Zone. Camden gamers will be able to choose from the large variety of PS3 and Wii games to play on the large screen including Xbox Rock Band, or bring their own handheld consoles to play in their own private area.

Manga aficionados will also have their own zone in one of themed ex-horse hospital stables, with screenings of Manga and Animee all night. Other themed zones include the BYODJ, featuring a bring your own MP3 player listening party, to share the best recommendations of Jpop with others and get new tips. This is not to mention the Karaoke Zone where attendees can party in true Japanese style!

There are various co promoters and Japanese event organisers involved including the DS Lite Group for handheld gaming, Terracotta Film who will be playing clips from their latest film ‘Big Tits Zombie’ in 3D as well as providing prizes for the Best Dresser Cosplayer!  There are also London groups such as London Alternative and the Harajuku and Cosplay group involved.

LINKS

Event Page: http://harajuku.criminalrecords.cc

More Event Info: http://events.criminalrecords.cc/harajuku_cosplay.html

Tickets: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=387971

Facebook Invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143771485649358

FLYERS:

A3 Poster http://www.criminalrecords.cc/flyers/240810_harajuku_autumn_ball_2010_A3.jpg

A6 Flyer for Printing: http://www.criminalrecords.cc/flyers/2408104flyers.jpg

Web Flyer: http://www.criminalrecords.cc/flyers/240810.jpg

LIVE PERFORMANCES

THE KUT, are the show headliners.  An all female dark indie rock band, who have been making waves in the UK and beyond, The Kut have already been reviewed as “the best all female band the UK has ever produced”.  Currently in the studio recording their debut album, ‘Lies My Mother Told Me’ for release late this year, expect sultry vocals, kick ass guitar solos, strong songs and powerful melodies. Rave reviews all round make The Kut a must see band in 2010. http://www.myspace.com/thekutgirlsrock

M-TIGERS TAEKWONDO PERFORMANCE

Expect a spectacular performance of Martial Arts at its best, from London’s favourite multi-arts fighting group.

http://www.m-tigerstaekwondo.co.uk

CAPELLE a hard rocking combo who came to prominence at the O2 Undiscovered competition. Combining over-driven ’60s inspired Rock with tinges of Electro and Hip Hop, Capelle master a unique sound that will get melodists and headbangers all united in one big party.

http://www.myspace.com/capellesound

IRAQ, a female fronted indie pop band, with hints of Morrisey and charming 80′s swagger.

http://www.myspace.com/iraqband

MATANIU, an 8-piece experimental combo which showcases an amazing variety of sounds and influences that create the perfect backing for the unique songwriting and amazing vocal abilities of singing goddess Mataniu.

http://www.myspace.com/mataniu

FUZZ VALENTINE,a three piece fuzz-infected indie band from London, who combine boyish wonder with skittish pop music. Their single ‘Far’ received extensive airplay on London’s Xfm. Get ready for a treat!

http://www.myspace.com/fuzzvalentine

Plus Indie, Beats and Jpop from Criminal Records DJs.

THE STORY SO FAR

Sunlight swept across the city that afternoon. The streets were decorated with flamboyant characters and powerful imagery. characters who were happy and curious, daring and confident. coloured hair and painted faces, anime, lolita and cybergoth. some cute, some bold, tailored and precise, these high fashion icons lit the streets and the air was empowered by freedom, self expression and celebration. and so was born a new chapter in the tale.

Back in london there was panic. the city was phased with concrete and gloom. smoke bellowed from the chimneys whilst crowds of office works gathered outside the internet cafes in the rain. cogs turning in the machine, their sorrowful faces were the same that stare upward from their newspapers on the tube. Politicians stared out of the windows in despair and suddenly it was clear to see that the sand in the hour glass was running low.

It was time to begin. To escape….. It was time to return to Harajuku!

RECENT HARAJUKU REVIEWS:

http://www.whosjack.org/harajuku-at-proud

http://www.ents24.com/web/event/1991969/HARAJUKU.html

http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/agenda/details/Harajuku-Ball.html

http://www.stereoboard.com/musicshop-harajuku-criminal-records-kut-capelle-mataniu-iraq-fuzz-valentine-djs-japanese-themed-event.html

http://thehub.c-hab.com/2010/07/proud-to-be-back-on-top/

http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/london/proud-camden/2010/aug/24/event-239742

http://www.reverbnation.com/show/2596361

Where: Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, London

When: 26 May 2010, 6.30pm.

As part of the Barbican’s Animate the World festival (22-27 May), Japanese film specialist Jasper Sharp explores the origins of anime, with an exclusive selection of influential pre-war animations. Anime fans should also note that the Barbican is also running Helen McCarthy’s Japanimation season, with a double bill of Summer Wars and Dante’s Inferno on 25 May, also included as part of the festival.

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First up, though I’ve posted it before, is the Origins of Anime programme playing at the Barbican in just over a week, as part of the Barbican’s Animate the World festival beginning this weekend and running to the 27 May. The Origins of Anime, a whistle-stop tour of Japanese animation’s formative decades as presented by yours truly, is next Wednesday. Hope to see some of you there, and while you’re in the area, I advise you to check out some of the other great screenings being held as part of the festival. Should be quite a week!

Following their comprehensive retrospective of Ozu’s existing films in January and February, June sees the BFI celebrating the oeuvre of Akira Kurosawa for the first time since 2001, taking on a touring programme that’s played in a number of other countries so far. The season is called Akira Kurosawa & His Influence and stretches through to July. Quoting from the BFI press release; “In his centenary year, Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) continues to win admirers and inspire homage. We present a season of the director’s finest films, complemented by a selection of films testifying to his enduring influence abroad.”

I’ve only seen the June programme so far, so it’s too early to judge whether they’re going to screen the one Kurosawa film that doesn’t appear to be on DVD anywhere, the home-front propaganda film made at the tail-end of the war

Akira Kurosawa's forgotten The Most Beautiful (Ichiban utsukushiku, 1944)

. Shame, as I’d love to see it, but for now, this image will have to suffice.

Yoshitaro Kataoka’s haunting Danemon Ban: The Monster Exterminator (1935)

There’s plenty of other goodies during the week too. Helen McCarthy will be there to introduce a Japanimation double bill of Summer Wars and Dante’s Inferno the day before, on the 25 May, to carry on the Japanese theme. Outside of the Japanese stuff though, there’s a special focus on Czech animator Karel Zeman with screenings of his Invention for Destruction (1958) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1961), a chance to catch Piaxar’s UP in 3D again, if you missed it first time round, and a host of other interesting-looking shorts and features. Move over Mickey!

Karel Zeman's surreal Invention for Destruction (1958)

What with the upcoming screening of Wakamatsu Pro’s The Red Army / PFLP: Declaration of World War as part of the London Palestinian Film Festival on 4 May, and Ladislas Starewitch’s bewildering piece of dead insect-animation The Cameraman’s Revenge (1912) as part of the ongoing Silent Film & Live Music series on 9 May (you’ve got a real treat in store if you’ve never seen this – it’s unbelievable!), it’s a good reminder to check out the Barbican’s programme a lot more often – the tickets are pretty reasonable if you’re a member, and they show some truly amazing stuff.

Ladislas Starewitch’s The Cameraman’s Revenge (1912) - you won't have seen anything like it.

Anyway, here are some more details about my special night from the Barbican Website:

The Origins of Anime (12A)

Cinema 1, 26 May 2010, 18.30.

Japanese film specialist Jasper Sharp explores the origins of anime, with an exclusive selection of influential pre-war animations.

Tickets: Standard £7.50 online (£9.50 full price); Barbican Members £6.50 online (£7.50 full price); Concessions £7.50.