Residual Envy Over Montreal...

While this post is one week late in reference to the event dates, the sentiment still rages on:

I AM OVERFLOWING WITH ANIME-INDUCED ENVY DIRECTED AT MONTREAL.

... And it's still running high since I first discovered what all I missed out on with Otakuthon 2010...

***

Regular readers will find this frenzied, age-inappropriate expression of love for anime/manga to be no surprise at all. New readers will more than likely cancel their subscription upon reading the depths of my otaku-ness for the medium.

In either case, brace yourselves for a decent amount of fan-girling.

In December 2009, I christened the 7th-11th as the First Official Ani-Manga Extravaganza!! here at Cute, Queer, Canada. With the help of the ever-reliable Wikipedia, I outlined the history of Yuri manga (aka. a genre catering to queer women and other "girls' love" fans) and even introduced readers to popular series including the melodramatic Aoi Hana and the parodic Strawberry Panic. In the past few months, I have scoured the vastness of the Internet to find more relevant series to share with readers and I have been rewarded nicely for my efforts (more to come on that front).

Anyhow, that week for Tunes for Tuesdays, I stumbled across the magical, almost manga-scripted tale of Catherine St-Onge (aka. HIMEKA), a French-Canadian girl who won the Second Annual Animax Anison Grand Prix in 2008 and launched her career as an anime singer with Sony Music Japan. Serious, it is one impressive story and I suggest you click over to the link before continuing with this post.

*Crosses arms, leans against the wall*

....

*Checks her watch, wonders when the 'rents will return with that promised Dairy Queen*

Welcome back.

.... Now, imagine the shock I felt when I read that one of the Guests of Honour for Otakuthon 2010 was none other than our girl, HIMEKA, herself.

.... Now imagine the welling frustration I felt as I glanced at the calendar and realized, "Oh. It's August 11th. And Otakuthon starts on Aug. 13th. Well, kuso..."

I turned to YouTube and drowned the initial sorrow with a newish HIMEKA PV for the single, "Hatenaki Michi" (2009):

Oh, but the personal tragedy does not end there.

No, no.

As I explored the official Otakuthon website further, I landed upon a new section to this year's convention. It is the maiden voyage of an event dedicated to a certain sub-genre within the manga circles of the West, a singular set of titles that are often overlooked or otherwise ignored even at large-scale anime conventions across North America.

What on Earth could it be? What is it that could put Miz Moffatt's envious self over the edge?

.... 2010 is the FIRST TIME that Otakuthon has hosted an individual, stand-alone YURITHON for visitors.

YURI.

AN ENTIRE SERIES OF EVENTS FOCUSED ON YURI CONTENT.

*Choking on her own misfortune*

As far as I am aware, this is the first full-scale anime/manga convention in Canada to directly cater to Yuri fans with distinct programming separate from the massive popularity that is the Yaoi genre (aka. "boys' love," or gay boy content).

God love the French for being ahead of the times.

I have nothing against the gay boys -- in fact, I am a fan of a couple of series (including the Canadian-based, manga-styled series, Honeydew Syndrome, by autobrig, also known at Nuu and Schumie). It's here, it's queer -- I love it. But, as with anything related to queer women, there is not ever enough. At these conventions, Yuri is often paired with Yaoi, with a definite favoritism toward Yaoi in all cases (as in, there might be one airing of a Yuri anime to every ten airings of Yaoi anime). Finding vendors is even more difficult.

Ah, the plight of a nerdtastic, gay gal in the North. The things I suffer for my fandom, I tell you.

***

And now, readers are permitted to uncover their eyes and quickly click over to the next blog on their circuit. And I permit myself to start planning a trek to Montreal this time next year.

Tunes for Tuesdays: Catherine St-Onge (aka HIMEKA)

I never expected to find a Quebecois chanteuse at the heart of the anison (or "animated song") scene, but here she is.

And no, I am not even kidding with this random, albeit extremely awesome, news.

Catherine St-Onge, or HIMEKA to Japanese audiences, epitomizes this week's Ani-Manga Extravaganza celebration:

• Tunes: Her debut single, "Asu e no Kizuna" (released May 27, 2009) is the opening theme song for the animated adaptation of the PlayStation 3 game, Valkyria Chronicles. Her second single, "Hatenaki Michi" (released Nov. 25, 2009) is the ending theme for the animated series Tegami Bachi.
• Cute: As a button. See: Photo above, banner below, and competition clips between.
• Canadian: Ms. St-Onge was born and raised in Quebec and just moved to Japan in 2008 to pursue her dreams of singing for animated series.

As for the Queer Component, there are no reports to confirm her orientation (which, in my mind, means she's fair game as far as I am concerned).

Anyway.

When I set out to discover a singer for the Ani-Managa Extravaganza week, I was not expecting to find the soft-spoken, outrageously talented Ms. St-Onge. She's an inspiration to anyone with a dream to pursue, no matter how out of the blue it might appear.

In 2008, Catherine St-Onge relocated to Japan on a working-visa and entered the Second Annual Animax Anison Grand Prix, a competition that gathers aspiring singers from across Japan to compete for the chance to make a professional debut with Sony Music Japan as an anison singer. I cannot even describe how fierce the competition can get at these national contests.

She was selected out of 3,186 other applicants who auditioned in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo.

She competed against ten other shortlisted contestants, all Japanese-born individuals, in the final round staged at Tokyo's JCB Hall in September 2008.

At the time, she could only speak minimal amounts of Japanese.

And she won by a virtual landslide.

Despite her small frame and her introverted demeanor, the girl has some pipes on her. I mean, even the judges looked stunned and shocked at her vocal range and her flawless enunciation. She's got a charming awkwardness to her despite the fact that her voice left smoking craters where her challengers once stood.

Need proof? Check out these subbed YouTube clips I stumbled across for an introduction to her skills. Now, the lyrics to the songs are not subbed, but the judges' comments are. And, you can even witness that magical moment when Ms. St-Onge's wildest fantasies came true and she achieved the dream she'd been nursing since she discovered the wonderful world of anime:

Sony Music Japan International describes Catherine St-Onge as the only genuine Western anison singer who debuted in Japan and the first who possesses a French Canadian background.

Since releasing her singles overseas, Ms. St-Onge adopted the stage name HIMEKA and she is set to become one of the hottest stars on the anison circuit.

Well, gosh damn.

Prior to the time she signed with Sony Music Japan, Catherine St-Onge kept an online blog that charted her progress overseas. She has since abandoned the blog and opted for an all-Japanese website courtesy of Sony, but her old haunt still exists and is still a compelling read. It's tri-lingual and entirely engaging.

I am thrilled to have discovered this tale of a far-fetched dream come true. Who knew that such a sweet, Quebecois girl could rocket to the top of the anime pop scene in one year?

So, do it -- whatever goal that's percolating in the back of your mind, go out and try it. Who knows what triumphs might follow? For the time being, just keep hitting play on those clips for an instant shot of optimism and encouragement. Congrats HIMEKA!