This weekend (July 2-3) the 2011 Animekon is under way at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Two Mile Hill, St. Michael, Barbados. The Bajan Reporter emphasizes that a film to look out for this year is All Shades of Grey. It is a collaborative work between Matthew Clarke (art) and Nigel Lynch (script), which explores various pressing social issues, such as the impact of repatriated deportees on the crime scene.

Animekon events began on July 2, from 12:00-10:00pm, and continue on July 3, from 10:00am until 8:00pm. Besides contests, panel discussions, gaming, local art sales, and a scavenger hunt, other activities include the screening of seven animated films, and a presentation by featured guest Tobias Buckell.  Two other major events are: Cosplay, for those who like to escape reality and dress up as their favorite anime or superhero character and role-play with other cosplayers; and The Masquerade, an annual ‘cosplay’ competition, showcasing costumes inspired by movies, comic books, TV, fantasy, Japanese animation, and video games.

For more information, see http://bajanreporter.com/anime-kon-prelude-33-all-shades-of-grey-nigel-lynch-script-matthew-clarke-pencilsinks/ and  http://bajanreporter.com/anime-kon-2011-book-to-look-out-for-all-shades-of-grey-collaboration-of-matthew-clarke-art-nigel-lynch-script/

See Matthew Clarke’s work at http://matthewclarkart.com/home.html