It's been a long time since a new post was made here on the front page, for some good reasons, and some not so good ones.  As you may have heard, the AnimeBelle forums were hacked some months ago, knocking them out of service... While viewable, users are unable to log in or register.  Concerns about the site's security led to some administrative difficulties, which will hopefully be worked out soon.

AnimeBelle isn't going anywhere, and while the online presence has been slowed, the offline presence is growing stronger all the time.  AnimeBelle will appear at Metrocon once again, bringing back AnimeBelle's Japanese Fairytale Theater for a third year.  We're planning some amazing song and dance, hillarious manzai comedy, and I'm especially proud of this year's centerpiece play, the classic Kabuki drama "Yasha ga Ike".  The quality of the production is taking a major step up this year, especially in our costuming department.

In other news, I personally appeared in a recent aniRAGE video, "Challenge... Accepted?".  It was some of the most fun I've had in a long time!  Make sure you check out aniRAGE's other fine videos.  I'm working on some other projects with the aniRAGE crew, which we plan to debut at Florida conventions later this year.  Keep your eyes peeled!

While the site has been undergoing some difficulties, and forums in general are going the way of the dinosaur, I've decided to expand AnimeBelle's presence to social networking services.  Though they're light on content at the moment, more will be added soon, so make sure you check out AnimeBelle on Twitter, AnimeBelle on Facebook, and Fairytale Theater on Facebook.  Speaking of Fairytale Theater, a new CafePress shop has opened, featuring the FFT 2009 design.  More designs are coming soon, for FFT 2010, 2011, and the AnimeBelle logo!  Speaking of the Logo, it may be seeing an update soon too...

Last but not least, let me apologize from the bottom of my heart for allowing the site to slip into disrepair like this.  As soon as issues are straightened out, I'll be doing a lot of work to fix up the site and make it even more usable for the otaku of the south.  In other words... Y'all come on back now, y'hear!

Over time, anime fans tend to pick up a lot of Japanese words... For most, it's simple terms like "arigatou", "kawaii", and "chibi".  Another common phrase at the start of a Japanese meal is "itadakimasu", but what does itadakimasu really mean, and what does it have to do with Thanksgiving?

"Itadakimasu" is essentially used like the term "bon appétit", but unlike the French term wishing someone an enjoyable meal, Itadakimasu translates to "I humbly receive."  Saying Itadakimasu thanks not only the people who offer the food, but also gives thanks to the all who played a role in ranching, cultivating, or hunting for the food.  Itadakimasu also acknowlges and gives thanks for all of the living organisms that gave their lives in order for this meal to be made, be they plant or animal.

On this day of thanks, among the things you have to be grateful for, keep a little 'itadakimasu' in mind!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at AnimeBelle, especially Ma, Pa, Grandma Belle, and myself.  Y'all come on back now, y'hear?

 The AnimeBelle Forums have gone through a much needed reorganization. No threads or posts were lost in this transition; everything has been moved and merged. While I was at it, the whole forums were optimized, error-checked, and all totals and statistics were recalculated! Now, our forum of nearly 70,000 posts should be running smoother than ever. Now that are boards are back in beautifully working condition, we're hoping to make a lot more use of them, with activities, games, and new additions.

To summarize, the following changes were made:

The Updates, AnimeBelle Feedback, and Q&A boards were merged into General Discussion. The Introductions and Otaku Trading Post boards became sub-forums of General Discussion.

The Manga Lounge, Mecha Lounge, and Toys & Swag boards were merged into the Anime Lounge, which has been renamed the Anime and Manga Lounge.

The Japanese Music Lounge, Kitsuke - Art of Kimono, and ABJD - Asian Ball Joint Dolls boards have been merged into Japanese Culture.

Fairytale Theater has been merged into Conventions.

The Websites board has had several topics moved to either the Art board or the Spam Can, and as a result, the Websites board was dissolved.

The Art board, Writing board, and Music board were merged into a singular Art, Writing, & Music board.

The Cosplay and Costume Help boards were merged into Cosplay and Costuming.

Pen & Paper Gaming and Card/Board Gaming boards were merged into Tabletop Gaming.

Forum Roleplay has become a sub-forum of Forum Gaming.

More changes are expected to come soon, including visual upgrades, newly added games, a revamp of the forum calendar, and so on.  So y'all come on back now, y'hear?

Yours truely, your favorite blue-haired southern belle, is the director of EXPcon's Video Game x Anime Masquerade this year, The Mushroom Kingdom Starlight Ball! The ball will be held October 8th from 9pm to Midnight, in the main events hall of EXPcon (St. Johns County Convention Center at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village).

Whew, another exhausting but fun Metrocon has come and gone!  Unfortunately, just two days after returning home, one of Pa Belle's hard drives has failed.  Photos will be coming soon, but not as soon as I was hoping for.  Also look forward to photos from our satellite photographers at aniRAGE!

Thank you once again to everyone who attended Fairytale Theater at Metrocon 2010, as well as the Metrocon staff, the AMV editors who entered their videos this year, and more!  Looking forward to seeing many of you again at EXPcon.  Y'all come on back now, y'hear?