So, for the beginning, it’s good to represent ourselves. We are organizers of the Ukrainian Festival of the Japanese Culture and Animation OTOBE, rather small group of people from different cities all over Ukraine. It was very interesting for us to read the «Russian»(real) version of the events that took place in Kiev during anime festivals, and we had so much fun with reading that we couldn’t keep ourselves from the temptation and write the «proper» version of those events! We’ll be maximum frank, but within the limits of public censorship (the uncensored version will be available only in the oral form at a close assembly of organizers of the Ukrainian festivals within the OTOBE 2010).

So, you are welcome to a complex and not always clear world of festivals' organizers.

In June 2008 at a joint meeting of the company Anime Line Group, company ReAnimedia and cinema «Zhovten» the decision to lead a festival of the Japanese animation was accepted. At once duties have been divided: company ReAnimedia brings their group «SOS» for carrying out a cosplay-show and films for screening at the cinema; company Anime Line Group arranges with the venue for the cosplay-show and anime-party, signs the contract with the cinema «Zhovten» and transfer money to Russia after the festival, provide cooperation with the Ukrainian organizations, is engaged in design, manufacturing and promotion of the advertising production, attraction and connections with mass-media, the development and support of festival’s site, the organization of the video games' championship, as well as puts their money in the financing of the festival that company ReAnimedia obliges to return after the festival (all profit from the festival goes to the ReAnimedia); The cinema «Zhovten» provides venue for the festival (for a percent from anime-shows' profit), as well as helps with advertising and organization (on behalf of Paul Gordeladze).

It seemed, that nothing foretold troubles, but the position of the company ReAnimedia expressed by a phrase: «Thinking is not necessary, follow the indications!», brought to nothing the initiative to introduce some changes into the existing program of the Russian festival in Voronezh which was decided to duplicate. The primary program was: anime-shows/cosplay-shows/lectures/procession. Even an offer concerning the title of festival (Cyber from a group Nice Guys suggested the title OTOBE) was rejected in a rigid form, and company ReAnimedia decided to make a bombast version «The First Ukrainian Festival of the Japanese Animation Kiev 2008» and OTOBE remained as the working title. While all primary organizers had identical rights and duties, such behavior of ReAnimedia eventually led to constant quarrels and misunderstanding, that affected the quality of the festival which could be much better.

A lot of ideas remained non-realized as the Voronezh command would like to a focus on their program, and the Ukrainian crews were used only for filling emptiness in the program (there was such in a primary plan of the festival). As well the part of the program has been broken owing to emotional instability of the leader of the group Nice Guys (involved to the organization of the festival) — Lina Inverse (Lina Larina), who managed to arrange a dramatic quarrel with the Russian part of organizers on behalf of Stepan Shashkin and Usagi (Lena Yusova) which was calmed and reconciled (by the Anime Line Group), literally one day before the festival. We’ll omit the details of their disagreement (as well as mutual aversion of these organizers to each other), we’ll note only, that after that dialogue Stepan hotly protested against participation Nice Guys in next festival, and we tried to correct it (in fact it is a pity, the person tries, tries to make anime-party). There were problems and questions, but nevertheless all misunderstandings were solved by joint efforts of all organizers, and the festival managed to achieve firm 4+.

In 2009 Varvara Mejris (Miaka) were put into organizing committee on demand of Stepan Shashkin in a categorical order. She was named as a representative of company ReAnimedia in Ukraine and her duties included everything connected to the festival’s organization. It certainly was a very good plan, which logic hasn’t become clear to us by these days. All Anime Line Group and cinema «Zhovten» objections were rejected; unfortunately they didn’t have time to make a festival without participation of ReAnimedia. As a result of given changes there were following «improvements» made: total absence of advertising of festival (we still have a lot of posters from this festival), absence of information about the festival in mass-media, a huge confusion in the program and chaos in carrying out the cosplay-show, practically cancelled and consequently without program anime-party (certainly, from Lina Inverse), site launching delay for two months (considering, that the site was ready and nothing changed), unprofessional designer engaged in manufacturing of all promotion materials (which even at the graphic art didn’t want to print), lack of answers to the questions at thematic forums (well, here no comments), etc.

At the Second festival the former arrangements operated: Anime Line Group pays for the venue of the festival in advance, finances the manufacture of promotion stuff, and ReAnimedia returns money after the festival (all profit receives ReAnimedia). Also Anime Line Group was engaged in the counting all financial expenses and profits, agreed with partners of festival, signed all contracts, assumed responsibility and transfer money from Ukraine (for company ReAnimedia). Here is how difficult the Second festival passed.

Results: an assessment of the festival has noticeably fallen in comparison with 2008 year, and to us it was insulting, that duties have been charged to one person who, unfortunately, didn’t manage (or managed as could), and didn’t want to accept any help from us (of course, better to do something bad, that give somebody to do it right — that’s a good policy!).

According to such circumstances a unique possible conclusion had been made — it was necessary to change general approach to festival. Company ReAnimedia were offered to suspend Miaka from organizers position and to engage (as expected under the primary contract) only in the cosplay-show and contracts with the Russian owners of rights for anime-shows, otherwise the Third festival will be made without participation of the Russian side. ReAnimedia refused, providing the answer that the level of Miaka’s work suited them and she would learn everything in future. So you can logically assume that all business relations with the Russian side were terminated just after the Second festival.

By the time you have reached here, you must be interested in what will be further. Because the Second festival ended in such way, company Anime Line Group and «Zhovten» (after changing a crew of organizers) in January 2010 announced Third Ukrainian Festival of the Japanese Culture and the Animation, which officially received title OTOBE (so now you don’t need to utter such bombast and long name). Having received full freedom of actions and having got rid of foreign pressure and influence, company Anime Line Group and cinema «Zhovten» have brought a set of changes in the program of the festival, as well as have qualitatively changed approaches to the organization. Changes concern: organizing structure (organizers are clubs and organizations from all over Ukraine), a site (design and functioning), advertising campaign, level of design, filling of the program (scales of opening and closing ceremony, level Anime Walk (mass procession in city), within the limits of the opening ceremony the j-rock concert with Japanese band GUILD and Ukrainian cover-bands which will flow into night after-party with well-known DJ’s and other bands (which didn’t fit in program of a concert, but aren’t less interesting at all); adequate video game tournament in the specially-equipped room; special concert of the Cantabile Orchestra in separate hall of the cinema; a fair of hand-made things and entertainments; participation of the thematic organizations (club of Origami, club of Go, club of Hobby games, Japanese Center) in a form of lectures and master-classes from them; as well as a set of other entertainments, innovations, competitions and of course — prizes).

We hope, that changes of organizers' structure will positively affect the level and scale of anime festival in Kiev (and money obtained from it, will be invested in the festival, instead of being taken out to Russia, and organizers without problems will spend money to pay for extra hour per Hall, so everyone can perform, or to pay for week staying of the Japanese band in Kiev, because the previous concert in their tour was cancelled, or provide normal advertising for more people to come and learn about Japan and animation).

いらっしゃいませ!Welcome to OTOBE 2010!

Crew of the festival in 2010: company Anime Line Group, a cinema «Zhovten», magazine Anime Line, cosplay -band CosWave from Kiev, anime-club White Reflection from Lviv, band Patlati Productions, portal Anime KPI, photographer PugOFFka ProductiON, Ukraine-Japan Center, Kiev Federation of Go, Kiev club of Origami, Cantabile Orchestra, musical collectives (cover-groups) from all Ukraine and many wonderful and responsible people who will do everything for the festival to be great!