Details:  The word "otaku" immediately brings to mind the image of a die-hard fan, in this case, a die-hard anime fan. Throughout the Otaku Unite! crew's journeys across the United States they encountered thousands of these self-proclaimed otaku who revealed what it takes to pursue one's interest in Japanese animation to the nth degree. The exploits of said otaku are often quite impressive and, at times, a bit frightening.

The 2nd Annual Otaku Bowl is a multi-media contest. Submissions in different forms of media are encouraged, but not by any means required. The object of this contest is to illustrate to the Otaku Unite! crew that the lengths you have gone to in the pursuit of your hobby of Japanese animation are above and beyond those of your fellow otaku. Here are a few ideas for submissions: pictures of your anime/anime memorabilia collection, convention stories, short anime-related films, cosplay photos, anime music videos, original drawings/comics, website links...its up to you. Above all, you want to accurately illustrate your dedication to Japanese animation. The stranger and more outrageous your entry is, the better your chances are of winning.

Thus the 2nd Annual Otaku-Bowl is a means of sorting out the die-hard anime fans from the Pokemon-viewing newbies. This contest is open to otaku of all ages. International submissions are welcome.

Prizes:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
The grand prize winner will receive one (1) of each of the following:
Kaiju Big Battel "TEREBI SENTO" DVD
Lolita No. 18 T-shirt
Otaku Unite! T-shirt of choice
Your choice of CD from the Otaku Unite! store
"Benten Asian Bentoh" Compilation CD
Lolita No. 18 poster (Awesome!!!)
Lolita No. 18 four piece figure set
+ random Otaku Unite!, Benten/Sister Records and Kaiju Big Battel goods
(stickers, pins, magnets, postcards, etc.)

1ST RUNNER-UP
The 1st runner-up will receive one (1) of each of the following:
Lolita No. 18 T-shirt
Otaku Unite! T-shirt of choice
Mummy the Peepshow "Electric Rollergirl" CD
"Benten Asian Bentoh" Compilation CD
Lolita No. 18 poster (Awesome!!!)
Lolita No. 18 four piece figure set
+ random Otaku Unite!, Benten/Sister Records and Kaiju Big Battel goods

2ND RUNNER-UP
The 2nd runner-up will receive one (1) of each of the following:
Lolita No. 18 T-shirt
Otaku Unite! T-shirt of choice
"Benten Asian Bentoh" Compilation CD
Lolita No. 18 poster (Awesome!!!)
Lolita No. 18 four piece figure set
+ random Otaku Unite!, Benten/Sister Records and Kaiju Big Battel goods

Deadline: To be announced...keep the entries coming!

Submissions:  Include your name, address, phone number, E-mail address, age, and a short summary of your background (just for fun). International submissions are welcome.
Online: contests@otakuunite.com (if you do not receive a confirmation e-mail regarding your submission, then it was not received)
By mail:
Otaku Unite!
P.O. Box 7751
Philadelphia, PA 19101
RE: 2nd Annual Otaku-Bowl

VIEW LAST YEAR'S WINNERS

Fine Print:
1. The 2nd Annual Otaku-Bowl will begin on September 21, 2003 and will end on an undetermined future date. Entries received after November 1 will not be eligible for competition.
2. All persons affiliated with the Otaku Unite! crew and Movies of My Dreams Productions are not eligible to participate in this contest.
3. Winners will be determined by the Otaku Unite! crew and Movies of My Dreams Productions staff. If need be, online voting by this website's visitors may be implemented.
4. All persons affiliated with Otaku Unite! reserve the right to display, utilize, and comment upon all submitted entries in any manner they deem fit. Those same persons will never take credit for the creation of any submission, that privilege will always be reserved for the creator of said submission.
5. By participating in this contest, all entrants agree to have their name and entry displayed in any form of media without additional compensation of any kind. Winners will sign a publicity release prior to the acceptance of their prizes.
6. No entry will be returned to its respective creator unless special arrangements are made with an OU! crew member.
7. Movies of My Dreams Productions reserves the right to alter any aspect of this contest at any time including its cancellation or prize allotments if need be.
8. All winners will be contacted by either telephone or E-mail.
9. No purchase necessary. This contest is void where prohibited.

Sponsors:

BENTEN Label & Sister Records
The Greatest All Girl Bands In The World!!
Benten Label is an independent record label based in Tokyo specializing in female artists of many genres. Benten is the name of one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Benten (or Ben Zai ten), is the goddess of music, art, happiness, and love. Since OU! friend Audrey Kimura started BENTEN in 1994, they have produced over 50 releases and are still going strong. The key concept of BENTEN Label is silliness and seriousness; they enjoy the silliness of their music seriously and hope that their listeners feel the same way. They are not making a political statement about the sickening system of the music business or the all too passive attitude of the general listening population, BENTEN Label artists just want to have fun. Girls in Japan don't use words like "feminist" or "Riot Grrl", there aren't even any Japanese words that equal these concepts. The girls in 1990 non-feudal Japan are freed from all sexually discriminating issues. When they decide what they want to do, they do it, and nobody stands in their way. Young people in other countries may strongly support a band that has an intense policital message while Japanese girls (and boys too) have the same enthusiasm and great sympathy for a silly, crazy band. BENTEN Label brings you to the world of girls who are full of curiosity and fantastic ideas, who are shameless, courageous, and who love to entertain people. In June of 1997, Sister Records was started as a major distribution project with Nippon Crown and Fuji Pacific Music.

The majority of the music in Otaku Unite! is from BENTEN/Sister Records artists. We cannot say enough good things about this label, be sure to visit their website.

Kaiju Big Battel is a modern conflict of epic proportions. Planet Earth is under threat: scattered throughout the galazy is a monstrous mob of maniacal villains, menacing alien beasts, and giant, city-crushing monsters that are waging war against one another. Presiding over this mayhem is the Kaiju Commissioner, an enigmatic human-arbiter appointed by a clandestine cadre of world leaders to regulate Kaiju rage. If the Kaiju Commissioner doesn't do his job perfectly the entire world could get caught in the crossfire.

Currently, the Kaiju Universe maintains an active roster of approximately 30 monsters, including a blue alien-glutton named Sky Deviler, a factory-worker-turned-soup-can called Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle, a dirty hare-sage dubbed Dusto Bunny, Uchu Chu the Space BUg (self-explanatory), and a despicable, square-headed mad scientist known as Dr. Cube. In addition to the Kaiju Commissioner, a few other privileged humans also get a piece of the action, including Referee Jingi, a mustachioed official who enforces fairness and civility in the ring, Anthony Salbino, an urban renewal expert who reconstructs crumbled cityscapes between Battels, and one tuxedo-wearing, mouth-running MC.

Kaiju Big Battel can be found on the web at www.kaiju.com.