2008 Woodie Awards
Anime convention unites fans for panels, shopping, games
Addley Fannin
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
Every Labor Day weekend, hundreds of anime fans meet up in Dallas to meet, shop and share their love of pop culture.
AnimeFest is an anime convention that has been held in the Dallas area annually since 1993. The convention attracts fans of Japanese animation, comic books, movies, video games and other forms of popular culture with a weekend-long event that includes special guests, video screenings, vendors and forums.
"People are here for the attractions and the panels," said Britt Myers, president of the Mu Epsilon Kappa anime club and a theater senior. "The dealer's room is always a big one, and the artist's alley. It's a big place for them to just hang out and meet other people who are similar."
The dealer's room, a convention standard, is a location where professional vendors sell their various wares, often with special discounts and deals. At AnimeFest, the booths range from costumes to imported Japanese snacks to DVDs and comic books.
In addition, AnimeFest and most other anime conventions also feature an "artist's alley," where amateur artists can reserve booths and sell their personal work. The artist's alley participants sell everything from fan art to homemade buttons to elaborate costume pieces, such as wigs. Several artists also take commissions.
Another major attraction is the numerous special guests who make appearances during the weekend, mostly people involved in the anime industry, such as voice actors, writers, directors and artists.
Many of the guests participate in panels that discuss the inner workings of the industry, facts about the various series and information on cultural aspects addressed in the various mediums.
"We hosted a lot of stuff," said Adam Norris, Mu Epsilon Kappa vice president and a computer science senior. "We had a Sumie panel where one of our members who actually lived in Japan and took and art class there went over the basics of the Sumite art style."
Some forums take the form of game shows and contests to get visitors involved in the convention.
"We did the 'Anime Idol,' which is kind of like American Idol, except that they sing J-Pop and anime songs," Norris said. "We had three rounds of Anime Jeopardy."
Other panels provide information and advice for people who want to work in certain aspects of the anime industry.
"We also did a 'how-to' for anime clubs," Myers said. "We share our experience to help other organizations from high school and college get started, give them tips and stuff."
For more information on AnimeFest, go to animefest.org.
AnimeFest is an anime convention that has been held in the Dallas area annually since 1993. The convention attracts fans of Japanese animation, comic books, movies, video games and other forms of popular culture with a weekend-long event that includes special guests, video screenings, vendors and forums.
"People are here for the attractions and the panels," said Britt Myers, president of the Mu Epsilon Kappa anime club and a theater senior. "The dealer's room is always a big one, and the artist's alley. It's a big place for them to just hang out and meet other people who are similar."
The dealer's room, a convention standard, is a location where professional vendors sell their various wares, often with special discounts and deals. At AnimeFest, the booths range from costumes to imported Japanese snacks to DVDs and comic books.
In addition, AnimeFest and most other anime conventions also feature an "artist's alley," where amateur artists can reserve booths and sell their personal work. The artist's alley participants sell everything from fan art to homemade buttons to elaborate costume pieces, such as wigs. Several artists also take commissions.
Another major attraction is the numerous special guests who make appearances during the weekend, mostly people involved in the anime industry, such as voice actors, writers, directors and artists.
Many of the guests participate in panels that discuss the inner workings of the industry, facts about the various series and information on cultural aspects addressed in the various mediums.
"We hosted a lot of stuff," said Adam Norris, Mu Epsilon Kappa vice president and a computer science senior. "We had a Sumie panel where one of our members who actually lived in Japan and took and art class there went over the basics of the Sumite art style."
Some forums take the form of game shows and contests to get visitors involved in the convention.
"We did the 'Anime Idol,' which is kind of like American Idol, except that they sing J-Pop and anime songs," Norris said. "We had three rounds of Anime Jeopardy."
Other panels provide information and advice for people who want to work in certain aspects of the anime industry.
"We also did a 'how-to' for anime clubs," Myers said. "We share our experience to help other organizations from high school and college get started, give them tips and stuff."
For more information on AnimeFest, go to animefest.org.
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