North Texas Daily

By Brittni Barnett / Intern –

From anime to manga, students don’t have to wait until the official A-Kon conference this summer to get their fill.

Denton’s fourth annual Mini A-Kon conference is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the North Branch of the Denton Public Library.

“So many people love anime and the culture of anime, and Mini A-Kon gives local people a chance to get together with people with similar interests,” said Julie Gonzalez, the public service librarian.

The conference is modeled after the larger A-Kon conference that will take place in Dallas this June, said David Doub, the executive assistant of gaming for A-Kon.

The library will host the event along with Mu Epsilon Kappa, UNT’s anime club, said Britt Myer, the public relations officer for the organization and a theatre arts senior.

Mu Epsilon Kappa is the founding chapter of the Mu Epsilon Kappa Society, a national organization composed of 16 chapters from all around the country, according to the organization’s website.

“UNT and Denton has a very large anime community,” Myer said. “You’ll find people of all ages in this city who are fans of anime.”

The club is helping with the event in an attempt to give back to the community, Myer said.

“It’s a great chance to work with kids and show them that it’s ok to be nerdy and have a good time,” she said.

The conference will have different events, including video gaming, card gaming, guest voice actors, prizes and Cosplay, an event that involves making a character’s outfit using a secret ingredient, Doub said.

“We offer all types of games for everyone to play throughout the day,” Gonzalez said. “There is anime to watch, artists to learn from, and speakers to listen to. People can come and participate in as much or as little as they want.”

The winner of the conference’s video game tournament, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, will win a $100 prize, Gonzalez said.

A-Kon will raffle off two free, three-day passes to A-Kon in June. The only requirement to participate is winners must be present she said.

“I just hope that everyone finds that Mini A-Kon is a good way to pass a Saturday afternoon,” Doub said. “I hope that people are better educated about Japanese culture and find new things to enjoy that they previously didn’t know about.”