Ok, so I’m at an anime convention. I’ve been to these before, with varying results. Only this time, it’s in Japan (birthplace of anime), and at the mother of Japanese anime conventions - Animecon!The first thing I notice is wall-to-wall people dressed up as anime characters. Colors, wigs, homemade foam-rubber weapons and latex body paint jump out at me in triumphant neon splendor. As I enter the showroom, booths upon booths of Japanese pop culture showcase their wares. There is just so much cool shit to look at! My brain goes into overload. I start foaming at the mouth. Cute Asian girls dressed in revealing anime cosplay surround me. I start hyperventilating and break out into convulsions on the floor. Well, no, not really. But everything except that last sentence is true blue. I’m in nerd heaven, in which I feel like a king.
I go outside to watch the cosplay competition, where costumed anime fans strike poses for triggerhappy blogging photographers…like me! I meet a few interesting people, including Waldo (finally found him!), Deadpool, and Mega Man! Afterwards, I check out the indoor stage where everyday anime fanboys (strangely, an absence of girls at this attraction) sing their hearts out to their favorite anime inspired tunes – Anime Karaoke, if you will. And, unlike karaoke in the west- which usually happens in late night pubs where would-be singers feel the need to drink down some “social lubrication” before getting up for a song…everyone in this convention crowd is hardcore into the material, going for gold on stage while the crowd engages in a collective orgasm of anime awesomeness. The crowd participation is amazing; synchronized fist-pumping to the music fills the airspace around the stage. It feels more like a heavy metal concert while sounding like an Astro-boy episode. Its pretty epic. I find myself just open-mouth gaping at the sight. Then there’s the two huge showrooms full of convention booths for cool anime art, comics, cartoons, music, mouse pads, iphone accessories, gimmicks and do-dads, pretty much any kind of pop culture application you can think of, they have it here sporting a Pac-man head or something. And then comes the highlight for me: the meet & greets! I suddenly find myself shaking hands with Ultraman himself, and touching his gun. (No, really! Dammit, you know what I mean. Pervert!)
Now, imagine this glorious scenario repeating over three days with thousands of Asian youths who never seem to tire. This is Animecon Japan. Pure Epic Awesomeness. Next year I’m bringing a Gundam suit.
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