ANIME INVASION IN VEGAS!
Anime Invasion!
This past Labor Day Anime Vegas marked it’s 5th anniversary as it opened its doors to the Las Vegas areas many anime fans. Vendors from as far away as Japan sold everything from todays latest manga and anime, to Jpop music and as wild an assortment of swords, ninja darts, and imported DVD’s an anime fan could imagine. Cashman Fields Convention center was buzzing with anime fans of all varieties; many in cosplay costumes no doubt awaiting the weekends costume contests, as well as more casual fans seeking their latest manga, or the most intriguing artist alley masterpiece. The main hall also included a video game area sporting a variety of games, everything from stand up arcade fair, to consoles hosting the latest action games.
The fans had several band choices to listen to as the concert venue featured Makenai, Rusika, and other anime convention favorites. The guests and panelists included such notables as Steve Blum best known as “Spike” from Cowboy Bebop, Jonathan Klien President of New Generation Pictures Inc., and Colleen Clinkenbeard voice actor/line Producer for Funimation Productions.
At the Funimation booth Adam Sheehan filled me in on what to watch out for from Funimation this fall and Holiday season. Heroic Age a lighthearted look into space exploration is an anime currently on store shelves. You can look for Soul Eater, more of the Evangelion saga, and many others to come out this fall as well. I was fortunate enough after speaking to Alan to catch the latest installment of the Evangelion saga in one of the anime preview rooms, plus some fan edited YU-GI-OH episodes I’m sure will show up on You-tube, or some obscure anime based web site.
Whether you were looking for the latest in Asian styled costumes, kitty eared headwear, or martial arts DVD’s, there seemed to be a vendor there selling it. Ralph Mathieu of Alternate Reality Comics, who had a booth there, told me the first day was probably the best attended; however, being there on Sunday the crowded center seemed busy even up until the closing of the main floor. Most vendors I approached seemed to have good customer flow, and were enthusiastic about the return to the Cashman Field Convention Center. Last year the convention was moved to the Renaissance Hotel.
There was an Art Show set up by San Francisco based Nichi Bei Times weekly newspaper. Where you could bid on works from artists from all across the nation. The art comes from an annual contest they have highlighting their yearly anime/manga special edition. According to editor, Kenji Taguma many of their contestants have gone on to great success. Given today’s economy, and the plight of many a hobbyist, Anime Vegas’s turnout seemed an encouraging change, for the Las Vegas economy, and the Vegas anime experience.