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Armstrong from 'Full Metal Alchemist' and Dark Magician Girl from 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' wander among the many costumed fans.
ConnectiCon 2006 brought some 4,000 anime fans to the Connecticut Convention Center, where they could buy Japanese comics and more. |
By TAMIKA TAYLOR
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
HOUGH THE RECENT Comic-Con gathering in San Diego may have attracted a lot of attention, its participants couldn't possibly have been more passionate about their hobby than those at the fourth annual ConnectiCon Convention.
The anime convention had an official attendance of about 4,000 people, according to convention chair Mathew Daigle.
From July 7 to July 9, people of all ages from around the country converged on Hartford, Conn. It was an event that everyone would remember.
"I decided to become a chairman because I was tired of driving to different convention[s]," Daigle said.
But the turnout wasn't limited to those on the East Coast.
"We've had people travel from Canada and the Netherlands to help out," he said.
There's no question that anime fans are willing to go to great lengths to share their passion.
"Anime" ("Ann-uh-may") is the term used to describe animation in Japan. Japanese animation is famous for mixing genres and themes. For example, historical anime can be based on Japanese history.
The convention offered screenings of popular anime cartoons, and held workshop sessions on topics such as how to create your own character and how to make it come alive with the help of some animator experts.
There were other events where participants could meet and greet celebrities--not your typical Hollywood types, but rather, the creators of well-known comic books.
Among the memorable musical performances was Piano Squall, a pianist who specializes in video game and anime music.
Not only could attendees learn a thing or two, but they could purchase bags, dolls, manga (Japanese comic books) magazines and T-shirts. There were also buttons, stickers, drinks and goodies that are made in Japan.
For a reasonable price, ConnectiCon artists drew caricatures of willing participants.
But vendors aside, the real fun began with the anime fans themselves.
On the second day of ConnectiCon was a costume competition, followed by a masquerade where anyone who was costumed got to file through the halls and show off.
While some people came in costume as familiar characters from "Star Wars" to "Pirates of the Caribbean," others donned truly outlandish garb, dressing up as anime characters from "InuYasha" and "Naruto."
In order to get inside certain rooms, you had to wear a badge provided at the registration table to the staff members, volunteers, guests and people who preregistered.
Staff members took this very seriously; no badge meant no activities. Unfortunately for me, I didn't meet any of the qualifications upon arriving at the convention.
And so, I said to myself, "Why not become a volunteer?" Anyone who was interested could help out with the cause. In addition to the all-access badges, volunteers received free rewards, depending on the number of hours they worked. These included a free T-shirt (eight hours), a free pass for 2007 ConnectiCon Convention (16 hours) and a free room to crash in at the Resident Inn during next year's convention (48 hours).
ConnectiCon was like a personalized FunLand for anybody to go, dress up, meet people and--with the flash of a camera--be able to relive each moment.
It was a chance for some to show people what they love, either by writing about it, drawing or wearing it. No matter how far they had traveled, it was an event where everyone felt right at home.
To register or volunteer for next year's ConnectiCon Convention, July 13 to July 15, 2007, visit connecticon .org.
TAMIKA TAYLOR is a rising junior at Mountain View High School.
