The DC Traveler

Here’s a wacky convention – Anime USA, designed to bring together fans of Japanese Anime (animation) and Magna (comics – pronounced MAHN-ga, and to educate people about and help promote Japanese arts and popular culture.

Pronounced ah-NEE-may, it’s a popular form of art used in television shows, video games, movies, and on countless Internet sites.

Animation was popular in both the U.S. and Japan after WW-II, but in Japan, anime and magna (animation and comics characters) accounted for over 40% of all of Japan’s domestic films. While in the U.S., animation was mostly targeted at young children, in Japan, it had appeal with all age groups.

A couple Japanese anime programs, Astro Boy and Speed Racer, were modified for American audiences and became popular in the 1960s on television.

Here’s a sample of some 1960s Anime…

The art form uses a specific style or look, which is generally instantly recognizable.  Some characters is highly sexualized and racy.

It’s also about those Japanese animated characters and super heroes that some people are totally enamored with.

Events and activities include:

• Art Show and Gallery
• Anime Music Videos
• Art Show and Auction
• Autograph Sessions
• Kabuki Ball (semi-formal dress code, Cosplay costumes welcome) with dance instructions
• Cosplay contest and skits

• Saturday night dance
• Anime vendors room
• Game Shows with prizes
• Karaoke
• LARP (Live-Action Role Playing)
• Panels and Workshops – from cel-painting to story plots
• High-tech Video Game Room and Tournaments with prizes
• Video Rooms - four anime video rooms and a live-action Japanese video room
• Bands, celebrities and more

And here’s samples of current Anime…

Anime USA
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, Virginia 22202 (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday-Sunday, October 10-12, 2008, hours vary by day.

Tickets - Three-day Pass - $50, Friday - $35, Saturday - $40 and Sunday - $30 and are available at the door. Children 7 & under – free, kids 8-12 - half-price with an adult (limit 2 kids per adult).

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Crystal City - Blue add Yellow line.  The Hyatt’s shuttle stop at the station every 20 minutes.  Look for the White\Red Shuttle or call the hotel at 703-418-1234 for pick-up.

Parking - Valet only at the hotel. Or try the two paid parking garages behind the hotel.

Weapons Policy - There is a strict weapons policy, not sure why it  needs to be stated, but  here’s the link to  it.

Images – Flickr - green woman drawing, cosplay group, Anime in LA

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