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Anime fans flock to Destin Date: 12/21/2009 |
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SANDESTIN ? An intimate gathering of about 1000 anime fans swarmed the Sandestin Hilton and Beach Resort this weekend for the fifth annual Anime South convention. The event catered to local fans of Japanese comics who used to have to travel to larger cities like Atlanta and Tampa to learn more about modern leather techniques for costuming and the ethics of cosplay (wearing anime costumes). View a photo gallery? Pensacola resident Marc Yu got coaxed into starting the convention a few years ago. He said the event is a rare opportunity for fans of Japanese animation. ?In most cities, the percentage of fans of not just anime, but any Japanese animation is about 3 to 7 percent of the population,? said Marc Yu, organizer of the event. ?When you have such a low population density, they?re going to be miles apart. [The convention] is a time, place and subject matter where a community can come together for a common interest.? Pensacola resident Marc Yu decided to bring the fun closer to home. As part of Anime South, a club that celebrates Japanese comics created in the Manga and Anime traditions, he organized the three days of seminars, movies and games. Yu?s love for anime started early with a show called Marine Boy. He witnessed the genre grow in popularity over the next few generations. ?As the country has become more international in flavor they?ve become more accepting of foreign entertainment. Everyone remembers the Transformers,? Yu said. Though most in attendance noted the convention was not the size of those in the big city, they also said they liked it that way. Destin resident Kristina Koenig loves participating in the cosplay and meeting people with the same interests. This year, she brought her sister. ?It?s really small but it?s always a lot of fun,? Koenig said. The event featured anime ?edge rock? music group Eyeshine and Vincent Payne, known as hip hop artist Maja in anime circles. Both acts held question and answer sessions after performances. Payne relished his time with the fans, spending 90 minutes instead of the scheduled 60. ?In a lot of conventions, it?s hard to get that intimate feeling. There are lots of people and everybody?s doing their own thing,? he said. ?But this was awesome.? |
| Source: nwfdailynews.com |
