Knowing I write about entertainment, someone once asked me if I'm a big
fan of Anna May.
"Never heard of her," I said.
"Dolt!" he shouted.
Apparently, he meant anime, as in Japanese animation. And I guess I've
been a fan from way back, though I didn't know it at the time. I just
thought "Speed Racer" was the bomb.
"Go, Speed Racer, go!"
Fortunately, anime has come a long way since the days of Speed, Trixie
and Chim Chim. Mega-popular shows such as "Pokémon," "Dragonball Z,"
"Yu-Gi-Oh!" and current rages "Naruto" and "Fullmetal Alchemist" began
popping up all over cable and network TV -- especially Cartoon Network.
Beginning with the surprise 1997 box-office hit "Princess Mononoke,"
film director Hayao Miyazaki also helped raise anime's profile, not to
mention the creative bar. His later films, "Spirited Away" and "Howl's
Moving Castle," kept the momentum going.
Today, the U.S. market for all things anime -- movies, toys, DVDs, etc.
-- is worth $4.35 billion, according to JETRO, which isn't a Pokémon
buddy ! but the Japan External Trade Organization. So it's no surprise
many U.S. cities feature anime conventions.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Erie will host its first, the Erie
Anime Experience, at the Bayfront Convention Center. Visitors can see
older and newer anime shows, plus one ("Yawara") that has yet to air in
the U.S. They can paint an animation cell, play video games and learn
how to make a kimono. If you're into it, you can engage in cosplay, i.e,
dress up as a favorite anime character. An anime version of "Family
Feud" also is scheduled, with competing fan factions from "Fullmetal
Alchemist."
Kyle Herbert, who has voiced characters on "Naruto," "Dragonball Z," and
"Bleach" -- will speak at the event, said Jacqueline Miller, the
convention's president.
When she was little, Miller followed such anime shows as "Voltron" and
"Transformers," then fell out of it.
"When I had my own kids, they started watching 'Pokémon' and 'Dragonball'
! and 'Yu-Gi-Oh!'" she said. "After awhile, I started researching other
shows on TV."
She liked how many shows taught about Japanese history and told complex
stories.
"My mom gets mad. She keeps watching 'Law & Order.' I can watch an
episode and have it solved in five minutes. It doesn't challenge me,"
she said. "But 'Case Closed,' with this kid who goes around solving
crimes, I can watch that and still don't know who did it until just
before the kid tells. That thing twists and turns."
Miller has modest hopes for Erie's first anime convention; a crowd of
400 or more would thrill her. Pittsburgh's Tekkoshocon, in its fifth
year, drew 3,000 fans in April. Erie's event has similar growth
potential, if Miller stays the course.
Yu-Gi-Go, girl!
Tickets for Erie Anime Experience are $25 for adults; $15 for children
12 and younger, and are available at the door.
