Important Dates for Anime Junkies
For anime junkies, there are plenty of conferences from which to choose this year. Because there are many across the world, I’ll highlight the best ones and you can make a decision as to where you want to go. Anime Expo 2009 may have passed, but there are still quality anime and manga expos out there.
Saboten-Con (Phoenix)–This one has the makings of a major anime-manga-video game con. They appeared last year and had a turnout of around 1500. I was fortunate to have attended the first one and they were organized and professionals. This con will have screenings every day and will feature many great artists and programmers. The con takes place October 30-November 1. http://www.sabotencon.com/
Aki Con (Everett, WA)–I, too, was fortunate to attend the first annual con last year. This year’s location will be at the Holiday Inn whereas last year it was located in the city’s civic center. This one is geared toward the manga enthusiasts. This year will feature over 5,000 new graphic novels and comics. There are also screenings and cash prizes for numerous contest. This is also one of the cheapest cons to attend. This con takes place November 6-8. http://www.akicon.org/
Kajonk-A-Con (Knoxville, TN)–This con is located right on campus of the University of Tennessee. As you can imagine, there will be plenty of college students attending. If you’re an aspiring anime writer, animator or video game writer or programmer, this is the one to attend. This is a smaller con, but there’s not a better chance to shakes hands with some of the best in the business. This con takes place December 4-6. http://www.kajonk-a-con.com/
Keep in mind, there are plenty of other cons scattered across the country so feel free to break out a little bit and explore the world of anime. It’s a fun experience and you get to meet some interesting and exciting people.