Anime consists of a great deal of fantasy, apparently much of it connected to Japanese mythology. I would not really know about that because while I wanted to sit in on the discussion of Japanese mythology as it is used in anime, Nick and Harrison voted for the improvisation troupe in the ballroom. (While everyone in the improv audience seemed to be having a great time, laughing and volunteering and yelling out stuff, I found it pretty much incomprehensible.) I thought of pulling rank and forcing the issue, but, really, I was only there to keep an eye on the boys. Next year, however, I may not be so nice.
So, the convention took place at the Denver Tech Center Marriott. The place was packed with people, more males than females, most of whom (and I'm talking an 80% or more, most, not a measly 51% most) wore costumes. Nick and Harrison did not due to the fact that ours was a last minute decision and they did not have time to assemble one. They were, however, thrilled to see all the people dressed up and would nudge each other and point, "There's Haruhi!". "Oh look! See? There's Grimmjow!" (Not to mention Soi Fan and Chiyo Chan's father, who is apparently a cat.) Many had dyed hair and a few had outsized, odd-colored contact lenses. Robes and samurai swords were popular. There was a character with an outsized shovel strapped to her back, but I was informed that it was really a spatula. I also saw a character from ghost busters (Louis assures me it was a cartoon show for a while, so it had a tenuous connection) and Hit-Girl (from the movie "Kick A**" which started life as a comic book.) School girl costumes abounded.
Now before you get all weirded out, the demographics for the convention run to the highschool and college age crowd. There were a few younger kids, but they tended to be accompanied by a parent. You could spot the parents by the dazed, "I really should be paying more attention to what my child is into", look in their eyes. The school girl costumes also probably deserve some explanation. In much of anime, at least the stuff I've seen, the heroes and heroines seem to be school age. They wear uniforms in Japan, hence if your favorite character is Haruhi Suzumiya, you need to wear a uniform.
Nick and Harrison loved every minute of it. My only objection is that they continuously roamed about the convention, not really settling on anything. I felt like I was trailing a pair of sharks. We were there seven and a half hours. The boys complained it was too short, but Louis and I were exhausted. I did promise Harrison we could attend next year's and stay longer. I'm not sure why I said that. At least I did not completely lose my head and say we'd go all three days.
Some favorite moments from the Nan Desu Kan:
We went to eat lunch at Wendy's, just outside the hotel. Amid all the people dressed in anime attire was the familiar red and white striped shirt and red cap. A teenage girl approaches the young man and says, "Waldo! I've been looking for you my whole life!"
In the room for the merchandise vendors it is very noisy. Lots of talking and laughing and buying and selling and packed with people. The loudspeaker comes on and immediately all the attendees stop talking, as only those in school or recently out of school have been trained to do. The speaker announces several names and finishes with, "Please go to the front desk, your parents are waiting for you." A collective "Ahhh!" goes up, laughter and then an instant return to previous noise levels.
Also in the vendor room, we pass an Asian woman with a stroller that contains a small dog in it. The woman sneezes and a teenager (blonde and blue-eyed) walking past breezily calls out, "Odaiji ni!" Which means bless you.
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