Audio By Carbonatix
Don’t let the name fool you: Animeland Wasabi isn’t just about Japan’s finest pop-culture export. “Anime is the base component,” explains Gregory Richardson of the convention, which opens at noon today. “The staples of the anime con are here, from the maid cafe to our video room.” But there’s much more. “Anime reaches into everything,” continues Richardson. “It influences everything from comic books to sci-fi, and vice versa. They all kind of intertwine in that nerd pop-culture way. This will be the first year that we’re really bringing that to the forefront.”
Those intertwined elements include a massive gaming experience, a rave, and an all-new experience called Animeland University, a structured approach to panels that will let attendees earn a degree in the various elements of the anime world. Throw in the usual suspects, including a host of guests including Adventure Time and Futurama voice actor John DiMaggio as guest of honor, tons of cosplay, a dealers’ room and an art show, and you have an anime con that anyone can love.
Animeland Wasabi runs today through Sunday at the Crowne Plaza DIA, 15500 East 40th Avenue; tickets are $25 to $45, with a variety of packages available. For registration and more information, including a complete lineup and schedule, visit animelandwa-sabi.com.
Feb. 28-March 2, 2014
