Hidiri - Anime model from Tokyo, Japan

 Anime Enthusiasts Gather at the
9th Annual Anime Expo

Go to Anime Expo 2000 Photo Gallery
New to Anime? Click here for an interview with anime fan Kevin Lillard

     Pikachu was there...So was Sailor Moon, Gundam,
Dragon Ball Z, Escaflowne and Neon Evangelion...in Disneyland?

     Not even Mickey Mouse could have taken away the exciting presence of anime at the Disneyland Hotel Resort and Convention center in Anaheim, California.

Anime fan - Aldrich Bautista

     Anima Expo 2000 was the ninth annual anime fest, the largest convention of its kind devoted to Japanese animation and manga (comics) in the United States. If you are a fan of Princess Mononoke or the latest Dragon Ball Z, this was definitely the place to see and be seen.

     A record-breaking attendance of more than 6,500 anime fans attended four nonstop days at AX (Anime Expo 2000) over the 4th of July weekend, many dressed as their favorite anime characters. Events included special previews of upcoming film, TV, comic and video series, seminars with anime artists and producers, awards ceremonies, a charity auction and a masquerade party. It was a total anime smoozefest.

  

(L to R): Kie Gruenke "Officer Jenny," Lily Gruenke "Officer Jenny," Kiyoshi Okuma "Subaru," & Jessa Deaubl "Subaru" Jeanne Becaon - "Lilith" in Dark Stalker, video game Anime fans pose for our camera!

     It was fun getting to know some of the anime characters and their artists at this year's extravaganza.

"Gundam"

     Gundam, in case you haven't heard, is a mobile suit for the federation which has been made into legend, the symbol of the resistance movement in the long-standing animation. The Gundam series has survived through videos, comics, books, TV shows, video games, toys and t-shirts. While Gundam continues to be popular among animation fans, it wasn't the only anime attraction at the convention.

     Gundam is one of hundreds of anime characters. Other notable series include Trigun, Escaflowne, Neon Evangelion, and of course, the most mainstream of all...Pokemon.

     These characters come in all sorts of styles, shapes and personalities and seem to come to life before your eyes. Anime series vary in theme, story line, and attract diverse audiences. Doraemon, for example, is based on the adventures of a futuristic blue-colored cat. Cowboy Bebop is about a bounty hunter in space with female comic characters sporting chests way beyond 48D.

     Newsgroups online were abuzz over the reported delays at this year's Anime Dealers Room, where anime dealers show their wares for sale. Stories indicate that, Disney Hotel management along with Anaheim police reportedly were brought in to scout the dealers hall area to purge the public areas of X-rated products after a complaint was made by a convention attendee with her child who viewed one dealer selling X-rated materials to minors.

Anime shopping

     Like true core enthusiasts, newsgroups debated online the pros and cons of such a sweep calling it the "Dealers Room Incident." A convention management spokesman went online responding to members of the newsgroups with an apology, "We are taking steps to make sure that this situation never occurs again and also that the dealer who ruined the experience of the...fans in attendance. will not be invited back to AX ever again...We are making sure that this will never occur again."

Heather - Anime fan

     This was no ordinary convention. The interactive attention to detail and dialogue between the fans and the conference organizers is impressive. It was evident even before the convention was officially over, with members eagerly plotting out suggestions online for improving next year's gathering.

 Click here for video
     Fans screamed "Bandai! - Bandai! - Bandai!" while jumping up and down and raising their hands as high as possible to reach one of the red Bandai T-shirts being flung out into the crowds at the Bandai exhibition booth.

Catching those Bandai T-shirts!

   In case you were not one of the lucky people that caught one of those T-shirts, Bandai has given AsianConnections.com official Bandai T-shirts and CD-ROM's to give away online!

   Now that's a civilized way to win. No screaming "Bandai! - Bandai!" and no jumping required. Just click here to sign-up and we'll pick the winners from a random draw. Winners will be picked from all members signing up from July 6 through August 6. If you are already an AC member, just Email us!

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