Anime Fans Invade Downtown

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Monday, July 06, 2009, at 08:04AM

Ed Fuentes [Flickr]

Anime Expo 2009 attendees using the LA Convention center South Hall to network and be seen.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Fatigued Sailor Moons and other Anime characters were on reserve super powers Sunday, the last day of the 2009 Anime Expo. It is estimated that over 40,000 attendees paraded in costume, shopped, and attended signings and seminars during the four day anime and manga convention.

This show is becoming one of the largest annual consumer events held at the South Park facility, according to L.A. Convention Center Event Manager Deanna Nakamura. "It's a very cooperative crowd," she added. "The biggest problem we have is people jumping lines."

Downtown hotels benefited from the young fans, some traveling as far away as Japan, who attend with the plan to join night parties with other anime and manga enthusiasts. Even those in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties prefer to stay Downtown for the weekend. "No one wants to miss anything," says Thousand Oaks resident John Lee, who was rooming with friends from Chicago at the Westin Bonaventure.

Anime Expo 2009 also serves as an industry event for The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). Organizers plan to be back at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 1 through July 4, 2010.

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Ed Fuentes

Costumes of favored anime and manga characters are not complete without the proper pose. Sara, seen here in the middle, corrected me when I asked her to move to the far right, compromising the hierarchy.

Ed Fuentes

Poses are timed with a countdown to keep foot traffic flowing.

Ed Fuentes

Art Major Tabe, seen kneeling, is not willing to embrace the costumes that don't reflect Anime characters. "I'm a purist." Tabe says. Tabe herself is from Milwaukee, Joey (center) visited from Canada, and Kelly (right) is from Orange County. "The cake is from Denny's." adds Tabe.

Comments

Jon writes:

You guys covered Anime Expo after all. Awesome! Thanks.

It was a little surreal watching some of the costumed folk signing Michael Jackson's memorial poster(?) outside of Staples.

As an FYI for those interested in just looking (next year), the costumed folk congregate both outside the convention center and just inside the entrances. You only needed convention tickets if you wanted to enter the large exhibit halls or other rooms where events were being held. Walking the halls of the convention center (and gawking at the elaborate costumes) was free.

# on Jul.06.2009 AT 11:37 AM

Eve writes:

Thanks for posting that Jon, I'd have enjoyed walking the halls. I went online and saw that tickets were 30 per day, so I didn't go, but next year I'll look around! I love seeing everyone in their costumes walking around outside.

# on Jul.06.2009 AT 06:06 PM

david LEE writes:

for more pics, visit: http://dtownla.com/?p=2588

# on Jul.07.2009 AT 01:22 AM

Jon writes:

Eve,

You can also volunteer in exchange for a free pass. My wife and I volunteered for about 4 hours each on Friday evening in exchange for full day passes on Saturday. Details re volunteering will be on Anime Expo's website in the months leading up to next year's convention (held each year around July 4). We signed up as volunteers just 2 weeks prior to the event. But at effectively $7.50 / hour (one day tickets are only $30), you might have better things to do with your time.

Best, Jon

# on Jul.07.2009 AT 11:22 AM