Category | Arts & Living

Anime Weekend Atlanta brings out cities biggest fans and followers

Published on October 9, 2007 by The Sentinel

    Puzzled onlookers may not have realized, while seeing costumed
individuals with badges wandering around the Cumberland Mall, that the
Anime Weekend Atlanta [AWA] Conference 13 was held Sept. 21-23. The
event took place at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel and the Cobb Galleria
Centre in Atlanta.

    This yearly event is a must-go for every Japanese comic and manga fan. Since the three-day convention’s debut in 1995, AWA has developed into one of the biggest and most popular anime conventions held in the U.S.

    I have always heard of the event, often being surrounded by anime lovers. However, I never actually attended this event until Friday, Sept. 21.

    Having seen only a couple animes and read the manga series “Death Note,” I definitely felt unknowledgeable and confused around many anime fanatics that were at the convention, especially when I tried to identify the characters  AWA  goers were dressed up as. However, this new experience was quite an adventure.

    One of the major aspects, and also the most visually stunning, is all the costumes. Although it is definitely not required, being in costume or dressed up to some extent is the norm for AWA. Some fans go all out, equipped with massive cardboard swords and chains, and others are more reserved in Japanese anime culture fashions. Going to AWA undeniably gives the onlooker many sights. One of the adventures of AWA is just meandering around, marveling at all the fantastic costumes and taking pictures of those that are most memorable.

    Another popular attraction at AWA is the infamous dealers’ room. This room contains all an anime fan could dream of, including funky bunny hats, Japanese DIY clothing, wooden swords, manga, action figures, anime DVDs, foreign DVDs, nerd and videogame T-shirts, stuffed anime characters, jewelry, bags, CDs and even a death note. Prices do tend to run pretty high, however, depending on the item.

    Besides the dealers’ room, there are many other smaller rooms contained in the Galleria. With the badge that grants guests three days to wander around in all the AWA areas, many different events are open for exploration. This includes the artists’ alleyway, where artists set up tables and sell their artwork. There are rooms containing panels and information sessions on all sorts of things, including cosplay, anime screenings, writing your own manga, costume contests, videogame tournaments, anime music videos and gaming.

    At night, besides the massive partying going on at the Renaissance Waverly and Sheraton Suite Hotels, there are events held at the Galleria.

    The Anime Music Video Dance was held Friday and Saturday nights till “collapse.” On Saturday night, The Emeralds [a rock n’ roll band from Yokohama, Japan], The Captains [1960s sounding Japanese rock band from Sendai], and Peelander-Z [a Japanese Action Comic-Punk Band] all played great sets. The headlining act, Peelander-Z, is completely different than any other music act. Dressing up in brightly colored costumes, and claiming that it is their skin rather than clothes, they put on one of the most crowd participation directed acts ever. It’s a show where music and playing with the crowd are equally entertaining. This punk-rock show brings the audience into the show and talks about human bowling, wrestling and kung-fu action. Peelander-Z is a unique Japanese action comic punk band not to be missed.

    Overall, for my first time at AWA, I fully enjoyed it. Although things could be labeled a bit better, this event was a steal at $35 for the three-day weekend pass. Next year, I will be more adjusted to how things work at AWA and the events, so I can check out a lot more things.

    Anyone that has not been exposed to something like this and is open-minded will definitely find AWA a rather interesting event. While AWA 13 just wrapped up, Awa 14 is already being planned for the same location on Sept. 19-21, 2008.

    Photos courtesy of Samantha Mach