Huntington Convention Attracts Anime Fans from Across the Tri-State
Tsubasacon Reports Record Attendance
HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA – September 30, 2008 – If you were in downtown Huntington this past weekend, you would have noticed a large number of people dressed in strange costumes wandering the streets. The reason for this eclectic mix of video game and anime (Japanese animation) characters was not because of a mistimed Halloween party, but because Tsubasacon, WEST. Virginia's first and only anime convention, had invaded the Riverfront Ballroom and Conference Center at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
First held at the Charleston Civic Center in November 2004, Tsubasacon has brought the anime experience to local residence allowing fans of Japanese animation and comics, known as anime and manga respectively, to connect with each other and to meet people who works in the industry. The convention has seen an average grow of approximately 10% per year. However, this year, an estimated 800 people attended Tsubasacon over the weekend, up from 620 that attended the previous year. "We were amazed by the amount of growth we saw this year," stated Carlos Myers, Tsubasacon's webmaster and one of the staffers who worked registration. "We originally projected that 700 people will attend this year, but we blew that number out of the water by mid Saturday."
Robert Axelrod, best known for his roles as Lord Zedd and Finster from the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers, was one of the Guests of Honor. Axelrod told convention attendees about how he started into voice acting and script writing, how he landed the role of Lord Zedd, and his life after Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. Axelrod, also chatted with attendees, signed autographs, and posed for pictures.
Tsubasacon's other Guest of Honor was comic creator Jen Lee Quick, who returned to Tsubasacon from the previous year. Quick is the author of the English language manga Off*Beat published by TokyoPop and is currently working on a new comic called Renascence, which she is self-publishing. Quick also taught a class on the art of cell painting on Saturday.
The convention's video game room was sponsored by RAC (rent-a-center) and Bawls Energy drinks and presented by the LANding Zone's MOBILE COMMAND CENTER. The LZ's LAN & Console based entertainment was even better than expected. They held 20 different tournaments including immensely popular titles like Halo 3, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Guitar Hero 3 and DDR/StepMania. "Every anime fan or serious gamer alike had a smorgasbord of platforms and games to play all conference long," said John Reed, Director of IT, at the LZ, "we even had classic systems like Sega Genesis to offer." Robyn Delk and Baxter Mallory, Managing Partners for the LANding Zone, have worked with Tsubasacon since 2007.
This year also saw a name and back-story contest for the convention's mascot, originally created in 2006 by Tiffany White, Tsubasacon's mascot was redesigned by Richelle Scott for the 2008 convention. The winning entry was "Mitsuki" submitted by Sarah Howard. The winner for best back-story was Joseph Dillistone. Both winners were announced during closing ceremonies Sunday afternoon.
Tsubasacon plans to return to Huntington, WV for next year.
For more information, go online at www.tsubasacon.org
ABOUT TSUBASACON, INC.: First established in 2004, Tsubasacon is WEST. Virginia's first and only convention focusing on Japanese animation and comics, respectively know as "anime" and "manga". In early 2006, control of the convention was transferred from Charleston Anime and Manga Society, Inc. to Tsubasacon, Inc. Tsubasacon's goals are to promote anime and manga in WEST. Virginia and to establish a social framework though which anime and manga fans can interact with each other.
HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA – September 30, 2008 – If you were in downtown Huntington this past weekend, you would have noticed a large number of people dressed in strange costumes wandering the streets. The reason for this eclectic mix of video game and anime (Japanese animation) characters was not because of a mistimed Halloween party, but because Tsubasacon, WEST. Virginia's first and only anime convention, had invaded the Riverfront Ballroom and Conference Center at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
First held at the Charleston Civic Center in November 2004, Tsubasacon has brought the anime experience to local residence allowing fans of Japanese animation and comics, known as anime and manga respectively, to connect with each other and to meet people who works in the industry. The convention has seen an average grow of approximately 10% per year. However, this year, an estimated 800 people attended Tsubasacon over the weekend, up from 620 that attended the previous year. "We were amazed by the amount of growth we saw this year," stated Carlos Myers, Tsubasacon's webmaster and one of the staffers who worked registration. "We originally projected that 700 people will attend this year, but we blew that number out of the water by mid Saturday."
Robert Axelrod, best known for his roles as Lord Zedd and Finster from the Mighty Morphing Power Rangers, was one of the Guests of Honor. Axelrod told convention attendees about how he started into voice acting and script writing, how he landed the role of Lord Zedd, and his life after Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. Axelrod, also chatted with attendees, signed autographs, and posed for pictures.
Tsubasacon's other Guest of Honor was comic creator Jen Lee Quick, who returned to Tsubasacon from the previous year. Quick is the author of the English language manga Off*Beat published by TokyoPop and is currently working on a new comic called Renascence, which she is self-publishing. Quick also taught a class on the art of cell painting on Saturday.
The convention's video game room was sponsored by RAC (rent-a-center) and Bawls Energy drinks and presented by the LANding Zone's MOBILE COMMAND CENTER. The LZ's LAN & Console based entertainment was even better than expected. They held 20 different tournaments including immensely popular titles like Halo 3, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Guitar Hero 3 and DDR/StepMania. "Every anime fan or serious gamer alike had a smorgasbord of platforms and games to play all conference long," said John Reed, Director of IT, at the LZ, "we even had classic systems like Sega Genesis to offer." Robyn Delk and Baxter Mallory, Managing Partners for the LANding Zone, have worked with Tsubasacon since 2007.
This year also saw a name and back-story contest for the convention's mascot, originally created in 2006 by Tiffany White, Tsubasacon's mascot was redesigned by Richelle Scott for the 2008 convention. The winning entry was "Mitsuki" submitted by Sarah Howard. The winner for best back-story was Joseph Dillistone. Both winners were announced during closing ceremonies Sunday afternoon.
Tsubasacon plans to return to Huntington, WV for next year.
For more information, go online at www.tsubasacon.org
ABOUT TSUBASACON, INC.: First established in 2004, Tsubasacon is WEST. Virginia's first and only convention focusing on Japanese animation and comics, respectively know as "anime" and "manga". In early 2006, control of the convention was transferred from Charleston Anime and Manga Society, Inc. to Tsubasacon, Inc. Tsubasacon's goals are to promote anime and manga in WEST. Virginia and to establish a social framework though which anime and manga fans can interact with each other.
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