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By Craig Shapiro
This weekend, when Mary O'Donnell arrives at NekoCon 13, she won't be Mary O'Donnell. // The long-running anime convention gathers fans of Japanese animation. Most days, O'Donnell is an Old Dominion University senior biochemistry major from Chesapeake who's interested in nuclear medicine. But this weekend, she will be 18-year-old Virginia Maxwell. Like her father, Virginia's a Drifter. He vanished when she was a kid. Armed with a pair of revolvers and a keen sense of justice, she's roaming the plains looking for him.
Virginia is the heroine of "Wild Arms 3," a video game with an Old West flavor that's been around since 1996, when it came out in Japan.
"It's one of my favorite games, and I've always liked the character," said O'Donnell, president of ODU's Anime Club. "I liked her persona - she's very noble, and she cares about her friends. I also liked how her outfit looked. I didn't want to wear anything skimpy, and I didn't want to dress like a boy."
O'Donnell's mother made the costume - "a random kimono" - for her first NekoCon, six or seven years ago. This time, they're working together on Virginia's skirts and jacket. O'Donnell also plans to alter a pair of boots and to fashion her holsters from scratch.
"Why? Why not?" she said. "It's fun. People like to dress up and get their picture taken and have people compliment them on their costume."
Cosplay - it's short for "costume play" - is just one of the convention's draws. Headliners include Akemi Solloway, a teacher and lecturer who organizes the Japanese Arts Festival in London; voice actors Cristina Vee ("Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha") and Chris Rager ("Dragonball Z's" Mr. Satan and King Yemma); and the Goth band The Sound Bee HD. Guest artists, an art gallery, karaoke, panel discussions, video gaming, a vendors' room and workshops round out the weekend.
While the names may not register outside the anime community, that community is sizable. The first NekoCon, in 1998 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Virginia Beach, drew just over 500 people. Last year's event, at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, attracted more than 3,400. It's at the convention center again this year; two nearby hotels, where some events will be held, are sold out.
O'Donnell caught the anime bug watching Toonami, the block of cartoons that ran afternoons for 10 years on Cartoon Network. She's still struck by the variety. It's not all "Pokemon." The acclaimed "Cowboy Bebop," which followed a group of bounty hunters, took its design and music cues from American beat and jazz and early rock 'n' roll.
"It's not just one genre," she said. "You can watch something about giant robots one day and a slice of life about going to school the next."
Craig Shapiro, shapiro1@cox.net
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misconceptions
I'd like to clear up some misconceptions. Anime are NOT "cartoons". That's too simple of a description for the medium that is anime. Unlike in America, where cartoons were regulated to only children, Japan uses animation as a story telling medium. It tells a story such as any book, magazine, or periodical. It has many genres, including adult. Anime should'nt be feared or reviled any more than books should. Anime conventions celebrate all aspects of the medium and japanese pop culture. Yes, this includes the adult content, but that content is regulated to 18+ panels late at night which are strictly ID'ed. Anime conventions are more children friendly than adult. That said, if you're worried, don't leave your children unattended. Go with them.
My kids have been attending
My kids have been attending since the first. Some are now working as staff. Some parents just leave the young and innocent off and expect everything to be fine. This leaves attendees to look out for each other. It is usually fine but if you see something not right, get the staff. I would like to remind parents that you are allowed to attend as well. It is not all costumes and not everyone dresses up. There are panels you can attend. Some are classes and some mini events like Live Action Roll Playing, or LARP, of some game or amine. I love the art room and the dealers room has gifts and items you might be hard pressed to find other places. In other words, don't leave your children unattended unless you feel they can take care of themselves.
NekoCon
This will be my daughter's 4th NekoCon and she sews all of her own costumes.
warning to parents
anime is not all nice little costumes and make believe. check the dark sex freak side. these are readily available and will draw you child in like ours. There seems to be limited control; and easy access at these conventions. The cartoon sex is graphic and often time sick as with animals. we had a club at the high school innocent anime till we found them passing sick sex dvd, magizines ie comic books around. Be careful and screen the stuff or you will be sorry.