“Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy sexy lady,” blares over the speakers in the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convocation Center on the warm Sept. 31 night setting the unwritten theme for the Anime Weekend Atlanta celebration: Doin’ It Gangnam Style. Since 1995, Anime Weekend Atlanta, known best as AWA to its fans, has brought together anime fans for a three day weekend of costumes, concerts and panels about their respective subculture.
Panels offered during the three day weekend featured topics ranging from rare types of anime, to oddball video games to bully awareness within the fan community. Local artistsand vendors also set up shop in the Cobb Galleria Centre. Anime Weekend Atlanta turned out to be a rousing success for all organizations involved.
Anime is defined simply as Japanese animation and is noted for its distinct art styles and hand drawn characteristics that have been bringing worldwide fans together for more than 50 years. TV shows like “Pokemon,” “Dragon Ball Z” and “Ghost in the Shell” are all famous anime programs that have made huge marks on American television.
With this influence, it should come as no surprise that costuming was a huge element at the event in Atlanta. There were many people dressed as famous anime characters and video games definitely made their presence during the three day festival. Similar to the earlier reported Dragon*Con event, panels featuring costume making, popular anime TV shows and even anime versions of game shows were given to the event participants in an attempt to expand their knowledge about the culture they love so much.
Also featured at the convention was Artist’s Alley, where local artists can showcase and sell their art pieces relating to anime and Japanese culture to adoring fans. From video game based fan art to original creations, Artist’s Alley provides local artists with an opportunity to expose their work and name to more people.
“I got a lot of commissions and do more business each and every year I am here,” said artist Shira Testman.
Testman is known to her fans as Shadi Laydee and has set up in Artist’s Alley for the past three years. Steve Deal, owner of Sanshee.com, a website known for production of video game based merchandise, talks about his involvement as a vendor during AWA:
“It’s really nice to meet the fans and offer them merchandise that they could never find anywhere else, hopefully gaining a fan in the process,” said Steve Deal, owner of Sanshee.com, a website known for production of video game based merchandise, talks about his involvement as a vendor during AWA.
Deal’s website is known for the production of video game based merchandise.
During the interview a young gentleman approached Deal and stated that it was his birthday. Deal gave the man a pin to wish him a happy day.
See, things like that bring old customers back to us, and new customers to us, and that’s my goal,” Deal said. Deal advises that anyone wanting to sell their artwork should start at Artist’s Alley and grow from there. The Anime Weekend Atlanta is a great opportunity for artists.
Usually held during the last weekend of September, presale passes for next year’s Anime Weekend Atlanta are on sale now at www.awa-con.com.
