Anime provides escape from reality
by Jen Camp, Staff Writer
Many people don’t understand why teens and adults alike would travel to a hotel like the Best Western located in Greentree dressed up as different people just to walk around. Really, as I have found out, the reason is that the experience gives a thrill and the feeling of being free.
By freedom, I mean the ability to feel like someone else, even dressing as a different gender. Without restrictions, men dress as women and women dress as men when they are cosplaying, the act of dressing up and acting like a character from an anime movie or show. Really attending the convention becomes like a guessing game for people attending to guess whom others are imitating.
I attended my most recent Anime Convention, an Asian pop culture festival, on Oct. 3 and 4. Known formally “KuroKiiro” (pronounced ku-ro-ki-ir-o), the festival is also called Tekko ½. It is interesting that “Kuro,” a noun, stands for the color black and “kiiro” translates to yellow or gold.
Admission to the convention wasn’t expensive, simply $10 for a one-day pass and $15 for a weekend pass for both Saturday and Sunday. Very safe with a lot of security present both at the convention and in the lobby, the convention was held on the hotel’s eighth floor and only those wearing lanyards were admitted.
Besides trying to look like the characters in an anime, fans can give themselves Japanese names that they use when at conventions or as a nickname with friends. My anime name is “Yuki Arashi,” which means “Snow Storm.” I picked this name because I love the snow, and my friends always say when I lose my temper, I act like a massive storm.
While cosplaying is predominant at the conventions, the thrill of meeting others who love anime is also important. This year I met Johny Yong Bosch and got his autograph. Conventions also feature a room where dealers sell tons of merchandise to help represent the animes.
This year at KuroKiiro I bought the green purse that I carry almost every day, as well as two masks, cat-ear barrettes and a black cat tail. While conventions themselves are great to attend, it’s even nicer to go with a friend as I did. When I attended both Tekkoshocon in Pittsburgh last year and KuroKirro this year, I went with my best friend Kylie Smith. People from all over the United States travel to the conventions from as far as California and even Hawaii.
I attend the conventions because they provide a time for me to be free. They allow me to surround myself with people who understand what I say whenever I use the phrase “Konichiwa,” Japanese for “hello or good afternoon.” The conventions also bring in bands from all around and let the “anime freaks,” as we are called, enjoy the music we know and love as the themes of our favorite shows.
The conventions are always a fun experience because they are filled with skits, dancing and Q&A’s, as well as competitions for best dressed or most realistic weapon. Normally after the regular convention hours, there is a concert and party/rave afterwards for anime fans to attend and enjoy themselves.
But the conventions aren’t really just for people who love anime, though it’s really a plus if they do. The conventions are for people who want to go out to meet new people and have fun, to live a day outside of their own skin walking in someone else’s shoes. Then maybe afterwards we all can realize how much we really do love actually being who we are.
Pittsburgh will host another convention in April. To check out the scheduling for the conventions in and around Pittsburgh and all of Pennsylvania, check out my favorite anime website: www.animecons.com/events.
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