My Bleach - People in Vancouver strengthening Convention Center this weekend might have thought you were in a Japanese cartoon. Reisan was there. So it was Yusei Fudo. Really lucky visitors may have seen the crew of Bleach. The cartoons were all participants in the three days Anime Evolution Conference, which celebrates Japanese animation and Asian pop culture.
More than 5,000 people from all over the northwest Pacific for the event. Many dressed like their favorite anime characters, which the conference a carnival atmosphere. Iris Lai Reisan was dressed like a character from a videogame called Touhous. Schoolgirlish was sporting a pink outfit with bunny ears, a purple wig, and red shoes.
"I like to walk the corridors and see how many people recognize me," said Lai, a 23-year-old graduate of Victoria University.
Tacoma resident James Tyler came to the conference as a known character, Yusei Fudo of Yo-Gi-Oh, wearing a headdress similar to the flame.
'It is a bad-ass character, "Tyler said of his character-driving motorcycle. "He duels and unity."
The new fashion trend on the stage warmer-anime-Lolita was also on display. The Lolita look is a chaste version of the early 20th century finery worn by French women and is often coupled with braids.
While in the anime unschooled children may associate with cartoons, the conference caters to 15 - to 30 years demographic.
"In Japan, comics and animation are not just for children," said Edmund Yee Convention agent. "In North America animation, there is the sophisticated narrative that some players are trying, and you can only get to watch Japanese anime."
The conference, in its 11th year, has come a long way from its humble origins to the Simon Fraser University.
Now is the biggest three-day anime convention in Western Canada, with a fair, fashion shows, voice actors, sessions of speed-dating, autograph signings, Anime Idol competitions and video-game trial.
More than 5,000 people from all over the northwest Pacific for the event. Many dressed like their favorite anime characters, which the conference a carnival atmosphere. Iris Lai Reisan was dressed like a character from a videogame called Touhous. Schoolgirlish was sporting a pink outfit with bunny ears, a purple wig, and red shoes.
"I like to walk the corridors and see how many people recognize me," said Lai, a 23-year-old graduate of Victoria University.
Tacoma resident James Tyler came to the conference as a known character, Yusei Fudo of Yo-Gi-Oh, wearing a headdress similar to the flame.
'It is a bad-ass character, "Tyler said of his character-driving motorcycle. "He duels and unity."
The new fashion trend on the stage warmer-anime-Lolita was also on display. The Lolita look is a chaste version of the early 20th century finery worn by French women and is often coupled with braids.
While in the anime unschooled children may associate with cartoons, the conference caters to 15 - to 30 years demographic.
"In Japan, comics and animation are not just for children," said Edmund Yee Convention agent. "In North America animation, there is the sophisticated narrative that some players are trying, and you can only get to watch Japanese anime."
The conference, in its 11th year, has come a long way from its humble origins to the Simon Fraser University.
Now is the biggest three-day anime convention in Western Canada, with a fair, fashion shows, voice actors, sessions of speed-dating, autograph signings, Anime Idol competitions and video-game trial.
