Fans of anime and manga will get insights into the industry from professionals in the field this weekend on South Padre Island.
Amanda Russell, who along with her mother owns the Shimakon anime convention, anticipates 2,000 to 4,000 fans will attend the event’s second year.
“Basically, it’s a gathering of fans of Japanese animation, video gaming, j-rock and j-pop,” Russell said. “We also show anime that is licensed in the United States and anime that is not licensed in the United States currently.”
Last year, organizers expected approximately 300 people to attend the Island convention. However, 2,200 people showed, Russell said.
“Word got spread around and people we’re telling their friends, ‘Oh my God, they’re having an anime convention, and Oh my God, this actor is signing autographs,’” Russell said. “It went really well for us. We’re improving on the mistakes of last year, and now we’re expecting (even more people to come).”
Russell got involved in the convention after being the Vice President of a Japanese animation club at the University of Texas—Pan American when she met a group of Brownsville enthusiasts.
“We bought the convention from [the Brownsville owner] and decided to run it,” Russell said.
“It takes a lot to run an anime convention. It means a lot to us. We have people coming up to us because they can see other people love anime and share their interests.”
The convention caters to fans of all forms of anime. Even Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are considered a form of anime, and Japanese art has influenced many aspects of pop culture, she said.
“Final Fantasy video games came from Japan,” Russell said. “We just want to have this for everyone and continue to have it.”
Entering its second year on South Padre Island, Shimakon was the Rio Grande Valley’s first anime convention. Without Shimakon, the closest anime convention is in Corpus Christi, Rusell said.
“We’re going to continue (the convention) on the Island every year because Shima is the Japanese word for Island,” Russell said. “So, if we moved to McAllen and called it Shimakon, it would be weird because it would no longer be on the Island. So we would have to change our name.”
At the Bahia Mar Resort, the convention will fill three days starting Friday with cosplay, gaming, brunches with professional guests, video rooms, tournaments, vendors and autographs.
Cosplay is a term for costume play, in which people dress as their favorite anime character, video character or Japanese pop artist.
“Some people cosplay American characters,” Russell said. “People do skits for a few minutes to show they know their character. During the contest, that’s what they do to convince us they know the character. We want to see, ‘Do you know the character or did you make it because it was convenient for you?’”
A key sign a fan knows their character is whether they can answer judges’ questions while maintaining the character, rather than switching back and forth. “It’s very competitive,” Russell said.
This year, the organizer is going to be in costume as a character called Orihime, from an anime called Bleach. “She’s got bright orange hair and blue hair clips, Russell said. “The cartoon is playing on Cartoon Network on Saturday nights.”
This year's professional guests will include voice actor Darrel Guilbeau; voice actor and artist Doug Smith; voice actor and artist Sonny Strait; voice actor Spike Spencer; voice actress Wendy Powell; artist Amanda T; and web comic artist and graphic novelist Chris Hazelton.
The convention offers viewings of animation that do not appear on television or are not licensed domestically. There’s also video games offered only in Japan, she said.
The convention draws fans of various ages, from infants to senior citizens.
“The fans are really enthusiastic about anime or gaming. All the people who show up are nice and polite, and I guess we’re the best behaved people,” Russell said. “We’re not the Spring Breakers with damages to the hotel. Everyone is polite and we meet new people. And there are some people in the video games in shout and start swearing, but who doesn’t do that when there character dies.”
Russell is looking forward to spending time with festival-goers. She is also looking forward to the dealer’s room, which will contain merchandise from Japan that cannot normally be bought here.
Fans enjoy anime because of the characters and storylines, Russell said.
“I think the fascination [with anime is] because they animate everything—drama, comedy, horror. It sucks you in,” Russell said. “Once you get caught up in a series, it’s addictive and doesn’t let you go. It’s how people are with Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, but it’s all animated—drama, horror, thrillers.”
A one-day pass is $15, and three-day pass is $35. Children younger than three years old get in free. Children ages 4 to 12 get in at half price.
For a complete schedule of events, cosplay rules or for more information on tickets, go online to
