Oni-Con offers anime fans a break from questions like, “You dress up like a what and pretend a what is a what to do what with?” The convention offers a chance to be around others who see the Japanese-derived animation, and all the hobbies it’s spawned, for its artistic and philosophical qualities. (Stop laughing, we’re serious.) The game Catch the Barrel begins when an attendee at Oni-Con steals a “white prop barrel with purple trim and a flag” from a “ninja.” (Oh, it gets better.) The finder must then keep it hidden, because if another attendee knows they have it, he’ll be challenged to a game of paper/rock/scissors, with the winner keeping the barrel. Whoever has it at 4 p.m. Saturday gets some special prizes, which we’re guessing have something to do with toys, cartoons and dress-up. Other events include a performance by costumed rockers Rentrer en Soi, as well as Q&A’s and meet-and-greets with voice actors, animators and directors from anime films such as Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Z and Inuyasha. Things kick off at 10 a.m. today. George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. Oni-Con begins today and runs though Sunday. For a complete schedule of events and information, visit www.oni-con.com. $25 today; $40 all three days.
Oct. 19-21, 2007