The art of anime, or Japanese animation, has grown wildly in the past years all over the world. Even people who have never watched a minute of such animation or manga are familiar with titles such as Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and Pokemon. Some of the biggest fans of Japanese animation and manga are students, as most of the shows are geared towards young people. Many students love such shows because they appreciate the animation and storytelling, which then turns them into massive fans of the genre.
As a result of this form of animation getting more and more popular among students, colleges and universities are seeing clubs being formed and conventions taking place in them. Students organize such events on campus in order to share their love for Japanese animation with other like-minded people. Students are even focusing on anime for their research projects these days. Just taking a look at some anime essay topics shows how popular this art form is becoming in educational spheres. These essay examples don’t talk about the students’ favorite shows but are a deep look into the storylines and into the genre as a whole.
So, if you’re a fan of anime in the US and you’re done with your college writing, where exactly can you find the community that celebrates this form of animation? Luckily, there are many events that take place in the US alone where you can go and take a break from college, or maybe do some research for your education if you are one of the student writers who focus on writing about this form of media.
The Best Manga Events in the US Anime Expo
This is the largest convention of its type in the US where you’ll find fans from all over celebrating and cosplaying together. You’ll find more than 100,000 fans at ‘AX’ and you won’t be bored because there’s so much to do here. Japanese DJs, cosplay game shows, and the latest ‘J-Rock’ music, everything you need to party with your friends is right here. You’ll find the convention held in Los Angeles, so make sure you’re done with your education duties before it kicks off!
Anime Boston
This is the largest convention that takes place in the Boston region and is a must-visit for any manga fan. Attracting around 20,000 fans, this is the place to be if you want to immerse yourself in Japanese pop culture. You’ll find imported video games, cosplay competitions, a manga library, a music video competition, and much more here. Usually, this expo is held around April, but due to the current situation of the world, 2021’s schedule has not been finalized.
Otakon
Otakon is held in Washington and is one of the best ways to explore the culture of manga and hang out with a community of fans. The word ‘otaku’ literally means an anime fan who is obsessed so you can imagine how amazing this event would be. You will see many different panels, a cool manga library, and activities like open-mic karaoke. This year, Otakon is planned to be held from the 6th to the 8th of August, so clear your schedules and plan ahead.
A-Kon
Held in Dallas, A-Kon used to be a small convention with a few fans when it started off in 1990. Today, however, it attracts more than 30,000 people annually, so it’s definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area. The activities don’t stop at A-Kon as they will keep you busy 24 hours every day. From music, dancing, and j-pop concerts to cosplaying and competitions, you’ll find a lot here. A-Kon is planned for July 24th – 27th this year, which is great since you likely won’t have to sacrifice your study due to it being the summer vacation period.
Anime Matsuri
Hosted in Houston, this event has a lot to offer that’sdifferent from what you’ll find at other conventions. Events such as a Japanese car show, a very funny Hentaifest, and a burlesque show are what make this convention stand out. If you want more than cosplaying and want to see what new trend you can find in the US, then this is a great place to be. And the good news is that it is planned for summer, from July 8th – 11th, so you’ll probably be free from your college.
Conclusion
Like pretty much the rest of the world, Japanese animation and manga have made their way into college students’ lives in the US. The fact that many excellent universities such as Brown, the California College of the Arts, and Columbia are offering anime-related courses shows how popular this art form has become in education as a whole. If you’re a student and you love manga, then visiting one of the conventions mentioned here will not only give you a ton of opportunities to have fun but teach you a lot about the history of animation in Japan for your next research paper. And, of course, you’ll get to meet the vast community of fans that exists in the US.
