On January 6 at downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Main Library, Broward County Library will present their first-ever Anime Convention, a full-scale event devoted to this popular form of Japanese animation. A range of events are planned for the Convention including a cosplay (costume) contest, video game tournament, anime screenings, Japanese treats and taste-testing, origami and special guest speakers.

Open to anyone 13 years old and up with an interest in manga, anime, drawing, Japanese culture, costuming and video gaming, the Anime Convention will feature film screenings in the Auditorium (all anime is PG/PG-13) and the panel discussions will be held at the Bienes Center, located on the sixth floor.

The panels will feature guest speaker Marika Levine, a creative writing and anime instructor and Mitsutoshi Sekita, former member of the Japanese consulate and restaurateur, among others discussing the topics of Are U Otaku? and Life Lessons from Anime.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

AUDITORIUM:
10:00 a.m.: Opening Ceremony
10:15 a.m.: Registration begins for costume contest in Auditorium atrium
10:30 a.m.: Anime by ADV
11:30 p.m.: Registration closes for costume contest
12:00 noon: Cosplay parade and presentation
1:00 p.m.: Fullmetal Alchemist, the Movie: The Conquerer of Shamballa on the Big Screen!
3:00 p.m.: Anime by ADV
4:00 p.m.: Winners of Cosplay and Video tournaments announced; closing ceremony

BIENES CONFERENCE ROOM:
10:15 a.m. Marika Levine, R U Otaku?
11:00 a.m. Mitsutoshi Sekita, Japanese Culture
12:00 noon: A Taste of Japan: Japanese Treat Tasting
1:00 p.m.: Origami presentation with Steve Vinik
2:00 p.m.: Wendy Lo, The Trend of Japanese Gothic Fashion
3:00 p.m.: Marika Levine, Life Lessons from Anime

2nd FLOOR YOUTH SERVICES AREA:
11:00 a.m. Make a Papier Mache Totoro with artist and librarian Divitto Kelly
On Display: Anime and Manga Collectibles

8th FLOOR STAFF LOUNGE:
12:30 p.m. Treat Tasting: Goodies from Japan and Karaoke Time

VIDEO AND GAMING ROOM:
10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Game Demos—Straight From Japan
11:00 a.m. – Noon WarioWare GameCube Tournament
Noon -1:00 p.m. DDR—Dance Dance Revolution
1:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Game Demos – More Cool New Stuff
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Smash Brothers Game Cube Tournament
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Demos and Free Play

For more information, please e-mail afgarcia@browardlibrary.org or call 954-357-7504.