Anime Weekend Atlanta
Gloria Vik
Gloria Vik
Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) is a four day convention annually held at the Cobb Galleria and Renaissance Waverly Hotel. It focuses around Japanese anime (animation), manga (comics) and cosplay (costume-play) an is held annually during the last weekend of September. This year the convention is September 20th-23rd.
AWA was first organized in 1994 and the first one was in 1995. The people who host and work the event are fans of either Japanese anime, comics or video games. When asked their favorite part of the convention Livia Epnett replied, “I think everything, even if that does sound cliche. The people, costumes, and the overall experience. There is no other event that can be compared to what it’s like going to a con!” AWA is a place where, even if you do not know much of the topics that are around you will still have a great time.
During the event many voice actors (from anime to games), idols and even game designers come to the convention as guests. This year one of the guests will be Steve Blum, a voice actor in many games and animated videos like “Wolverine” in many X-Men animated movies and games. He has also appeared as “Zoltan Kulle” from Diablo Three. Steve Blum is not the only voice actor appearing this year, there are many more that will appear. You might meet one in a hall!
AWA has many different themes each year. In fact this year's theme is fantasy. Every Saturday of AWA there is a costume/fashion contest that the attendees of the convention can enter. The people allowed to enter are those who made their costume or those modeling another person’s costume. At the end of the contest the judges will have prizes for each category that people enter under like armor, novice, and broidery. There is also judges choice where each of the three judges choose the one that stood out to them the most.
Like most events or conversations there are vendors. Some food and some merchandise. Most vendors at AWA are either selling anime, music(like kpop/jpop) or gaming stuff. They have a variety of merchandise from all around, even American goods! Food wise most people walk the bridge connecting the hotel to Cumberland mall being that there is not a huge selection of food vendors.
AWA brings people from all over the world that share almost alike interests into one building. Many make new friends that they can share this experience with next year. Overall it is a great event to attend!
AWA was first organized in 1994 and the first one was in 1995. The people who host and work the event are fans of either Japanese anime, comics or video games. When asked their favorite part of the convention Livia Epnett replied, “I think everything, even if that does sound cliche. The people, costumes, and the overall experience. There is no other event that can be compared to what it’s like going to a con!” AWA is a place where, even if you do not know much of the topics that are around you will still have a great time.
During the event many voice actors (from anime to games), idols and even game designers come to the convention as guests. This year one of the guests will be Steve Blum, a voice actor in many games and animated videos like “Wolverine” in many X-Men animated movies and games. He has also appeared as “Zoltan Kulle” from Diablo Three. Steve Blum is not the only voice actor appearing this year, there are many more that will appear. You might meet one in a hall!
AWA has many different themes each year. In fact this year's theme is fantasy. Every Saturday of AWA there is a costume/fashion contest that the attendees of the convention can enter. The people allowed to enter are those who made their costume or those modeling another person’s costume. At the end of the contest the judges will have prizes for each category that people enter under like armor, novice, and broidery. There is also judges choice where each of the three judges choose the one that stood out to them the most.
Like most events or conversations there are vendors. Some food and some merchandise. Most vendors at AWA are either selling anime, music(like kpop/jpop) or gaming stuff. They have a variety of merchandise from all around, even American goods! Food wise most people walk the bridge connecting the hotel to Cumberland mall being that there is not a huge selection of food vendors.
AWA brings people from all over the world that share almost alike interests into one building. Many make new friends that they can share this experience with next year. Overall it is a great event to attend!