“Naruto,” “Dragon Ball Z” and “Street Fighter” characters invaded downtown this weekend for the Louisianime convention.
Louisianime, a state anime convention, was held for the second time in Baton Rouge, and University students flocked to the three-day event.
“The LSU campus made a big difference when choosing the location,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, convention chair of Louisianime. “We wanted someplace close to campus but at the same time cost-effective. I’d say roughly 35 percent of our attendees are college aged.”
Students were treated to discussion panels with guest voice actors, costume designers and artists. Between events, attendees wandered rows of multicolored booths packed with Japanese merchandise and candy.
“It’s a small, local [convention]; our gaming community and our anime community can kick back and have fun,” said Vaughn Venters, agribusiness senior who dressed up as jedi Mace Windu of the Star Wars universe.
The convention also held gaming tournaments, game shows like “Name that Anime Tune” and a nightclub dance every night from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Some students chose to volunteer for the convention. Volunteering offered the workers free passes for the weekend and allowed them to meet the special guests while working.
“The guests have been very nice,” said Niki Wild, psychology junior. “They are pretty cool and very approachable.”
The guests at Louisianime enjoyed the Louisiana atmosphere and community, and the local cuisine was also a big hit with out-of-state guests.
“I love the gumbo and blackened gator here,” said Scott McNeil, guest voice actor from Vancouver, Canada, best known for his roles as Piccolo in “Dragon Ball Z” and Duo Maxwell in “Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.” “The hospitality is great, and the people are amazing.”
McNeil said he felt the University’s presence at the convention.
“You see LSU everywhere here, and the community at the convention really reflects that,” McNeil said.
One of the guests this year was local artist Amelie Belcher, creator of the web comic “The Real Life Adventures of Amelie” and former University art student, who hosted a booth for fans.
“I like the fact that we finally have a convention near LSU,” Belcher said. “I think Baton Rouge and its community really needed something like this.”
Last year, the convention was held in the Marriott Hotel on Hilton Avenue near Interstate 10 but moved to the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Constitution Avenue to host a larger audience for the cost this year. The convention had to share the hotel with other events, which caused a few complications on the first day, Kirkpatrick said.
Compared to last year’s convention, this year’s Louisianime was definitely a step in the right direction, Venters said.
The event was sponsored by various local businesses and related websites.
 
 
 
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Contact Eric Allen at [email protected]