Though it is the only large anime convention in Michigan, the annual Youmacon in Dearborn in no way lacks in its reverence for anime culture.

 

Youmacon (pronounced: yo-mah-con) celebrates Japanese pop culture, emphasizing anime and manga, or Japanese comics. The convention has guest panels, shops, and events set up to appeal to anime fans of all ages and levels of interest. It runs this Thursday through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, with all panels on Thursday being free of charge to attendees.

 

The name of the convention comes from youma, the Japanese word for hell, and con which is short for convention. Many self-identified otaku, or anime fans, flock yearly to conventions like this across the country.

 

This is the fifth year the Youmacon is taking place at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Dearborn, and Morgan Kollin, convention chairman for Youmacon, says they try every year to add something new to the convention floor.

 

“We’re not satisfied just with what works; we’re always improving,” Kollin said.

 

For more casual anime fans, there are series-specific panels where attendees can discuss their favorite show.

 

One panel, “Otaku vs. Hollywood,” examines the emerging trend of Hollywood trying to adapt anime into mainstream movies, such as “Speed Racer” or “Astro Boy,” and whether or not there will be good results.

 

“Everyone is taking it in very different strides,” Kollin said. “Some people don’t like to see things changed and ‘Americanized.'”

 

Another panel takes the opposite approach and looks at how American comics are localized when they reach Japanese shores. Have you ever seen Spider-Man pilot a giant robot?

 

Also appearing at Youmacon are a few of the voice actors who do English dubs of Japanese anime and video games, including Brad Swaile, who played Light in “Death Note,” and Caitlin Glass, who played Winry in “Fullmetal Alchemist.”

 

For the more involved attendees, there is the world of cosplay. Cosplay is the phenomenon of fans coming to the convention dressed up as their favorite anime or video game character.

 

Some fans put a tremendous amount of time into their costumes to get them to look as accurate as possible.

 

There are a series of costume contests for the best-assembled outfits, and photo opportunities where attendees dressed as characters from the same series can gather and strike a pose.

 

For those less willing to dress like ninjas or schoolgirls, there is also the Charity Cosplay Ball where formal attire is required and masquerade masks are encouraged. Proceeds from the ball go to help Detroit’s Cornerstone Schools.

 

Dawn Strenzel, department head of volunteering at Youmacon, said she’s happy to see the new generation of young anime fans coming in.

 

“The great thing about anime fandom is it encompasses so many other circles,” Strenzel said.

 

Other events include tabletop gaming, a look at the ParaPara dance craze, fanfiction workshops, the improvisational “Whose Line is it Anime?” a live action game of Mario Party, a scavenger hunt, a cosplay pajama party, and Youmacon’s own version of the Japanese Maid café, where waitresses are dressed as French maids.

 

Kollin said that people with even a small interest in anime can attend the show and have a good time.

 

“As long as someone comes there with an open mind, we have a lot that other conventions don’t offer,” Kollin said.