Download the Animation Liberation Magazine - Winter '07 edition

MIKOMICON:
Year Two
Guest Con Report by Walter Bartel
I recently went to MikomiCon: a college convention headed by the very talented
Nick Kurachi along with the Cal State University of Northridge anime club and "Write 4
Hope”. I was very excited to go this year because last year had a lot of kind memories for
me. I gathered my things, made arrangements with some friends of mine, and off we went
to Northridge! (As a side note: if you're ever driving on the I-405, just south of long
beach, there is a terrific Indian food restaurant called “Taste of India” along the way. "It
serves as a good halfway mark" between San Diego and Los Angeles, as Austin said on
the way up.)As soon as we got to the con, we knew it was going to be a slow first day.
The scheduling was not kind to those [still in school], so it was basically just the college
students and adults in cosplay, which was a laugh. Both a Bridget (Guilty Gear) cross
player and Kakashi (Naruto) stood around, waiting for some friends to meander in. The
mood of the day was stoic. Not much happened, save some bands playing (which I didn’t
b e l i e v e t o b e a l l t h a t g r e a t ) a n d g a m e r o o m s h e n a n i g a n s . . .
However, the next day would prove to be quite interesting...Saturday was by far,
and quite obviously, the best day to be there. This is the day
that everyone, hardcore and new fans alike, came to enjoy
the con. All day the atmosphere was friendly and
entertaining, as the entire convention was filled with a
general 'good vibe'. From the moment the convention halls
opened it was enjoyable. Panels abound upon the school's
large common area. Panels from Aikido, which showed
some con-goers some self defense moves (for, say, Anime
Expo '08?) to Gundam Model kits, where you could make
your own and learn tricks of the trade, to the Masquerade,
which I thought was really good, but more on that later.
The thing I find great about smaller conventions is
the fact that it’s much less intimidating when you want to
make some new friends. The fact of the matter is that larger
conventions are hard to network in. Where would you feel
more comfortable to open up socially--in a huge convention
hall where everyone is moving, or in an open common area,
where you can converse freely? I’d choose the latter myself.
Animation Liberation Magazine 12