The World of Anime Fandom January 16, 2009

Once a little-known art form outside of Japan, today anime is taking the world by storm! Its phenomenal rise to popularity in the US has permeated pop culture, from popular cartoons like Naruto and Pokemon to anime-inspired music videos by mainstream musicians like Britney Spears. Every year, people from around the globe dress up as their favorite anime characters to compete for a trip to Japan and a chance to become number one at the World Cosplay Summit, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What is anime, and what do anime fans do? To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our monthly anime series, we’ll be joined by the DC Anime Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the Washington, DC area about East Asian Culture through Japanese Animation (Anime) and Comics (Manga). Their presentation on The World of Anime Fandom will chronicle anime's history, its meteoric rise to fame, and the Cosplay phenomenon.

This is the perfect opportunity for fans, novices, and curious parents to learn all about anime, show off their best Cosplay costumes, and get involved in DC’s anime fan community.

Come in costume and get a free prize!

For more information about the DC Anime Club, visit　www.dcanimeclub.org

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations required. Please send your name, affiliation, the number in your party, and the names of your guests, to: [email protected]

Official Website: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm