AKUMAKON, THE annual Galway-based non-profit convention celebrating Japanese anime and manga, and Japanese culture, run by NUI Galway students, returns to the university campus this weekend.
Featuring guests from all aspects of anime and manga, Akumakon 2020 takes place tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, and will feature panels, trade halls, special events, screenings of popular anime series and movies, workshops, and special guests.
The special guests this year are American voice actor Aaron Dismuke, an adaptive writer and director known for lead roles in animes such as Fruits Basket, Fullmetal Alchemist, Deadman Wonderland, and The Devil is a Part Timer; voice actor Sarah Wiedenheft who has appeared in Dragon Ball Super, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Black Clover, Tokyo Ghoul, and My Hero Academia; acclaimed Japanese animation director Yutaku Yamamoto; and popular European cosplayer Florencia.
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Also coming to Akumakon 2020 is resident guest Masako X of TeamFourStar, a voice actor featured in many popular fan-dubbed qanimes on YouTube, such as the Dragonball Z Abridged series. There will be signings, meet and greets, and photo opportunities with special guests.
'Akumakon 2020 promises to provide these new fans with an event where they can meet like-minded people and experience a celebration of not only the media and art of anime and manga'
As Akumakon also celebrates Japanese culture generally, the weekend will also see yukata fittings and origami workshops, and a Japanese cafe run by the Wa Café, serving authentic Japanese food. The festival's annual charity auction will raise funds for charities in Ireland and Japan. Akumakon 2019 raised more thatn €3,000 for the NPO Animators Supporters and Teach Solais.
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There will also be a trade hall with merchandise from anime, manga, video games, and comic books; an artists' alley, full of artists from around Ireland with their original drawings, posters, and prints; art competitions; and video game and card game tournaments.
"Anime and Manga has been growing increasingly popular in recent years," said a spokesperson for the festival, "with more and more people discovering Japanese culture as a result. Akumakon 2020 promises to provide these new fans with an event where they can meet like-minded people and experience a celebration of not only the media and art of anime and manga, but of the wonderfully vibrant Japanese culture as a whole."
