Fantasy fun in FW

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - To most of us Ikasucon means nothing. To the Japanese it means animation, and to these folks it means fun.

"It's something you can relate to there's so many different genres that are out there that are close to heart that you can go to anywhere from action to something more realistic such as romance," said Ryan Zanfei from Tasty Peach Studios.

The 7th annual convention brought 1500 of the most die hard anime fans to the Grand Wayne Center. It's a three day weekend full of panels, video screenings, costume competitions, and a celebration of Japanese culture.

"And a lot of it does actually touch people, it gives people an emotional connection to maybe their favorite character or their favorite series," said Dustin Riley, Ikasucon '09.

Fans dress up like their favorite characters, they sing their favorite songs, and of course they dance.

"It's been emerging for the past seven to eight years, and so the conventions are a way to find people who are interested in the same things you are," said Riley.

Conventions like this one are a place where anime fans feel they can be themselves.

"I found in the years that I have been doing conventions as a guest that coming into something like this is like meeting a thousand of your closest friends you've never met before," said Harlan Watkins, video game designer.

This is the third year Fort Wayne and Ikasucon have teamed up. In those three years the convention has doubled in size, and the anime craze continues to grow.

"Because of the demand for what's done be it anime or video games it gives us a chance to continue moving forward even in this stalling economy," said Watkins.

The 8th annual Ikasucon will take place in Fort Wayne next year.