Anime, or Japanese animation, has been surging in popularity over the last decade.
And like many other cultural phenomena, you can find it well-represented in Las Vegas.
Look around town, and there are restaurants, stores, and bars that feature or celebrate anime in some form. Las Vegas hosts several anime conventions throughout the year. Even in our concert halls: The music of Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli will be performed by the Las Vegas Philharmonic this weekend.
And our libraries feature clubs and events centered on the culture — such as Sahara West Library’s Teen AnimeFest on September 12.
Bianca Ortiz-Rodriguez, a Young People's Library Children's Services Assistant for Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, co-chaired the committee for the festival. She said the demand from young library patrons — who comprise a huge part of the base checking out manga, or the Japanese graphic novels that largely inspire anime movies and television series — have inspired not only Saturday's event, but anime clubs and related programming year-round.
"We've just heard it straight from the teens that it's something that they want, that it's something that they're interested in," Ortiz-Rodriguez said. "So we figured we might as well help them out, make it easier to have access for them, and provide crafts for them to do that are based on all the anime that they're interested in."
As for the festival, it will feature voice actors, performers, local anime artists selling their creations, food trucks, and more.
Local adults have rallied around and gathered in the name anime as well. Erick Papas moved to Las Vegas 10 years ago and formed the club Anime Social primarily so he could meet enthusiasts like himself. Much of the group's activity involves meet-ups, mostly at local independent restaurants and bars. Sometimes they're directly tied to anime, such as their Jeopardy trivia nights. Other times, they just go play paintball or get a drink together.
Whatever it is, Anime Social boasts more than 1,300 members, and for some of them, it's a place where being social comes with fewer pressures and expectations compared to the traditional ways of interaction.
"If you ask me about myself, I'll freeze up and I'll wonder what exactly I can tell you about myself," Papas said. "But if you ask me about my favorite anime, I'll talk your ear off for 10 minutes straight. And I think a lot of other people find that as well; it's just easier to talk about what you love than yourself, or [than playing] 20 questions and feel[ing] like you're going through an interview just to meet other people. I think by talking about your favorite anime, you talk about the themes that you like as well, and that can be a different way of getting to know someone."
Papas contends that Las Vegas is a great city for anime because of the number and variety of offerings based on the culture. But he also chalks up the local anime scene's greatness to its participants, especially those he met through his own club.
"They're just such wonderful and amazing people, and I know, personally, my life has been better for meeting them. I can't imagine being in the city and being as fulfilled as I am without them."
Guests: Bianca Ortiz-Rodriguez, YPL Children's Services Assistant, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District; Erick Papas, founder, Anime Social
