TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Where could you go to find a Disney princess, Star Wars Jedi and Dragon Ball characters all in one place?
Tuscaloosa’s fourth annual Kami-Con, an anime convention this weekend at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Center, offered that an more. The SOS Brigade, a UA student organization, began hosting the convention to foster interaction among fans of the genre.
The event attracts more than just anime fans, though, as seen when Ghostbusters, Stormtroopers and a host of other fictional characters mingled with the crowd Saturday. Costumed participation is referred to as "cosplaying." The performance art typically includes characters from Japanese pop fiction in addition to American cartoons and science fiction.
Ashanka Kumari, a University of Alabama sophomore studying English and journalism, participated in the event out of costume. "I went because my friends are really into cosplaying, and I took pictures for them so they could stay in character," Kumari said. "My favorite part is seeing how creative people get with their costumes. I love the pride people take in re-creating their favorite characters and portraying them for others to see and enjoy."
The convention attracted around 2,300 people last year and event organizers expected a larger total by the time the event concluded. Kami-Con visitors participated in costume contests, concerts and video game contests. A number of vendors also took part.