Legions of fans pack the 2002 ANIME EXPO in Long Beach, CA.
© 2002 Chris Wyatt

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The 2002 Anime Expo

Last weekend the 11th annual International Animation and Comics Exposition (called ANIME EXPO) was held in Long Beach, California. The Expo, hosted by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), saw almost 15,000 visitors.

The Expo's guests of honor included voice actress Maria Kawamura (from series like ZETA GUNDAM and movies like CHAR'S COUNTERATTACK); and animation director Hidenori Matsubara (responsible for series like OH MY GODESS! and MACROSS II).

Held from July 4th to July 7th, the event required the use of the Long Beach Convention Center as well as facilities in three nearby Hotels (the Weston, the Hyatt and the Renaissance).

In addition to a massive exhibition hall, the festival offered: A 35mm theater, screening film prints 16 hours a day; Four video projection theaters, screening constantly; Tabletop, computer and console gaming; and autograph sessions.

Major exhibitors at the Expo included BANDAI which held round-the-clock video screenings; PIONEER, which recreated a haunted castle set; ADV FILMS, which launched freebie prizes to screaming fans from the top of their tower construction; and TOKYOPOP, which brought a working show car version of the racer from their series INITIAL D

At nights BANDI also hosted techno style DJ dances, and many American fans had their chance to try the Japanese style "Oxygen Bar" in the Convention Center.