« on: July 16, 2007, 06:09:38 AM »
Followers of Japanese animation attended a mini-convention at Nova Southeastern University that featured a costume contest, comic book sales and lessons on life in Japan.
Unlike many girls her age, 16-year-old Lauren Morrison watches cartoons and reads comics. She also likes to play dress-up.
Lauren, a junior at South Broward High School, says her behavior is perfectly normal.
''I'm a loyal fan of anime,'' she said. ``This is what we do. It's our hobby.''
Followers of anime -- Japanese animation in movies, video games and comic books -- spent Saturday at Nova Southeastern University's library sharing stories about different cartoons, learning about Japan and its culture and battling for the top prize in a costume contest.
It was the second year that the university hosted the free mini-convention.
Kellie Smith, 15, dressed as one of her favorite characters, Urd, a powerful goddess who is skilled at using potions, in the TV show Oh My Goddess!
Using an old, maroon dress, Kellie designed and made a cat suit with a deep V-neck and gold piping. She cut a cardboard box and covered it with the same colored fabric to make wings. To finish off the look, she wore a platinum blond wig and painted blue designs on her face.
''When you're dressed like this, you can't act like yourself,'' said Kellie, a sophomore at South Plantation High. ``You have to be your character.''
Though dozens of people -- children, teens and even a few adults -- dressed as anime characters, the parade of costumes wasn't the only highlight of the event.
Visitors browsed tables of comic books, videos and posters. Some went home with stuffed animals, Japanese candies and handmade drawings.
Educational workshops featured information about life in Japan, its school system and a lesson in the language.
Ryan Whitson, 27, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing and spoke about his experiences living in the country for five years.
''It was such a great experience,'' said Whitson, who went to Japan as a foreign exchange student and then taught English to high school students there. ``The people are great and every day is an adventure.''
Whitson, who now works for the Consulate General of Japan in Miami, showed videos about the culture in Japan.
There, newly married couples change outfits three times during their wedding; gifts are customarily given twice a year during July and December; and most people light incense at the altar of a Buddhist funeral.
But for Lauren, who wore a white, blue and gold dress to look like the character Belldandy in Oh My Goddess!, the most fascinating part of the day was seeing all the homemade costumes.
''To most people, it may seem like we're losers because we dress up, but it's actually really cool,'' she said. ``I don't think people understand it until they actually do it.''
