Wai-Con
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wai-Con | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Country |  Australia |
| Years in existence | 2004 onwards |
| Attendance | approx. 700 (Wai-Con 2005) |
| List of events | Anime Music Videos, Cosplay, Quickdraw art, Impromptu art, Panels, Screenings, Movies, PANIC Button Game Show, Video Games, Traders, Fangroups, |
| Official Website | |
Wai-Con is Perth's first major anime and manga convention, held yearly every December. The massive event is run by fans to help promote anime to the general community, as well as provide the Western Australian fanbase with events and activities relating to their hobbies. Wai-Con is run by the non-profit incorporation PANIC (Perth ANIme Convention).
[edit] History
In September 2003, a group of fans from the three major Perth anime clubs assembled to create the beginnings of the first convention, "WestCon". As the idea developed and PANIC was incorporated, the name was changed to WAI-Con. While WAI doesn't actually stand for anything in particular, fans have come up with their own interpretations such as "Western Anime Insanity" or "Western Anime Invasion". It was chosen to pay homage to the popular and cute Japanese shout of joy.
On the 11th-12th of December 2004 at the University of Western Australia, Wai-Con began to a crowd of approximately 400 people exceeding expectations. Fans were treated to a two-day cosplay competition, artwork displays, many traders selling Japanese goods, anime music videos, as well as the latest anime screenings.
Due to renovations at the previous location, Wai-Con 2005 was held at Murdoch University on the 10th-11th of December. Approximately 700 people turned up over the entire weekend. New events at Wai-Con 2005 was the introduction of videogames to the roster, as well as the anime game show "PANIC Button".
Wai-Con 2006 is looking to be bigger and better than previous years. The event has been confirmed to be held at Arena Joondalup on 9th-10th of December 2006.
[edit] Events
- Anime screenings, of the latest and more popular series/movies
- Panelists from people within the Perth community or renowned professionals on a variety of topics ranging from Japanese flower baskets to webcomics and Anime Horror to but name a few.
- Traders (intrastate, interstate and international) come to show the attendees the latest in anime merchandise
- Two cosplay competitions (one per day), where attendees will dress up like their favourite anime character much to the delight of the other fans.
- Anime Music Video competitions
- Art competitions, displaying the bright and talented Perth art community.
- PANIC Button, the popular game show where you don't need to be on stage to win a prize!
- Videogame competitions, to demo the game industry's latest games as well as compete against people of similar talent.
