An overview of Anime Vegas 2007

By Chris Hori

Voice actors, cosplay and Para para dancing… in Las Vegas? Thus the fourth year of the Anime Vegas Convention at the Cashman Center has come and gone.

Looking to top their 2006 year which featured big names such as Hirano and Kurata, the 2007 convention brought from Japan, Yoko Ishida for a live concert. However, before the concert there was a special performance by the Kaminari Taiko Drum Corps. Giving the audience a traditional Taiko Drum Performance, it was an excellent lead in to get the audience in the mood for music.

The Japanese singer was introduced to the anime world for the ending theme for the Sailor Moon R anime. Since then, she has gone on to other projects such as the theme song for Ah! My Goddess (TV anime), the end theme for This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (tv anime) and the opening theme for Ai yori Aoshi. She also has performed on the Para Para Max CD series. The live concert featured her best known songs, as well as a Para Para dancing, and an anime remix featuring fan favorites which included the openings to Gundam Wing and Evangelion. They even took the time half way through to teach the audience a bit of Para Para dancing, as well as the routine to a song so the audience could participate with the dancers on stage.

The second draw to the convention was the large cast of American voice actors. Anime Vegas has always drawn the voice actors of popular anime shows and this year was no exception as the list of actors included Maile Flanagan (Naruto), Yuri Lowenthal (Sauske), Laura Bailey (Tohru Honda), Rachel Hirschfeld (Anita King – R.O.D. TV)and Aaron Dismuke (Alphonse Elric). A combination of Q and A panels, game shows, and open mic sessions with the voice actors gave the attendants ample time to meet their favorites and have them say (in appropriate character voice) all the lines they wish were in their favorite anime.

A nice change from last year was an attempt at more 18+ focused panels for attendants during the late night hours. While by no means the focus of the convention, this year featured an uncensored Q and A session with the voice actors, a panel with The Gamer Girls, and a screening of the Hellsing Ultimate series, including the premiere of Hellsing Ultimate 3.

Finally throw in the AMV contest, Masquerade Cosplay Contest, Maid Cafe (with real girls in maid outfits), Funamation, and Saturday/Sunday night dancing and you have a successful convention in Las Vegas.