We’re here at Anime Expo, the most excellent anime-themed annual event there is, with something like 40,000 other fans who have gathered to celebrate the important alternate popular world culture of Japanese animation. I’ve been involved with American anime fandom from the beginning — I was at this event back in ’91 when it was called Anime Con, when no one was sure if there were enough anime fans to fill a whole convention. As I wander the halls of the Westin Bonaventure hotel looking at the inspired kids (I’m at that age where most everyone I see can be described with this word) I see, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
