When I was a kid, geeky science-fiction conventions were filled with the type of misanthropic stereotypes you might expect. Thanks to Japanese animation, that's no longer the case, with leather-clad, bra-busting beauties now competing for attention alongside the usual cast of pseudo-characters. You can check out the anime fan scene at Metrocon — Florida's largest anime convention — this weekend. Along with the usual celebrity guests (voice actors mostly), movie rooms, video game rooms and dealers' booths, there is usually a huge contingent of people who are seriously devoted to costumed play, or cosplay. Don't mock; cosplay fanatics can take hundreds of hours to complete a single costume and compete for coveted awards at the Con. Oh, whatever, go ahead and mock. July 6-8, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., downtown Tampa, metroconventions.com.
This article appears in Jul 4-10, 2007.
