September 27, 2008
News for Tsubasacon 2008:
West Virginia home to fifth Tsubasacon this weekend
Tsubasacon Sets New Pre-registration RecordHUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA – September 25, 2008 – Anime fans, cosplayers, and video game enthusiasts prepare to descend on the Big Sandy Superstore Arena's Riverfront Ballroom and Conference Center in Huntington, West Virginia this Friday as Tsubasacon kicks off its fifth annual anime and manga convention. First established in 2004, Tsubasacon boosts itself as West Virginia's premier anime and manga convention for enthusiasts of Japanese animation and comics. The convention also hosts an expansive video game and costuming, known as cosplay, tacks. The first two Tsubasacon conventions were originally held in the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia, before moving to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in 2006.
Tsubasacon will open its doors at 9:00am Friday morning with opening ceremonies scheduled for 12:00pm. The conventions Guests of Honor include Robert Axelrod, known for his role as Lord Zedd and Finster from the popular television series Mighty Morphing Power Rangers, and Jen Lee Quick, author and creator of the English language manga Off*Beat. Two bands, Ultraball and the Astroboys will also be performing at the convention over the weekend.
This year's convention includes an expanded vendors room and video game room and an additional panel and events rooms. A pajama party has been added to the schedule for Friday night. Winners of the first annual fan fiction contest will be announced during opening ceremonies. Unfortunately, a maid café was canceled at the last minute, however, convention chairman Mike Thompson states that efforts will be put into hosting one next year.
As an indicator of the expected turnout, Tsubasacon saw a doubling in the number of pre-registration for the 2008 convention as it sets an all time record of 166 pre-registrations, compared to 75 pre-registrations with 618 people attending last year's convention.
ABOUT TSUBASACON, INC.: First established in 2004, Tsubasacon is West Virginia's first and only convention focusing on Japanese animation and comics, respectively know as "anime" and "manga". In early 2006, control of the convention was transferred from Charleston Anime and Manga Society, Inc. to Tsubasacon, Inc. Tsubasacon's goals are to promote anime and manga in West Virginia and to establish a social framework though which anime and manga fans can interact with each other.
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