Confab celebrates Japanese-style cartooning

Memphian Martheus Wade's "Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa -- Defiance" is being made into a movie.

"Memphis" and "anime" might seem like an odd fit, but one group doesn't think so.

Anime Blues Con will take place from noon today to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Hilton Memphis in what organizers are billing as the first local convention for the Japanese-style animation art form.

"Why not?" says convention co-chairman Launa Morris, who says she was tired of having to drive to other cities such as Nashville to attend anime conventions. "There's no reason why we shouldn't have what everybody else has. Not everybody can travel."

A longtime Memphian, Morris, 34, is glad to finally give local otaku -- a term often used for those obsessed with anime and the Japanese comic art of manga -- something they can call their own.

Interest in anime reaches far beyond what the local 1.7 percent Asian population, according to the census, would suggest. Like other Japanese pop culture expressions from karaoke to "Iron Chef," anime has gone global, and Memphis has its advocates.

Morris said she planned for 1,000 attendees, "and everybody told us we were crazy." Based on preregistration figures, she now anticipates up to 1,500 people and intends to make it an annual event.

Proof that anime has established itself locally: One of the convention's stars is Memphian Martheus Wade, whose futuristic ninja-themed graphic novel, "Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa -- Defiance," is being turned into a motion picture. Wade will speak about the project, being filmed in California by indie director Bruce Williams and slated for a summer 2012 release, at a panel discussion at noon Sunday.

Trained as a graphic designer, Wade, 36, says part of his fascination with anime is how it can address adult themes through a cartoon medium, "to be able to just say, OK, as an adult, I love animation, I love comic books, and I'm going to gear it to a serious audience."

"There are a lot of people who enjoy these things in the city," he adds, "and this convention gives them a way to be able to communicate and get to know each other. ... I guarantee it will benefit this community in a very positive way."

Anime Blues Con featured programs are:

* "Otaku," the main event, will feature an anime showcase with such special guests as voiceover stars Maile Flanagan ("Naruto") and Vic Mignogna ("Fullmetal Alchemist").

* "Art" will tout the work of Chicago cartoonist and video game designer Josh Elder and members of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association, notably the work of Martheus Wade.

* "Culture" presents aspects of Asian traditional and popular life from bento boxes and martial arts to steam punk fashion (fantasized and fetishized Victorian-era clothing and accessories). Nashville band (and J-pop fans) The Man Power is also scheduled to play.

* "Gaming" speaks for itself and will likely be one of the biggest attractions with a "Pokémon" tournament and popular games such as "Dystopian Wars" and "Malifaux."

* "Adult" also speaks for itself, with attractions that address the mature nature of much otaku culture. This one is for the 18-and-over crowd and begins at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

* Finally, a "Chibi" program will entertain kids ages 6-12 with a look at the films of Studio Ghibli co-founder/director Hayao Miyazaki ("Ponyo," "Howl's Moving Castle," "Spirited Away") and Japanese schoolyard games.

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Anime Blues Con

Friday through Sunday at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. Day passes are $15 today and Sunday, $25 Saturday; weekend passes for all three days are $40. For more information, go to animebluescon.com.

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