Kawaii Kon keeps up the energy

Last April's Kawaii Kon made a lasting impression.

The first convention in Hawaii to celebrate Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga) took over part of the second floor at the Ala Moana Hotel and drew more than 1,900 people over three days. Fans rubbed elbows with industry personalities, bought piles of merchandise and danced on "Dance Dance Revolution" video game pads dressed as characters such as Domo-kun, best described as a giant brick with stubby arms and legs.

Kawaii Kon 2006 Place: Ala Moana Hotel Time: 10 a.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday. Registration begins at 9 a.m. all three days. Admission: One-day pass $20, two-day pass $35, three-day pass $45 (children 7 to 13 pay $15, $20 and $30) Information: www.kawaii-kon.org Highlights Opening ceremonies 10 a.m. Friday Stan Sakai panel 3 p.m. Friday Yoko Ishida in concert 7 p.m. Saturday Costume contest 9 p.m. Saturday "Naruto" fan film premiere 10 a.m. Sunday Closing ceremonies 5 p.m. Sunday Other guests attending Kawaii Kon S. Kai Bovaird, co-founder of the locally based digital-effects studio Cause & F(x) Pictures; Lauren Goodnight, ADV Films voice actress and music reviewer for AnimeonDVD.com; Yoko Ishida, Japanese singing star who has recorded theme songs for several anime series, including "Ah! My Goddess" and "Sugar: A Little Snow Fairy"; Jin Kobayashi, manga artist and author of "School Rumble"; Monica Rial, Funimation and ADV voice actress whose recent roles have included Jo in "Burst Angel," Angelica in "Gunslinger Girl" and Kyoko in the "Full Metal Panic" franchise; Michael Sinterniklaas, voice of Leonardo in the newer "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cartoon and Dean Venture in "The Venture Bros."; and David Williams, ADV Films producer, and director and keeper of the infamous "Suck Bunny," a stuffed animal once used to razz voice actors in the recording booth

Forget rookie jitters -- right out of the gate, the atmosphere of Radford alumnus Stan Dahlin's brainchild was similar to that of conventions held on the mainland for years. The experience impressed several guests who are returning this year.

"The energy and enthusiasm of the attendees exceeded any I had seen at any other convention," said Jennifer Sekiguchi, a voice actress best known as Mamimi in the Adult Swim "FLCL" and as Hinata in "Naruto."

"I recall two kids saying that they had ditched school to be there on the first day, a Friday. And when we asked them where they came from, they said, 'Maui.' They didn't care what you did," she added. "I could've been the guy who physically put the DVDs inside the cases, and they would've been excited. Those are true fans."

Artist Robert DeJesus, who with his wife, Emily, are the creative minds behind Studio Capsule, echoed Sekiguchi.

"I almost felt like a rock star here," he said. "We sold out of practically everything we brought to sell, even our displays, by Saturday afternoon. By Saturday morning there was such a buzz of excitement in the air that people were asking the con and us if we were coming back again next year."

"One fan was so nice to us that she gave us a Pinky Street doll as a gift since she thought it looked like Robert's art style," Emily DeJesus said. "Because of her, we've become Pinky Street addicts. I was so surprised by her generosity."

This year, Kawaii Kon offers even more to do and see. The convention will take over the entire second floor, adding special rooms for video games, table-top games like "Dungeons & Dragons" and "Magic: The Gathering," and a manga library. Panels on drawing will be held in rooms away from the main auditorium as well. Anime will be shown nearly around the clock.

Fans have responded; according to Dahlin, 511 people had pre-registered as of last Friday, a figure "well over" last year's numbers.

The guest list has also grown. Most of last year's guests are returning, joined by new faces, including two from Japan: Jin Kobayashi, author of the manga "School Rumble," and singer Yoko Ishida.

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APRIL 14/15/16

COURTESY OF STAN SAKAI

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Also among first-time guests are the lead English voice actors of two series that have been the most popular in the United States for 20 years: Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric in "Fullmetal Alchemist") and Sean Schemmel (Goku in the "Dragon Ball" franchise).

Mignogna was the first guest for 2006 -- officially announced at the end of last year's convention.

"I absolutely love meeting and talking to fans of the work we do," Mignogna said. "We record in little boxes, isolated from everyone. So it's so gratifying to get to hear from and hang with the people we make 'em for."

This will be Schemmel's first visit to the islands, although he has uttered the word "Kamehameha" many times -- that's the name of one of Goku's special fighting techniques.

"I'm hoping to scuba-dive, mud-slide down some mudslidelike slide in some travel commercial, see a volcano, take a surfing lesson or something," Schemmel said. "I've always wanted to attend a luau, but it has to be just like the one the Brady Bunch went to. Oh, and last but not least, I'd LOVE to see Don Ho in concert!"

Mignogna and Schemmel have crossed paths before, both on the convention circuit and professionally as "Dragon Ball Z" rivals Goku and Broly.

COURTESY OF JASON S. YADAO A fan dressed as Domo-kun captured the attention of many attendees.

"I affectionately call Vic Mignogna 'Vic Filet-of-Tomorrow,' as the first time I met him, he challenged me to come up with a nickname for him within 24 hours that he'd never heard before, and I came up with that," Schemmel said. "It's a phonetic combination of the Spanish word 'mañana,' meaning 'tomorrow,' and pronounced like you pronounce Vic's last name, and filet mignon, a tasty steak."

"That guy. ... He needs a good country butt-whoopin'," Mignogna joked when reminded of that meeting.

If there is one thing guests both old and new have in common, it is excitement.

"I know the guys that created Kawaii Kon, and no one puts on a better con than they do," Mignogna said. "We are going to have the best time ever. Come on out and hang with us!"