Level Up Your Weekend At SWFL Anime-Fest

Plenty of vendors will be selling merchandise and fan-made art to appeal to anime lovers of all ages. COURTESY PHOTOS

On Sunday, August 11, the Double- Tree by Hilton in Fort Myers will be crawling with Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, Public Safety Devil Hunters, Sailor Moon and Nobara Kugisaki (to name a few) as the SWFL Anime-Fest comes to town.

In its simplest form, anime is a Japanese term referring to any type of animation, but the definition has evolved to refer to animated cartoons originally based on Japanese comic strips and graphic novels, called manga. The exaggerated facial features and distinctive illustrations we’ve come to associate with the genre were popularized by Japanese cartoonist Osamu Tezuka in the 1960s.

In fact, anime is a multi-faceted art form with subgenres—many of which are distinguished by the age group of their target audiences, stock characters reminiscent of traditional Japanese Noh and Kabuki theatre or even Commedia dell arte and complex storylines (think science-fiction, cartoon soap operas) that appeal to audiences of all ages. There are young damsels in distress, impulsive young heroes and grumpy warriors, although the stereotypical character tropes change as a new generation of creators adds their influence.

Cosplayer dressed as popular anime protagonist Chainsaw Man.

In the past few years, anime, which used to have a niche cult following, has gained popularity and exposure, largely due to the accessibility of streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Funimation and Netflix, which have brought it to a mainstream audience.

SWFL Anime-Fest started two years ago as a spin-off of SW FloridaCon. Promoter Carmine De Santo has been running shows since 1989. “I’ve always loved anime and pop culture. I love the Japanese culture and grew up watching anime for the stories. SWFL Anime-Fest strives to be Florida’s best and truest anime convention, featuring fandoms of multiple genres. As a long-time collector of anime, manga and pop culture items, I want to bring Southwest Florida an event that will satisfy all anime fandom,” he explained.

The cosplay is the most distinctive part of pop-culture festivals, and at SWFL Anime-Fest there’s no exception. Expect to see your favorite anime characters browsing merchandise, mingling with featured guests, trying their hand at trivia, lip-syncing and competing in a huge cosplay contest—or even better, come in costume and join the fun.

It isn’t an Anime-Fest without some cosplayers dressed as maids and butlers complete with animal ears!

A Naples local and anime fan, Hannah Woolbright, explained, “I became interested in anime in 2020 when COVID hit. It became a safe place for me to get enveloped in different worlds. I think what draws people to anime are the diverse options and the art style. A smaller part might have to be the dubbed versions. I think people are drawn to the Japanese language and reading subtitles and using context clues to figure out what’s going on. The subgenres are vast. There is Action, Isekai (where the main protagonist dies and respawns in a different world), Romance, RPG, Slice of Life, Comedy and Sports.”

My first introduction to anime was back in 1995 when I was visiting my sister at college, and we went to a movie theater to watch what was called “Japanamation” at the time. I remember watching a cartoon dubbed and subtitled. The most significant revelation, apart from realizing how much cooler my sister is than me, was the humorous mistranslations in the subtitling and dubbing. We still get the giggles about it all these years later. My pre-internet, Gen X college self was amused, impressed and slightly confused. My current self feels about the same.

Kristin Voit

Meeting and talking with actors and professionals in the anime business draws many fans to festivals.

“It’s over 9,000!” The line from an anime series called Dragon Ball Z became a meme a few years ago because of its reference to anime’s sometimes hyperbolic and inaccurate dubbing. The actual explanation of the storyline is so fantastical and elaborate that it requires a lot of backstory, and I’m intrigued enough to check it out. To be perfectly honest, they had me at Dragon Ball. For fans of this popular anime series, voice actor Phil Parsons, whose extensive anime resume includes dubs for the Funimation version of Dragon Balls Z Kia, Attack on Titan and Tokyo Ghoul, will be there.

Also, voice actor Aaron Roberts, best known for his work on My Hero Academia, Tokyo Ghoul, One Piece and Fire Force, is also a featured guest. Attendees can also meet and greet anime industry professionals and fandom-related celebrities.

Over 60 exhibitors will offer a variety of interests, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, movies, television, voice actors, anime, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.

If you like to laugh and love a good science-fiction or fantasy story, you should check out the SWFL Anime Fest. Woolbright said, “There is a reason anime conventions are increasing in popularity. It is because there are many animes that are crazy good and have made it to mainstream pop culture. People just need to give it a shot, and I think they’ll find themselves really enjoying it.” ¦

In the KNOW

SWFL Anime-Fest

· When: Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907

· Cost: Tickets are on sale through the website or at the door. General admission is $20, and VIP tickets are $50. A child under 11 is free with one adult ticket. Additional children are $10 each.

· Info: swflanimefest.com

· Confirmed Attractions:
• Phil Parsons, voice actor
• Aaron Roberts, voice actor
• Anime Trivia at 11 a.m.
• Lip Sync Battle at 1 p.m.
• Huge Cosplay Contest at 4 p.m.

The post Level Up Your Weekend At SWFL Anime-Fest first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .