They’re stories that speak directly to the fan. The humor, action, and wacky scenarios are the icing on the cake, but at the heart of each series is a story of an individual improving themselves amid hardship.
Ben attended the Anime Expo for the first time. “I loved anime as a kid,” he said. “I’m 20 now and I’ve been watching ‘Naruto’ since I was 6.” “Naruto” is one of the longest-running anime series, about a young ninja with the big dream of becoming the leader of his ninja village, and Ben dressed up as a modern Naruto, in stylized street fashion.
“Everyone has their Batman or Superman,” he said. “Mine was Naruto. He has flaws and weaknesses, but is always trying. I love that.” Ben continued, “It’s his energy, his loyalty. I see in him things I like and I absorb that into my personality. He never gives up. And he’s dorky! I’m not dumb, but I like acting weird, in a way, you know?”
“In the real world I’m a nerd. Here I’m a god. Everyone is asking for my picture. In two days I’ve already had 178 pictures taken.”
Outside of the Anime Expo, Ben washes windows on high-rise buildings, and nobody knows he’s there. But inside, he receives attention and positive feedback. He was having a blast, and said, “I'll be coming back.”
The Voice of a Hero
A big reason for anime’s ability to inspire is due to the incredible performances of the voice actors behind the microphone. The world of voice acting is becoming increasingly trendy and pursued as a career, and the voice actors, though never seen, only heard, are celebrities with large followings.
Celebrity voice actors flew in from Japan and across the world to present panels and meet guests. Veteran voice actor Steve Blum, known for his role as Spike in “Cowboy Bebop” and as the voice for TOM, the robot narrator of Cartoon Network’s “Toonami,” had a line that lasted for hours. The fans wanted to meet Steve because he voiced the characters that are meaningful to them.
Likewise, Ryo Horikawa, the voice actor for Vegeta from the “Dragon Ball” series, signed signatures and told me during an interview that even though he’s physically older, because he’s a voice actor he still feels very young at heart, as if he were in his 20s.
Fans also had a chance to voice act dialogue on top of their favorite anime, as Bang Zoom! Entertainment hosted an “Inside the Voice Actors Studio” where young talents could discover what it’s like to be a voice actor and record dialogue. Mela Lee offered inspiring words, telling one young man dressed as Goku (the main character from the “Dragon Ball” series), that “As an actor we get to be the hero on screen, and that seeps into our real lives the more we act. And from what I just heard I know that you can be the hero too. The hero in your own life. You have it in you.”
Furthermore, voice actor Kyle Hebert hosted the annual Masquerade Ball, where the fans—in full costume—dance with one another and possibly find love.
So in addition to the movie premiers, karaoke, and maid café, you'll also find inspiration, meaning, and heart. And for many fans, that’s what Anime Expo is all about.
More information on anime and manga can be found in Derek Padula’s book “The Dao of Dragon Ball” and on his website http://thedaoofdragonball.com
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