Conroe’s celebration of Japanese pop culture, KimoKawaii Anime Experience & Convention,

returns for its fourth year

to the Houston suburb.

The event is Saturday and Sunday at the Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Road, and celebrates Japanese culture through art, fashion and entertainment while providing a unique and immersive experience for attendees of all ages.

Here is what to know about this year’s event.


DREAM CON:


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What is KimoKawaii?

Conroe-based Chris Carson, founder of the company Silverback Events, wanted to

create an interactive anime experience

that was a little off-kilter from typical comic conventions and offer an experience for all the senses. Anime is a Japanese style of film and animation.

He’s been a professional artist for the past 20 years with several published comic books. As he traveled the different shows, he got to know those in the industry and he wanted to offer this unique

experience for anime fans.

The name KimoKawaii is a spin-off of the phrase “disturbing but cute” in Japanese which is how someone once described Carson’s artwork.

“The energy is what really means a lot to me, the community and the energy of the people who enjoy being there,” he said of the growth of the event. “We have a vibrant community where there is a need for this. Everywhere where anime people gather, there’s really cool vibes.”

Highlights for this year

Carson said the Japanese Fashion Show at 6 p.m. Saturday is a showcased event this year.

“It’s educational and beautiful. The girls and guys put on a show,” he said. “It is something you just have to see and you won’t know you like it until you have seen it.”

Other features include an

authentic Japanese arcade room

, Cosplay contests for kids, teens and adults, more than 100 vendors and artists, sessions on voice acting and special voice guests from anime features.

On Saturday, Rinth Radio Hour is a unique storytime podcast created and hosted by writer and podcaster John Simons. He is the founder of Comicpalooza, which is coming to Houston June 20-22.

Convention organizers also produce their own anime during the course of the event where local voice actors can participate alongside the professionals. Each year has produced new episodes of the original anime series “Kushi & The Anunnaki.” All three episodes will show at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Who is coming to KimoKawaii?

Carson said he’s excited about all of the special guests for this year.

Tiffany Grant has voiced characters in more than 1,700 anime TV episodes and movies. The voice actor with Montgomery County roots is best known

as Asuka from “Evangelion.”

“This is where she grew up and what’s interesting is that she ended up moving away from Montgomery County to become a voice actor,” he said. “Now she’s getting to come back home and be a guest at an anime show where she’s from.”

More guests include Mauricio Ortiz-Segura, Annie Wild, Jeremy Gee and Corey Wilder.


COMICPALOOZA:


Cheech and Chong are coming to Houston for Comicpalooza in June

How to go to KimoKawaii

An all-weekend pass is $45 for adults and $30 for children. A single adult pass for Saturday is $30. A single adult pass for Sunday is $25. Saturday and Sunday kids passes for each day are $20.

Tickets may be purchased on the

KimoKawaii website

.



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