Tokyo in Tulsa
Encyclopedia
Tokyo In Tulsa is an annual volunteer-run anime convention
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. It is Tulsa's first convention devoted strictly to anime (as of its inception in August 2008) and has grown into Oklahoma's largest anime convention. It is a three-day event that will be held on the third weekend of July in 2012.
and cosplay
; concerts; dances and special events. Video rooms provide examples of anime series and live action Japanese dramas while a manga
library allows convention goers to sample a wide variety of titles. A gaming area offers an opportunity to play either video or tabletop games for fun or prizes.
Tokyo In Tulsa also features a varied selection of guests. Most popular are the voice actors of many popular anime series, along with writers, directors and producers from major anime distributors. Popular local and nationally known bands and DJs perform nightly. There is also a vendor room and an artist alley.
held in October 2005 for the Darkstone Anime Store in Tulsa. After the store closed in 2006, the organizers of the event decided to use the name for an anime convention. Planning for the first convention began in 2006 and the inaugural Tokyo In Tulsa opened August 1, 2008. Since then, the event has changed location and dates but has remained a fan based, volunteer run convention.
Japan Earthquake relief effort.
Tokyo in Tulsa was recognized by the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tulsa Hotel & Lodging Association in 2009 for its efforts in attracting visitors to the city of Tulsa. James Fowler, the founder of Tokyo in Tulsa, accepted the award.
July 20–22, 2012
Location: Doubletree Hotel Tulsa-Downtown / Tulsa Convention Center
Theme: Worlds|Collide: Steampunk
vs. Bounty Hunters
Guests: Steven Blum
(Spike Spiegel
, Cowboy Bebop
) (tentative)
Anime convention
An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. It is Tulsa's first convention devoted strictly to anime (as of its inception in August 2008) and has grown into Oklahoma's largest anime convention. It is a three-day event that will be held on the third weekend of July in 2012.
Programming
Tokyo In Tulsa's stated mission is to "celebrate the traditions of Japan and the culture of Oklahoma while bringing together the community though our common interests" by focusing on the areas of anime, manga, video games, and Japanese culture. The convention features a large number of events during the weekend. There are panels and workshops; competitions for art, anime music videos (AMVs)Anime music video
An anime music video is a music video consisting of clips from one or more animations set to an audio track ; the term usually refers to fan-made unofficial videos. An AMV can also be a set of video game footage put together with music which is known as a GMV...
and cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
; concerts; dances and special events. Video rooms provide examples of anime series and live action Japanese dramas while a manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
library allows convention goers to sample a wide variety of titles. A gaming area offers an opportunity to play either video or tabletop games for fun or prizes.
Tokyo In Tulsa also features a varied selection of guests. Most popular are the voice actors of many popular anime series, along with writers, directors and producers from major anime distributors. Popular local and nationally known bands and DJs perform nightly. There is also a vendor room and an artist alley.
History
Tokyo In Tulsa began as a Halloween block partyBlock party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
held in October 2005 for the Darkstone Anime Store in Tulsa. After the store closed in 2006, the organizers of the event decided to use the name for an anime convention. Planning for the first convention began in 2006 and the inaugural Tokyo In Tulsa opened August 1, 2008. Since then, the event has changed location and dates but has remained a fan based, volunteer run convention.
Event History
| Dates | Location | Attendance | Guests |
|---|
Community Support
Tokyo In Tulsa selects a charity each year to support with the money raised at the event. From 2008 to 2010, a children's charity was chosen for support. As no charity was found that dealt with children and focused on the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the charity supported in 2011 was AmeriCaresAmeriCares
AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the United States and around the world. Since its founding in 1982, AmeriCares has provided more than...
Japan Earthquake relief effort.
Tokyo in Tulsa was recognized by the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Tulsa Hotel & Lodging Association in 2009 for its efforts in attracting visitors to the city of Tulsa. James Fowler, the founder of Tokyo in Tulsa, accepted the award.
Upcoming Convention
Tokyo In Tulsa 2012July 20–22, 2012
Location: Doubletree Hotel Tulsa-Downtown / Tulsa Convention Center
Tulsa Convention Center
The Maxwell Convention Center or Tulsa Convention Center is a 7,111-seat multi-purpose arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The civic arena was constructed in 1964 and named for Tulsa Mayor James L. Maxwell who was the driving force behind the planning and start of the venue...
Theme: Worlds|Collide: Steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
vs. Bounty Hunters
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
Guests: Steven Blum
Steven Blum
Steven Jay Blum is an American voice actor known primarily for his work in anime dubs and video games, using his distinctive deep voice. Among his credits include the voice of Spike Spiegel of the anime series Cowboy Bebop and Mugen of the anime series Samurai Champloo...
(Spike Spiegel
Spike Spiegel
is the protagonist of the anime and manga series Cowboy Bebop. He won first place in the male character category of the Anime Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999.-Background:Spike is a fictional bounty hunter who was born on Mars, June 26, 2044...
, Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop
is a critically acclaimed and award-winning 1998 Japanese anime series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, written by Keiko Nobumoto, and produced by Sunrise. Its 26 episodes comprise a complete storyline: set in 2071, the series follows the adventures, misadventures and tragedies of five bounty...
) (tentative)