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Senshi-Con: From humble beginnings to large-scale Alaskan convention
By Leroy Polk A&E Assistant
From high-profile events like the Super Bowl or a live concert with The Rolling Stones, to small comforts like Olive Garden or Urban Outfitters, there are many things that Alaska goes without. Anime conventions used to be on the long list of continental US exclusives. Things have changed. Anime is Japanese animation, and while it is a long-time treasured national art form to the Japanese, anime has become an explosive fad in the U.S. within the past two decades. An anime convention is essentially a largescale event that incorporates many anime-related media, merchandise, performances and culture in one place, much like a Star Trek convention, only without Star Trek. In the contiguous United States, these kinds of conventions have exploded to very lucrative operations doing brisk business with anime fans, much of whom are younger and have a good amount of disposable income. Alaska had, until mid-2000’s, been without any representation in terms of conventions, though the anime fad had definitely reached here earlier by way of shows like “Pokemon” or “Dragon Ball.” When compared to other anime conventions (“cons” for short), Alaska’s efforts have been on a somewhat smaller-scale. The Kenai Peninsula Anime Convention, Usagi-Con, a Fairbanks convention and others have tried to emulate the big conventions in the lower 48, but fell short due to lack of funding, attendance and general lack of involvement or interest. This is a logical hazard because the
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event is so specialized that it only really appeals to one particular target audience: anime fans. Though the majority of conventionss in Alaska have invariably fizzled out without attaining much hype or publicity, there have been two unquestionably larger (and more successful) Alaskan ventures: Aurora-Con and Senshi-Con. Aurora was held at the Egan Civic and Convention Center, and had substantially more funding than all other Alaskan cons; it was able to afford a much larger venue and higher-profile guests, such as voice actors for the American versions of famous anime series like “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Evangelion,” “Detective Conan,” and others. While it was the largest convention in Alaska, it was not the most successful. After just three years, Aurora-Con effectively bit the dust after its last event in 2008. SenshiCon, the other well-known Alaskan con, has been around for much longer (coined as the first Alaskan anime convention) and is the only one still being held today. Started in 2005 by West Two school girls took there time looking at plush toys in-between events. High’s anime club, the event that occur throughout the year, increased vendor revenue and operated solely on student and definitely the only one of steady ticket pre-sales, Senshivolunteers and was held for such magnitude. In addition to Con has been able to afford free in the school’s cafeteria. increased attendance, Senshi- more advertising than previous At the time, it was a pioneering Con procures a large number of years. From website ads to large venture for anime fans, and vendors. Convention president for pictures on the sides of People did proportionally well for the 2011, Braxton Bundick, reported Mover buses, Bundick attests venue. Kira Buckland, one of that the vendor booths were at that Senshi-Con is “really getting the founders of the convention at capacity this year, and that the itself out there now.” West, said, “We had almost 300 convention had sold out all of its The convention hopes to draw people, which wasn’t bad for only allotted space. even more attendees this year due four months of planning.” Some of Senshi-Con’s vendors to having their first ever booth at Since then, the convention even come from out of state, since the Alaska State Fair this summer. changed venues like a hermit the Alaska market is unsaturated see ANIME page b3 crab, seeking out new housing with animeonce it becomes too big for its related items. old shell. When most of the “We’re anime club members in charge even going to of the convention graduated from be having a West, the next logical step was to vendor from found an anime club at UAA, and Japan this hold the next Senshi-Con in the year,” Bundick Student Union. As the venue grew said. Bosco’s, larger, so did attendance, which a long time has doubled and then tripled since Alaskan comic its meager beginnings to roughly and gaming 900. When it once was an event of business, the UAA Anime Club, it has now hasn’t missed become a separate organization. booth sign-up Senshi-Con has enjoyed for a single mostly positive responses year of Senshisince its inception, and being Con. Alaska’s longest-running anime Between convention, enjoys a lack of competition. This ensures that it gets a concerted effort from Alaskan anime fans as it’s one of the few community outlets A boy dressed as Young Trunks fought his way across the stage.