Tokyo in Tulsa is an anime, steampunk, video games, and everything else convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The convention started off with a focus around anime, but has grown to embrace all of the other strange and wonderful aspects of geekdom. Back in 2010, this was my first ever anime or gaming convention to attend. It was cramped in the hotel lobby, but still a blast. Two years later, the convention has grown so large that they have expanded across the street to the Tulsa Convention Center. The convention is still small, but has a wholesome and fun feel in the atmosphere. The lay-out of the convention is easy to navigate, and you hardly bump into anyone. With that being said, over-crowding is not a problem here. I never feel like I am crammed between people and struggling to make it to the dealer room at this convention which is awesome. The staff is also one of the nicest convention staffs that I have ever been in contact with! They will help anyone (convention-goer, press, and even people off the street!) out with anything they need and provide excellent service in the nicest way possible. The volunteers are also numerous, which makes me believe that the directors are doing a pretty good job keeping their workers happy and reliable.

Gaming is not forgotten here! Tokyo in Tulsa works together with OK Gamers to provide one of the best gaming rooms I have seen at a convention. They offer a wide variety of games including table-top, fighting games, and first person shooters on a sundry amount of consoles. Also, the winners of the tournaments (Soul Calibur 5 winners pictured to the left) are rewarded generously. "TnT" takes care of their gamers very well. There is always a place for those who would like to sit and play a round or watch a tournament. The game room is a perfect spot to sit and take a break from the craziness that a convention can bring. The room is also wide and airy with lots of space so that nobody feels like they are crammed in a basement like sardines.

Cosplay is a staple at Tokyo in Tulsa. Almost half of the people you will see and meet here will be in some sort of costume! (Pictured Left is Izumi cosplaying as Juliet from Lollipop Chainsaw) The costumes that appear here are always awesome and well constructed. The cosplays also range from comic book universes, video games, graphic novels, and anime and manga. There are also a ton of original cosplays from the steampunk, cyberpunk, and furry communities. No genre is off limits to bring and cosplay at Tokyo in Tulsa. (Which is something that I love about this convention) The costume contest is also very well organized and ran with almost perfectly. The main walk on contest judges based on craftsmanship, not stage presence. You are also judged before you go on stage by a panel of around 3 seasoned cosplayers. This is great because they have experience and know what to look for in an outstanding cosplay. The contest is in a large, well-ventilated room with easy access to water. I was actually shivering after I came off stage! This was awesome because most cosplayers have problems with overheating and dehydration after a long day in the cosplay contest waiting area. The staff kept the contestants well hydrated and comfortable during prejudging and the contest. The contest also didn't last an extremely long time and wasn't delayed too long. It ran without a hitch and was absolutely a joy to watch and participate in!

Do you go to a convention to shop? Tokyo in Tulsa's Artist Alley and Vendor Room are stocked with the best artists and vendors from across the nation. One of my favorites is a nice lady who makes animal scarves out of fleece. This is the only convention she goes too near me, so I usually grab a scarf when I can! There was also a wide array of different types of artists specializing in different mediums. If you are looking for doll clothes, duct tape place mats, monocles, badges, fleece unicorn hats and more then you can find them here! The artists were also really nice and sweet whenever I would talk to them. Some would recommend commissions and other services if I didn't find what I was looking for. The vendor room this year was pretty bare, but still very enjoyable. We ended up picking up a large grab bag and everything in side of it was absolutely awesome! Even with surprises there's not much disappointment here.

Do you like music? Tokyo in Tulsa has a wide range of musical artists to see! With Bands, DJs, and much, much more every night contains an exciting and entertaining show. Some of the headliners this year included DJ Imfam0s, The Slants, Sunny Side Up!, and The Brehms. NerdRaves was also present to put on nerdy-style raves full of fun, geeky music for the convention crowd. The mixes these DJs do are always mixed at the show and preformed in front of a live crowd. The musicians that are featured at Tokyo in Tulsa always create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for anyone to enjoy. The crowds here are never rough or rowdy either, letting everyone enjoy the show at their own pace and comfort.

Tokyo in Tulsa is a wonderful convention for anyone new to the convention scene, to a seasoned professional. The atmosphere is wonderful and fun, and so is the staff that runs the convention. My visits and experiences here are never unbearable. I recommend this convention to anyone in the United States. If you visit this summer con, you will never be disappointed.

-Apple Davies
Apple Davies is a freelance costumer in Central Oklahoma, Vice President of the Animation Society at the University of Oklahoma and head of Cosplay Functions at the University of Oklahoma. To find out more about the conventions and cosplay in the "Bible Belt" or to just talk nerdy, please contact her at  (www.facebook.com/applecosplay) or email her at (appledaviescosplay@gmail.com).

Photo Credits go to Heather Ball, the official photographer for Tokyo in Tulsa
you can find her page here (https://www.facebook.com/Moosterz) with more photos of the convention.

This past Fanime seemed different then previous FanimeCons I have been to over the years. As my friends and I experience a terrific time in Fanime, something just didn't feel right. This would be my 4th Fanime I've been to and I always had fun, but I think what really derailed this Fanime from other years is that there were not as many events I was interested in. Don't get me wrong, there were some new ones I did check out and did like, like the AMV hell videos, one of the main video rooms I didn't expect to see that at all. I only wish I stayed for the whole thing. Usually every year I make a list of things I want to check out and honestly there were not as many. The panels that were fan made were not the best in the world, but there were a few and I do know it takes a lot of work to put a panel together, but there weren't any that sparked my interest. The Blazblue and Guilty Gear panel were great, and it was a good Q&A panel, but other then that, a few other panels were not as good as previous years. The videos checked out were all of the Zero Punctuation reviews and late night laughs with the AMV Hell videos and the hentai AMVs were great. I have to say the hentai AMVs were very funny and fantastic; one of the best times I've spent in there laughing my ass off. The video game room was as great as ever; the arcade was there with a few new editions, the tables were set up for tabletop gaming, and the consoles were set up so you could sit down and play.  My only complaint about the video game room is that they brought back PCs this year, but only 4. On top of that, the games you can play on them were good, but just not enough PCs for a more competitive tourrney other then Starcraft. Maybe next year they can bring more PCs and the ability to play on Steam so we can have tournaments like Team Fortress 2 and other popular titles.

The space given for cosplayers and con goers alike has always been a strong area in Fanime. There's so much space in the convention center that there is no problem. Every year somebody with big armor or anything to move around in have plenty of room to move freely. Every year, Stage Zero is always one of the best things at Fanime. Why? The game shows, the special guests, the charity tournaments. Stage Zero has always been good at these. I love the fact even in my busy times at Fanime I can walk by the Stage Zero and stay for a few minutes to see whats on stage and then go on about my day. Even then, if I am busy, that doesn't mean I'm enjoying myself. There are times when people get bored. And in those times, they can rely on Stage Zero. Sometimes they play music, sometimes they play Youtube poops, they really cater to the audience. Whatever they feel like viewing, they go for it, especially around the early morning hours.

This was probably the 1st time I've been to the Artists Alley. My initial thoughts were that it was just like the Dealers Hall, only less crowded and more quiet. I did enjoy the cool things you never see in the Dealers Hall that are in the Artists Alley, like being able to get advice and let them check out your portfolio, and buy shirts that make you more of a nerd then ever. I will say when I do have more money for next year, I will probably check out the Artists Alley more and probably ask for some advice since I am an avid fan of, well, anime and the like. I don't know but for some reason I feel right at home when I am in the Artists Alley. The Dealers Hall was just as the same as previous years but it's not a bad thing, no, actually I do like how it is. It's open enough for people to get around and there are items at a reasonable prices. It's very easy for someone to walk in there with $120 and walk out with only $4o.

Both dances, the Black and White Ball and the Rave were handled pretty well. Besides a small health incident at the Rave, it was all handled the way it should be. The B&W Ball was interesting mostly because they moved it to a much bigger room. Great idea on the Rovers part, since last year it was packed, but never the less it was great idea. There was more room to walk around and the tables that were set up for people to rest at and chat. Everyone looked very nice, both ladies and gentlemen and people in cosplay were also in appropriate  attire. It was like a high school prom in many ways and it certainly did have that type of atmosphere about it. Plus it was free, bingo. (You know, cause

 The last thing I wanted to say is that even though I did not get to everything I wanted to, I still had a great time. However, the sinking feeling that this Fanime wasn't as good as past Fanimes saddens me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about it wasn't as great, but regardless of this I still had a blast. The last thing I wanted to say is that staff (Rovers) at Fanime were great and they had a lot of patience to deal with all of us. I do applaud the staff and security for doing a great job making sure nobody did anything stupid, though I wished the police (SJPD) were not there as much as previous years. Their presence gave the folks a strange feeling of insecurity. (Though I am not everybody, this is just my opinion) Although this year's event wasn't as good as past events, it was still fun. For a lot of newcomers, this was a blast, and in some cases, this is true. However, I'm hoping the next following years to come will be enjoyable for everyone, new or old.

-Anthony Beanes