Momo!!

Time to talk about my favorite thing in the entire universe besides Disney World - Momocon!

Momocon is an annual anime and gaming fan convention in Atlanta, GA.

I don't even remember how I find out about the convention. I believe it was something I stumbled upon when I was trying to find cons in my area. However it happened, I'm proud to say that I now attend every year :)

The best thing about Momocon is that admission is free. The drive to Atlanta is certainly not a short one, so it's very nice not having to actually worry about the cost of getting in. I'm not sure how they keep the event free, but I really really appreciate it.

Momocon has a bunch of stock elements any con does including plenty of anime screenings, cosplay contests, gaming competitions, workshops, panels and several dealer rooms.

It is so nice to be able to sit down in an auditorium or college classroom (the convention is hosted by Georgia Tech University) and watch hours and hours of random anime. I am not an anime expert, but I love the art, so it's great to get that exposure. Once I go home, I look what I had seen so I could watch even more!

In fact, here is part 1 of an adorable AMV (anime music video, in case you didn't know). Try to watch the whole series when you get the chance. It's titled "There She Is".



Cosplay is pretty fun at Momocon. Everyone is super nice and friendly, and I have never had anyone turn down a picture. Most people even strike the signature pose of the character they
are portraying! I was amazed by the effort some kids put into their costumes, especially since cosplay isn't cheap! The judges definitely always seem to favor simple hand made costumes compared to the most elaborate ones, which can be a bit surprising.

I haven't gotten a huge chance to take full advantage of all the cool workshops and panels Momocon has to offer with one exception. I sat in on a lecture with Kotaku.com East Coast Contributing Editor Mike Fahey. He joked around quite a bit, but he also talked about legitimate issues within the video game industry from his hangups with public relations professionals to the drawbacks of numerical ratings for video game reviews. As a public relations major, I made sure to make him feel uncomfortable by asking plenty of questions :P He was a really nice guy, though, and he gave me a lot of really great insight, especially as someone who wants to work in the same industry. After my experience, I will definitely try to catch more events such as these during the convention!

The one downside of Momocon is that there really aren't many special guests or speakers. I don't think the con will ever have a wide selection of guests if admission continues to stay free. I am personally ok with it, because I can always attend other (pricey) conventions that will.

I definitely suggest you go to Momocon if you can! It's worth the trip - especially with free admission - but I do warn you. You may get in free, but it's super easy to spend a crap ton of money during your time there.

Well, this post is already too long, so if you want to know anymore details about the convention, just ask! I'm not sure what I'll post on next, but make sure to look out for it :)

Love,
The Girl Informer