Descending into downtown Vancouver evokes an experience probably akin to a time traveler moving into the cityscape of the first extraterrestrial colony. Angular glass buildings adorned with sharp mini-spires dominate the sky line - as if one architect designed the entire metropolis - dwarfing the more archaic red brick and sandstone structures that pepper the city with reminders of it's European and native pasts. This city of contrasts has been the backdrop for the sci-fi/ noir art house flick "Dark City," the recently-released, futuristic blockbuster "The 6th Day" and countless other quirky screen concoctions - a perfect setting for Aka Kon 2000, Western Canada's first, largest, and only anime convention.

Aka Kon, hosted by Aka Anime Productions, ran from Nov. 26 to Nov. 27 at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel and boasted an attendance of well over three hundred, an impressive feat for a convention scheduled to span a Sunday and Monday. Further hampering the time frame, the Sheraton management misplaced the convention programs, which caused a mad dash to reschedule events, and sent confused fans wandering aimlessly about the main hall lapping up every possible nugget of information they could. At one point, a portly, bespectacled man roamed the main floor with a sign that read "I am not Con staff" taped to his chest, presumably to ward off inquiring con-goers. However, attendees gave organizers the benefit of the doubt and, rather than waxing irritable, cooperated with the freestyle planning. Saving the day, a number of dealers displayed their wares to the hungry Canadian fandom, keeping them occupied until Aka Kon could really snap into gear.

A panel featuring Bandai Entertainment Marketing Director Jerry Chu revealed the company's plans to re-master "Gundam: Endless Waltz" OAV series for the Cartoon Network and the original "Gundam" series, all 43 episodes, for home video release. Chu also announced that Bandai America is developing a new collectible card game for "Gundam Wing" called Gundam MS War. He also went on to confirm an egregious error in the release of "Gundam Wing" Volumes 6 and 7 (the packaging is missing the proof of purchase card to redeem the corresponding action figures). But most exciting of Bandai's release news involves the acquisition of Production I.G's "Jin-Roh," which, in a partnership with Viz, will get a theatrical release in North America sometime next year.

At a Viz panel with a more casual tone, Viz producer Toshifumi Yoshida, responsible for such favorites as "Ranma 1/2" and "Maison Ikkoku," introduced "Ranma" cast members Richard Ian Cox (male Ranma), Willow Johnson (Kasumi) and Paul Dobson (Happosai). These were all last minute guests, Vancouver locals who decided to join the festivities. At one point a curious fan asked how much Viz pays their actors. "I've been able to put a down payment on that newspaper I've always wanted," a somber-toned Paul Dobson responded.

Among other topics brought up in this Q and A session were the travails of professional voice acting and the ambiguous fate of the cancelled "Maison Ikkoku" which Yoshida said might get dub produced again. The discontinuation of the series' dub earlier this year precluded the release of the "Maison Ikkoku" movie which takes place between the penultimate and last episode. Yoshida also told the expectant crowd that Viz is still trying to procure the rights to Rumiko Takahashi's "Inu-Yasha" but nothing has been confirmed.

In addition, ADV organized a reunion of the original "Dirty Pair" team. "Dirty Pair" director David Williams, Jessica Calvello (the voice of Yuri) and Pam Lauer (the voice of Kei) all fielded questions about their involvement with one of ADV's first releases. Other events included Studio Ironcat artists Steven Bennett's and Doug Smith's Cel Painting workshop, a Shoujo PJ party where titles like "Nurse Angel Ririka" and "Hime-chan No Ribbon" made the viewing list, and a wet T-shirt contest held at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m. on Monday morning next to the Sheraton's pool (and which a late Sunday night precluded a certain journalist from attending). The standard fare of role playing games, art shows, video games and video rooms rounded out the weekend.

And as for cosplaying. A suspicious lack of Sailor Moon-garbed pre-teens (or even bulbous forty-year-old men, as has happened in the past) legitimized the die-hard nature of these Canadian fans. Characters from "Sol Bianca," "Trigun," "Utena" and "Ranma," as well as more obscure shows, filled the halls, giving the Sunday night Masquerade a cornucopia of costumed treasures. Samantha Evangeline, founder of Succubus Studios (http://www.geocities.com/succubus_studios/), a costuming company entrenched in the entertainment industry, was on hand to judge the contest.

Among the more unifying features, Aka Kon's J-pop room, packed with balloons, beach balls and the best of thumping, techno, Japanese imports, offered convention attendees a far more uplifting respite than the corridor of couches overlooking the inclement Vancouver sky. Though the J-pop room may sound like a Bedlam for confused otaku adolescents, the tone of the room was free-spirited and, guiltily enough, attracted a curious journalist or two for longer than responsible journalism requires.

Plush and aesthetically consistent with it's civic surroundings, the Vancouver Sheraton sports three prominent bars. This, above all else, characterized the sensuous revelry of the convention. Though there were plenty of kiddies darting about, this was without a doubt an adult Con. Even its mascot, Aka-Chan, a G-string wearing, winged Asian beauty, smacked of explicit sexuality. Throughout the convention Aka-Chan signed commemorative panties.