AtomiCon charity anime convention set Nov. 15 in Richland

It started out as an assignment for a college class.

But the AtomiCon charity anime convention planned Nov. 15 at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland has become something more.

It’s a chance for creative people in the Tri-Cities to have fun, express themselves, connect with others who have similar interests and raise money for a good cause, said Sage Giulio, coordinator.

“It shows that the quiet, creative nerds can do something super productive and helpful for the community,” she said.

Anime is a style of animation that started in Japan.

The Richland event includes activities from a four-panel comic creation challenge to a “Name That Anime Tune” game.

AtomiCon also will feature a Super Smash Bros. video game tournament and a cosplay contest, in which participants dress up as a character from a movie, book or game.

Events are at Adventures Underground, Caterpillar Cafe and Sunken Treasures Games. Some activities are free, while others — like the video game tournament — have a buy-in. The money will go to Hope for the Day and To Write Love on Her Arms, two organizations that help people struggling with depression and similar challenges.

A silent auction during the convention also will raise money for the groups.

Giulio is a student at Washington State University Tri-Cities. The convention grew out of an assignment for her Interactive Media class — to create an event that involves the community.

She’s grateful for the help she’s received in putting it together, she said.

“It’s encouraging. It’s definitely an experience that’s been worthwhile,” Giulio said. “It’s grown a lot bigger than I thought it would be.”

And it may keep growing. AtomiCon will include a panel discussion on starting a larger anime convention in the Tri-Cities.

“We’re hoping to take this event, which started as a class project and definitely morphed into something more, and branch it into something even bigger,” Giulio said.

AtomiCon runs from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 15. For more information, including the full schedule of events, go to www.odinssage.com/events/atomicon.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "AtomiCon charity anime convention set Nov. 15 in Richland."