4,000 Expected For "Anime Milwaukee" Convention

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Four thousand people are expected in downtown Milwaukee this week for a Japanese Animation Association convention.

The convention was started by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's chapter of the Japanese Animation Association in 2007 as a one-day free event. Since then "Anime (anih-MAY) Milwaukee" expanded to three days and has doubled attendance every year.

Anime is a multibillion-dollar industry ranging from TV, DVDs and video games to toys and trinkets. It explores a surreal world of fantasy and science fiction.

Celebrity guests include anime voice actors Spike Spencer and Monica Rial, as well as critics, directors, scriptwriters and even a "geek-specific stand-up comedian."

The event runs from Friday to Sunday at the Frontier Airlines Center.