Yama Con

hits Pigeon Forge in December

“All nerds, gamers, geeks and otaku (the Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly anime and manga)” are welcomed to attend Yama Con 2015, set for Friday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge.

The event features an emphasis on anime and the Japanese culture with events themed around video games, card and board games, comics and more.

Voice actors and celebrity guests include Johnny Yong Bosch, Eric Vale, Ian Sinclair, Paul St. Peter and Chuck Huber.

Musical guests include Eyeshine, a four-piece “edge-rock” band, and The Slants, “the first and only all-Asian American dance rock band in the world.”

Artist guests include Scott and Callie West, a husband and wife art studio specializing in comic art and graphic design; Anthony Spay, comic book illustrator, writer and editor; Jessica Von Braun, mixed media artist, traditional and digital painter, photo collage illustrator and sketch artist; Alex Ogle, Tubatomic co-founder and visual storyteller; Christopher Gibbs, sketch artist; Kevin Sharpe, comic and graphic art illustrator; Shawn McCauley, illustrator, storyteller and educator; Greg Lane, freelance comic book artist; James Lyle, chairman of the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society; and Stephen Simones, best-selling author, journalist and former film maker.

Prop and replica guests include Cosplay Kasterborous, an improvisational costuming group focusing mainly on the BBC hit show “Doctor Who;” Pika 3, Pokemon trainer and collector; Terry and Oliver Holler, husband and wife who built their own DeLorean Time Machine, inspired by the film “Back to the Future;” Cosplay Inc., a group of cosplayers who bring their characters to life with a replica Mystery Machine van from “Scooby Doo” and “Jurassic Park” tour vehicle; and Knoxville Academy of the Blade, a fencing school.

The schedule of events will be posted soon at www.yamacon.org.

Need a place to stay? Give Heartland Cabin Rentals a call today at 1-888-711-0087 to reserve your cabin. We’re looking forward to meeting you!