The world of anime cons, or any cons in general, are still somewhat of a mystery to me. I’ve never been to one. Thankfully, my friend has convinced me to go to Anime Central in Chicago in May. I decided to jump back into the series Comic Party. I haven’t seen it in about two years, and since it’s on the topic of cons, why not see it again to get me excited?
In the beginning, we’re introduced to Kazuki, Mizuki, and Taishi, the main trio of characters, who are classmates. Taishi is a huge anime fan, who convinces and gives Kazuki support to start creating doujinshi (fan comics), while Mizuki doesn’t understand and shies away from any mention or thought of anime or doujinshi. With each character they encounter, the show presents a different aspect of anime fandom, whether it be fellow manga creators, cosplayers, or the “creepy” fanboys.
This show truly makes me wish that May was already here. I may not be accustomed to all the things cons have to offer, but seeing the true emotions that are present in the show makes me what to experience them all. What makes anime, or any kind of show or movie memorable, is a connection to the story or the characters, giving lasting power and honesty to what it’s trying to say.
For instance, the struggles of Kazuki making his doujinshi, from early success and failure, mirrors what people feel when creating something heartfelt. Episode 7 and 8 goes through the rough times, and for me, I couldn’t watch it. Not because it was bad, but because it effectively showcases how someone feels when their creation either doesn’t sell, or isn’t understood, and those dreadful feelings really hit home for me and connected me with Kazuki.
My wife really doesn’t get anime, read it or watch it. She doesn’t understand why I love anime so much, but she sees my passion for it and encourages me to continue. Mizuki goes through the same path and finally understands Kazuki’s passions to the point of being able to give him support.
The final thing I want to mention about the show isn’t about character development, but more of a sigh of relief. No harem. It’s nice to have a show with the proportion of male to female (2 to 8, respectively) without all the women wanting the male lead. It makes each female character have depth and development, a welcome change. More titles should take a page from Comic Party.
I guess what I really love about this series is how it reflects my own life, and life in general. This trio of characters happens all the time, with a person wanting to create, their friend giving them guidance, and a close friend who doesn’t get why it’s such a big deal. In the end, everyone helps to contribute to the creative process and crafts something the world hasn’t seen before, and the people involved are happier and come to be passionate about the finished result. When it comes down to it, Comic Party is about passion. Loving what you do is why people create. Money comes later.
There is one episode which is quite depressing, however necessary. If you have never been to conventions or want to go someday, watch this. It’s great.
5 stars / 5