arts & life

ar t

Youma
Hype

Fans dressed as figures
from Halo (this photo) and
other elements of
Japanese anime (right)

Spend a weekend exploring a universe of Japanese culture

that’s worlds away — right in your own backyard,

thanks to Morgan Kollin.

Suzanne Chessler | Contributing Writer

M

Morgan Kollin

details

Youmacon 2016 runs between 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Cobo
Center and Renaissance Center in Detroit. Tickets will be available at the
door for cash only: $65 for a three-day pass, $35 for Friday only, $45 for
Saturday only and $25 for Sunday only. Thursday evening’s activities are
free. Some activities are for those 18 and older. Youmacon.com.

44 November 3 • 2016

organ Kollin grew up
with a family-based
appreciation for Jewish
culture and grew into a special
interest for Japanese culture.
The same heritage and interest
hold true for Yuri Lowenthal, a
television, stage and movie actor
who has developed a voiceover
presence in the field of animation.
The two cross paths through
Youmacon, an annual event in
its 12th year. It features anime
(Japanese animation), manga
(Japanese-style comics and art-
work), video games, Internet expe-
riences, comics, art and celebrity
appearances, counting some 19,000
attendees in 2015.
Between 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and 6
p.m. Nov. 6, new interactive experi-
ences will take place nonstop at
Cobo Center and the Renaissance
Center in Detroit.
“Every year, our team works tire-
lessly to create a bigger and better
Youmacon experience with more
programming, dealers, special
guests and interactive opportuni-
ties and, once again, we’re proud to
offer the largest event of its kind in
the Midwest,” says Kollin, 36, chair-
man and founder of Youmacon
Enterprises/Defying Conventions.

Yuri Lowenthal

To make for fast-moving and
complete engagement, attendees
will find translations from Japanese
to English. They can listen to
original programming expressed in
Japanese with English subtitles or
hear American vocal talents speak-
ing their own language while com-
municating Japanese creativity.
Kollin, who attended Pontiac’s
Temple Beth Jacob until it closed,
continues observance with mem-
bership in Troy’s Congregation
Shir Tikvah and has traveled to
Israel through the Birthright pro-
gram. He became a fan of Japanese

animation while growing up in
Pontiac in the 1980s — watch-
ing imported anime shows like
Voltron and Robotech and playing
Nintendo and Super Mario Bros.
— and looked into other forms of
Japanese culture.
Drawn to the storylines of
Japanese animation and the mix of
tradition and pop, Kollin expanded
his interest at conventions that
focused on Japanese media and
arts, and he decided to establish
Youmacon to share the various
media opportunities with others.
He hopes to travel to Japan soon
and further explore the origins of
what he presents.
Lowenthal, who once Tweeted
that he’s “a Tennessee Jew y’all,” will
be making his second appearance
at Youmacon. He was featured in
the first year.
“Yuri is a veteran voice actor, and
he has been one of the elite actors
in this animated world since its
beginning,” Kollin says. “Aside from
participating on various discussion
panels to talk about the series he’s
worked on and voice talent in gen-
eral, he will be at meet-and-greet
autograph sessions.”
With an entry badge, all
autograph sessions are free; and