A series of events based on the Japanese cartoon industry will be hosted at an upcoming cartoon, comic and video game convention in Bahrain.

The first Bahrain Anime Convention (Banicon) will be held at the Gulf Hotel on June 30.

Banicon will offer talks from guest speakers, a gaming zone, an art display and competition, film screenings, Japanese games and a photo scavenger hunt.

It will also feature a 'cosplay', the term derived from the English words costume play, where participants can dress up in costumes and accessories as their favourite anime or video game character and enter the 'Best Cosplay' competition.

Tickets are BD7.500 ($19.90), which does not include food for which tickets will be sold separately for BD2.

Banicon is being organised by a group of young Bahrainis and supported by various official bodies such as the Middle East Film and Comic Convention.

The events will introduce fans and newcomers to Japanese culture and history through anime, Japanese comics known as 'manga' and video games, said organisers.

The various activities act as a creative outlet for fans where they can display their home-made outfits, music videos and artwork and host educational panels to teach others about the history of anime, they added.

An anime convention called Animania was earlier held in November in Bahrain. – TradeArabia News Service