Daniel Harrison and his partners were tired of turning people away at the door.

For the 2005 Sakura-Con, a celebration of Japanese animation, comics and video games, they had to cap attendance at 5,100 and send many fans away from the SeaTac Airport Hilton.

That’s why the convention is moving into the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle, a venue more suitable for the 7,500 attendees Harrison and his team expect for Sakura-Con 2006.

“It’s been fun,” Harrison said of the rapid growth of the event. “It’s been an interesting ride.”

Sakura-Con began as “Baka-Con” with about 300 people in 1998, shortly after Harrison and his friends formed the Anime Tacoma club, which later became known as Anime Northwest. “Anime” is a style of animation that many people attribute to the Japanese. Characters are often young-looking and slender with wild hair and large bright eyes.

“In the summer of 1997, (I) and four other guys were sitting around talking about different conventions and how there wasn’t much anime at sci-fi cons,” Harrison said. “There were anime cons around the country, and we just thought it was something we could do here.”

Now, about 200 volunteers keep Sakura-Con going. They are Microsoft and Boeing employees, vice principals and teachers, people from all walks of life, Harrison said. And visitors come from all over the world to enjoy three days of costume parties, art and business seminars, and Japanese music – and to rub shoulders with the talent behind their favorite anime and manga (Japanese comic books) series and video games.

Some of the registered guests include Tony Oliver, voice actor, writer and director of the “RoboTech” series; Takanori Hoshino and Dave Vincent, the voices behind, respectively, the Japanese and American versions of Van, the hero of “Gun Sword”; Jessica Boone, the voice of Azmaria in “Chrono Crusade”; David Williams, director and producer for ADV Films (“Angelic Layer”); Fred Gallagher, artist and co-creator of “MegaTokyo”; and Jennifer Sekiguchi, the voice of Wendy in “Gun Sword.” Musical guests include costumed pianist Michael “Piano Squall” Gluck and the Japanese rock band Camino.

Often, popular artists and voice actors show up unannounced to surprise both organizers and attendees.

Costume contests, or “cosplay,” will be a major part of the convention. Many attendees will dress as their favorite anime, manga or game characters and will participate in judged contests.

Anime hair is a big deal. It’s almost impossible to tease hair into the outrageously angled styles worn by some of the more famous characters. Anyone who has played the popular PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII can recognize how hard it would be to mimic the tall, messy and pointy hair of Cloud, the protagonist.

So wigs come into play at anime conventions. And Katie Bair rescues those who understand there isn’t enough hair spray in the world for some characters’ coiffures. Bair, a costume and wig designer as well as an accomplished manga artist (www.katiebair.com or www.pettingzoowigs.com), makes elaborate hairpieces for fans and shares her secrets via online tutorials.

Her wigs have become so popular that she asks customers to order at least five months in advance. She’ll be on hand at Sakura-Con 2006 to answer questions and meet with fans.

North American audiences and artists alike have embraced anime and manga art styles, Harrison said. Once almost exclusively the object of college-aged enthusiasts, the Asian forms are appealing to viewers and readers of all ages. Some newspapers have begun running manga series on their comics pages.

Eric Faris, president of the Pacific Lutheran University Anime Club, is taking three of his buddies with him to Sakura-Con. Faris, 22, helped found the club when he was a freshman. About 20 regulars meet once a week to watch selected anime series. Faris got hooked on “DragonBall Z” when he was in high school.

“I really care for the way that it’s animated,” he said. “I don’t know what it is that’s so different about it than American animation. Anime is just better. They have some great stories.”

The PLU club is watching “mostly new stuff this year,” Faris said, including series such as “Peacemaker Kurogane” and the bizarre “Fruits Basket.”

“We’ve kind of covered the whole spectrum over the last four years,” Faris said.

At Sakura-Con, he’ll take in a few seminars and will be looking for the latest information on a recent series named “One Piece.”

“I just want to see if they’re going to release a better version than the one that’s been showing on TV,” Faris said. “I like to know what’s coming next, and the convention is a great way to stay on top of things.”

What: Sakura-Con 2006

When: Today through Sunday

Where: Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 800 Convention Place, downtown Seattle

Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Registration: 7 a.m. today and Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday.

After-hours events: Karaoke contests, costume contests, a masquerade ball and music at Club Sakura at the convention. Some events continue until 4:30 a.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday.

Admission: $35 daily Friday and Saturday, $30 Sunday or $60 for a weekend pass, half-price for children 6 to 12, free for children younger than 6.

Information: 425-687-4936 or www.sakuracon.org.

Intro to anime

New to anime and want to find out what aficionados are watching? The Pacific Lutheran University Animi Club has put together a good mix of classic and newer anime series that members view at their weekly meetings Here’s what they are watching during 2005-2006:

1. “TriGun”

2. “Peacemaker Kurogane”

3. “Fruits Basket”

4. “Texhnolyze”

5. “Wolf’s Rain”

What is anime? It’s a style of animation that many people attribute to the Japanese. Characters are often young-looking and slender with wild hair and large bright eyes.

What’s manga? Japanese comic books, which often look like those featured in amime.

Bill’s anime picks

1. “DragonBall Z”: Unless you really intend to become a hardcore anime fan, skip the original DragonBall series and go straight to “DBZ.” You’ll want to get to the fun, bratty marshmallowy Buu character as soon as possible.

2. “Star Blazers”: If “DBZ” is old school, “Star Blazers” is primordial – a late 1970s/early 1980s classic sci-fi series that has a lot in common with “BattleStar Galactica.”

3. “Gun Sword”: I’m just starting to get into this popular new series, but I like what I’ve seen. Follow Van through the dessert as he seeks to avenge the death of his bride.

Bill Hutchens: 253-597-8460

bill.hutchens@thenewstribune.com