Animate! Miami: Five Must-See Events at This Weekend's Animation Con

Animate! Miami

Fighting evil by moonlight, winning cosplay competitions by daylight.

This weekend marks the arrival of the Animate! Miami convention, a three-day celebration of all things animation, including anime, cartoons, and even video games. With gaming competitions, panels on cosplay, viewing rooms, and concerts, there are plenty of events to choose from.

After the jump, check out five events from this weekend that must be seen to be believed.

See also:
- Florida Supercon 2012: The Greatest Costumes
- Local Nerd Proposes at Florida Supercon: "I Love You More Than Star Trek " (Video)

5. Sirens of Animation Costume Competition
Friday, 9:45 p.m., MACC 2 Ballroom (17+)
This costume competition is all about the ladies (heroines and villains alike) of anime, cartoons, and video games. About 50 women will showcase either store-bought or handmade cosplay creations, with awards given out for such categories as Best Good Girl and Best Bad Girl. I'll put the over-under on Jessica Rabbits at 5.

4. Meet the Cast of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!
Sunday, 11:30 a.m., Exhibition Room Stage
Out of all of the MLP-related events this weekend, this might be the best place to witness the unique fandoms of Bronies (male fans) and Pegasisters (female fans) in the flesh. Members of the cast of this cult phenomenon will take the stage together and discuss their experiences as voice actors working on, quite possibly, the most adult-beloved kids' cartoon of the Internet age.