动漫惯例很少打破模具。与会者可以期待一场角色扮演比赛，配音演员见面会，供应商进行商品，也许是J-Pop音乐会或舞蹈。Kimokawaii刚刚起步，但已经是一种非常不同的骗局。

“I’m trying to create the Disney World experience I had as a kid, where you’ve entered a place of magic,” says founder Chris Carson. “I want an environment on wonder for all the senses.”

Touch, taste and smell are some of the things that Carson wants to tempt people with. He’s advertising KimoKawaii (whose name is a riff on “cute, but weird” in Japanese) as having an 8-foot handmade replica of Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic children’s film “My Neighbor Tortoro.” The furry giant will be soft, huggable and available for pictures right when people enter the convention. In addition, ramen shops will be set up, giving attendees a chance to chow down on noodle soups instead of just the regular convention center fare.

Where KimoKawaii really stands out is the immersive experience that it is offering. Twenty guests will be able to live out dreams of being an anime voice actor by performing in an original animated short called “Kushi and the Annunaki.” The film is about a deity that is forced to look after a collection of unruly teenage gods. The film is produced entirely in house. The attendees who participate will record lines, appear in the credits and see the film released on Amazon.

“Imagine wanting to have an opportunity, and then, in Conroe, Texas, you’re able to go do a professional voice-over with pros,” says Carson.

Some top voice talent will be on hand to guide participants through the process as well as teach them about the world of voice acting. Elise Baughman, of Grand Prairie, is a huge name in the anime scene, mostly for voicing Pan in “Dragon Ball Z” as well as her “Anime Adventures” YouTube show. She will be running seminars about getting started as a voice actor that will help participants prepare for their grand debut.

“What makes people nervous is not knowing how to proceed,” she says. “They may have been doing voices since childhood but not know how to go forward. I didn’t grow up as an actor. I just did a church play in the eighth grade, and that was my whole résumé before I started. If we’ve got that passion, why not do it? We just need someone to help them get started. There are so many opportunities in the voice world.”

Blurring the line between presentation and participation is something that KimoKawaii is keen to do. For instance, there will be a live art creation session where artists will make paintings and drawings in real time so that attendees can watch and learn. Attendees will be able to bid on the pieces, with proceeds going to Texas Children’s Hospital and an animal rescue. A Battle of the Bands will also be a part of the festivities, but even here, Carson is innovating.

“I’m recording everything that happens here in 4K for release on Spotify and Amazon later,” he says. “We’ve got a couple of local bands, American Psychos and Ground Crew 4, that are just starting out, but I think they’re going to blow up big. We’ll put these high-quality live recordings on Spotify, really help get their name out. I want KimoKawaii to be a platform for local artists.”

卡森（Carson）承诺将Kimokawaii策划为家庭友好的空间。所有客人和演示者都受到有关不当行为指控的背景调查，康罗警察将处理武器支票和整体安全，而不是志愿者。严格的无欺骗政策将有效，其中包括驱逐穿着纳粹制服或其他形式的仇恨言论的人，as occurred at Anime Matsuri in 2018.

“This is a fun space for like-minded people,” says Carson. If you’re not there for that, we’d rather keep it exclusive.”

Jef Rouner is a Houston-based writer.