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Photo Gallery: METROCON 2011

The popular sci-fi and anime convention - billed as Florida's largest - brings to town the most colorful characters since Gasparilla.

 
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The colorful throngs - METROCON masses - descend the escalator at the Tampa Convention Center. Gene Dalessandro
Photos (21)

Photos

Reggie, 20, strikes a wicked pose. He trekked over from Jacksonville.
Walking on Franklin Street, Susan Gomes (left), Kayla Hendrick (center), and Amelia Coleman (left) walk to METROCON 2011 at the Tampa Convention Center. The 16-year-olds came as far as Boca Raton for the anime convention.
Tony, 34, is one of the elder statesmen.
Clad in crimson, Ashton came all the way from Birmingham, AL to experience METROCON.
Twenty-three-year-old Ron came over from Lakeland.
Xavier, 12, sports an anime duster.

METROCON is an annual anime convention based in Tampa. It was first presented in 2003 near the Florida State Fairgrounds. In 2005, the event was moved to the Tampa Convention Center. According to the St. Petersburg Times,  more than 2,300 people preregistered for Metrocon 2011, well surpassing the previous record. Metrocon hosts a variety of events and experiences for fans of anime, video games, fantasy, and science fiction. Participants dress up as their favorite anime and video game characters.

Land O' Lakes residents if you attended METROCON and have photos to share, just upload them to the gallery!

Were you at METROCON? Add your photos to the gallery. Tell us in the comments.

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