Parental Guide
Tagged with: faq, guide, parental
- So, what exactly is Nan Desu Kan?
- What kinds of events go on at NDK?
- You can buy anime at any DVD store, why come to NDK?
- What does NDK do to make my child safe?
- What can I do to prepare my child for NDK?
- How much does it cost to attend NDK?
Q: So, what exactly is Nan Desu Kan?
A: Nan Desu Kan is the largest gathering in the Rocky Mountain Region of fans, industry guests, and vendors of Japanese animation, art, music, and video games. This is a full weekend event beginning mid-day on Friday and ending Sunday evening. NDK is one of the few large scale anime conventions in the nation that focuses on being family friendly.
Q: What kinds of events go on at NDK?
A: NDK has three 24 hour video rooms. These video rooms give fans a chance to sample various anime series that they may not have heard of before, and a chance to catch a glimpse of series that they may have been curious to see, but haven’t wanted to purchase without seeing what it’s like. NDK also hosts live shows like cosplay chess, which is a live-action chess game where our costumed attendees volunteer to play the pieces, trivia games where attendees test their knowledge of their favorite anime and video games, karaoke where attendees can sing their favorite anime and video game songs, and guest panels where attendees can hear the thoughts and antics of our various industry guests and ask them questions. In addition to this, we have many different panels for those interested in the cultural side of Japan. Although NDK strives to present all of our panels free of charge, there is an occasional panel that requires a supplies fee to participate in. The presenter of the panel collects any fees associated with supplies at the beginning of the panel.
NDK features some of the biggest anime-related competitions in the region. One of the biggest competitions of the weekend is the costume contest, where contestants display their own home-made anime and video game related costumes on our huge main events stage. The audience then votes for their favorite costumes, rewarding their favorite contestants with prize packages and goodies. Another huge competition is the Anime Music Video, or AMV competition. This is a contest where competitors synchronize their own musical selections with some of their favorite anime scenes to create their own music video. These videos are displayed on the two big screens in our main events hall where once again the audience votes for their favorites and prizes are awarded. The weekend also features a host of video gaming tournaments and competitions in our video gaming room.
Q: You can buy anime at any DVD store, why come to NDK?
A: NDK offers a totally unique experience, and it’s different every year. Not only does our dealers room feature many rare and unique collectables imported exclusively from Japan, we also bring in anime industry guests ranging from the voice actors of your favorite anime characters to the original character artists, straight from Japan. NDK also features an art and model show where attendees can see the amazing artistic and modeling talents of our very own Rocky Mountain locals, and many of these items are even made available for purchase. We also have a space called artist’s alley where fledgling artists can display and vend their works, and our industry guests can show and sell some of their original art. Many of the items seen at NDK will never be sold or seen anywhere else, something a normal media store can offer!
Q: What does NDK do to make my child safe?
A: With over 250 staff members, no person attending is very far from someone who can offer help or answer questions. All videos displayed, AMVs shown, costumes displayed, and video games made available to play by the convention are pre-screened for content and are strictly limited to things rated PG-13, or comparable. NDK also has a curfew enforced at 10pm for attendees under the age of 18. Additional safety measures to protect our attendees include a multitude of water stations located throughout the hotel, an EMS staff, along with senior staff patrolling the duration of the weekend. NDK strives every year to make our convention a safe and family friendly place for everyone who attends.
Q: What can I do to prepare my child for NDK?
A: While some parents elect to stay in the hotel and relax while their children attend the convention, others choose to drop their children off a the hotel. If you choose to drop your child off, have a designated time and place for pick up and drop off. If you choose to stay at the hotel, get a system in place for what to do if you are separated at any time. A lost child can ask any member of our 250+ staff, identifiable by staff shirts and staff badges for help. For the duration of the convention, there will be staff members in convention room, and roaming the hallways. Remember, it’s important for kids to know that it’s better to ask staff for help than to look on their own. Remind your child to drink lots of water, and remember to eat at mealtimes, as the excitement of the days events can sometimes overpower the desire to do these important things.
Q: How much does it cost to attend NDK?
A: For our weekend fees, please check our registration page.
If you have any further questions comments or concerns, please contact our Staffing Mom/Director Loreena Rose in our Volunteers contact section.
Updated 07/20/2007
