You've sent out the invitations. You've planned the menu, the music and the decor. You even bought a fog machine to give your Halloween party that extra spooky feel.
But what about the anime?
If there was ever a form of entertainment made for Halloween, anime would be it. I mean, the costume ideas alone are enough to make you think anime when October rolls around.
But if you want to get really creative with your Halloween bash, here's some ideas for turning your party into an all-out anime extravaganza.
Host A Cosplay/Costume Contest - Forget ghosts and goblins. Encourage your guests to get creative by hosting a cosplay costume contest that rewards the absolute best anime costumes. Rewards with what? Well, that all depends on you. You could give away an MP3 player (the Apple iPod Shuffle can be had for under $35), a selection of Cowboy Bebop posters and wall scrolls or a copy of the latest Claymore DVD, just to name a few.
Click here for ideas on choosing your own anime costume.
Turn On The Big Screen - There are so many good horror and supernatural anime shows out there, the only problem you'll have is deciding which ones to show. On my list? Claymore, Ghost Hunt, Death Note and Death Note II, Hell Girl and of course the classics such as Vampire Hunter D and Blood: The Last Vampire. You could even host an anime marathon with Black Blood Brothers (it's only 12 episodes), Hellsing or Gungrave.
Offer Up Some Spooky Manga - For those guests that just want to "hang out," make sure there's plenty for them to do. For starters, some good ole' spooky manga scattered about on coffee tables and counter tops ensures that everyone has something to pique their interest. Good ones to try include VIZ Media's COWA!, Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun and of course Vampire Knight.
Serve Some Anime Grub - Okay, you can have chips and dips, but don't forget the miso, dorayaki, happosai and pocky. Don't want to be quite that extravagant? At least serve up a bowl of ramen!
Of course, you don't have to stop there. As with any good party, there should be lots of music, dancing and good conversation as well. Perhaps you could mix in a few tracks from a
Cowboy Bebop soundtrack in between your favorite tunes or play the "anime quote game" by taking turns speaking famous lines from anime shows and having guests guess which series the line is from.
Obviously, the kind of entertainment you pick will depend greatly on the age group and interests of your guests, but the point is, with a little creativity, you can turn an ordinary Halloween party into an anime bash they won't soon forget!
