Anime style returns to Houston this weekend 1oth annual Anime Matsuri convention expected to attract 27,000

Guests pose for a photo at the Anime Matsuri convention at George R Brown Convention Center Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Houston. Guests pose for a photo at the Anime Matsuri convention at George R Brown Convention Center Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Houston. Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 68 Caption Close Anime style returns to Houston this weekend 1 / 68 Back to Gallery

If you're downtown this weekend and spot thousands of people walking around in strange costumes, you're not crazy.

Anime Matsuri, one of the country's largest Japanese anime conventions, gets under way with more than 27,o00 people expected to attend. The convention was founded by Deneice Leigh, also a Houstonian and an anime expert who owns more than 100 wigs and 300 Lolita dresses. She says costumes average $500-$600 for women and $200-$300 for men, with most purchased online from Japan.

"It's bringing back the Victorian-era style when things were proper," Leigh said in 2015. "It's easy to say the look is about women being subservient, but it's the opposite. It feels empowering. It's about feeling pretty and feeling like a princess."

The convention celebrates its 10th anniversary and all things Japanese, featuring fashion shows, music concerts and even a Japanese car show.

When: 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas,

Tickets: $50-$70. Visit animematsuri.com for details.

Click here to read more Anime Matsuri founder Deniece Leigh and the convention.