Hey, kids love the manga and the anime

The Dallas Morning News (registration required) reports on the Bedford Public Library's new monthly how-to-draw-manga class and, yes, the growing popularity of manga and anime in the United States:

Anime conventions also are becoming popular, said Ben Quasnitschka, co-owner of Shotokan, an anime shop in Hurst. There are two anime conventions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said Mr. Quasnitschka, former president of the anime club at the University of Texas at Arlington.

"It used to be heavily male, but I've noticed especially in the last four years the female ratio has gone through the roof," he said. "It started with younger females who watched Sailor Moon, which just didn't appeal to guys, and now they're growing up."