An art fest for the eyes: anime

If “Shrek the Third” soured you on animation’s abilities to do more than toss off scatological jokes, perhaps the Anime Expo 2007 will set you right. A four-day celebration of giant eyes, stylized haircuts and groundbreaking visual storytelling, the fest will host movie screenings, exhibits of manga comics, discussion panels and workshops on Japanese culture and a masquerade competition. Don’t miss Sunday’s screening of the street-kid saga “Tekkon kinkreet,” picked as the best film of 2006 by Artforum magazine, and a concert by J-Pop faves Oreskaband.

Anime Expo 2007, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, and other venues in Long Beach. Opens 9 a.m. Friday; continues through Monday. $20 to $30 a day. (714) 937-2994. For an event schedule, see www.anime-expo.org.