Robots and anime go hand in hand like wasabi and ginger. So when I saw that the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center was putting on something called “A Robot Trifecta,” I knew I had to be there. It was the JACCCs first attempt at a free outdoor summer event, with the idea being to “bring the community together, get them out to do something different,” according to the sushi chef who hand crafted a delectable spicy tuna roll just for me. The screening took place in an outdoor courtyard in LA’s Little Tokyo. Surrounded by restaurant patios, steaming noodle bowls and boba tea, we sipped Japanese beer and took a seat on the steps to be entertained by three classic robot-based anime series—Astro Boy, Voltron and Gigantor. A DJ spinning ambient electronic tunes set the mood as the sun set and people settled in to their places with chairs, blankets and pillows brought from home.
