what to do at anime conventions

15 Things to do at Your First Anime or Comic Convention

1. Panels and workshops. Almost every convention will have an assortment of different panels and workshops you can...
2. Cosplay and photography. The cosplay and photography are my favorite parts of any convention. There are so many...
3. Get autographs. Many of the larger anime conventions will bring in famous...

Full Answer

What are some things to consider when planning an anime convention?

Other things to consider are gas, food, and hotel costs as well as spending money if you or your child wish to purchase anything from a vendor in the dealers' room. For more in-depth information about the cost of anime conventions, refer to Elizabeth's " How-To Guide for Making a Budget for a Convention ."

What to do at Anime Expo?

At Anime Expo you’ll never run out of things to do. In addition to a Japanese streetwear fashion show, you can also visit a maid or butler cafe, partake in cosplay game shows, party with Japanese DJs, and listen to the latest in J-rock.

What are the best anime conventions to attend in the northeast?

If you’re an anime fan living in the northeast, you must attend Anime Boston. This convention is typically held in the spring and rakes in over 20,000 attendees. Anime Boston is New England’s gathering place for all things that have to do with Japanese pop culture.

Is it OK for my child to go to an anime convention?

Generally, if your child is above the age of 13, well behaved, and traveling with a group of trusted friends, it's probably fine for them to attend the convention without you. Is my child safe? Anime cons are generally very safe environments.

What can I expect at an anime convention?

At a typical anime convention, expect to find rooms and rooms of anime fans and anime paraphernalia. Expect a lot of cosplayers to be there as well dressed up as all sorts of characters. More often than not, they're open for a photograph so don't be afraid to ask for one!

What do you do at your first anime convention?

6 days ago10 Essential Tips For Surviving Your First Anime Convention,...1 Enjoy. After all the budgeting and planning, there is one last thing to do at the con: Enjoy it.2 Budget. ... 3 Stay Safe. ... 4 Please Be Clean. ... 5 Prepare for Emergencies. ... 6 Plan A Breakable Experience. ... 7 Drink Water. ... 8 Know the Weather. ... More items...•

What can you do at a convention?

Here are five things you can do at a convention that won't cost you a cent:Panels - Panels can be awesome fun. ... Play some games - A lot of conventions will have console setups in place. ... Chill out zones - Be sure to look this up before you head to a con but some shows have their own chill out zone.More items...•

Why do people go to anime conventions?

Meet and interact with other anime fans Anime conventions are a great place to meet other people who share your interests. You can make new friends, learn about different aspects of Japanese culture, and get recommendations for new anime and manga to check out.

Should I cosplay at my first con?

Absolutely, in fact the majority of attendees don't do cosplay for the event. And if this is your first time, it may be for the best if you opt for comfort over creativity. If you have a relevant t-shirt, Comic-Con is a great place to wear it.

How do I prepare for my first con?

How to Survive Your First Con: Advice for Newbies from a Veteran Comic Con AttendeeCome Prepared. newyorkcomiccon. ... Get Ready to Wait. ... Pick a Meeting Place Ahead of Time. ... Keep It Clean. ... Cosplay With Care (and Respect) ... Make a Plan on What to Do/See. ... Bring Cash (and Make a Budget) ... Don't Panic.More items...•

Do you get free stuff at conventions?

However, people at convention booths fully expect to be asked about free stuff, so it's not taboo to try your luck. If you see some goodies out on a table, but it's not clear if they're giveaways, just ask. The person might even give you a priced item for free, especially if you seem like a good egg.

Are anime conventions fun?

Anime Conventions – like all conventions of this nature – are a lot of fun! There's even opportunities for Live Action Role-Playing (aka LARP). So don't be afraid to explore and take advantage of every part of the convention you can. Don't waste all your time in one area.

What do you wear to an anime convention?

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. If you are not cosplaying, you should make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes, as you will likely be on your feet most of the day. The convention may be hot once you are inside the venue, so you may want to dress in layers to stay comfortable.

Can an 11 year old go to an anime convention?

These wristbands are optional; though we do highly recommend them as a safety precaution. Ages 6-13: Child badges have the same access as a 4-day badge. Attendees age 13 years old and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18 for the duration of their time at the event.

Can a 10 year old go to a cosplay convention?

COSPLAY IS AN ALL-AGES EVENT. There will have one competition for children 13 and under and then a contest for anyone else entered.

Are anime conventions kid friendly?

Generally, if your child is above the age of 13, well behaved, and traveling with a group of trusted friends, it's probably fine for them to attend the convention without you. Is my child safe? Anime cons are generally very safe environments.

1. Panels and workshops

Almost every convention will have an assortment of different panels and workshops you can attend. These will focus on anything from voice acting, cosplay tips, industry announcements, fandom panels, and anything else you can think of. There are even workshops aimed to entertain the children that go to conventions.

2. Cosplay and photography

The cosplay and photography are my favorite parts of any convention. There are so many people who have done an amazing job at recreating the characters from anime, comics, movies, and games. If you find your favorite character roaming around the convention, you can ask for a photograph.

3. Get autographs

Many of the larger anime conventions will bring in famous voice actors and actors as guests. There might be panels and industry events with the actors to give fans a chance to get insider information and ask some questions.

4. The Masquerade (costume and skit competition)

A popular event at most conventions is usually known as the masquerade (the name will vary at different conventions). This is basically a costume and skit competition. If you make your own costume you can enter to have it judged based on your mastery of your sewing and construction skills.

5. Watch anime and premiere screenings

There will also be video programming at conventions. This is where I go when I want to relax after walking around for so long. You find everything from anime music videos to old cartoons and popular anime. Sometimes there will be showings of entire seasons of the show, and sometimes you’ll get a taste of four or five episodes to see if you like it.

7. Cultural events

Some anime conventions will also have cultural events. Since the appeal of anime also introduces a lot of fans to Japanese culture, you’ll find panels aimed to educate people about different aspects of history, mythology, and cultural aspects of Japan outside of anime.

8. The game room

Anime, comic, and gaming conventions will have large rooms set aside with all sorts of games available to play. You can play all kinds of console games. There are old N64 consoles, and I’ve even seen SEGA games at conventions.

1. Learn what to expect

The first thing to do when attending a convention is to learn what to expect. Some conventions are different than others depending on the size of the convention!

2. Plan what to spend money on

Sometimes conventions can be cheap, and sometimes they can be expensive. Conventions that have a free ConSuite or ConSweet (TM) offer free snacks and sodas through the weekend so that you can recharge and save money. If you have to buy beverages from the hotel then expect prices to be higher than elsewhere.

3. Make your costumes well in advance

Costumes are optional! However it can be really fun to dress up as your favorite anime villain and terrorize the convention. Note that most conventions have policies against destructive behavior - actual villain behavior is not allowed.

4. Eat healthy and hydrate

It's super easy to get so caught up in convention events that you forget to eat and drink plenty of water. So remember to drink water and snack throughout the day so that you don't collapse. This is especially important if you go to the convention dance or if you have a heavy costume.

5. Be safe

If you're younger, bring a responsible adult with you to the convention. Make sure that someone is reachable in case of emergency by programming the emergency contact in your phone or having it written on a card in your wallet. Also make sure that you can be reached in case a family member is looking for you.

6. Expect the unexpected

Sometimes guests cancel at the last minute (flight cancellations are happening more and more frequently last minute). Or sometimes panels won't happen that you expected. Try not to plan your entire convention experience around just one event, in case something happens to that event.

7. Bring friends with you

Conventions are definitely social events! Dressing up in costume and hanging out with friends who like the same series is a huge part of the experience. If you love anime, video games, comic books, Disney movies, or anything else, enjoying it with others is more fun.

What is an Anime Convention?

An anime convention is an event where fans of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture can come together to celebrate their love for the genres. The majority of attendees come dressed up as their favorite characters, and some events even host contests with cash prizes for the most imaginative cosplays.

Anime Conventions Near Me

Anime conventions are a great way to meet other people who enjoy anime as much as you do. They’re also a great way to learn about new anime, meet voice actors and actresses, and purchase exclusive merchandise. Here are some anime conventions near me:

How to Prepare for an Anime Convention

Anime conventions can be a lot of fun, but they can also be a lot of work to prepare for. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your next anime convention:

Where to go to anime conventions?

Make sure you go to at least one of the following biggest anime conventions in the United States. 1. Anime Boston. If you’re an anime fan living in the northeast, you must attend Anime Boston. This convention is typically held in the spring and rakes in over 20,000 attendees.

How many people attend the anime expo?

Anime Expo is the United States’ largest anime convention, boasting over 100,000 attendees. It usually takes place in the middle of summer, so make sure your schedule is open—you won’t want to miss this convention.

Where is the anime matsuri?

Location: Houston, Texas. At Anime Matsuri, you can expect all-night fun—food trucks and events run until 4 am. The 40,000-person event is held in mid-summer, and brings together anime fans from all over the country. Anime Matsuri has plenty of unique events that make it stand out from other conventions.

Where is the anime weekend?

Anime Weekend Atlanta. Head down to Atlanta, Georgia, for a four-day convention full of panels, concerts, and video games. Anime Weekend Atlanta takes place in autumn and brings in over 30,000 anime fans. Along with an artist’s alley and dealer’s room, Anime Weekend Atlanta also has a manga library and fashion show.

When is Youmacon?

Youmacon covers the umbrella of Japanese pop culture, touching on anime, video games, artwork, music, and more. This event opens in late October to early November, and lasts four days. Youmacon has everything that your typical anime convention has.

When did Sakura Con start?

Sakura-Con started in 1998, giving it plenty of time to grow. Step on the convention center floor, and you might not find yourself going to sleep. The convention is open 24 hours with plenty of things to do—you can sing karaoke, meet famous voice actors, attend plenty of diverse panels, and listen to live music. 3.

Where is Sakura Con?

Image credit: Aranami. Location: Seattle, Washington. On the other end of the coast lies Sakura-Con, a huge pacific-northwest anime convention with a growing guest list. In 2017, the convention saw about 25,000 anime fans. Sakura-Con started in 1998, giving it plenty of time to grow.

What is the highlight of anime conventions?

Another highlight of anime conventions is seeing hundreds of artists come together to display their creativity and earn extra bucks from doing what they love. This is personally the area I spend most money on, as my poster wall can never get enough prints. Make sure to take their business card or save their website or Tumblr URL so you can check out their other work!

Where was the anime expo 2016?

How did you spend your pre-holiday weekend this year? Being the nerd that I am, I spent my time at Anime Expo 2016 at the Los Angeles Convention Center . This annual summer event attracts thousands of anime and manga fans from across the nation, and it's four days of special panels, merchandise shopping, artist features, concerts, cosplay, gaming, karaoke and much more. But Anime Expo can be overwhelming to first-time convention attendees, as it's the largest anime convention in the U.S., so here are some helpful guidelines to help you have the best time! First of all..

Is convention crowded?

Conventions are crowded and hectic places. It's already easy to lose your friends in the vast sea of attendees and even easier to lose your bags, purse and other items.

Panels and Workshops

Cosplay and Photography

Get Autographs

The Masquerade

Watch Anime and Premiere Screenings

The Dealer’S Room and Artist Alley

Cultural Events

The Game Room

Resting Areas

Live Music

• While it’s not common to see any well-known bands and artists at conventions, you will often see talented musicians scheduled to play for live shows. At anime conventions, you’ll see up-and-coming Japanese bands going on a tour through America and Canada. Once upon a time (10 years ago), live music like this was a main attraction of anime conventio...

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