Anime North 2014

Anime North in Toronto is arguably the biggest and best anime convention in North America, attracting over 20,000 attendees a year. (And those are only the ones who buy a pass!) Because there is so much space outdoors, the convention attracts even more patrons who hang out outside all day where they can have the most fun in or out of costume. After a decade and a half of trying to get there, this was only my second year attending but I had even more fun than I did during my first.

The number of cosplayers who attend is quite staggering, easily holding the majority of attendance, and each and every one of them is amazing. I myself am a cosplayer and I must say that Anime North is truly a place where we can let loose, let our creativity show and be accepted for what we do best.

The lines this year were just as long as they always are, starting as early as Thursday, the day before, and winding down the length of the centre and back again. That being said, by the time the con started each day the lineups were taken care of so they were fairly efficient in that regard. The con officially started much later than usual on Friday, at 6 in the evening, but people were either very enthusiastic or misinformed because everyone showed up by the early afternoon.

Hands down my favourite part of the convention was found indoors at the Crunchyroll booth. They had a live stream set up to the outside world complete with webcam and microphone so that people at home watching online could write to the patrons of the convention. The messages would show up on the screen so that the patrons could answer any questions or requests, especially to those in cosplay. Sometimes they’d spot a cosplayer far off in the background and we’d go chasing after them to bring their confused selves over for some entertainment. So much fun!

The dealer’s room unfortunately seemed very disorganized this year. Despite being my first time going last year, I noticed that there was a great flow through the aisles of booths that I’d never experienced at any other con before. I don’t know what happened between then and now but unfortunately they lost me; I felt so overwhelmed by the barrage of merchandise in my face that I left after half an aisle.

Exiting the dealer’s room was a whole other story. They had one entrance set up on the end closest to the parking lot (and the rest of the con) and only one exit at the other end of the building. It was fairly far as it was but what made it seem even farther was the lack of ventilation. It was sweltering and could have been alleviated by opening up the doors to the outside on either end, if not for a efficiency, then just for a breeze. I felt claustrophobic squeezing between booths and people while trying to get out.

Cosplay wrestling stole the attention of everyone in the building (as it would when brightly-coloured costumed athletes start throwing each other around a giant ring) but shared a space with the lovely artist’s alley, which was a little odd. Artist’s alley took up only half of the section of the building as well, leaving a large, empty, blocked off area that could have been better put to use but the organization of the space was still much better laid out than the dealer’s room.

Being a cosplayer, something I appreciated seeing was an area set up specifically for cosplayer’s needs complete with tables and chairs to relax, and tools for sewing and repairing one’s costume.

The concert on Saturday night, although fun, held many complaints. They decided to border the area this year with a patrolled fence; no one without a pass was permitted to stick around. Considering the fact that there are performers on stage who are providing entertainment, I personally think this was fair of Anime North to do, but I know I’m in the minority.

The International Plaza Hotel (formerly the Doubletree) once again offered plenty of panels and screenings for entertainment as well as the offices for staff where, should you need any help with navigating a specific area of the con throughout the weekend, you could easily find it.

Following closely behind Crunchyroll’s creative livestream for my favourite activity were the cosplay photoshoots that were beautifully organized throughout the weekend. There were 4 outdoor locations set aside for anyone with or without a pass to gather on the hour and take pictures of their favourite fandoms, or have their picture taken with fellow cosplayers, according to a predetermined schedule. The areas were even labelled with signage for extra clarity.

Number one tip for anyone attending Anime North: wear lots of sunscreen, bring a water bottle to refill and snacks like granola bars and fruit that won’t spoil such as apples and oranges. Staying hydrated is a must at an outdoor convention like this and even if you’re indoors, it’s still hot and dry.

If you’re a cosplayer, Anime North is a MUST! Make sure you get yourself down there at least once because the experience is phenomenal. If you like to see cosplay, even better. For those looking for merchandise, it’s a fantastic destination where you can get exclusive items with some vendors importing directly from Japan.

My hope for this convention is, because it’s non-profit and run by volunteers, seeing it become a little more open to the non-paying patrons in terms of entertainment but so far there is enough to do that you can thoroughly enjoy yourself with or without a pass. My hope for our readers at home is that you check out this all-ages convention because it’s easily some of the most fun you’ll have all year.