Taking the Show on the Road: Your First Anime Convention

If you have ever wanted to share your love of anime with other people, have access to more anime merchandise than you ever would get access to short of going to Japan or simply to see anime that you have never seen before, you need to head to an anime convention! An anime convention may be limited to a few hundred people or it might actually have a population that rivals that of some towns and when you buy your passes, you are getting access to a convention that can help you learn a lot more about anime as well as just being a great time.

What can you expect to see at anime conventions? First there are going to be panels where you can interact with people who work in the anime industry, who have an interest or some expertise in some area of anime or Japanese culture or who will moderate discussions on various aspects of anime in general. There will be a merchant’s room, where people will deal in everything from costumes, to DVDs to manga to toys, and this might be your best bet when it comes to getting some obscure merchandise. There are also going to be an anime room where you can sit and watch different series that you might not have been exposed to.

When you are thinking about going to an anime convention remember that it can be a very social event. There may be costume contests, known as cosplay contests, and a dance. There will be plenty of people who are dressed up as their favorite anime characters and this might be something that you would enjoy as well. Anime conventions are usually fairly high energy and everyone who attends is focused on having a good time, so feel free to join in. The intensely fast pace of an anime convention, might not be for everyone; if you prefer to watch anime solely at home on your own, you might want to give it a pass.

What should you bring you when you are going to an anime convention?

Food and water: When you want to defray costs, bring your own. Hotel food is pretty expensive.

Headache medication: Anime conventions can be something of a sensory overload, so bring some Tylenol or aspirin just in case.

Your friends: Conventions are always more fun when you go in a group.

A budget: There are going to be a lot of things that you want to buy, so make sure that you know how much you are allowed to spend.

A costume: Whether you sew it yourself or buy it, a cosplay outfit is a great conversation starter and a great way to join the fun.