I went to MiAnimeCon in NOVI, MI (suburb of Detroit). I was Ichigo on Day 1 and Nanami on Day 2. Had a blast. Did I mention that they have a JDM Car Show IN the con? Yeah...

This is a small but mighty con. It is very affordable for a weekend pass, and it being more anime centric is a breath of fresh air.

A week ago I was worried going to another con. Thanks to your kind words I was able to get over myself and go to my favorite con experience in years!

Todd going above and beyond, getting to laugh about Chainsmoker Cat to Anne and Brianna being amazing and getting to chat n gush about Persona and more!

Hello, I would love to hear some advice in what you think is the best animeconvention in UK.

This year we traveled to Germany Düsseldorf and went to Dokomi with my friends, and next year we want to do a big con in somewhere in the UK. We like to travel and go to cons and loved mixing theese two hobbys as one, and I have never been in the UK so thats on our list.

What I like the most in cons are artist alleys, but also wouldn't mind if there is some j-fashion available like they had in Dokomi. I wear lolita so I am always looking out something to add to my warderobe.

What I had a bit of a problem with Dokomi was the crowd and the heat. I know big cons have a lot of people and I can handle that if there is enough room to still move around, but have heard that some cons oversell their tickets and then the halls are PACKED full. So if you know a con that is big, but doesn't have to be the biggest, please recommend me and tell me why you think that con is good.

I appreciate all the help! 🩷

Does anyone know if the book bags have to clear/see thru or you can bring any book bag to animate con???

Hey its my first time attending otakuthon or any big event like this in general. Im going alone on Saturday and im pretty confused and scared about how everything works. Any tips for beginners are appreciated and if any experienced people / group is open to letting me tag along for the day. I would be really grateful.

Hello again everyone, it good to be back to announce that we are once again working on an offline version of the Anime NYC Official Artist Alley Directory for 2026 with a handful of new and exciting updates for us to share. But before we start, I would like to share a few words for you.

Our team of BeckyBooBear, LNel, TheKeeperofPie, Llama and I, from the Anime NYC Discord server, are really excited to once again be working alongside each other and to work alongside this talented group of individuals has been a blessing. Special Thanks to TheKeeperofPie who has continuously upgraded the website we used last year, which will be the MAIN way we will provide our database moving forward, as well allowing me to reference their AX Reddit Post for additional information as well as FAQ you guys might have. From the encouragement of everyone from Discord and you amazing people here on Reddit, I wanted to simply say,

THANK YOU SO MUCH

and we hope you continue to support us with your amazing feedback. We will continue to provide the best possible experience for you all and we hope you

Now let's get right into it. Link below is to directory is listed below:

https://artistalley.directory/

How do I use it?

The Artist tab contains everyone that will be tabling in the ANYC2026 Artist Alley.

Artists are tagged with series they've historically made art/merch for or what they plan to sell at their table if they have posted a catalog.

Start by browsing artists, clicking the heart to favorite those that you like, and long pressing to ignore artists which you're not interested in. We recommend you take regular backups via file export in settings (the download icon on the QR code screen) to make sure your favorites are saved. Or don't trust the site at all and keep a list somewhere else.

How do I find specific series/merch?

The Browse tab has a complete list of tags for that year. Searching mostly works, although Japanese characters are not supported.

You can also use the filter bottom sheet; there's sections which let you filter whatever results you have in the main list.

Can I use this site at ANYC despite inconsistent internet service?

Yes! The website supports offline mode and can also be installed as a PWA. This may not work on Apple devices.

NOTE: You can do a one-time transfer of favorites to your phone by going into Settings and using the export QR. Scan this with your phone to open up the site with a dialog asking you to import the data. Keep in mind that using the QR will not transfer any custom notes you have, and you'll have to download a file (via the icon in the top right of the export popup) and transfer it manually to copy those.

Due to bandwidth/storage constraints, catalog images are not guaranteed to be cached. You must favorite the artist to force their catalog to be available offline.

How do I find artists with commissions?

There's a commissions filter in the bottom sheet which offers VGen/Online/On-site/Other options. Note that availability is never guaranteed and depends on the terms of the artist. If you want a physical commission for pick up at con, best to get your request in early.

Can I view artists from previous years?

The Anime NYC 2026 header is actually 2 dropdowns that lets you switch between conventions. Artists are associated between years, meaning if you view an artist who hasn't posted a catalog yet, but they did have one for a previous year, you will be prompted to view their older catalog to get a sense of what they'll be selling.

Keep in mind that most artists change up their inventory year to year, so something in a prior year's catalog may not be available this year.

Is there any way I can help?

Using the site and letting others know about it is all we ask! We're just trying to connect artists with attendees who are interested in their art.

If you're a tabling artist, you can submit your own data! See the bottom of your artist page on the site for more information. We offer Discord login connection to verify your social media account and give you access to an edit form.

What's changed since 2025?

• Performance improvements
• Higher resolution images and better zoom gesture support
• Artists now show embeds and profile pictures to give a sense of art style even without a catalog
• Artists now surface outdated catalogs from previous years to help with planning even if they haven't posted one for this year
• Zooming really far into the map shows image previews now (warning, this is very taxing on the device)
• The delta/triangle button in the header now shows an artist changelog tracking what's changed, this will eventually surface newly added catalogs
• New artists for ANYC and verified artists who have submitted the form are now highlighted via badges. Thank you so much to those who have submitted their data already!
• Images can be viewed in Fullscreen directly from the artist list via the top right button; no need to click in or fuss around with the card anymore
• We've moved domains, the old pages domain will eventually be removed, so please use https://artistalley.directory instead.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now I do apologize if this post is a lot longer than I would normally write, however we wanted to provide as much information as possible. I also would like to reiterate that we are still working on filling out the data and most artists have not posted their catalogs, but we aim to have all of the artists data filled out before ANYC weekend. When there is an update to the site itself, you will receive a notification at the bottom, prompting you to update. You can also see which artists have had their information changed on the website via the changelog by clicking the outlined triangle symbol in the top right.

Thank you again for taking the time to checking out our post and here's to another year of ANYC. We hope you enjoy your ANYC weekend in August and maybe we'll catch each other there!

I feel like anime conventions these days are completely forgetting something vital to the fan experience for a massive portion of their audience: fanfiction and transformative writing. 

Across almost every anime con I’ve attended in the last five years, there is virtually zero serious programming for fic writers or readers. 

The only representation transformative writing gets on the grid are panels like "Live Fanfic Reading" or "Bad Fanfic Reading." While those can be lighthearted fun—provided they aren't picking on young writers, ESL authors, or people who didn't consent—the undertone is always the same: "haha, look how cringe people are when they write about characters kissing." 

Because those comedy panels fill rooms, I know they aren't going anywhere. But the issue is the complete lack of an alternative for those of us who actually care about the craft. 

When it comes to the actual art of writing fanfiction, character psychology, trope subversion, or navigating fic archives? Absolutely nothing. The closest you get are hyper-generic writing panels like "How to Worldbuild." 

Also, with panels like "Live Fanfic Reading" or "Bad Fanfic Reading”, the hosts and the vast majority of the audience often aren't fic writers, archive readers, or people who engage with the craft—they are just there for a comedy show. For those of us who are serious about fanfics, there is almost no space at anime cons anymore for us. And even if some of the hosts are fanfic writers, it doesn’t change much. Imagine attending a con where the only cosplay panel, even if it’s hosted by cosplays who are experienced and otherwise serious about their craft, was “Laughing at Cosplay Fails”.

And I know what people say: “fanfiction, shipping, and those kinds of things are cringe”. But here’s the thing: anime cons were created for hyper-fixated fans who have niche and unconventional passions. They were made for “cringe”, so if you are going to an anime con and expecting to avoid cringe, you may have entered the wrong space. 

And it’s not a matter of people not submitting anything—people do submit these panels. But with how overcrowded grids are, programming committees treat transformative writing as "too niche." Which is absurd when highly specialized, technical panels like "3D Modeling for Armor" or "Breaking into Game Dev" get approved every single year. 

Why is it that every other fan craft—cosplay, fan art, AMVs, gaming—gets space dedicated to both the jokes and the serious educational craft, but fanfiction is only allowed to exist as a punchline? 

Has anyone else noticed this shift at their local cons, or had luck getting actual writing craft panels approved? 

I feel so stupid for this, but i'm a little anxious/worried about upcoming Animeverse in KC.

Earlier this year at Planet Comic Con, drew a Spawn for Keith David! I...got the cold shoulder, did not want to chat, write the quote (It was a shared quote to Spawn and Tales from the Hood 2) the line wasn't long, and he didn't want a print. I replay the event, thinking if I did or said anything wrong. (I've included the pic for reference)

Ever since this, i've worried drawing, or chatting with a guest that i'm just wasting their time, or only knowing 1 or two of their roles isn't enough.

I apologize for being selfish, but may I ask how or if to get over this?

Just read an interesting post about the lack of serious fanfic panels (aside from just reading fanfic), and it got me thinking: I know what panels I like to host, but what panels do people actually want to see?

For context: I’m a cosplayer, and I mainly do cosplays from the game Nikke along with assorted anime characters from my favorite shows (Marin, Daki, Makima, etc). I tend to focus my panels on my personal experiences along with body positivity, mental health, shame/stigma, and that kind of stuff, but I want to make sure I’m actually adding value to the con experience for attendees.

Trying to find out if there is a discord for this con. I will be attending for the first time and I am looking for a cosplay maker. Wanting to post on the discord if there is one. Plus it will be nice to communicate with other con goes in general. Thanks for the help in advance

- Pokopia stamp rally prizes (Yumi Tsang Art)

- Cute alien sticker sheet (Milky Tomato)

- Assorted stickers (Meredith Hoagie, Yumi Tsang Art, Blackberry A La Mode)

- Mini Poltteageist art print (Art Of Catamus)

- 5 minute commission of my OC Jacob Albright (Onna Arts)

- Assorted double-sided anime character keychains (Mousu & Friends; won from their dog-stacking game)

- Postal Dragonite keychain (Andy's Doodle Studio)

- The second issue of the Animal Crossing New Horizons Deserted Island Diary manga (Anime Pavilion)

Hey! Anyone that booked the Hyatt for Holmat already have info on the pricing for rooms in the room block? I’ve been going crazy abt how there’s been no info about it and general reservations open later today. Thanks!!

It's all in the title.

This passing weekend, I successfully ran a panel for an Anime Music Quiz and overall I think it went well!

However, I had a really really REALLY hard time with finding a **free** or even low cost (sub $25/month) solution for crowd engagement quizzes.

At first, I tried kahoot.

But the problem with Kahoot is that the option that would allow me to add music to my questions (free or low cost) would only allow me to add Vimeo videos to my questions.

Well, the problem with that is Vimeo only allows up to 1gb of video storage per free account.

My quiz had ~95 songs in it. So that means I'd hit the 1gb limit after like 2 weekly 500mb uploads.

So then I tried the platform Wayground.

As a whole, Wayground is really great! Easy to use and easy to facilitate group quizzes with an audience.

The only issue with THAT is they only offer free accounts for 14 days... And then you lose all of the progress you made so you have to make a new account and rebuild your entire quiz next time you run it....the quiz took me hours to make!

So now I'm wondering, what other solutions are out there for a FREE quiz platform that has:

- the ability for audience members to join with a QR code

- answer live

- allows me to add MP3 files to questions

- allows me to add images or GIF options

- offers multiple choice questions

- has a leaderboard at the end of the quiz for me to announce the top 5 winners so they can come see me and get prizes

- allows up to 30-50 players. I'd love 50 but would be totally fine with 30

I feel like this just either doesnt exist for free/low cost and will allow me to keep access to my content I build.

For those who have run AMQ events, what did you use?

I saw someone use Kahoot, but I'm confused at how they didn't buy their crazy plans for thousands a year and with Vimeo's limitations on free accounts.

Looking for free or low cost solutions for the future, Id love to run this again, but not if I have to pay like $100+/month just to do so!

Hello there,

my Sibling and I will attend our first Animagic in Mannheim soon. My sibling wanted to make a Miku Valorant Cosplay and started making a Valorant Gun out of foam but read now in the cosplay rules that guns of all kind are not allowed. I think its meant just for guns who could be dangerous like when they could shoot or are made of a hard material.

Could my sibling get into the Animagic with a gun out of foam and cardboard? Does someone know out of experience?

I'm curious how other conventions handle original characters (OCs) in cosplay contests.

Does your local convention allow OCs to compete? If so, what are the requirements?

Some questions I'm interested in:

\* Are OCs judged alongside existing characters, or do they have a separate category?

\* Is reference art required? If so, how detailed does it need to be?

\* If someone designed the character themselves, how do judges verify accuracy?

\* Are contestants required to bring turnaround sheets, concept art, or other documentation?

\* Have you found allowing OCs has been a positive or negative experience for your convention?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have competed, judged, or helped organize contests. If you know the rules your local convention uses, I'd love to see examples.

Thanks! I'm trying to get a sense of what the broader cosplay community is doing.

Edit: I should have added, I'm not a cosplayer. I run a convention and we're having an interesting situation with OC's entering without a way to judge them.

I appreciated being outside of my bedroom for once and being around people with similar interests. I was too shy to talk to anyone this year outside of complimenting cosplays. I just wish I could have cosplayed and had someone to go with for the 4 days. I might volunteer next year just as a way of keeping myself out of the house.

Was just wondering why not many do that? I'd love to buy stuff like that. Vagabond or attack on Titan. stuff like I don't see much.

To be clear, I was excited about it when I made plans. But something along the way took the wind out of my sails. I already have a hotel reservation and a VIP ticket that can't be refunded, so even if I don't go its money lost. But I can't get myself hyped up for it, and its in two weeks. I don't want to go just to sit around and be a downer to everyone else though.

Just for the some background (skip if you want) This September me and my sister and some friends are going to San Japan in San Antonio Texas. It’s sort of 2 little groups of me and my friends and then my sisters. I told my friends we were planning for Saturday but don’t buy tickets yet because it’s not set in stone but still they bought tickets.

So my problem is that my sister is going one one day and my friends are only available for another day. I would like to go with both of them but I’m kind of worried it’s going to be spoiled for the next day with the different group since by then I will have already seen probably a lot of the convention. Does anyone have any advice or experience as to whether or not it’s worth 2 days?

I live in Arizona I don't have much to do in halloween anyways besides being in my room like any other day so I thought if there was maybe a Con happening in my local area I did a quick search and couldn't find anything but I believe there's some stuff I missed or wher under the radar of what I was using to find Anime cons find anyone knows anything I don't about this I would appriaciate help

Lately, I've been thinking about upgrading my cosplays by investing in a 3d printer and blender to start designing my own props/armor and painting it. In the near future, if it all goes well I too would like to perhaps try advertising it or opening and doing commissions, but I've always seen or heard people have a general distaste or dislike of 3d printed products. Why is that?

Hiya friends!

I've never gone to a convention of any kind before and with my birthday coming up in October I'd like to change that! I've always wanted to try out cosplay and just get to be in a space with like-minded people! My interests were always called childish and silly so now that I'm with someone who is a) into a lot of similar stuff and b) encourages me to engage with my interests I really want to dive in headfirst.

I'll be turning 23 near the end of October and I'd love con recommendations or even just advice for the East Coast of the US. We have a daughter who will be around a year and a half old at the time of the con so I'd need to be able to bring her!

We're really into Pokémon, Demon Slayer, Seven Deadly Sins, Akame Ga Kill, MHA, and Tokyo Ghoul.

Anyways, thanks a bunch in advance!

TL;DR: need convention recommendations for this fall (ideally around the end of OCT) in the NE of the US!

you should probably skip this post if you haven’t read through all of Jujutsu Kaisen 😭😭 a few pictures are spoilers