I’m curious to know how many of you attend anime conventions and what your experiences have been like.
I’ve been to Anime North over here in Toronto. I first started going around a decade ago and haven’t missed the convention since then (except when it was cancelled for COVID). I normally just wander around the Vendors Hall and look at all the figurines that will break my wallet if I were to buy them.
Recently I started visiting panels which I generally have avoided in the past. You’ll get some good panels that are fun, but you’ll also get some absolutely awfully-run panels that makes you question how they even got to host those panels.
I’ve been to a handful of conventions held in the D.C. area over the last 8 or so years. I originally did a bunch of panels the first few times I went but quickly found that the quality was extremely hit or miss so now I only go to maybe one if it’s really specific to an interest of mine. The AMV contests are enjoyable though, albeit a little long.
Otherwise I spend most of my time in the vendor hall or artist gallery, checking out the cosplayers, and occasionally play some of the arcade or touhou games in the gaming hall.
Really though I couldn’t see myself going more than once or twice a year, and when I do go it’s only for a single day and not the whole weekend. It’s certainly fun and I enjoy it but after a while I run out of things I want to do or see. It does feel nice being surrounded by like minded people especially having grown up not having anyone to talk to anime with and effectively hiding my interest in it. It’s just comforting in a way.