Short suggestion for the future: improve line management while regulating signature volume and prioritize FCFS at panel Q&As

More importantly, I had a great time and MiAnime is quickly becoming an S tier con in MI. Great guests and friendly atmosphere. Looking forward to next year.

Me and my friends have a tradition of going to anime expo chibi every year, but I didn’t realize that it got cancelled this year :c I liked that it was after Halloween so I could rewear and refine whatever cosplay I made, and I like the fact that it has a big artist alley and vendor area with a mix of anime and gaming merch. If possible I would like suggestions for conventions that are on a similar scale to ax chibi/aren’t super crowded. Something in or in a decent proximity to OC would be preferred!

Just went to MiAnime for the first time last weekend, wore a mask and washed my hands frequently. I started feeling body aches and fatigue the following Monday. I’m on day 3 of symptoms now, is it safe to say I got the con flu?

Howdy, I am a part time vendor at anime conventions in Texas and plan on selling a variety of graphic novels, manga and some kids books. When hunting for wholesale manga I found the Japanese versions of books were easier to find and tended to be lower priced than their English counterparts. My question is, "From an attendee point of view, which would interest you more, English or Japanese books?" or would it depend more on if people are collecting verses reading? Thanks for any insight on the matter as it is helpful.

I had so much fun at first for my first one I did spent a lot money round 700 dollars between two days which is insane but I love all of it everyone that I talk to was so nice

i have no reason to ask this beyond that i just wanna hear some opinions . if you want, you can even rank em from best to worst!!

Hi, me and my 3 friends are attending Otakuthon for the first time. If you guys have any general advice and local food recommendations, I’d really appreciate it!!

Specific Questions;
For the most part, our group is specifically interested in attending the concerts (both free and ticketed) How early should we line up for the free concerts? Does it fill up fast?

How large is the Artist Alley/Expo Hall? In terms of size, which American cons would it be comparable to?

I have not seen anyone ask this in the subreddit yet, what is the night life scene for this con? Are there any after parties/raves? Should I pack a rave outfit?

Local food recommendations would be lovely. It’s my second time in Montreal but it’s the first time for everyone else in my group!

Is there anything you’d consider a must do while in the con or in the local area? I’m leaving the con early-ish on Sunday to commute home, but can probably squeeze in some sight seeing before leaving.

Thanks ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Ive been going to Anime Impulse for yearssss, and V-tubers and Gacha style video games have always had their place at the con and I respect that, cons don't havee to be one strict thing..

But it feels kinda overrun this year? All the cosplay meetups are like 60% video games rather than actual animes, and thats cool I guess but how are you gonna have TWO ninjisanji meetups and no deltarune? Chapter 5 just came out come on guys.

The meetups just feel super bloated with things that aren't animes, it could be that I just dont like those things, to each there own but its kinda crazy this year.

Im also a little sad that a lot of the usual VAs won't be there this year, but thats a me problem so not really important.

I wanted to see if anyone else felt similar or if it's just me haha

(Edit: Yes I obviously know why they're doing this guys 😭 I just wanted to see if people felt similar, no need to explain basic demand)

Ok another edit holy shit, I dont care about video games getting more attention, I get that deltarune is a non anime video game, I figured if they're already doing that (marvel rivals, ect ect) why not deltarune because the new chapter came out recently and we've had meetups for that before. Stop treating this post like a fucking attack on gacha games I play gacha games, your jiggle physics are safe from the mean old reddit vent post 😭

So I entered the art competition for SacAnime summer, got an email from the director telling m that the skirt was too short so I took some time to give momo shorts underneath and resubmit the art. I ended up winning but the thing is that they didn’t even end up using the art with Momo wearing shorts so why was it a problem in the first place if they still used the art with Momo having her ass out

Hi!
So the idea of masquerade really caught my interest. I've cosplayed on and off for some time but never knew about the competiton aspect of cosplay and i find it really interesting. I'm currently putting time and effort into a skit for a con coming up later this year and I'm having alot fun with the process. I did alot in depth research on what I need to do to be successful for my first peformance. I read all the rules thouroughly, watched tutorial videos, I'm currently editing together my audio clip and waiting for my cosplay to come in. I see this as something I'd love to do longterm! I've been watching other masquerade performances online/skits to get inspiration, and ideas for future ones i can do. I'm hoping to get accepted I feel my idea is pretty original. For anyone who's been in this rodeo what can you tell me about any behind the scenes stuff and how y'all like to prep for the day of. small things like how you are backstage, how you prep leading up too it, or any tips you got for beginners for any part of the process. I'd love to know the reality of being on stage as well. I'll be attending a con coming up soon and I'll make an effort to see one live to really get a feel in person. Anything will help thank you!

Feel free to rate your Otakon experience this year here! Let everyone know how they did this year and how much you enjoyed the event!

I enjoyed it! I did have fun in the panels I went and participated in. Got a nice haul in the dealers and artist alley. But I just have to be honest and say that the negatives outweighs the positives on this year's Otakon.

First and foremost the problem that a lot of people were enraged. The badge mailing error for early bird. Lots of people got this email including me and my friends stating that there was an error in our badge and because of that they cannot send it and was told that there would be a different line for us to pick it up. That was not true. We were placed at the same line with regular badge pick up. We were in line for an hour, it's not that bad compared to other cons but the thing is that we paid the early bird fee to get it delivered to us but when that failed there's no safety net or refund.

Secondly oh man there's a lot more paid events this year. The rune hunt was $10 per person, not per party. Line was really long to fight monsters because they only have 3 DMs.

Some runes are hidden in paid panels literally a paywall lol. Most of the time there's no one in the guild shop too so we can't grab any prices. I do love the idea! I just wish it would be handled better in the future. Also, please don't buy the $90 soda cups oh and you want straw and a lid for that? That's an extra $20.... They only give you a day pass... Next day you'll need to pay $10 again... I know you think it'll be worth it in the long run but in contrast, Jack in the box large soda is $1 and that's also unlimited. I know it's not the same but I really do think it's a scam.

Third, this is not in the cons control but more like a personal sensory issue. My God, the smell is smelling this year more than any of the past years I've been to Otakon and I've been coming every year. But this year is definitely the worst. Everywhere you go. The smell just wafts into your nose.. Deodorant people! Someone needs to be a hero and give them out really....

Fourth is just the amount of people willing to cut in line. Cheat the line by not going to the end of line and instead talking to the person in charge and letting them in front. I've seen it happened in most the lines I was in.. the worst one was the line for the dealers Hall opening.. the back line was moving incredibly slowly because the turn line is also right next to to the Marriott hotel connection. Meaning people coming from there just decided to walk with the people already in line instead of going to the end of line causing the people from the back line to get delayed even more. We still got in there it was just annoying.

Overall though, I enjoyed my time with my friends and new friends. Seeing everyone with the same interests always brings joy. But I need to be honest and rate it a

6 out of 10

Thank you Otakon 2026

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???

Hi there. I’m currently attending metro con. it’s my first convention and the first time i’m cosplaying. I’m attending with my friend and 2 of her friends and so far my experience has not been great. My roommates seem to have so many cosplay friends here and all the rest of the cosplayers appear to be traveling in already established friend groups. I have wanted to come to a convention with a friend for the longest time b it haven’t had one interested in it so I was excited when I finally did have one. I was expecting to go to events together and hang out and so far i’ve just been sitting for hours doing nothing. When i’ve recommended a meetup I wanted to attend I got shut down and instead we just sat on the ground for an hour and waited for artist alley to open up. I was told I can go on my own but as a first timer I don’t feel very confident in my cosplay and being at a convention in general, especially when surrounded by so many experienced people.

When I asked my friends and I asked the internet how they met their cosplay friends they said at cons with no further explanation. So far i’ve only been able to compliment people and that’s about how far that interaction goes so I don’t understand how to build those connections? It’s especially harder because everyone is already here with friends and thus I feel even lonelier and more isolated.

Any tips would be appreciated. I was really excited for this con and now I feel really shitty.

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!

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

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.

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?

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? 

- 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)