Conventions – The Casual Otaku

From Wandering the Exhibit Hall to Finding My Community: Twenty Years of Anime Conventions

Twenty years ago, I walked into Anime Expo with no plan, no convention experience, and apparently no understanding that there was anything to do besides wander around the Exhibit Hall.

It was not exactly an auspicious beginning.

In a recent post, I mentioned skipping Anime Expo after a lengthy streak of consecutive attendance, in favor of a couple of bucket-list experiences. While that streak came with a lot of great memories, it is only one chapter of my convention story.

I’ve been attending conventions for more than 20 years now, and at this point I’ve honestly lost track of how many I’ve been to. Somewhere in the 50 to 60 range seems about right. In that time I’ve experienced everything from small local conventions to massive events like San Diego Comic-Con.

Anime Expo and Anime Los Angeles make up the bulk of those memories, but there have been outliers such as Sakura-Con 2015, my first out-of-state convention, with Dragon Con in just over a month set to become my second.

More Than Just Picking Costumes

Long before I start packing for a convention, I’ve usually spent weeks refining my cosplay lineup. If you’ve ever wondered how my Dragon Con cosplay lineup can change so many times before a single costume makes it into a suitcase, you’re not alone.

I wrote in an earlier post that this year marks 15 years since I started cosplaying regularly and shared some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. One thing I never really expanded on, though, was my planning process. More specifically, how I decide what my next cosplay will be and how I put together a lineup for each convention.

One of the biggest surprises after 15 years of cosplaying is that I spend far more time deciding what not to wear than what actually makes the final cut. Choosing a cosplay isn’t just about accuracy anymore, it’s about making sure the costume enhances the convention experience instead of becoming the convention itself. If I’m being honest, the planning process can get a little obsessive and occasionally borders on overthinking.

Trading Traditions for New Adventures

For me, the Fourth of July has usually meant one thing: Anime Expo. With the exception of the pandemic years, I’ve attended every year since 2007. Some years were fantastic, some made me question why I kept coming back, yet somehow I always found myself buying another badge the following year.

It was tradition, after all, but this year is different.

Instead of braving the crowds at the Los Angeles Convention Center, I’m sitting at home attempting, and mostly failing, to make a dent in my never-ending anime backlog.

Fanime 2026: A Much-Needed Escape

There’s something about a convention providing a much-needed break from real life, and for me, this year’s Fanime was exactly that. Yeah, this recap is about a month late, but let’s just say life has been a little challenging lately…the details aren’t important.

After taking last year off, I returned to Fanime with a full schedule…who am I kidding? Much like most conventions these days, my plan was to wing it and see what looked fun. My main goal was to spend time with friends I don’t get to see often and maybe enjoy a few adult beverages (narrator: many adult beverages were consumed).

Convention Going 301 – Post Con Blues

You’ve been looking forward to attending your first (or even your 50th) convention for awhile, but time seems to drag on until the day arrives and you’re with your people. Then, because you were having so much fun, it seems like the event is over as soon as it started, and suddenly you’re back in the grind of everyday life. In any case, enter the dreaded Post-Con Blues; the feeling of longing for the chaos of the con, surrounded by like-minded people.

You want to go back to that amazing weekend spent with friends, but you’re back to boring real life and your very real responsibilities (adulting…0/10, do not fucking recommend).

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