Fun at Fanime

San Jose hosts the 20th annual Fanimecon

Mary Humphreys

Webmaster

Fanimecon celebrated its 20th anniversary this past Memorial Day Weekend at the McEnry Convention Center in San Jose. Fanime is a convention for all lovers of anime and manga, as well as other television shows and comics. The convention ran four days, from May 23 through May 26.

“I heard about it from my friends and I decided to go because it sounded like an experience I shouldn’t pass up,” junior Kate Beddingfield said. “I expected a whole lot of weird with awesome on the side.”

There was plenty to do at the convention. Panels featuring a variety of topics and speakers, rooms playing nothing but anime all day, both the Artist Alley and the Dealer’s hall to spend money in, and of course there was a whole lot of cosplayers, or people dressed up as their favorite characters.

“I really love to go to Fanimecon because you get to see all kinds of people going all-out on their cosplays,” sophomore Kent Giese said.  “With all these near perfect anime cosplayers, you actually feel like you’re in the anime.”

Admission to the con can be a little pricey, with weekend badges ranging from $30 to $75 depending on how early they are purchased. However, Fanimecon is always looking for a little extra help, and volunteering not only gets you a free day badge, but also an experience like no other.

“It was a variety of tasks, from checking passes to setting up decorations and putting stuff in the convention bags,” senior Vicky Chan said. “It was cool to help run the convention and make the experience awesome and smooth for others; the staff and other volunteers all had great personalities and enthusiasm as well.”

Of course all the fun does have a downside and that is the fact that people from around the globe come and visit Fanime, making a very busy convention center.

“My least favorite thing is that it’s always crowded and you can never find parking spaces,” Giese said.

 

  Of course after fighting the crowds,  Fanimecon is great place for people of all ages to come and “geek out” over their favorite shows and animes. Even some AHS teachers couldn’t resist the fun.

“I loved the atmosphere because I love the people that are sort of into weirder things and its still really welcoming,” English teacher Ms.Stewart said. “I think that’s cool that people feel that they can express themselves how ever they seem fit.”

Fanimecon 2014 is over, but it will be back next Memorial Day weekend too. Badges usually start going on sale in February or March from Fanime.com, and the earlier they are bought, the cheaper the price.

“ I already looked for the 2015 badges and they’re not up yet, but I already know who I’m cosplaying with,” Stewart said.