After its second year back since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fanime continues to return to its former glory. Beginning in 1994 with a group of passionate fans, the very first Fanime was held at California State University Hayward with 200 attendees total. For comparison, there were around 34,000 attendees in 2019. From 2004 onwards, the convention was held at San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Ever since then, Fanime has garnered a reputation for being the "24-hour party con", in which the gaming and video programming rooms were open all the time, and shuttles ran until 2am. Moreover, on the side of being more personalized, most attendees began going to Fanime via word of mouth through friends and family - with a large majority being local to the Bay Area.
While initially a 24-hour convention, last year a curfew, vaccine mandate, and mask mandate was set for attendees. And though the vaccination and mask requirement remained in effect this year, the staff at Fanime have slowly but surely began to lessen restrictions and extend events.
A Look Inside Fanime 2023
When asked about what they were most excited for, most attendees (and volunteers alike) pointed to the Artist Alley. Most fans feel that there is a more personalized opportunity to connect with and support artists. Additionally, because there is a large space between booths and the walls, many attendees don't find themselves crushed or overwhelmed if they need to sit down for a break. Staffing volunteers also agree that because of the steady rate of attendees, they are given more opportunities to network and be alongside their friends. Needless to say, Fanime isn't too big nor is it too small. What's more, the cosplay scene is also just as diverse!
On two nights of the weekend, CWF (short for "Cosplay Wrestling Federation") held its own panel, in which various cosplayers improvised a parody of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but with beloved characters from all different franchises. According to the founder of CWF, it began as an experimental "game show" at Anime Los Angeles 2014; loosely based off The Air Guitar World Championship: in other words, a "wrestling" show without any actual wrestling. As the years went by, they began making their appearances in other conventions around the country and soon enough, CWF's panels split into two parts, due to the ever-growing popularity. After each event, more "contenders" from the audience join the team, for a different experience.
What began as a passion project between a group of friends, became something much larger. Their philosophy for events is as stated by the founder, "We know where to go, but not where it happens", and "the good guy is only as good as the bad guy". If the audience has a reaction, then they're going in the right direction! In a show compromised of entirely improv, passion is a must.
The creativity didn't just stop at panels. In the Dealer's Hall, indie clothing line, Lowkey had its own booth. With a mix of Los Angeles and Japanese-style fashion, two friends decided to launch the project in 2015, by incorporating styles from their hometowns. Hence the name, Lowkey aims for a simple yet stylistic approach to fashion and pop culture apparel.
The Legend of Zelda-inspired Hero Wares and Supplies set up their very own castle town themed shop, perfect for any Zelda fan looking to immerse themselves in Link's shoes, while he gathers supplies for his journey. The shopkeeper began his traveling business to assist con adventurers as a passionate crafter, and nurturing his inner artist. After 5 years of experience, he discovered his heroic duty to provide for adventurers all across the country, with his creative expertise, and choosing to dedicate his time as a traveling merchant. Fitting for a knight of Hyrule, his wares are crafted from inspiration from movies and games that he thinks would be useful for other con travelers, making the shopping experience a very personalized one. We were lucky enough to catch him at Fanime, the location of his starting town!
Getting Back into the Groove of Things
As mentioned previously, the 2-3 year absence of conventions set a lot of people back. The con scene is getting back up on its feet, and while the "life" of Fanime is beginning to return, there were some complications. Due to low staffing, there were a few miscommunications and lack of event planning. Because of this, many felt that there wasn't much to do, and while neighboring hotels, such as the Hilton Doubletree had events of its own, not many were informed. Some also felt that the Artist Alley did not make proper use of its space, as many found themselves overwhelmed with other attendees when visiting booths directly.
As for guests, returning visitors felt that there was a lack in variety, as many of the same guests are invited every year. Additionally, registration was held in a different area than previous years, and because of the minimal communication, many were confused on where to go. Hopefully as the con scene picks up again, there will be more opportunities for volunteers and an eventual return to the "24-hour party con" it's loved and known for. But this doesn't mean the con wasn't an enjoyable one, and that there were no other options.
If it's a party they want, then it's a party they shall get. While not an official part of Fanime, many attendees opted to attend "Park Con", which served as an unofficial con party. Located in a nearby park to the convention center and neighboring hotels, dancing, music, and snacks were brought and shared by visitors, as they enjoyed the night-life.
Fanime pre-registration is now open and available. Follow their official Twitter for regular updates.