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The FanimeCon 2024 Weekend in a Glance

There is no better way to kick off the Summer season than with a weekend at FanimeCon. It’s one of the largest anime fan conventions in North America and is described by everyone as an unforgettable experience that no other con could offer. Once again – cosplayers, vendors, artists, and more gathered in Downtown San Jose for an exciting weekend.

The weekend once again saw the community congregate in Downtown San Jose for a festive weekend. They were joined by special guests, industry professionals, and leaders of the local fandom community. After months of planning and waiting, these are some of the highlights of the FanimeCon 2024 weekend.

Day Zero and Swap Meet

For the most devoted attendees, Day Zero marks the beginning of FanimeCon. This is when many come to pick up their badges, check into their hotels, and meet up with friends. For some, it provides an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the surrounding area. Others use this time to make final touch-ups on their cosplay. Everyone else will use this moment to hit up the Swap Meet before all the good merchandise is sold off.

Before the vendor hall and artist alley could open, attendees came to the Swap Meet to do their shopping. This is the perfect chance to find something unique among the many independent vendors who just want to unload their unwanted merchandise. One could find a manga collection, DVD box sets, or a classic video game. Others will be selling sought after gear like gamer keyboards or props for a cosplay.

Those who missed the Swap Meet on Day 0 could also check it out on Day 1 of the Fanime. However, it’s best to go on Day 0 as many of the merchants will have very little left for Friday.

Dealers Hall / Artist Ally 

FanimeCon 2024 had over 100 merchants set up in SJCC Hall along with over 70 artists in the Grand Ballroom selling a variety of goods. Figurines, old video games, and collectible merchandise are among the many gems in this treasure trove. The Artist Alley alone has been hailed as the crown jewel as its size and quality could be compared to Anime Expo.

Even if one had no shopping agenda, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists.

Located in the Artist Alley, Ignition Industries was present to sell some of their unique artwork. From prints based on the Gundam series to ones based on Evangelion, there was plenty to see at the booth.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) was back with new merchandise along with some familiar keychains. Guests could line up to buy the new merchandise while also getting some BART passes and learning more about their local public transit.

With a location in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, Central Computers will always have your back when it comes to all your PC needs. They were present during FanimeCon to help out the PC gamers while also letting people know of their services. At the same time, they had the Evangelion PC available for attendees to try out.  

Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage was back to quench everyone’s thirst with the best craft soda. Fans of the soda could either bring their mug from a previous convention. Guests could also purchase a new mug specially designed for FanimeCon. Visitors had a variety of different sodas to choose from, each having a unique flavor.

Game Hall

The Game Hall had a variety of options from tabletop games to PC, console, and arcade games. Friends could gather to play arcade games, tabletop games, or have their own LAN party. There was also a section dedicated to learning and playing Intro to Mahjong.

This year it was only open from 10 AM to 10 PM. Despite the limited hours, it was still the place to be for gamers.  This was also the place to be for the eSport tournaments. Overall; the limited hours did not deter the experience that it’s known to provide.

Cosplayers of Fanime 2024

During the FanimeCon 2024 weekend, many cosplayers were out in their best or favorite work. There are cosplayers who are dedicated to bringing their favorite character to life. Others will add their own personal style or a special twist. Some cosplayers will go the extra mile to bring a joke or meme to life. For many, this was the weekend to debut their latest project.

Panels of FanimeCon

Fanime is not just about meeting new friends or exploring the dealers hall or artist ally, it’s also a chance to gain some insight or have a good laugh. The event organized a series of panels that discussed a variety of topics from major stars and industry insiders. Some panels were also events in their own right.

These are some of the panels I got to check during the weekend:

Cthulhu for President! was back for another year of trying to convince the audience why we need to elect the Dark Lord Cthulhu as President of the United States. If elected, Cthulhu vows to end the stupidity of the world and make America go crazy again. The panel ends with a Q&A that was more about the audience being ridiculed for asking a question.

Intro to Japanese Mahjong is a beginner’s guide to playing the tile-based game. This presentation by the Pacific Mahjong League and Los Angeles Pride of Mahjong explained the rules while showcasing a game and breaking down different aspects of a player’s action.

Lost in Game Translation is a look at the importance of professional localization in game development. This was an inside look at what the challenges of translating and localizing a game into different languages. It also presents a look at what happens when done improperly or made a priority.

VA Spotlight: Casey Mongillo was a chance for guests to meet the voice of Shinji Ikari and Emporio Alniño. Here they got to learn how they became a voice performer and streamer. This was followed by a Q&A session from the audience.

The Foundation for the Preservation of Gen 1 Pokemon has been a staple of FanimeCon for some time and 2024 was no exception. This year they presented the classic Make Anime Great Again along with Walugi Time. New panels also made their debut during the weekend while ending it all with a live presentation of Anime Survivor.  

ParkCon at Fanime

When the sun goes down, the Fanime attendees congregate at Plaza de César Chávez for ParkCon. Starting on Friday, guests would gather around 7 pm to enjoy the late-night festivities. During the night there was plenty to do and many new friends to meet.

Several DJ booths were set up, keeping the atmosphere lively as guests danced the night away. Numerous content creators were present to document the event and produce unique works. Food vendors offered tasty devil dogs and much-needed cold drinks. Some guests even brought a portable karaoke machine, allowing congoers to sing through the night.

Fanime guests could enjoy the party at ParkCon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.

Things to Do at FanimeCon

The weekend was not just about panels, parties, and shopping. From arcade games to a manga collection and more, there was no shortage of activities during the weekend. Here are some of the activities one could stumble upon during FanimeCon 2024:

FanimeCon organized many Cosplay Gatherings during the weekend based on the most popular franchises. Those wanting to participate could meet at one of three spots for a photo shoot while networking with other fans.

Located in the South Hall, the Car Show was open to FanimeCon guests from Saturday to Monday. Organized by Dreamscape with the support of Senpai Squad, a good number of Itasha cars were on display. This allowed motorists to showcase their work. The showcase also hosted the Race Queen cosplay gathering on Saturday, allowing race-themed cosplayers the chance to meet up.  

Speed Dating was the perfect opportunity for singles to connect during the FanimeCon weekend. Several sessions were set up that allowed singles to make a new friend or meet that special someone.

Special Guests allow fans to meet their favorite performers or industry insiders at either a panel or autograph session. This year’s special guests were novelist Hirokatsu Kihara along with voice performers Casey Mongillo, Yuu Hayashi, and Kira Buckland. The musical guest of the weekend was the band Survive Said The Prophet. Other guests include Linda Le, MarkMan, Maguma, Gilles Poitras, and Belladonna.

While not organized by FanimeCon, there were random moments in which guests would gather for a game of Pokemon Go. With several gyms at the convention center, there were moments when guests would gather to participate in raids or attempt to take the gym for their team. Others would take a break and catch any Pokemon within their area. 

The Final Day

The last day of Fanime is always the most difficult as we have to say goodbye to our friends. It was a festive weekend but, it was time to part ways. It’s also a day when guests will try to do their last-minute shopping or showcase one last cosplay. The vendors are still open and trying to sell off the last of their haul.

Regardless of how it ends, the stories experienced and the memories created will only be added to the reasons why FanimeCon will always be a special weekend.

Did you get a chance to check out FanimeCon 2024? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: FanimeCon provided me with a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the video game and fandom community of the San Francisco Bay Area.