8Bit/Digi

The ANIME Impulse Weekend at a Glance

Building on the success of last year’s event, ANIME Impulse Bay Area returned for another lively weekend. A staple in the Southern California anime community, the event once again brought its festivities to the Bay Area, this time in partnership with K-Play! Fest and Collectors Expo.

ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2024 saw the community congregate at the San Mateo Event Center for a festive weekend. They were joined by special guests and leaders of the local fandom community. After months of planning and waiting, these are some of the highlights of the ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2024 weekend.

Dealers Hall / Artist Ally

ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2024 along with K-Play and Collectors Expo boasted over 100 merchants and artists divided between the Expo Hall and Fiesta Hall. Within this treasure trove attendees could find a wide range of collectible merchandise or a work of art that speaks to them. Even if one had no shopping agenda, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists.

Senpai Squad combines one’s love of anime, cars, and nightlife into one experience. Besides hosting or participating in several events, they also had a booth in the dealer’s hall. Here they were selling a variety of merchandise while also mingling with the community.

Rush ‘N Games has been a staple of the swap meet and flea market scene in the Bay Area. Their table had a variety of games, consoles, and accessories along with collectibles. This was the ideal spot if you were looking to add to your collection or looking for a new game to play. 

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) had a table on Saturday where they sold 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.

Food Trucks and Vendors

The area around the San Mateo Event Center is mostly offices and apartments while the Hillsdale Shopping Center is a good 20 min walk away. Thankfully, several food trucks were set up around the area. Guests had a diverse option from trucks that serve ramen to takoyaki and tacos.

Things to Do at ANIME Impulse

From live shows to cosplay gatherings and more, there was no shortage of activities at ANIME Impulse Bay Area. Since so many had gathered here for one weekend, there was so much to enjoy. Here are some of the activities one could stumble upon:

The arcade was the place for gamers who wanted to kick it old school. Guests could enjoy the numerous versions of Dance Dance Revolution or get a thrill from playing the Initial D game. The only rule is to have fun and be sure to share with others. 

ANIME Impulse 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 Fiesta Hall, K-Play! was a K-Pop event that was working in tandem with ANIME Impulse. The highlight of their event was the main stage which featured local dance crews performing for a live audience. At the same time, the audience would also dance along to the show or cheer on their favorite performers. 

Itasha Showcase

Behind the Expo hall was a spot designated for the Itasha Showcase. This was a chance for motorists to showcase their work and mingle among the fans. It also welcomed guests for the chance to check out the cars and get a photo ops.

Cosplayers of ANIME Impulse

Cosplaying has always been a tradition at fan conventions and ANIME Impulse is no exception. Many work months to either create the best or most off-beat that will premier during this special weekend. Those who are dedicated will work to bring their favorite character to life. Others will add their own personal style or a special twist.

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

Disclaimer: ANIME Impulse provided me a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.