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No shortage of colourful characters at Anime North


Posted on May 28, 2017 by Jason Nason

Anime North has come and gone for another year. The streets and hotels around the International Plaza hotel and the Toronto Congress Centre have gone from plain and ordinary to colourful and full of character and back again.

For anyone not aware of the annual celebration of anime and pop culture the sidewalks lining Dixon Street near the airport looks like something out of a movie. Mixed in with the scores of people walking up and down the sidewalks in and around the TCC are people dressed up in wild and amazing costumes. The cosplayers are out in full force.

For three or more days there you can find just about anyone at the con. Young and old, they are all at Anime North. Some dressed up in character and some just taking in the experience.

When you arrive at the event for the first time the whole thing can seem overwhelming. In a society where we pretty much accept that people dress a certain way, plain and simple, the outlandish and exciting costumes are a lot to take in. But that apprehension is soon switched for a new norm – colourful is cool. The funny thing is that once you are at Anime North for a few hours, or days in some cases, the rest of the world soon seems lacking.

Every year I am at Anime North for the Saturday, which is the big full day for the event. Among other activities that I participate in at the convention I revel in taking photos of cosplayers as they walk about the convention. Except in a few instances everyone in costume is more than happy to oblige and pose for a photo. They dress up for themselves and the delight of others and the photos are a way for them to remember the event. Some will even pose in a signature pose from the character they are embodying.

After the high of the event, with all of the fun and colour of the weekend, comes the fall when arriving home.

When I get off the bus in my hometown on Saturday evening everything seems bland again. There are no lavish costumes, brightly coloured hair, or a sense of wonder any longer. Also gone is the accepted con practice of stopping someone and asking to take their photo. While one could still do this, I’m not sure how well it would go over outside of an anime convention.

For a photographer the photos of cosplayers from the convention are as valuable as a memento as souvenirs from the dealers room and the memories of a fun weekend with friends.

Until next year when we pack up and do it all over again.

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Anime North turns Twenty


Posted on June 5, 2016 by Jason Nason

Twenty years ago a small, fan-run convention started up in Toronto. From those humble beginnings back in 1997 where a mere 800 guests took in the con, Anime North has grown into a massive convention.

Last year the annual celebration, which celebrates anime and beyond, hit an estimated 30,000 attendees. While the final numbers aren’t in for 2016, attendance has grown every year so those numbers are sure to surpass last year.

I’ve been going to the convention for several years. My very first year was way back in 2002 when the convention was at the Regal Constellation Hotel. It was my first time going to the convention and went with a few friends. We stayed in the hotel and I still remember staying up late going to the different rooms at the hotel where various anime films and series were being presented.

It was my first and only time spending the whole weekend at the convention.

Since then I’ve been a Saturday only visitor, making the trek early on Saturday morning and returning home with the setting sun in the evening. Anime North has become an annual trip, one which I look forward to 364 days a year.

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Anime North Adds a Splash of Colour to May Two Four Weekend


Posted on May 28, 2015 by Jason Nason

Look, it’s Princess Peach! Wait, is that a Power Ranger? Does that person have wings? It’s an annual event that takes over the International Plaza Hotel and the Toronto Congress Centre every year, and arguably has grown bigger and bigger each and every year.

Anime North is a convention celebrating anime and manga, but has much more than just that. With movies, television and other elements of pop culture thrown in as well the con brings out thousands of proud and self-proclaimed geeks to a central place where they can meet and mingle. In a culture where being different is often censured, Anime North is like a warm embrace.

Perhaps the most visible element of Anime North is the cosplay. Dressing up in costume has become synonymous with the event and is something that rivals in popularity to just about every other attraction at the con. There are panels, artists and the dealer’s room. There is a masquerade ball and other nocturnal events, but the cosplay itself, and the accompanied photography that goes with it, is a huge part of the draw.

From other convention goers and photographers alike.

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It was a Colourful Weekend at Anime North


Posted on May 27, 2014 by Jason Nason

It couldn’t have been nicer for a weekend full of fun and colourful costumes at Anime North. The convention took over the International Plaza Hotel and the Toronto Congress Centre over the weekend where thousands of people came in from far and wide. A simple open of your Nintendo 3DS made it apparent just how far some people had come.

My Mii Plaza filled up to capacity nearly instantly all weekend and I had visitors on my handheld from New York state, Saskatchewan, Quebec and New Brunswick to name a few. People from all walks of life were at the convention, and you would be hard pressed to find a friendlier bunch of people taking in the sights.

A convention of this size and scale isn’t something that can be taken in all at once. In fact there is just so much to do that it’s impossible to do it all. From planned theme photo shoots where cosplayers can gather together to meet their kin, Q&A panels on a wide range of topics taking place every hour of the day, music, video, dances and more. Plus the vendors room is always buzzing with people looking for something unique and delightful to add to their collection.

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Costumes Aplenty This Weekend at Anime North


Posted on May 22, 2014 by Jason Nason

We’ve become accustomed to seeing people dressed up in our everyday lives. From different work outfits, religious attire and even those who prefer to dress in their own unique personal style every day. But if you are in Toronto this weekend prepare for a bit more colour and style than usual.

This weekend brings the return of Anime North to Toronto, the annual convention celebrating anime, manga, Japanese culture and a wealth of other entertainment genres. You’ll find video gaming, movies and tabletop gaming all represented here and you’ll also find no shortage of colourful characters walking around.

Cosplay is the act of dressing up as your favourite entertainment character. There is no range or restriction to who you might see decked out in full garb, from medieval warriors, school girls, storm troopers, super heroes or even Pokémon. They’ll all be here, and then some.

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