We’re back, baby! 

After years of cancellations and shifts to online formats, in-person gatherings of anime fans are back! I know that some have already been occurring across the US and around the world, but this humble writer is only one man, and I can only be in so many places at any given moment.

Fanime has a special place in my heart. It was the first anime convention I ever attended, so it only seemed fitting that it be the first convention I return to. This gave me the  chance to shake the cobwebs off my pen and notepad and return to my Anime Trending origins: convention coverage. So, after several long years, I’d like to bring you along with me as I revisit my roots at Fanime with a good ol’ fashioned convention breakdown.

The artist alley had a strong showing. Compared to previous years, a wider variety of shows were represented along with a diverse assortment of goods for sale. As someone running out of wall space in my apartment for prints, I was thrilled to see more pins, lanyards, keychains, and stationery for sale. Apparel seems to have a greater presence too, with hoodies, hats, and — my personal favorite — aloha shirts gracing the tables and displays of many talented artists and creators. While Genshin Impact and Spy x Family had the lion’s share of fanworks, older shows and video games had another day in the sun. Perhaps it was folks just unloading older unsold stock, but seeing shows from as far back as five years ago — an eternity in anime time — was a pleasant sight.

The dealers hall also had its fair share of apparel for sale. Anime and otaku-inspired streetwear has been on the up and up for the past few years, and I appreciate the diversity it has brought to the convention. Attendees were spoiled with a plethora of choices. The addition of streetwear didn’t diminish the presence of convention mainstays like the sword booth, the bookstore, the trading card game vendors, and the figure and plushie booths. Each vendor put its best foot forward this year.

While the artist alley and dealer’s halls are often enough reason to attend a con — and are the best way to part with your hard earned money — most folks come for the panels. Fanime had a good combination of US- and Japan-based guests of honor and featured a full suite of fan panels with topics ranging from Cosplay Wrestling to detailed genre breakdowns in the animation medium.

The Japanese guests of honor panels were pre-recorded affairs, but the hosts and guests did a great job making the audience feel like they were in the room participating in the conversation. The restriction on photos and recordings added the air of exclusivity that guest panels often have, further reducing the feeling of separation that a video recording can create. As always with Fanime guest panels, the conversations covered a wide range of topics and often strayed into bizarre or unexpected places. I never thought I’d hear five minutes of Luxray appreciation from Aoi Yuki, but I did. 

Thank you! I’d love to visit San Jose someday! #fanimecon2022 https://t.co/eSbgY1OWXy pic.twitter.com/8DUC8qlRMe

— 悠木碧【公式】 (@staff_aoi) May 29, 2022

The fan panels are a highlight of Fanime, and, while this year was restricted space-wise — the nearby Fairmont Hotel rooms were unavailable — there was a panel for every interest. If you wanted to know more about horror anime, accurate mecha design, the history of Waluigi, or even just see some cosplayers roast each other, you could find it at Fanime. Long-time panel hosts and brand new presenters were on display. It’s an inspiring sight to see so many people putting themselves out there. 

What a fantastic FanimeCon 2022! It was so good to be back. Thank you to Keisuke Ueda for being our Guest of Honor! @uechan_0905 #Fanime pic.twitter.com/RxfAWHnqbZ

— FanimeCon (@FanimeCon) May 30, 2022

As always, the specter of COVID-19 loomed over the festivities, and the convention put preventative measures in place to keep staff, volunteers, and attendees safe. The requirement of a vaccine put my mind at ease, and the extra checks through the CLEAR app for vaccine confirmation helped to smooth the check-in process. The clear mask policy and high level of compliance among attendees and staff was what made me happiest. I could tell that everyone was taking health concerns seriously and making sure to create a safe environment. Fanime is a good example for how to run future conventions, and I hope that everyone remains vigilant so we can keep conventions going for the rest of the year. Great job Fanime! I am looking forward to next year!