Anime convention in Toronto brings together comics fans and cosplayers
Costume-clad Skylar Spalla stood on the curb at the Toronto Congress Centre on a recent weekend, watching hundreds of fellow cosplayers pass by. His twin brother flitted around him, making sure Spalla's massive suit of armour, which they strapped on using zip ties, held together. Every few minutes, a person approached to ask for a photo with him, from muscle-bound warriors to little kids with their parents.
The art student's costume, a recreation of the character Havel from the video game Dark Souls 3, was made of little more than papier mâché, paint and pop tabs. It took him countless hours to make, and showing it at Anime North, an annual fan-run convention celebrating anime, manga and video games, he said, brings him a great sense of pride.
Anime North is not only Toronto's biggest anime convention – it is also a fashion show where everyone is a star. Outside of the convention buildings, people gathered in the shade or on the grass near the food trucks to take photos and make friends. One was dressed like Star Wars' Kylo Ren, amplifying their voice with a speaker. Another was costumed as A.B.A., the shy homunculus from the game Guilty Gear with her demon-axe partner Paracelsus (made out of pool noodles and cardboard). One man came to Anime North with a Furby head fashioned with remote-controlled eyes and mouth.
For many cosplayers, the annual convention provides a chance to show off their costuming handiwork, and make others happy by bringing beloved characters to life.
'Coming to a convention like this gives me the opportunity to share in the joy that this brings me with so many other people,' said Elijah Kamaras-Garland, a photographer and cosplayer from Toronto who dressed in multiple costumes over the convention weekend as characters from the video game Star Fox. He was accompanied by a friend cosplaying as King K Rool, the malevolent crocodile from the video game Donkey Kong. That costume, made of foam mats, 'had to be built around him by a couple of his friends,' Kamaras-Garland said, because it was so large.
Since the late 1980s, Japanese comics (or manga) and cartoons (also known as anime) have found an audience outside of their home country. That popularity has exploded over the past decade, as major television channels such as YTV and streaming services have offered anime shows in English for international audiences.
This year's convention (attended by an estimated 36,000 visitors) hosted a variety of panels and workshops where attendees could learn about Japanese culture or their favourite fan pursuit, including a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, a talk about the philosophy of the series Attack on Titan, a comedic live reading of poorly-written fan fiction and a discussion of accommodating cosplay for people with chronic illnesses.
Huge halls were dedicated to artists selling their work. Many vendors were Canadians who said that events like Anime North offer exposure and revenue that keeps small businesses afloat.
'It's a great opportunity to be your own boss, and be able to make a living off of something you actually like' said Vincent Leclerc, an assistant of Savage Mojo, a French-Canadian artist, illustrator and animator who specializes in fan art of fantastical dinosaurs.
Conventions like Anime North also provide a real-life space for people to meet fellow hobbyists. While anime fandoms have flourished in online spaces including Reddit and Tumblr, it can be difficult to connect in person with others who share the same interests in shows or games.
That community is part of why so many people return to Anime North. It was Maxx Romphf's second time at the convention. 'I've seen every anime you can think of [and] video games,' said the Monster High series cosplayer. 'It's just really nice.'
At the end of the convention, visitors headed home in their bright, colourful outfits, many to ready themselves for work the next day. Like the day after Halloween, the costumes go back in the closet and it's back to business as usual. But judging from the smiles on attendees' faces, it was an unforgettable weekend for them.
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