That’s right, a gathering of geeks, a congregation of cosplayers and herds of “Hug Me!” signholders. While conventions, which vary from anime to Star Trek, go on throughout the year, spring/summer is usually considered con season as most of the big name conventions are held when most people are able off school and work and are able to attend.
The largest comic-book and pop culture convention in the world is the annual San Diego Comic-Con International, which starts with a preview night on Wednesday, July 23 and continues on until Sunday, July 27. Held in the San Diego convention center in San Diego, California, SDCC for short has been drawing fans in since 1970. It has grown so large each year that some speculate that the convention center, which has over 500,000 square footage of exhibit space, may not be enough to house all the attendees in the coming years.
SDCC is the Disneyworld of geekdom - from movies to sci-fi novels to video games to anime - it meets the needs of various fan groups and has attracted big name guests such as the cast of Lord of the Rings, Stan Lee, Rumiko Takahashi, and several others in the industry. GEN may also be in attendance this year!
One of the biggest anime conventions is Anime Expo, held annually in the Los Angeles, California area (although it began in Northern California in 1992) around the 4th of July. This year, it’ll be held July 3-6 in the Los Angeles convention center. Anime Expo has been held once in New York, and once in Tokyo. Although not required, a large number of attendees cosplay to this event. AX for short has become so popular that it attracts attendees from abroad as well. Various guests have attended, from American and Japanese voice actors to manga writers and even popular or famous cosplayers.
For complete lists and info on conventions, visit some of these links:
Fan’s View Convention Schedule
I try and make it out to AX or SDCC - doing both is difficult unless you live in California, and I always try to make it to the local cons in Phoenix. Which cons do you always make it a point to go to? Let me know if you’ve been to either of the cons I’ve mentioned and give us your experience!
April 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
AX and SDCC I try to make every year, though the last two I could not because of my two kids being born. But this year, I will be attending both and bringing the babies to their first ever cons. I am even trying to get back into sewing so that maybe I can take them as little cosplayers, but that will depend on how much free time I have to do that and how much extra money I have as well.
But Jinxie, I hope you get a chance to make it out there. It would be great to meet you and the others of the GEN for the first time anywhere.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
my goal is to attend:
Gen-Con Indy, in August, this a definate.
VGXPO in Philly in November, a big possibility
E for All in LA in October, a maybe depending on $$
April 29th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
*swoons* Oh, to make a convention post without mentioning DragonCon! For shame!
Seriously, I do make it a point to make it to DragonCon every single year. It’s held in Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend and takes over three to four hotels rather than a convention center. It’s the largest ‘pop culture’ con in the nation (labelled as such since it has sci-fi, gaming, comics, anime, goth, novel-based fandoms) and a con that’s made for costuming and parties. I’ve met some FANTASTIC friends there, and even if we only get to see each other once a year, when we get together again it’s like time never passed. (D’aww)
April 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
^^^ hmm.. ATL is definitely within driving distance for me. I’ll have to consider it.
I’m new to leaving my house for gaming related events!
April 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
You get used to it. In past younger years, I would only travel to cons in California. But about 8 years ago when I started making it on my own, I started going around the country when I could. First around the southwest and then later, nationwide. It is expensive, but well worth it if you can. Now that I am settled and my kids are here, I will be back to just Cal and southwest cons for maybe the next few years, but I hope to do the nationwide ones again soon afterward.
April 30th, 2008 at 5:39 am
thank you for sharing those links
what a great resource
April 30th, 2008 at 11:29 am
BelleChere - to be honest, I had DragonCon in mind, but I was posting that from a common use computer at the New School Un. in NYC while I was waiting for a friend to get out of class! LOL! So I didn’t have much resources… or time… lol otherwise it would have been very detailed. But I figured SDCC would cover a bit of DragonCon worthy content.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I am so excited for SDCC, especially since it won’t be my first time now. I know what to expect. I would love to make it down to DragonCon also. Are you going to SDCC BelleChere?
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I was going to go to AX this year but I was unable to. I will definentaly go next year. The con that I usually go to is Sakura Con in Seattle, WA. It is just a few minute walk for me which makes doing a quick cosplay change very easy!