Are you interested in anime, manga, or gaming? Do you want to be in a social setting? Have you touched grass recently? If you answered yes to any of these then, you should go to the Castle Point Anime Convention (CPAC).
For those who don’t know, an anime convention is a place where people who like anime, manga, gaming, or other related subcategories usually gather. You are able to interact through games, events, or even through common meetups. It is also a place where people can express themselves and their love for the medium. So why don’t I introduce to you some of the features that the Castle Point Anime Convention offers?
One of the big events at anime conventions is panels, where you get to meet big figures in the community whether that be voice actors, cosplayers, artists, or internet celebrities. You get to interact with them through a Q&A, and they may even show off their talents or new things they are working on. This year we have voice actors like Brianna Knickerbocker and Anne Yatco that voiced acted in shows like Jujistu Kaisen and Demon Slayer. We also have cosplayers like White Rabbit and Ginger Kitty, in addition to some like Lilypichu and IGumDrop, who are anime-associated internet celebrities. Guest panels aren’t the only ones that are included: panels with game shows or even workshops are great for learning new things or even meeting people who have your own specific interest.
Another big event during the anime convention is a dealer’s room. This is usually the biggest room of a convention and where vendors come to sell their products which usually are anime merchandise like figures, clothing, or even manga. Here, you can find some niche items you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. There also may be some companies trying to promote their new games or anime coming out. Those usually give out free promotional material so lookout. Another area adjacent to that is the Artist Alley, which is usually independent artists that sell their art usually in prints or stickers. I especially love going to the artist alley because you get to support small creators, especially those who love and are in the same community as you.
One huge component of conventions is cosplay. This is where you dress up like an anime character. It is fun to see people walk around dressed up as your favorite characters and in CPAC, there are even competitions and shows involving cosplay. One example is Cosplay Masquerade which is a performance someone does in cosplay; this is a big event and a show that one must check out. There’s also Cosplay Runway where people just get to show off their cosplays to a big crowd. CPAC even has a cosplay repair booth so people can come to fix their cosplay in case something happens before a big show. Also, I help run it so make sure to stop by and say hi!
In addition to these parts of the convention, there are many more things to do like going to an art live stream where people will be showing how they draw art (continuation from last year), a gaming section (retro games to DnD), and even some dance performance, or an aniparty (where people can vibe to anime-inspired songs).
But the main appeal of an anime convention, I feel, is to be in that unique atmosphere where loving anime is normalized and being surrounded by those who love it too. It’s a celebration of that and I think whether you decide on talking to people, expressing yourself, or even grabbing some Japanese inspired food. One will have a great time at CPAC, so mark your calendars. It goes from April 30 to May 1 and is only $10 for Stevens students, so clear your schedules and come.
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