Anime North 2023

Maturing Mind

      This was the first year that I ever had photos that I took of myself on my Samsung phone. This year, I truly feel as though I am maturing mentally. I have gained the intelligence to handle certain situations and fend (to some degree) for myself. I have a job, and I feel like a responsible adult for once.

Saturday, May 27th, 2023

 

      Today me and my friends got ready and headed to Anime North early in the morning, getting there close to 6:00am to line up and wait for our tickets. I dressed as Albedo from Genshin Impact again, same as the year prior at Anime North and Fan Expo. We were quite tired but we waited for hours, playing Monopoly on the Nintendo Switch, playing some little guessing games and so on. We were the first in line this time *(As seen in the image below). After waiting in the first line at the front for 3 hours, we then got moved into the "waiting to enter the convention" line with our badges for another hour afterwards *(As seen in the image below), When we finally got in, we shopped until we got hungry, in which we sat outside on the grass and enjoyed our lunches we had packed for ourselves *(As seen in the image below). I had packed myself "Cheesy penguins" and water which wasn't very filling but it was enough to satisfy me. After resting, we shopped until it was time to enjoy our Swiss Chalet dinner and leave the convention for another year.

 

 *Description: Photo taken outside the convention center at Anime North waiting first in line. Image taken by myself on Samsung phone*

 

 

  *Description: Photo taken outside the convention center at Anime North waiting to get inside the building. Image taken by myself on Samsung phone*

 

 *Description: Photos taken outside the convention center at Anime North after enjoying lunch in the grass. Image taken by myself on Samsung phone*

Fan Expo Canada 2022

Exploration of the Unknown

      This was my first time going to a gaming convention and taking public transit to get there. Sometimes branching out of our comfort zone can help us to discover new things to love.

 

Saturday, August 26th, 2022

      Today was my first day going to Fan Expo Canada, I had never been to a convention so big in my life! Me and my sister left, I was dressed as Albedo from Genshin Impact (as I was at Anime North as well) and my sister dressed as Keqing from the game as well. We had discovered the convention thanks to advertisements of a Genshin Impact booth being at this convention, so we knew we had to go. We ventured out, taking the GO transit to union station where we were able to locate the convention center. Me and my sister, after receiving our badges, went straight to the Genshin Impact booth. The booth was packed full of people, standing in line for over an hour. Me and her both received the typical free bag and poster, but we also received a smaller bag and Zhongli pin for free (due to us being in cosplay). We got our photo taken with the Xiao and Lisa cosplayers as well *(As seen in the image below). Afterwards, we spent time looking around at the other vendors before heading back home.

*Description: Photo taken at Fan Expo in cosplay with my sister at the Genshin Impact booth. Image taken on sisters iPhone.* 

Sunday, August 27th, 2022 

      Today we took the GO transit back to the convention center, this time bringing our friend Sam along for the journey. I wore my Albedo outfit once again. Once we got there, we ran back to the Genshin Impact booth to get a few more free items. We took a photo with the Xiao and Klee cosplayers at the booth *(As seen in the image below). Afterwards, we finished scouting the vendors area and looked through the artist alley. We got quite overwhelmed by how much merchandise there was for Genshin Impact. After purchasing a few things, we left and went home. Thus concluding the conventions attended in 2022.

*Description: Photo taken at Fan Expo in cosplay with my sister at the Genshin Impact booth. Image taken on sisters iPhone.* 

Anime North 2022

 Smiles Never Fade

      This was the first year I spent two nights at a hotel with my friends, as well as swimming at said hotel. Sadly all my photos are gone, but not forgotten. The smiles me and my friends shared on this weekend will live with me for a lifetime.

 

Friday, July 15th, 2022

      Today was the first day back at Anime North in years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the convention was canceled in 2020 and 2021. Despite being delayed, Anime North made it's mighty return in 2022. Me and my friends got a room for 4 at the Sandman Hotel in Toronto near the convention center, although being a room for 4 we had 3 members over the "capacity" limit. My friends and I unloaded some food and beverages, as well as some sleeping bags before heading to the convention. We also delegated each bed to each person going as thus: Joey and Jasmine slept on the bed closest to the bathroom, myself and Jessica slept on the other bed closest to the window, while Alison and my sister Dakota slept on sleeping bags on the floor underneath the window. It was quite cramped in the hotel room, but we made do. We then headed into the convention center, I was dressed as Albedo from Genshin Impact, in which my sister had purchased the outfit for me off of Dokidoki. We went and lined up for our tickets, waiting until close to closing before giving up and retreating back to our hotel room. We ordered a pizza and attempted to play some games together before heading to sleep for the night. 

 

Saturday, July 16th, 2022

      Today me and my friends woke up fairly early to get dressed, waking up around 6:00am so we would be the first in line to get our weekend tickets. I dressed as I did the previous year, as Kara from Detroit become Human. When we got there, some people were already waiting so we joined the line. We sat and waited for hours before we were finally able to go inside and grab our tickets. While in line, people came around and stamped our hands after checking our COVID-19 vaccination forms. Once inside, we had to dawn masks as per the policy due to the outbreak. We shopped for a few hours, some people gave me compliments but I had little to no photos taken of myself. After spending hours at the convention center, we returned to the hotel. Me and most of my friends went swimming in the pool, we played games and tried to avoid being in the hot tub with strangers. We had a good time in the pool, but we noticed as we were getting out, that a man was recording us on his phone from the hot tub. We reported the man to the front desk before returning to our hotel room. We then realized we did not have enough towel for everyone and the pool did not provide any. So we each took turns taking a shower, as the others froze until the towels came (about 1 hour after calling for service). After we rinsed off, we enjoyed some snacks and went to bed.

 

 Sunday, July 17th, 2022

      Today me and my friends woke up and got ready for the day, I once again dawned my Albedo cosplay and we headed out the door after packing all of our luggage. We loaded all of our items into vehicles to prepare for the trip home, but before going home we enjoyed a few hours inside the convention. Looking for any items we may have wished to purchase prior to leaving the event. A dispute started not long into the day, as some started to get hungry while others wished to keep shopping. A time to leave and eat was settled between my friends after a quick dispute. Once we concluded our shopping, we all met up at the Swiss Chalet where we enjoyed one last meal at the convention before going home and concluding this years Anime North.

  

Anime North 2019

 Forgotten Past

      This was the first year I forgot to bring my 3DS. But it wasn't the last for forgetting it sadly... These memories, though faint, still burn inside my soul and mind, as long as I remember, they shall not falter.

Saturday, May 25th, 2019

      Today I had forgotten to take a photo of myself. My mother took photos but that phone was stolen and no photos seem to be lingering online. This year, I dressed as Kara from Detroit become Human, using my short natural hair for the cosplay instead of a wig. My mother bought me the android outfit for her, some white "gel" boots, as well as a glowing head piece like they have in the game. This was my first year cosplaying as a video game character (although I've had many Halloween costumes as video game characters). When at the convention, I spent most of my time inside. I remember getting a few photos, particularly one photo with a cosplayer dressed as Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Many people did not recognize me, but those who did appreciated seeing the cosplay. Like all previous years, we spent hours at Anime North roaming the convention halls before going to Swiss Chalet for dinner. Little did we know, this was the last year before everything would change...

Anime North 2018

*Description: Photo taken in car before spending the day at Anime North in cosplay with my friend and sister. Image taken on 3DS by myself. *Friend's face censored for privacy purposes* 

Marked Memories

      This was the first time I had ever had a styled wig for my cosplay. Even though I look back on these times fondly, sometimes those who are friends at the time move on. I may not be friends with them anymore, but I had a good time back when we were. I hope they are living their best life.

Saturday, May 26th, 2018

      Today was my first time cosplaying at Anime North, a character that was NOT an anime character! I cosplayed as Pidge from Voltron, my mother purchased my outfit and helped style my wig as well. I was a little stupid back then, thinking that "heat resistent" wigs meant that I wouldn't get hot in them. I never claimed to be smart. But I had a fun time at the convention this year, I got some photos with other cosplayers, I got compliments and call outs by some other Voltron cosplayers and overall I had an amazing time. My mother drove me, my friend, my sister and her friend to the convention where we tried our best to make the most of the day. After spending hours in the convention, we went to Swiss Chalet to enjoy our yearly tradition. This year may have been brief, but it was just as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable, than the rest. 

Anime North 2017

*Description: Photo taken at Swiss Chalet after spending the day at Anime North in cosplay with my friend. Image taken on 3DS by myself. *Friend's face censored for privacy purposes* 

Blast to the Past

      This was the first year I ever had my photos taken by strangers. It was an odd time for me, I was just finishing up my final year in Middle school and transitioning into Highschool where I'd only known my sister and friend *(As seen in photo above). But I knew at the very least, that I'd have an amazing time at Anime North.

Saturday, May 27th, 2017

      Today was my second time cosplaying at Anime North. My cosplay was supposed to be Artmeis from Sailor moon (the white male cat). I had initially wanted to wear a white suit, but my mother informed me she would only buy me a white dress for the cosplay. So I had no choice but to agree to her conditions if I wished to cosplay him this year. I had purchased some white cat ears the year prior and we purchased a cheap white wig from party city that remained unstyled. We attempted to draw a moon on my forehead using makeup products, but the attempt was less than desirable. At the convention, I had run into my sisters friend and her friends mom. Where we were asked for a photograph. *(As seen in the image below).

*Description: Photo taken inside the convention center at Anime North in cosplay with my sisters friend and her mother. Image taken on camera by ProabisHD on YouTube. *Faces censored for privacy purposes* 

      After a while of wearing my wig, I got tired of it scratching on my neck. So I decided to take it off, to reveal my hair underneath (tips still bleached from the year prior). My sister purchased a large white cat plush for me and my mother purchased an Artemis purse for me to wear with my cosplay. I was then stopped again by the same man as before and he took another photograph of me. *(As seen in the image below)

*Description: Photo taken inside the convention center at Anime North in cosplay without my wig on. Image taken on camera by ProabisHD on YouTube.*

      Later we walked to our friends hotel where we had pizza and chatted, before heading to our hotel room where we spent the rest of the night.

Sunday, May 28th, 2017

      The next morning, we headed back to the convention center, looking around and shopping. I didn't have any more photos taken of me at the convention. Eventually when we got tired, we headed to Swiss Chalet to enjoy dinner before the long drive home, thus concluding another satisfying year at Anime North. *(Refer to photo at top of post).

Resources

Video by ProabisHD on YouTube for two images above:

Anime north 2017 Just some nerd fun !!

Anime North 2016

*Description: Photo taken at Swiss Chalet after spending the day at Anime North in cosplay for the first time, with my friend. Image taken on 3DS by myself. *Friend's face censored for privacy purposes* 

Memories of the Past

      Do you remember 2016? I do. It was the first year that I truly started to find myself as a person, my identity that I formed today all started back then. The year prior is what leaned me towards my new path, but 2016 was truly a memorable year for my self-development in the long run. 

Saturday, May 28th, 2016

      Today was my first day cosplaying and having an official badge at Anime North. I went the year prior reluctantly, unaware that the convention would change my life. After going in 2015, I didn't want to feel left out, I wanted to cosplay, I wanted to express myself and I wanted to have fun. My mom bought me a "Sakura Hatsune Miku" outfit online, as well as some cherry earrings and hair ties. For my birthday, I got the tips of my hair bleached and dyed pink (although I had to get them recolored at a different salon because the dye was a bit too orange). I was super excited to go, being hyped from my mere glimpse of the convention as an outsider the year before. When I went in, I was stunned by the beauty of the Convention hall, full of plushies, figurines, manga and more! We spent hours looking around and shopping. I was careful with my spending though, since I wanted to ensure I had enough money to purchase a Nintendo Switch the next year. After walking around for hours, I was frustrated at the fact that no one had asked me for a photo, or even knew who I was. A kind cosplayer dressed as Kagamine Rin complimented my outfit passing by, which brought a smile to my sulking face. Me, my sister, friend, mother and friends mother all sat down at Swiss Chalet *(refer to photo above). After we enjoyed our food, we went home, where I yearned to come back again next year.

- Syminessa