/a/ - Animu & Mango

Sure go ahead. You will have a great time.

>going to western anime conventions league of legends cosplay and funko pop events

Anything you could buy there you could get online, and those guests they have are literally who's. Unless you're a normalfag who actually enjoys being around other normalfags or wants to fuck fat cosplay sluts with mental issues, I never understood the point.

Depends on what you're in for.

Socializing: If you're on 8/a/ I can already guarantee you that your power level is far above anyone who'd want to be social at a con which can be a huge hurdle in trying to make conversation. Not to mention the absolute worst kinds of cancer you're likely to run into - trannies, furries, Redditors, people who refuse to watch subtitles, literal underage kids, etc. It's a minefield. Conventions that require you to be in a social group to enjoy is a convention that doesn't understand its purpose. If this is truly your aim, it'd be easier and more productive to find someone on /a/ to hang out with.

Cosplay: You're going in cosplay to have your photo taken (and that's all you'll have time for) or to take photos of cosplayers to shamefully masturbate to later. Just keep it to yourself.

Industry Events: This is the ideal. Going to the convention to actually enjoy the convention - not treat it as some pop-up social gathering like most normalfags do. Attending panels, getting director autographs, meeting mangaka, going to music performances, etc. It's the most legitimate excuse to attend a convention since it's the only one that actually requires you to be a fan of anime, and is something best enjoyed solo unless you find yourself in a wota group or something. However, it usually limits you to larger cons since JAM Project isn't going to fly to the other side of the globe for a convention that barely pulls in a couple thousand attendees. Do your research.

Shopping: Unless it's some kind of exclusive merchandise having to do with aforementioned industry events, don't even think about buying shit at a convention. It's for your own good.

>>907727

>However, it usually limits you to larger cons

Amano said he prefers small cons and will only go to small ones from now on last I saw him at a con. Really, you just have to

>Do your research.

Yeah. Also, in some rare cases you can find people with power levels far above the average 8/a/non at cons. It all depends on the smart choices you make. Where you go, what you do.

You should always ignore the average crop of con goers and drink as much as possible if you're a drinker. Go play the rhythm games and shooters you can only get in Japan, enjoy good karaoke when you hear it, find allies, be smug around shitters, crash shit panels and enjoy the nice ones you can find.

Cons are a nice holiday from normal life where you go around, have fun, and cause a ruckus. There's really no reason not to go unless you don't know how to have fun.

Of course, like you said, going to the Industry Events is ideal. Go sit in on what Khara has to say about 4.0, what Trigger is cooking up next, etc. If there is a music event, always go. If there's a big guest attending like Amano, always get his sign.

>>907752

>"Anon they're too fast!"

>>907713

Wow fascinating reads.

>>907713

The direction of the new Gillette ad campaign is taking, it's very confusing.

>>907762

>There's really no reason not to go unless you don't know how to have fun.

Thank God, now I have a reason not to go.

>>907803

>>907762

>You should always ignore the average crop of con goers and drink as much as possible if you're a drinker.

I'm going to my first con ever this spring, by myself, because it's been a very long time coming and I will take your advice to heart.

I-I'm scared, senpai.

By the way, for these sort of things, are you supposed to attend every day, the entire weekend or whatever?

>>907903

First rule of cons is you're not getting any sleep. Go every day, as much as possible. Stay up late and wake up early. Like the Japanese otaku say about comiket, go like you're there to do war. The only difference is you're not killing yourself trying to buy shit. On the contrary, don't buy anything. As little as possible, anyway.

Pack up everything you need and carry a bag with it all. Remember the holy trinity of beverages: Alcohol, Caffeine, Water. You're going to see a lot of undesirables sitting on the floor everywhere against walls with no energy, but you're not going to be one of them. There's a ton of stuff to do at cons. Don't be one of these wet towels complaining about being bored. Always be on the move. Pack easy to prepare and/or eat food that will keep you moving. If a panel sounds interesting, go to it, even if you don't know what it is. If it sucks, do something like ask who their favorite Touhou character is or just leave. It's just like /a/. /a/nons make it fun.

When you get back, prepare a full day of deserved rest.

It's off topic, but there's two types of conversations you'll find there. There's the younger, inexperienced newfags who only knows the popular stuff with one or two good shows under his belt, and it can be a little fun being an anime professor to them, but the real conversations are the ones you'll find with the experienced, real otaku. If you manage to meet one of these, don't let the opportunity go to waste. You'll find talking to these people are some of the greatest times you'll have at cons. If possible, drink with them. If not, they're probably already drunk anyway. Remember to be drunk as much as possible.

>>907880

It's a complicated subject. While we know the negative connotations, we still used to call ourselves otaku. Go read bulletin boards from the dawn of the internet. The original Japanese otaku started embracing the term as a slur after the normalfags were making fun of them with it. The same sort of thing happened with weeaboo.

It's the whole Big Bang Theory effect of making "nerd" cool that drove failed normalfags to adopt any basic term they find in our culture without understanding it's relevance that you despise, and rightfully so. I just don't think we should concede our words to them so I still call myself otaku. You just have to use it correctly.

>>907919

Alright then. I get bringing alcohol for others, but drinking yourself beforehand does not seem to be always necessary. In my case, it's not hard for me to feel superior to others.

>>907903

>By the way, for these sort of things, are you supposed to attend every day, the entire weekend or whatever?

Conventions typically hold various events, tournaments, and panels throughout the weekend. Most are Friday to Sunday, but some also start on Thursday. The way they price badges, it's usually a better deal to go for all 3 days, though there's typically jack shit happening on sunday.

Panels can be a mixed bag, depending on the topic and who's running them. Concerts can be great, but expect to line up early. Dances and raves typically suck, because most faggots use them as an excuse to do way too many drugs and dance to shitty EDM club music. They don't even play weeb music, for fuck's sake. The big industry panels and events with voice actors can be pretty okay. Some cons will do vidya free play rooms, others will do cash-only arcades. Expect to see a bunch of spergs camping around Smash bros for the entire weekend. Some retards show up to cons, pay for everything, and then spend the entire weekend playing Smash Bros. A lot of conventions have also started doing manga libraries where you can check out a bunch of stuff for free, and board game rooms where you sign out a game to play for a while. This is where having friends with you can be nice, but it wouldn't be too hard to find some people willing to jump in on a game.

Only other things you've got are cosplay, which means finding a photoshoot schedule to see if a show you like has a gathering listed, or just taking photos of people walking around. Most folks in costumes are going to want their photo taken, but just ask up front and give them a thank you and some compliments after you do get their pictures. You're going to see a lot of idiots cosplaying dumb shit from western cartoons and Star Wars, not to mention a lot of closet cosplay fujoshits being the cancerous little cunts they are. Ignore them. Don't say anything. Don't make eye contact. Don't feel like you need to tell them they shouldn't bring that shit to an anime convention. They don't care. No one cares. They won't bother you anyways. Most people at cons are too busy to give a shit about anyone else there, so don't feel like you're standing out or people are staring at you, either.

There's also the dealer's hall/market/merch area. Sometimes you can find good deals on stuff, but a lot of places will markup their products. Doesn't hurt to have a list and an expected price range for something you want to buy before going in, especially if it's something you can just get off amazon with free shipping. However, if it's something you're going to have to import, consider that the few extra bucks is the difference between waiting a few weeks and having it right now. Also, some official merch distributors will have exclusive goods released early at cons and in limited quantities. Bluefin, which sells Gunpla and other models, will get exclusive con-only models and early releases on new kits, for example. The other thing to consider is that some merch is already out of production. Nendos, for instance, are typically limited production run, which means if you didn't buy them on release, then you're kinda forced to pay a little extra. Cons give you the chance to find that figurine or collectible you missed out on at a potentially reasonable price. Not always, but sometimes.

For the people that actually attend cons, what are your fondest memories?

>>907936

Seeing Aqours at last year's Anime Expo and coordinating a rainbow formation with the wota.

>>907918

That's the thing though. True otaku embraced themselves with term despite the negative connotations, and while they still see it as not a positive term, they know it as their identity and truly accept it. Normalfags do not embrace the term after being ostracized from using it, and only used it in the first place to seem "trendy".

We all technically are most likely "otaku" here anyways, by definition.

>>907922

>>907915

Noted. I will do my best to keep my pride as a hatechan /a/non intact throughout the event.

I don't really expect anything good to come of this, since my city is relatively small and shitty, but I'm willing to go there with an honest heart.

ね、do they check your bags for booze at these sort of events? Do I need to pack my nihonshu in water bottles just like when I was a teenager?

>>907942

It was a magical event. I was in Ruby's section.

>>907942

That's not a rainbow.

>>908196

My positive experiences were pretty much all at Anime Los Angeles, and they weren't really anything major, just met a couple really cool people somehow, got a /cgl/ ribbon once, but the highlight was probably meeting a couple cool people, one of whom was a legit hehpilled 8ch-posting grill. We actually met up after that but I don't know how to maintain friendships so we fell out of touch.

>>907942

>>907968

>the concert

>the commerical

>all those stories

Fucking amazing. I wish I wasn't such a shut-in. I make plenty of money and have the time to go to things like AX, it's just way too crowded and it gets overwhelming if I'm not already going with someone. I really wish I could see an example of your wotagei without exposing your identitiy, anon. I'm really curious. Do you think if there was a small 8/a/ meetup at the next AX you'd be willing to show some at an appropriate time/place? Not that it matters, but it would probably push me over the fence on whether I should go enjoy the community aspect of my hobby IRL again.

>>908464

>you'd be willing to show some

I mean, sure. I'd be doing it all con, not really caring who sees me. I want to go to AX again this year, but we'll see if money's too tight.

You'll know me by being one of the only white wota, the rest being asian.

Of course, if there's a better way to identify each other, I'll be looking for that, too.

>>908605

IIRC /k/ is planning to use an 8 of diamonds card on their hats when the Happening happens, but that might be a little extreme...? I'd do it. It would be fun.

>>908622

>Now it's an industry event for shitty studios to shill their prime time sitcoms and teen sex dramas.

The only time I wanted to go to comic-con was before I knew what comic con really was. Apparently this past one The Pillows played there - I'm guessing because adult swim paid them to for the FLCL sequel which I am not going to watch - and I was legitimately pissed off that I hadn't heard about it, but even more pissed off when I found out you couldn't buy tickets for just the show anyway, you also had to buy a ticket for comic-con. I also heard was that there was a huge - like ridiculously huge - section dedicated to nothing but rick and morty. I will never attend that convention.

You're right about smaller cons, but then I still have the social autism issue. Guess I'll have to force myself to put myself out there at some point, though. I'll try to act on the advice, thanks.