Another Anime Convention is an exciting and friendly anime con–another event which stands out among the rest.  AJS staff looks forward to it each convention season. 

This year, Ari Rockefeller, DJ Ranma, and I took a road trip again to this much-anticipated event.

AAC returned to the Westford Regency in Massachusetts, a rustic yet quaint location located a short walk away from a variety of food options.

AAC is an unconventional convention, one that breaks the mold.  Maybe I’ve used this word to describe AAC in the past, but it does describe it perfectly!  We need more conventions like this in the anime con space. 

Our group arrived at the con on Thursday evening after some stops along the way for refueling on food and gas. Although the con didn’t officially kick off until the next day, the extra time  gave us a chance to unwind, unpack, and relax! 

Read more: Another Anime Con 2024: A Great Unconventional Convention!

We were in for a fantastic surprise after checking in and finding our room. I called the hotel earlier  (around Thursday morning) for a room by an elevator and the hotel delivered! The room was not only spacious, it had an endearing rustic vibe, including details like dainty floral wallpaper, a wooden wardrobe, and an adjustable mirror. 

The Westford Regency is one of my favorite convention venues as of this review. There are dated parts of the convention center, such as the elevators, and new attendees may need some time to get acclimated to the unique venue layout. But the friendly hotel staff, tidy location, and visible signage from both the con and venue did provide a good balance. Plus, con staff and attendees familiar with the con readily helped newer attendees find their way! 

I also liked the oversized and durable tent the venue offered outside, which provided additional space and options for event offerings. 

Friday of the convention began at a relaxed pace. I used to get up as early as 6a.m. to get ready for my first cosplay of the weekend. Nowadays, I take my time a little more. 

Our trio went down to get some breakfast at the hotel and  piled fruits, bacon, waffles, and eggs onto plates. Each of us got seconds as we all worked on fueling up for day one of the con.

Looking back, I had this habit because I’m admittedly rather introverted and quite shy; most attendees aren’t up at this time and I liked sitting in the hotel room  in my cosplay or walking around the con floor solo. I do take time to put on my costume and do have my shy moments, but my friends always help! 

I cosplayed as Madoka Kaname on Friday. Madoka Magica was one of the first anime series I got into during its release back in the 2010’s. I like Madoka Kaname as a character and never turn down the chance to be a magical girl and wear pink frills.

While I wore my frilly magical girl outfit, I made my way to the Well Actually Panel hosted by Ty Light! The panel had inspirational notes and parody of the similarly named show Um, Actually… which streams on a platform called Dropout. 

The  panelists included a quick explanation of the rules:

A statement referencing pop culture was given to the competition. The statement was only partially true, and it is up to the contestants to correct it. They started out with the phrase, “well, actually,’ and shared their corrections and nerdy wisdom. 

I liked the variety of questions answered. There were anime questions from recent series such as Shiko Noko Noko Koshitantan ( known in the states as My Deer Friend Nokotan) , but including older anime,  niche video game questions, and pop culture references kept contestants and the audience spectating on their toes. 

I liked the Shiny Questions–unique bonus questions attendees answered by carefully viewing a video or listening to a song. In this panel, the panelists gave contestants bonus points.Shiny  Questions deviated from the typical format of the show. 

Contestants watched a Spongebob clip of the character Bubble Bass requesting a detailed Krabby Patty full of jargon. (Spongebob fans, you may know this scene by heart)! We were asked to write down a ‘translation’ of the order. 

Among the shiny questions were also clips of Jimmy Buffet songs (which attendees then put in order by release), and a cute meme of a cat and a rhythm game. For the latter question, attendees had to memorize the pattern on the game itself. 

Pokemon cards and candies were incentives to encourage audience participation. 

This panel went outside of the box of what is typically expected out of a traditional con game show. I enjoy when conventions innovate and this panel is another great example of innovation! 

I packed several panels into Friday. This may have been a con that kept me interested in panels! 

 City Pop 101 was by panelist Jewelry Jelly  and friends! The group gave a detailed overview of key figures in the subgenre, City Pop, and took a detailed plunge into the bright, beach-like, and metropolitan aesthetic. The history behind City Pop influences, album art, and contributions artists gave in anime were brought up, too. 

The sound clips of City Pop songs gave important context to the music. This sub-genre gives me immense comfort with its energetic rhythms and nostalgic sound. Some of my favorite songs make me feel as if I’m in a car or bus, watching the city lights pass by.

I also attended the Cosplay Over 30 Panel, which was run by the same panelist group from City Pop 101. Jewelry Jelly’s parent, a retired teacher, sparked conversation among attendees. They are a mother daughter cosplay duo who have been cosplaying for over twenty years. 

The presentation noted reasons why the group enjoys cosplaying, many of which I found myself nodding and agreeing to! I have made lifelong friends because of cosplay. Many of my favorite nerdy memories are from conventions, and the positive community impact of fandom.  

One quote in their presentation in particular stood out to me: 

‘Your cosplay is a beacon of potential friendships.’ This statement is quite true–for someone who is very shy, fandom is a way for me to make connections and I noticed other audience members agreeing. 

The panelists also offered convention-related advice and tips such as booking hotel rooms in advance and (pending on room space), spending the weekend with friends.

But I also liked listening to their suggestions that differed from my own. While the panelists suggested booking a hotel for the weekend for a full length event, I tend to give first-time attendees tips on going to a first anime con for just a day. Both are valid approaches! 

I was in for a surprise on Saturday. I cosplayed as Chibi Usa from Sailor Moon and DJ Ranma cosplayed as Mamoru Chiba. A new friend  and cosplayer, Theresa , was waiting downstairs. She cosplayed as a casual Usagi and had bubble energy and a great sense of humor–with all three of us, we enjoyed a great Moon family photo shoot, full of shenanigans, camaraderie, and jokes.

The previous night’s panel, Cosplay Over Thirty, played back in my head as we  made connections as cosplayers. 

Saturday also had much more cosplayers on the convention floor, gathering in halls and congregating. Conventions have been varied with cosplays and I saw the passion continue through the masquerade later on. 

Classic anime cosplays made a tiny yet mighty comeback. Idol cosplayers walked around in their adorably frilly costumes , and a variety of indie animation cosplayers roamed the halls.

The masquerade also took place on Saturday. AAC held a solid masquerade with a balance of professional and down to earth feel. AAC filmed parts of the backstage, such as during when cosplayers reacted to their rewards. This small gesture made cosplay and crafting feel more accessible and tangible. I liked seeing the people behind the scenes, their excited reactions, and eager support of each other. 

On Sunday, I went to the convention’s popular yard sale, where fellow attendees sold various wares from their personal collections. Going into the yard sale is much like stepping through a cozy time capsule where you’re able to find older items. I saw some older anime DVDs, plushies, and figures. I left the yard sale spending just $12, carrying a good haul: a  Love Live school uniform and two cherry blossom stationary pads.

Sunday of AAC is typically cut short due to the distance the AJS staff is between the con. 

But I wanted to dedicate some time working on some of the arts and crafts AAC offers. The weekend truly flew by, a sign of a good quality event. 

I went to part of the My Perler Academia Panel, where attendees iron fusible beads, supplies, and templates of popular My Hero Academia characters. Fusible beads remind me a lot of pixel art, as each bead makes up just part of the image. I did not get to finish my piece in time, but the department head offered to make one for me and mail it. 

She mailed to me, along with a kind letter. 

This was such a sweet gesture, and I wanted to thank the Arts and Crafts Department for their time offering fun activities, and the department head for writing a personal letter and making the piece for me. Thank you so much! 

Another Anime Con 2025 is next year. It’s a con that the AJS staff is always excited to attend. We’re considering staying at the con until Monday morning to enjoy the con throughout its Sunday offerings.