Shenanicon is a brand new anime convention for a 21+ audience with an emphasis on nostalgia from cons of the past. Shenanicon took place in Parsippany, New Jersey from June 22nd until June 23rd.  A message on social media with the message “it’s happening…” led to an exciting reveal of the con’s inaugural year. Updates came in waves, increasing as the date grew closer. Because there aren’t many exclusively 21+ anime conventions within America, this con is an early test for its adult demographic. So, was Shenanicon a successful weekend full of shenanigans?  Read on, my friends! 

I admittedly felt quite nervous to attend upon hearing about an adult convention. I’m a kid at heart and do gravitate towards con activities like crafting, coloring, or participating all-age panels. DJ RanmaS encouraged me to attend– and I am glad I did!  The con  provided a much-needed space for adults to be around others around the same age. I also liked the attendance cap of just 450 people, which limited crowds and also helped the event have a much more relaxed and steady feel. The con offered wrist bands rather than badges, a fantastic idea for folks like myself, who tend to forget their badges at the hotel. ^^:: I liked that the wrist bands were also water proof. 

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the review, I wanted to bring up air conditioning issues in the venue during the weekend’s heat wave.  The air conditioning didn’t work and rooms did reach almost 80 degrees.  I was bummed out that the hotel did not take swift action. I’ll get into more info about the highlights of the venue later on in my review. But despite the heat, I had fun and made the best of the weekend. After all, conventions help bring nerdy folks together, and I’m glad the hotel supplied some ice cold water! (If you get this reference, gather up some bonus points). 

Ari Rockefeller picked me up on Friday, the day before the con began. He played some 80’s and 90’s music on the radio, which set the scene.  We arrived at the con around dinner time. Our group checked in and admired the space. The lobby itself offered many chances for photographers and cosplayers alike to take beautiful pictures in fantastic lighting. The main area of the venue was full of foliage, indoor water fountains, the occasional picnic bench,  street lights , winding paths, and modern brick facades. I gained a sense of curiosity ; had the urge to explore the area, which I soon did after ordering some fast food! A friend of the podcast also got me some ramen (bless you), which I do enjoy as I write this very review. 

Shenanicon – this year with its content with offerings such as wall decoration contests at hotel rooms. I made my way around the floors and browsed various displays. Plenty of pride displays were to be found, in addition to shrines of fandoms such as Gundam and Vocaloid. In one display, Gundams dangled by elegant, space-esque string lights, much like how they fly in the anime series among the stars. Another display  featured a big drawing of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle from one of the vintage cartoons. One  silly  and fun pride display showed an oversized duck around prominent rainbows. 

The trio of AJS staff members settled into the room choosing our spots and getting a ‘lay of the land.’. The Hotel we stayed out at was the venue itself, the Embassy Suites. I loved being able to stay in a spacious suite throughout the weekend. Once the first day of the convention rolled around, I went downstairs and enjoyed the hotel’s free breakfast! Although breakfast was not as great as the homemade ones my Mom or Grandfather may make,  it still tasted pretty darn good and I left full and satisfied! One example of the quality of the breakfast came from the people waiting by the entry before breakfast opened. Right when breakfast opened, the flood gates opened for folks to take heaping portions. Some of the yummy options included eggs, potatoes, fruit, pastries, pancakes, and bacon. I was happy to find options that were available as someone with food sensitivities.

I officially kicked off the con by visiting a panel about figures. The two panelists presented their topic in an organized but humorous way; the inclusion of figures on their front table also showed how the items looked in person. discussed brands, budgeting, and quality, tested the audience on bootlegs, and broke up the presentation with  educational videos which taught the audience  about the figure-making process. Small quizzes also were great tools to teach everyone about bootlegs versus legitimate figures. This presentation is the type I’d love to use as a resource for  21+ people who want to start collecting anime-related figures. 

Magical Girl Bootcamp would begin later that afternoon, one of my must-see panels as a huge fan of the sub-genre.. Uncle Yo Presented the topic with his usual high-energy and charisma, starting off with a live magical girl transformation into pajamas. He articulated points while adding in comedic moments. I like the magical girl genre due to the cute outfits and strength of the female characters. What really resonated with me is how protagonists such as Sailor Moon are a guiding light for the people they love. This series introduced me to many of my friends, and even changed my perspective on facets of life. 

Uncle Yo emphasized in his presentation that in Sailor Moon anime, Sailor Moon heals most of the enemies, who are usually people going through a difficult time. Sailor Moon is rather childish,  cry-baby, and a clutz but has so much friendship and hope to offer the world around her. When the ‘big bad’ does come around and harms Sailor Moon’s loved ones,  she’ll wipe away her tears, put fears aside, and fight with a newfound strength.Uncle Yo also talked about other key series in the Magical Girl history, such as Revolutionary Girl Utena, Cardcaptor Sakura, Princess Tutu, and Madoka Magica. Revolutionary Girl Utena is one series which has been on my radar, as the series is packed with lore and details. The titular protagonist also dresses up like a knight, too! He also briefly discusses how American series, such as Steven Universe, were inspired by magical girl anime. 

After I took a food break,  I watched the Shenaniganza Drag Show that evening. It was the first time I watched a drag show. Shojo and Co. put on an amazing show which helped me appreciate the performance art of drag. From my understanding, much like in the fashion of magical girls, the performers use costumes and themselves as ways to tell a story, show confidence, and demonstrate self expression. As someone who is rather quiet and shy, often pulled back by struggles from social anxiety, I felt as if seeing art of performing opened me up to possibilities; other members of the audience may have felt the same way!  Seeing the performers was truly inspiring. Writing is my way of communicating most effectively. However, something about wearing a costume and telling a story on stage is a different and unfamiliar medium in itself. Being in front of others and articulating my points can be downright terrifying for me, but seeing people be brave, positive, and confident is powerful. So thank you, Shojo and Co !

While my  day prior was jam-packed with panels, I took Sunday at a much slower pace. After getting out of bed , eating hearty portions of potatoes and doubling up on coffee, I went back to the hotel room. The AJS group packed up luggage but not before fueling up with more coffee to prepare for check out. But we weren’t fulling ‘checking out’ of the con itself just yet. Although I did get rather tired at that point of the con, I wanted to stop by for one last panel. Before attending the panel, I made a few  laps around the con center, charging up my portable fan and filling up my water with extra ice to stay cool. 

Sunday did have some changes to the convention operations: the artists who vended out of their hotel rooms were moved to the main floor of the convention, right outside of the main dealer’s area. Although I did not hear of the reasoning behind the move, I did notice an increase in traffic(and potentially sales, too!)  to the artists who moved their booths. 

I also visited the gaming room and got in a quick round of Mario Kart on the Switch! The gaming room had some classic arcade cabinets, old school games, modern games, and…a huge fan! 

The last panel I popped into was the Drag Queen Q+A from Shojo and Co. I asked the group a question about confidence and performing. I thought about their show from the night before, and still was in awe about how everyone freely expressed themselves and pieces of their identities. A discussion began about the art of performing–I remember how one of the panelists discussed how performing and makeup too is much like a canvas. Another brought up the delight that comes from sharing performances and seeing the audience’s reactions. The takes on drag were varied from the performers, from those who sashay and sway, to ones with elegant storytelling approaches, and awesome over the top dance moves. I left early because I wanted ice cream and french fries (a very much so CinnaKnight thing), but also wanted to let everyone’s answers sink in. 

Shenanicon is a convention that is new and has great potential. A fusion dance if you will… of old and new. 

The venue and its handling of the air conditioning did put a bit of a damper on the weekend, but the friends, awesome panels, and creative takes on an innovative convention made this weekend full of heat yes, but also fun shenanigans. My hope for a future con is for the venue itself to improve on dated aspects of its space such as the hotel rooms. As for the con itself, I’d definitely want to see more guests in  the future, perhaps even some themes for the con, too?

I would be happy to attend Shenanicon next year!