Anime Jam Session

Zenkaikon 2024: A Gothic Academia Theme… with a Side of EDM?

The Anime Jam Session crew returns to Zenkaikon this year, car full of geeks, catchy EDM tunes, … and all the while, maple bacon donuts on their minds.

J-1 Con 2023: It’s not you, it’s the Venue

J-1 Con was a small, two-day anime con hosted in Atlantic City’s Showboat Hotel, featuring a big variety of guests and events.
Cinnaknight covers this convention, while tossing in some suggestions for the con’s future!

Kogaracon 2023: The Convention’s Fantastic Return!

Kogaracon 2023 is a NJ Anime Con that’s a great experience for both new and long-term congoers! This convention has a big heart and is growing exponentially. Follow Cinnaknight along her Kogaracon experience, from start to finish.

Shikkaricon 2023: Discipline Your Demon Spawn

Shikkaricon is an anime convention located in Pennsylvania that had a few logistical bumps along the weekend. Cinnaknight discusses her experience, including highlights and wholesome interactions with attendees and staff!

Zenkaikon 2023: Huh? The Convention is Evolving!

Zenkaikon 2023 returned to Lancaster County Convention Center attracting around 7,000 attendees. Cinnaknight experienced the convention as a press member and participant, dealing with staffing issues, enjoying traditional market foods, engaging in cosplay with personal significance, and interacting with attendees. Despite initial struggles, the author praised the convention’s variety, cosplays, performances, and offerings like the Carolina Manga Library and event live streams. The convention concluded satisfactorily, with anticipation towards next year.

Kogaracon 2023: The Convention’s Fantastic Return!

October 14th, 2023

Cinnaknight

Kogaracon is a small convention that has experienced exponential growth. Despite the con’s three year hiatus, there were many new offerings, and a unique approach to their cosplay walk-ons which even as a long-term attendee, were quite innovative.

Kogarcon took place in Edison, New Jersey and held the event at Middlesex County College on Saturday, May 6th.

I stopped by a day before to pick up my badge. This was the first time Kogaracon offered pre-registration prior to the convention and badges were $10 for the main event. It was tough to find the pre-registration area and I tried looking for signage on campus to find the correct place. But once I did, it was smooth sailing! Pre-registration wasn’t busy at all–with a quick and easy run to the table for a signup.

#607: The Survey Says…

October 11th, 2023

DJ Ranma S

What the heck is going on with Ohayocon?! Union busting?! Hayao Miyazaki is back from retirement… Again… And Alice in Borderland season 3 is confirmed! Also, no more new FLCL, Crunchyroll may owe you money, and My Neighbor Totoro gets a sequel screening this fall! Meanwhile in Japan… A Cup Noodles measuring cup, a coffee business teams up with a Sake brewer, and a name change along with more changes with a new formation of Johnny’s!

Shikkaricon 2023: Discipline Your Demon Spawn

September 28th, 2023

Cinnaknight

I start off this article feeling stumped about what to write in regards to Shikkaricon But I do want to preface that the goal of con reports is to help conventions with honest feedback. I want to see cons, including Shikkaricon, grow and succeed. I put my experience together with this con, among all others with this mindset.

Shikkaricon is a Pennsylvania-based con founded back in 2007. After a twelve year hiatus, the con had a revival in 2019. The pandemic however put a pause on events. Shikkaricon returned in 2022 at the Plymouth Meeting Doubletree and is having another go at this venue in 2023! I wanted to bring home cookies from the DoubleTree but they were unfortunately out–perhaps another time?

#606: Two For One Special.

September 27th, 2023

DJ Ranma S

Haruhi Suzumiya’s 20th anniversary announcement, Studio Ghibli officially becomes a subsidiary of Nippon Television, and WebToon removes a popular Korean comic. Also, Right Stuf migrates products to the Crunchyroll store, the Yohane LoveLive spinoff gets a 2D video game, and the Gurren Lagann mobile game launches Oct 12! Meanwhile in Japan… A fantasy weapon shop is opening in Tokyo and a naked man is arrested after buying underwear?!

#605: They Did Him Dirty.

September 20th, 2023

DJ Ranma S

The Spy x Family sim game hits Nintendo Switch! Plus, check out the Yu Yu Hakusho manga online and the stone mask from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is now a jelly! Also, Lupin III gets a kabuki adaptation, Azuki: Your Digital Manga Cafe adds over 300 manga chapters from Kodansha US, and compensation is set for Johnny’s late founders stemmed from sexual abuse. Meanwhile in Japan… The Tokyo government opens an anime art archive museum, an inn that allows you to wear samurai armor while playing video games, and ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン / Universal Studios Japan (USJ) newest survival horror maze to be Resident Evil themed…