Author: Jessie Duncan
Introduction to ACen 2024
Community and connection have always been challenging for most adults, especially post-2020 pandemic amidst the rising loneliness epidemic. Fandoms and pop culture often provide common ground for people to build connections. I had the opportunity to attend Anime Central (ACen) on May 17-19, 2024, where I spoke with attendees, panelists, staff, volunteers, and vendors about their experiences at this convention and within this community.
ACen, the largest anime, manga, and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest, is hosted at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and Hyatt O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. Since its inception in 1998, it has grown significantly, offering various industry guests, including American and international voice actors, directors, producers, anime studio chairmen, singers, drag queens, chalk artists, DJs, and many more.
Venue and Accessibility
The venue is fairly accessible by car and Chicago Public Transportation. The Stephens Convention Center is half a mile from the Rosemont Blue Line stop and parking lot. Parking is available across the street at the convention center garage, though both options can fill up quickly. Several nearby hotels offer parking, with rates varying, and some are connected to the venue via the SkyBridge—an enclosed glass walkway helpful during inclement weather. I avoided the SkyBridge as the air conditioning was not turned on, making it uncomfortable during the hot weekend.
Entering the venue took longer than expected due to recent security changes implemented a week before the convention. These included mandatory metal detector and bag checks, which added to the wait time before getting into the venue and picking up badges. There was also a line on the SkyBridge that was comparable to the lines outside. To streamline the con experience, ACen uses the Guidebook app, which consolidates maps, programming, hours of service, weather forecasts, policies, dining guides, retailers and artists, guests and performers, and more into one central location. The app sends reminder notifications for scheduled events, provides all hours of operation and locations of main offices, and can be downloaded for offline use in case of spotty WiFi.
Cosplay and Gaming Experiences
Walking into the convention center, I was greeted by a bustling lobby filled with cosplayers and an atmosphere of excitement. The large venue space allowed for many dedicated rooms. To the right of the main lobby was the 24-hour gaming room, including PC and console tournaments throughout the weekend, free arcade games, VR gaming, and karaoke hosted by KPG Productions. I visited the video game room around 10:30 pm on Saturday, where there was a decent crowd but much less than during the day. Lines were short, and most games were available—an experience that might have differed at other times.
The video gaming hall was next to the entertainment hall, which included escape rooms and photoshoot areas for cosplay meet-ups. Here, I spoke with the cosplay medic, Ohsugarfoot. An ACen staff member for four years, she initially started as a cosplayer carrying a container of supplies and a sign offering help. Her services grew until she needed a dedicated space and applied as a staff member. With a background in seamstressing and crafting, Ohsugarfoot has spent over a decade helping fix cosplay and props, ensuring everyone has a good convention. She is joined by her husband, who coordinates and ensures everyone is cared for, and her boyfriend, who fixes props. Although she no longer cosplays, ACen remains her local con, and anime has supported her during difficult times. Helping others with their costumes brings her joy, and she loves supporting the community.
One notable feature was a blood drive hosted by Vitalant by the main door of the vendor hall. This was the second year they held a blood drive at the convention, offering a free T-shirt with each donation. Vitalant got involved with ACen when one of its organizers contacted them last year. ACen is described as a favorite event due to the high participation from con-goers, who are always friendly and sport great costumes. I discussed changes in donation restrictions with someone from marketing and recruitment, noting the increased donor eligibility, especially within the LGBTQ+ community.
The vendor area was spacious, with large booths from industry giants like Crunchyroll at the front, near the autograph area. In contrast, Artist Alley, though also wide, felt more cramped, especially when packed with con-goers.
Panels and Workshops
One panel I attended was “Body Positive Health and Fitness for Cosplayers” by TroyBushido, cosplaying as a Pokémon trainer. A certified personal trainer and nutritionist for the past 15 years, Troy developed this panel after noticing how underserved the geek community was by mainstream fitness. He entered fitness through martial arts and observed the growing social acceptance of geeks. He emphasized the importance of mental health in optimizing oneself inside and out, drawing parallels with the self-improvement systems in Dungeons & Dragons. Troy shared how he learned about the nonbinary experience through one of his characters and the impact of story development on mental health. His favorite fandoms include D&D, Cyberpunk, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, video games, Xbox, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Marvel, and DC, with Superman shining most in a community of people and the impact of Batman’s legacy through his kids.
The convention center’s large venue space, combined with the Hyatt hotel, allowed for many dedicated rooms and a variety of activities, including a huge exhibit hall, video game room, concerts, dances, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, 24-hour video rooms, tabletop gaming, a manga library, and much more.
However, while none of the panels I attended were canceled, others said multiple panels experienced no-shows from panelists. Additionally, at least half of the panels I attended had technical difficulties.
The board game room in the Hyatt was enjoyable on the days I visited. Dice Dojo lent games, adding to the fun. The Carolina Manga Library set up a free library at the convention, providing a quiet space. However, late Saturday night, it was disrupted by loud music from the nearby Formal Ballroom. Despite this, having a designated quiet area was a nice touch.
Cosplay Stories and Personal Connections
I also enjoyed meeting cosplayer Eden, dressed as Luna from Sailor Moon. They discussed feeling isolated from anime and manga fans throughout their life, especially as her family moved around a lot. Still, anime was one of the things that brought Eden joy and helped them connect with others. Eden, a newbie cosplayer, always wanted to try it out and is now more deeply involved in learning new skills. Eden connected with people through anime, finding comfort in manga during transitions. Favorite fandoms include Sailor Moon, FFVII, Skate the Infinity, Maid War, anything with deep lore, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. Eden encourages anyone interested in cosplay to try it out, despite any obstacles, as it is a wonderful way to express love for a character.
I attended a mental health panel by Rosaline Neko, a qualified mental health professional who started doing panels on mental health at conventions while learning about counseling in school. Rosaline aims to bring coping skills, especially for social anxiety, to convention-goers, particularly post-pandemic. Rosaline enjoys Otome games, crocheting, sewing, making things, and v-tubing, and accepting all feelings, even uncomfortable ones.
Innovations in Convention Etiquette
I had a lengthy interview with PapayaBadger, an artist in Artist Alley selling consent badges for $8. She conceived the idea at a furry convention when her partner mentioned loving the community but not enjoying physical contact. She responded, “I can fix that,” and used her laser cutter to create the first badges. These badges, bearing messages like “No Hugs,” “Don’t Touch Me,” or “Ask for Hugs,” have evolved to include requests for neurodivergence and head pats. PapayaBadger noted that social cues are often ignored post-COVID, especially in overwhelming environments like conventions. The consent badges help attendees express their boundaries without needing to verbalize them, enhancing their con experience. She keeps the price low to cover costs while gifting the community a tool for better interactions.
She shared how the geek community supported her, especially after losing her best friend and business partner last year. The furry community rallied around her, helping with her grief. She recounted how her friend’s mother destroyed her friend’s works, but the community helped create a memorial zine. Artists have drawn her friend’s character, often alongside PapayaBadger’s, symbolizing their enduring friendship. These pieces aid her grieving process, bringing her joy and solace.
PapayaBadger emphasized the importance of community and mental health, especially in adult life, where making friends is challenging. Conventions offer a space to connect with like-minded individuals, fostering comfort and happiness. She highlighted how crucial it is to have conversations about mental health and to be part of supportive communities. She created a memorial pin for her friend to thank the community for their support.
Reflecting on Utena’s Impact
One of the standout panels was “And they were roommates; Utena’s impact on anime” on Revolutionary Girl Utena by Grey (she/they), Kamala and their friend, Rob. After the panel, I talked with Grey and Kamala, who have been married since 2019. They are primarily cosplayers; they use cosplay to engage with parts of themselves they don’t usually access. Their panel discussed Utena’s impact, describing it as a revolutionary show with timeless appeal and significant artistic impact in other media. They emphasized the importance of creating spaces for others, specifically trans individuals. Grey and Kamala attended ACen together for the first time in 2008 as freshmen in high school; they cosplayed Death Note together and started doing panels with a friend in 2013, highlighting the cathartic nature of these spaces. The two’s favorite fandoms include Destiny 2, Zelda, The Last Unicorn, Evangelion, Frieren, Princess Tutu, and Dun Meshi. It was a hot and humid weekend, but the enthusiasm was palpable.
“There has never been a time in my participation in cosplay and conventions as a hobby where it has been more critical for people to have a space to express themselves without fear of retribution and to be able to experiment with things like gender, sexuality, presentation, and creativity than it is right now because those spaces are rapidly disappearing. So I think that these conventions serve not just as a place for creativity but as a place for people to be themselves in a way that truly a lot of people cannot anymore, and I feel there’s a sense of power in that. It’s a powerful place to occupy.” — Grey.
Join Us Next Year and Support the Community!
Anime Central (ACen) 2024 was an incredible experience filled with creativity, connection, and community. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or considering your first convention, we invite you to join us next year for even more exciting panels, cosplay, and unique experiences.
See you at ACen 2025! 🎉
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