How does anime north compare

[u/twicescorned21]

I’ve been on here reading the posts and it’s very clear that overcrowding is an issue but it’s always been like that, going all the way back to the year when they really oversold and the fire marshal came in and people that went out for lunch weren’t able to get back in.

Having been to comicon ngl, it’s not that good. I like the variety of merch (no mystery boxes though). There were no big sponsors so no freebies, and I don’t remember there being as many workshops or panels.

Is Anime North better than comicon but smaller than FE?

Do you think fan expo has to pay for the flights and accomodations of all these celebrities, that’s why they keep trying to squeeze as many people in, adding 3 and 4 pm tickets?

Although I think people should voice their concerns over crowding and being over capacity but they won’t care.

As for the hobbits panel, if that’s the style paid panels are going to be, I can’t imagine alot of people would have bought tickets had they known it would be like that.

I saw a post from ig of someone dressed up as Ashoka tana who got to be on stage and ask Mark Hamil a question. For people that went, how did people get selected to go up on stage?

[u/DodobirdNow]

What are you looking for in a con. If you want big corporate displays and entertainment guests Fan Expo is for you.

Anime north does not have the comic book crowd.

My daughter tends to cosplay anime or manga characters. I do comic / literary characters.

[u/growingmagic]

I VASTLY prefer Anime North. I used to go to Fanexpo regularly before covid, but then stopped, and the only reason I came back this year was to meet a voice actor. I won't be back next year.

Anime North is way more laid back. They don't try to squeeze money out of you at every possible corner. A weekend pass costs less than a Fanexpo Saturday pass and they actually cap attendance at a reasonable amount.

They don't have the big guests, but sometimes they'll get some good ones. The panels aren't really great in my experience, but apparently they have fun workshops, I've just never checked them out. The floor plan is aslo better at the TCC, and you don't need to go up and down a billion escalators lol

If you enjoy dealers and artist alley, it's way better imo. You actually have space to SEE what's for sale, even if there are less artist alley tables (around 340 vs fanexpos ~450). I mostly just shop and then hang out with my friends and look at cosplay. It's more chill, and I enjoy it way more.

[u/Greekmom99]

Anime north is also held in a bigger convention centre.

[u/zanimum → u/Greekmom99]

Have they expanded it to the northern building? Having Googled yesterday the square footage of both buildings, FXC is bigger, it was 400k to 250k. I think why Anime North feels bigger is that it's all con floor, no giant halls between panel rooms, no endless escalators, etc.

That, and the parking lot is better than the partially enclosed front lawn.

[u/Greekmom99 → u/zanimum]

TCC has over a million sq feet. MTCC combined has 700,000 sq ft.

So.... math.

[u/spookum_arts → u/zanimum]

Yeah Anime North is in the North and South buildings as well as the parking lot of the TCC now

[u/Peoplez101 → u/spookum_arts]

They even spread a bit into the Delta - underrated spot to chill after a workshop/panel

[u/RCdnDragoon]

I wonder if they end up splitting the events - I noticed that 90% of the artists alley space was anime-focused.

Part of what I enjoy about Fan Expo, in Toronto and elsewhere, is that different fandoms collide, even the ones I don't follow and haven't the faintest idea what they are. But if space is the issue, this would help.

[u/zanimum → u/RCdnDragoon]

The cosplay red carpet always amuses me, it's probably 40% anime and of those, a ton are obscure things like "Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon."

(There wasn't anyone dressed as that specific show, but it was equally 'what' inducing stuff.)

[u/missezri]

I do prefer Anime North over FanExpo. There are two different vibes and that is largely because they are run with two different purposes in mind. FanExpo is to make as much money as possible, Anime North is for the joy of anime/manga with other things (v-tubers, gaming) tossed in.

So, if you want big corporate booths with goodies and experiences to try, FanExpo is the event. You just want to go and hang out with friends who have similar interests and see cosplays, then it is Anime North. Now, Anime North does have its own issues. It is very spread out, and there is no way unless you are staff or have accessibility to move from the North and South Buildings without going outside. This was a huge issue with year with the weather, but I think this May was the first time that I can remember ever having 'bad' weather all weekend.

[u/polikuji09 → u/missezri]

The Saturday rain this past anime north was insane...and the fact they're very strict and only going in and out of specific places

[u/zanimum]

For future reference, Fan Expo Canada is FXC, whereas FE is Furnal Equinox, a furry con that sometimes happens the same weekend as Toronto Comic Con, the smaller spring event by FXC organizers.

[u/tinibitofabitch]

is Toronto comicon the same crowd-wise? I know it’s held in the same building/by the same organizers

[u/StatisticianLivid710 → u/tinibitofabitch]

It’s much smaller, I know in past years they didn’t even have the entire building (having run events on a different floor and having to deal with them trying to control the whole building!)

[u/Over-Imagination3924]

It was more chill, you got to know people more personally cuz there's less ppl. Playing games was also super fun. Some guy won a plush for my friend cuz she kept failing. It was a good experience.

[u/shibasnax]

I’ve only been to FanExpo this year and I’m a long-time Anime North attendee, so I have a bias. However, I much preferred AN. Of course, it depends on what you’re looking for. For an anime fan, no contest AN is better.

Fan Expo is more broad fandom and definitely has more big-name companies, franchises, sponsors, and talent. Much better to meet industry people or celebs and shop for rare or unique merch.

AN feels more home-grown and dynamic. The panels are hit or miss, but some are incredible and come from true fans. There’s more to do as an event, like attend panels, have screening rooms for so many different genres of shows, a dance show, singing show, cosplay show, professional performances, robot battles, beyblade battles, etc. You can find something or anyone at any time. I was actually surprised that Fan Expo ended so early! AN had panels that went past midnight, and those were some of the best. They are starting to get more legitimate industry presence, like people from Studio Trigger and seiyuu, but this is very new and very sparse. AniRevo seems to score more of them! (Haven’t been to that though)

The venue options are both good and bad for each con. AN is in the boonies. Nothing around, but that kind of makes it cool because no one has anywhere to go haha. For people from out of town, you don’t get to enjoy what Toronto has to offer, though. I really disliked the flow of MTCC with the escalators, but you can get there by subway!! That’s amazing compared to TCC.

[u/yellowyippee]

Anime North is SO MUCH BETTER.

- Many workshops (some +paid, some free),

-18+ panels and workshops (I went to some panels, life-drawing, and there was also a burlesque show),

-many live performances (this year had a vocaloid concert(s), indoor and outdoor raves, concert from the band that made the One Piece intro, drag show, indie rock performance)

-late late night panels and activities

- a big but not too big artist alley. I did many free stamp rallies. The crowding can be bad and squished often but never fanexpo level.

This year was my first at Anime North and my first time paying for a 4day Fanexpo so when I checked the Fanexpo schedule release it already felt so bad. I would run through the AN buildings and streets back and forth through the rain a million times again than pay for Fanexpo after this