The annual Anime Ohio convention returned to the Sharonville Convention Center last weekend, bringing together a huge crowd of fans and merchants dedicated to the Japanese animation style that has boomed in popularity across the United States since the late 90s. In addition to buyers and sellers, conventions are also regularly attended by celebrities in the attached genre.
At Anime Ohio, that meant animators, comic artists, and especially voice actors.
“It’s a chance to bond with people who have similar interests as you, and also to learn about new interests; new anime, new games, and really anything in the geek or nerd spheres of pop culture,” said Aziza the Graphic Novelist, a Cincinnati-based independent comic writer and artist who was selling her work at the convention.
Speaking to the crowd of event-goers outside the convention center in the hour before the doors opened, the excitement was palpable. Some attendees had come hundreds of miles to get to the Queen City, traveling from points south like Knoxville, Tennessee and west like Richmond, Indiana — some had slept in hotels around the city the night before, while others woke before the sun on Saturday morning to get their spot in line.
Among those waiting for the doors to open in the early morning heat were people dressed in long gowns, heavy coats, helmets and even animal-like mascot suits.
Called “cosplay,” the practice of dressing up like a character from a piece of media is a treasured tradition in anime and convention culture. While not everyone in attendance at Anime Ohio was in cosplay, everyone CityBeat spoke to appreciated the importance of the expressive craft.
“They’re great people; it’s just a great community, and they take care of each other,” said Darik Vaskovsky, a local attendee.
For those in costume, cosplay offers more than just community, though.
“For me, cosplay is freedom to be myself; walking around, I know no one’s going to be judging me, whether you know what I am or not. We’re all just here to have a good time,” said cosplayer Tega Ogaga.
Ogaga’s sentiments were echoed by other cosplayers, including Mar, who’s been attending Anime Ohio for the past eight years. Mar, who also brought their non-cosplaying friend Aubrey, said that cosplay was a uniquely liberating environment.
“You don’t feel judged for what you’re like, or what you’re dressed like,” Mar said.
“I feel like Anime Ohio makes every individual, no matter what they identify as or why they would come, feel very accepted,” Aubrey agreed.
That sentiment extended to the convention floor, too. Vendors selling an assortment of goods — from anime artwork and cosplay props to specialty teas — filled the space, demonstrating the wide variety of interests that convention attendees shared.
“It’s really fun to see people walk by and ask ‘what’s this?’” said Karin, the vendor at New Franklin-based Druid Garden Tea Company’s booth. “It’s not necessarily what people expect at conventions,” they added. When not at conventions, Karin and the tea can be found at street festivals and renaissance fairs throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
“Conventions are my favorite, though, because you see a lot more people dress up in fun costumes,” they conceded.
The cosplay seemed to attract many to convention life, including specialized photographers. Cincinnati local Rachel Fields is one such specialist, having attended conventions since 2006. A former cosplayer herself, Fields vouched for the community others had spoken about during the day.
“Anime, at least from an old school perspective, was something that was seen as weird or embarrassing, but it’s always been a sub-culture that’s very accepting,” she said. Fields added that anime and cosplay spaces were one of the first that she encountered that was not only open to having queer members, but celebrated that diversity in its ranks.
“It’s like family,” she concluded.
As the cosplay competitions began that afternoon, the family atmosphere became clearer. Competitors cheered each other on from the audience, lauding performances from people that, in other circumstances, could be considered bitter rivals.
Across the venue, those who traveled across states mixed with those who lived a few minutes away, just like those who spent thousands of dollars on their cosplay mixed with those in graphic tees and basketball shorts. Vendors and event staff laughed with attendees at inside jokes about characters or shows as if they were old best friends.
They were joined by one essential, shared tenant: they were all there to partake in something they loved.
