Travelogue: Katsucon 2013

Anime conventions are an interesting beast. All of the subsets of nerd conventions feature some crossover between fandoms. There are strictly video game based conventions like PAX, but you’ll still see anime cosplayers and comic book elements there. Similarly, at comic book conventions like Comic-con there will be crossovers with anime, video games, and big franchises like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, even really specific conventions like Star Trek ones will see some crossover. Anime conventions however are by far the most homogenized, featuring near equal parts of a wide variety of different cultures, and Katsucon was no 

exception. 

Additional pictures provided by Norse Dance Party Cosplay

Katsucon featured a wide variety of events and activities that would appeal to many different people. It featured everything from voice actor autograph signings to AMV contests to a video game room. The convention definitely offered something for everyone, even if you aren't a fan of anime. The costumes that people wore to the event also featured lots of variety, continuing the mixing of cultures and fandoms.


The most likely cause for the mixing of cultures is that anime conventions encourage cosplay, and have the highest rate of people who dress up to attend. Many different people choose to dress up, and for many different reasons, but the most common reason would be that the person likes the outfit or character. When you have several hundred different people all dressing up as things they like, there will be very little overlap, and lots of variety.


If I had any complaints about the convention, it would be the large crowds making high traffic areas difficult to move in, and the limited food options in the convention center. Most other conventions are connected to a mall or food court, or they provide their own food vendors to offer those services. These issues though are largely out of the control of the convention staff, and fall to the hotel that houses the convention center.


Despite the long drive, Katsucon was a lot of fun, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who lives in or is visiting the D.C. area. It is similar in a lot of ways to more local conventions (for me) like Anime Boston, so I don’t know if you would consider it worth the trip, but I suppose it depends on where you live.