ANIME NORTH

This past weekend, I spent my time in Toronto enjoying the celebration. The celebration in question was Anime North. For those of you who don't know what that is, Anime North is a convention for anime (Japanese cartoon) and manga (Japanese comic book) and other similar video games or cartoons to gather for a weekend of fun. Generally, people will make a costume, also known as a cosplay, and attend the festivities in their cosplay. The ticket is somewhat pricey ($50-$60), though it is a great experience. It is a good way to meet new people with whom you share similar interests, and the cosplays are always cool to look at. This year's event was held at the Toronto Congress Centre, with hundreds of vendors selling mangas, animes, plushies, food, art, and cosplays. Dances are held, music is played, and it is a weekend of fun and laughter. The best way to fully experience the convention and enjoy yourself is to rent a hotel room (there are many nearby because it is several blocks from the airport) with some friends and split the cost of the room. Three friends and I reserved a room in January and several hotels were already booked to capacity, so booking early is necessary. We had lots of fun meeting new people and seeing all the cosplays, we are even planning on attending next year. I would strongly recommend you attend as well if you are interested in anime or manga, or if your friends ask you to go. It was a great experience and I expect next year to be even better!