Looks like I was in Canada, eh? What a time. [Obnoxious Letterkenny accent]
When: May 23-25, 2025
Where: Toronto Congress Centre
Mission Statement of Anime North: “Anime North is an anime convention located in Toronto, Canada that celebrates anime, manga, music, games and all other forms of Japanese Culture! Anime North is a proud member of the International Otaku Expo Association 国際オタクイベント協会”
Alas, this review is very short due to how little time I was able to spend on the convention grounds. Despite that, Anime North made quite an impression on me.
I would say that Anime North might be overwhelming for a newbie. The Toronto Congress Centre and affiliated hotels nearby made for an impressive amount of space. For con-goers, there was a sh*t load of things to do. A lot of it happened outside, thankfully. In addition to hundreds of cosplayers chilling and wandering, the lots had food trucks, a stage with various performances including a badass Taiko collective–Nagata Shachu – Toronto-based Taiko drumming and music group. The group were on location to perform from the opening ceremonies on Friday to the outdoor stage on Saturday to closing ceremonies on Sunday.
There were plenty of dance groups (Japanese pop and Kpop are pretty popular in Canada too) like MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN, Oishii Oreos and memorable car show. The Itasha Car Showcase was a treat to behold in the TCC South Parking Lot just north of the Otakubaloo Stage. Presented in cooperation with Onita there were cars with all the favorite characters from Miku to Asuka, suicide doors up, and even some motorcycles.
I did enjoy the huge turnout of cosplayers. It was a little wild to witness but still oodles of fun. I was warned beforehand that much like Katsucon; this was the con to bring out the baddest outfits from your closet. I was not disappointed. I saw ball gowns, prosthetics, 3D printed weapons, and insane makeup.
I can’t say that it was my favorite convention, but to be fair I was not able to spend as much time as I would have liked in Canada. The attendees were all just as devout as the ones I’ve met in the States. Quirky, fun, sweet, and supportive to their community. I was pleased to see that it was a pretty diverse crowd, and I felt welcomed on their turf.
Theme: Plants & Flowers also held at the convention.
Theme: Plants & Flowers also held at the convention.
One random thing I noticed: I’ve never seen a doll contest at an anime convention. That was a first. I can’t say I’m a huge doll connoisseur, but they were kind of cool. The Doll North 2025 costume contest had a theme of Plants & Flowers and an active thriving community for it.
I look forward to hopefully attending again. I need to spend more in-depth time with these fabulous anime cars.
Anime North is an anime convention located in Toronto, Canada that celebrates anime, manga, music, games and all other forms of Japanese Culture!
Check on the links below for more information!
See more about the convention via their Website, Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, and TikTok pages.
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