This past weekend, May 22–25, was Fanime! This annual convention is held by fans, for fans, bringing people together to share their love for anime, video games, and pop culture. Held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Fanime actually began as a local anime club in the 1990s, but it has since exploded into the largest anime convention in NorCal, drawing roughly 25,000 to 30,000 attendees each year.

Fanime offers a packed schedule for guests to experience. Some of the major attractions include guest panels, autograph signings, a gaming hall, Artist Alley, Dealer’s Hall, the Black & White Ball, and a MusicFest concert. Because of the sheer volume of programming and attendees, events are spread across different sections of the massive convention center, with many hosted in nearby hotels and venues.

This was my first time attending Fanime, and while I had a vague idea of what to expect, I was curious to see just what the event entailed. I don’t really consider myself a hardcore anime fan since I haven’t watched many staple series, and I’m not familiar with a lot of well known video games. However, I’m a huge fan of Studio Ghibli movies, Demon Slayer, and KPop Demon Hunters. I also love playing The Legend of Zelda games, Animal Crossing, and Pikmin.

While some might consider me a "normie," I have many friends who are completely unfamiliar with these series and games. Last year, I went to a Halloween party as Shinobu from Demon Slayer, and my friends just said they liked my "butterfly costume." So, I probably fall somewhere right between a hardcore and a casual fan.

The Dealer’s Hall and Artist Alley

We started our day at the Dealer’s Hall, which was huge and filled an entire exhibition space. There were rows upon rows of booths filled with anime goods, but also plenty of art, so it honestly felt a bit like an extension of Artist Alley. I was told that in previous years, the Dealer’s Hall carried many more imported goods, while art was kept strictly in the Artist Alley. Unfortunately, with the current economy and high tariffs on goods from Japan, shipping items internationally has become less feasible for vendors. Still, there were many awesome products for sale, including vintage toys, handmade accessories, anime-inspired clothing, and even original film cels. I ended up getting an adorable Shiba rug.

The next stop was the Artist Alley, which was like the Dealer’s Hall but specifically dedicated to independent art rather than manufactured goods. As a frequent attendee of the SJ Made craft fairs, this was right up my alley. There were so many unique art styles on display; even though multiple artists drew the exact same characters, each put their own spin on them so they looked completely different. Some of the popular subjects I noticed included characters from KPop Demon Hunters, Demon Slayer, Frieren, Pokémon, and Love and Deepspace. I wanted to buy so many prints and postcards, but I limited myself to one small print of Moomin.

Free Play in the Gaming Hall

The Gaming Hall was filled with all types of arcade games that were entirely free to play. I tried a bit of everything: classic fighting games, light-gun shooters, a game where you try to bump your opponent out of the way, and a rhythm game that reminded me of Dance Dance Revolution, except you press buttons with your hands instead of stepping on panels. They did, of course, have actual DDR as well! There were also dedicated areas to play board games, mahjong, and esports.

Meeting ALI: From Stage to Interview

Of course, we had to catch the ALI concert, since we would be interviewing the artist later. I’ll admit I didn’t know who ALI was beforehand, nor was I familiar with the music. However, ALI is known for many hit anime soundtracks, including "Wild Side" from Beastars and "Lost in Paradise" from Jujutsu Kaisen. ALI, which stands for Alien Liberty International, originally started as a group, but singer Leo has since gone solo. The concert was super fun and lively, and his jazzy, swing-style music got the crowd hyped up. People waved lightsticks to the beat, jumping and dancing until the very end.

After seeing ALI in concert, I became an instant fan. When it came time to meet Leo for the interview, I felt completely starstruck. We actually had a funny interaction during introductions. Upon meeting our executive editor, Theo, Leo said, “I’m Leo.” Theo replied, “I’m Theo,” and Leo repeated, “Oh, I’m Leo.” This went on for a little bit to the amusement of everyone around.

During the interview, Leo spoke about his musical inspirations, his thoughts on bringing global influences to Japan, and his hopes for the future of Japanese music. We have the full interview below, so check it out!

https://www.t-ono.net/interview/music-beyond-borders-%E2%80%93-ali-interview-fanimecon-2026.html

Winding Down at "Parkcon"

The best way to end each night was Parkcon! While it’s not an official Fanime event, Parkcon, as it has come to be known, is the unofficial gathering where attendees party after hours across the street at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park. In years past, Fanime used to operate 24/7, meaning attendees could take part in official activities at all hours of the night. Now, however, official events run until 1:00 AM at the latest, leaving people with fewer options if they aren’t ready to turn in. At Parkcon, crowds of people came out to mingle, dance, and get lit. There were food vendors, DJ setups, and we even witnessed an impromptu cart race.

While we weren’t able to experience everything Fanime had to offer, it was still a packed, unforgettable weekend. The vibe was warm and exciting, and it was awesome to see fans feeling entirely free to express their passions. Seeing so many great cosplays, I was in awe of the sheer amount of effort and talent that went into creating the costumes, as well as the time and artistry required for the makeup and hair. People were constantly running up to strangers wearing cosplays of characters they loved just to gush over their outfits, and it was beautiful to see how quickly those interactions turned into fast friendships. I’m so glad I finally got a chance to experience Fanime, and I can’t wait to go again next year!

Learn more or follow Fanime:

Official Website: fanime.com
Instagram: @FanimeCon
X (Twitter): @FanimeCon
Facebook: FanimeCon Official