D.Gray-man cosplay group at AF0 on Saturday, Aug 1.
While it’s the super-large conventions that get national attention and industry exposure, the smaller conventions appeal to the heart and soul of fans both local and beyond. Ask any fan or cosplayer, and most will tell you that they prefer the smaller conventions over the larger ones. Just because a convention is smaller doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. In fact, they tend to be a lot more fun.
If there’s ever a small convention to deserve more attention, it’s Anime Festival Orlando. After ten years with attendance increasing 20% each year, this convention celebrates the fans with jam-packed programming, great guests, and an awesome staff. Affectionately known as AFO, this con has definitely earned the title of “Florida’s favorite anime convention.”
2009’s convention was held at the familiar Wyndham Orlando Resort on International Drive once again. While often criticized for remaining at what has quickly become a small convention venue, the Wyndham continues to welcome AFO with open arms. The hotel staff helps make the convention more successful: From specials in the restaurant for convention attendees, a special buffet line in the convention space, to well-stocked water stations located everywhere. Most attendees generally have no problems with the hotel, and the well-furnished rooms, low prices, and the sprawling scenic property continue to do well for AFO despite attendance making traversing the halls increasingly more annoying.
Opening ceremonies began with the first "cutscene" skit.
Guests present this year included Robert Axelrod, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Jason David Frank, Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke, Christopher Sabat, Doug Smith, Reuben Langdon (a man of many T-shirts), and Sonny Strait.
This year’s theme was the last “episode” of their groundbreaking RPG production, “Swords of Orlandia”. The staff put together an entire storyline, which was then performed over the weekend prior to major events, like “cutscenes” from a video game. Attendees were able to choose the side of good or evil, and participate in interactive games throughout the weekend which ultimately influenced the outcome of the story. It was a risky endeavor when the theme began three years ago, but the fans embraced the idea and helped make it a huge success.
Kingdom Hearts 2 cosplay skit performers.
For those fortunate to have checked in to the hotel Thursday and picked up their pre-registered weekend badges, they were able to enjoy their “Passport to Orlandia”—a sort of convention “Fast Pass” which granted priority seating to major events and early admittance to the dealers room on Friday, as well as special access to all the guests. It’s a perk that is well worth the price of an extra night at the hotel. Attendance was up this year and you could feel it everywhere you went. The line for Saturday’s cosplay contest spanned nearly the length of the entire convention center and spilled out toward the street.
The quality of the skits for the cosplay contest was entertaining, with maybe only one or two “skits” that caused everyone and the judges to wonder what on earth they just watched. AFO’s infamous “Dancing Kakashi” returned to the stage, this time with a Naruto partner with a fitting ode to the late Michael Jackson. They took home first place in the end with a standing ovation.
Amongst the variety of panels and other events, AFO debuted their first annual charity event dubbed “Whack-A-Nerd”. For $1 you could choose an anime convention stereotype (a bad crossdressing guy, lazy cosplayer, a sci-fi costumer, etc) and have at them for one minute with a foam bat. All the proceeds went to Child’s Play and it quickly became a highlight of the convention. No doubt after this year’s success, next year will surely be more so.
AFO has held a variety of different dances in the past—sometimes more than one a night—but this year they opted for a traditional rave featuring three DJ’s. Despite suffering a small delay in starting, the entire convention seemed to show up with a full stock of glowsticks for some impressive footwork and heavy dance beats. All that one can expect from an anime convention rave was present to complete the experience: fanboy funk, sweat, costumes, Furries, and glowsticks. Thank goodness for the water stations! Still, I was impressed that this year, folks remained rather in control. Not to say that AFO is without your typical crowds that make you weep for the human species, but whatever unsavory behavior that might had happened was controlled by a very visible staff. Usually fairly quickly.
It has always impressed me, too, that Sunday at AFO never feels deserted. No matter how crazy Saturday night may be, Sunday still has a lot of life to it and things worth sticking around for. The highlight is always the costume contest, and this year there were many spectacular costumes competing against each other. The best of show was an original costume featuring hand embroidery of scenes from all the Studio Ghibli films. To top with that? The cosplayer’s baby daughter wore a coordinating dress with the same effects.
Now that JACON has retired, AFO remains as Orlando’s only anime convention. Hopefully this will work toward the con’s advantage and the next ten years for AFO can only get better. If you want to experience a quality convention with a lot of heart, take the time to make a trip to Orlando. You won’t be disappointed.
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