Conventions
Where football enthusiasts have their stadium games and sports bars passionate anime enthusiasts or Otaku have conventions as their gathering outlet. Conventions are a grand part of otaku culture that host large events for shopping, cosplay, question panels, live music, photo opportunities, and more all dedicated to the enjoyment of Japanese culture, manga, and anime.
I have never been to a convention before but the True Otaku documentary takes us through the activities held at the Otakcon convention in Maryland and the perspectives of various convention goers.
A large aspect of conventions in the fan-wide activity of cosplaying. I have never cosplayed before but I most definitely remember browsing the internet for sailor moon cosplay inspiration back in 2019. My love for cosplay slowly developed into a love for drag performance which I heavily consume now and of which I believe both to be forms of art. I mean just look at this picture of Meg the Stallion, she's iconic for this sailor moon cosplay.
In fact, I love seeing photos of celebrities like Meg cosplaying because it shows just how diverse anime fandom communities are. From instagram influencers to online chat room enthusiasts, conventions bring together so many different walks of life including people that may never crossed paths.
The True Otaku Documentary spent a lot of time focusing on the cosplay aspect of conventions and it's ability to bring people together. I thought it interesting that one woman even said she doesn't necessarily engage in watching anime but she enjoys the culture of conventions. Which only furthers my belief that conventions are a gathering of very diverse groups of people.
In fact Nicole even mentions in the documentary when referencing Dust Bunny's accomplishment in making her own cosplay that the action of making cosplay provides a sense of fulfillment. So to me, this was in indicator of Otaku convention serving as a healthy group a "we" that may be lost in post-modern society. That people who make and participate in cosplay can enjoy their passion in a group setting that isn't controlled by some power abusing the group for a grand purpose.
A lot of the people being interviewed comment on the sense of belonging that conventions provide. The aspect of being surrounded by thousands of people the same as you are in cosplay and actively geeking out over their favorite manga and series is accepted where in other areas of society it may be labeled as weird or too much. Even Lauren, the author of the OtakuJournalist blog remarks that there may be more acceptance in Otaku fandom than anywhere else.
I agree with Lauren because even from an outside perspective I can see how conventions bring together people with untraditional hobbies outside of Otaku culture. Specifically I think about the controversial topic of furries and how anime conventions typically gather people in these costumes alongside anime fans. I think this is because the nature of anime conventions is so accepting that people from other types of unordinary groups are attracted to the idea of being able to be their true selves in this kind of environment.
In all honestly True Otaku felt more like a cosplay documentary than an Otaku or convention documentary. I'd like to learn more about the buying/selling aspects of conventions and what panels look like but I suppose that's something I'd have to find out in person. While not a diehard fan of anime and certainly not enough to consider myself a "True Otaku" (pun intended) I'd be very interested in going to an anime convention and browsing the different activities, shopping, and maybe even cosplay.
