Looking more like a busy time of the day at a crowded New York City subway, thousands of people walked around the Sacramento Convention Center as over 10,000 fans and cosplayers descended to attend SacAnime’s summer event.
Two SacAnime conventions take place in Sacramento annually. A three-day winter Con takes place in January and the summer Con occurs over Labor Day Weekend.
Just like they always do, attendees of the summer Con turned heads of passersby who slowed down to take a look at the marvelous costumes as cosplayers paraded from the Sheraton to the Convention Center and all around local businesses.
Several dozen vendors are hosted by SacAnime in a giant hall where Japanese pop-culture merchandise, toys, art and books can be found. A huge vendor hall has various artists including comic book writers and illustrators. Fan favorite Scattered Comics brought many of their artists into an area they called a “Mega-booth” to help fans find their Scattered Comics in one area.
Jason Dube released “Scattered #4” and took time to do live commissions, which I’m sure will become quick collector items. Scattered Comics talent director Noel Serrato brought original artwork including his special edition sketch covers of “Blinth #1.″ The Scattered Comics premiere of “Hybrid Earth #2″, written by Rustin Petrae and Fredrick Allison Jr. with artwork by Fredrick Allison Jr., and “Erabyss Preview”, by Warin Johnson, was also at SacAnime.Calvin Ellis Jr., Jasmine Ellis, Krysten Reis, Bex Kurasai also had tables showcasing their work.
The Scattered Comics house of artists always take the time to talk to fans and spend much of their time at the convention autographing their work, posing for photographs with fans and answering questions about comic art, story lines or looking over fan portfolios.
Voice and acting panels attracted large crowds as summer SacAnime brought a large assortment of special guests including Jason Faunt, Tony Oliver, Roger Craig Smith, Christine Cabanos, Cristina Vee, Danielle McRae, J. Michael Tatum, Josh Grelle, Tiio Horn, Noah Watts, Dave Fennoy, Melissa Hutchinson, Rodger Bumpass, Mark Sheppard, Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt, Camilla Luddington and many others.
Live music was provided by Eyeshine and The Slants who played on Friday and Saturday. Late night dancing brought in large crowds to the Main Hall on Friday and Saturday nights. Music here was provided by DJ Helsing, DJ Jinrei and special Japanese guest #skirtDISCO.
One of the main reasons, I believe, that most people come to this Con is to enjoy the company of the community that makes up SacAnime cosplaying. Many attendees attend both the winter and summer convention as well as other cons throughout California. Cosplayers spend months preparing their outfits and saving money to attend.
This convention, as far as I can tell, conducted the first actual marriage when long-time attendees of SacAnime,, tied the knot. The celebration was open to attendees at the event.
J-Fashion returned to SacAnime after not being part of the winter con as several promising and established designers showcased Japanese oriented fashion.
SacAnime security has done a commendable job safeguarding the event and making things flow as smooth as possible. As a result SacAnime has thus far avoided difficulties that have currently plagued similar conventions.
The Convention Theater hosted the Cosplay Masquerade where several hundred people attended one of the largest SacAnime masquerade. Fans cheered for their favorite cosplayers and some prizes were awarded for audience and judge choices.
There are so many activities at SacAnime that I cannot possibly attend or describe all of them. What I can say is that SacAnime has become one of my favorite events in Sacramento. As far as conventions go SacAnime, I am sure, will become one of the most popular cons in California or the country.
Fans and guests seem to earnestly follow SacAnime’s motto: “Where Anime fans go to play!” Many guests return to each Con, and SacAnime continues to bring larger fan crowds to their semi-annual event. Learn more about the Con, guests, and events at www.sacanime.com.
More photos from SacAnime below and here.
