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Much like how government and commercial entities in Japan create anime mascots to represent themselves, BART created their own group of four mascots (who’s merch would appear across a few conventions). From there a convention of their own formed in 2025. They return again this year, even bigger. As a free event, this took place at a Bart station itself in Fremont.
The event was primarily made of merch tables, itasha cars, and three small stages. The tables act as the majority of the content, with the artist alley being the biggest area in total. With a few scatterings of tables for other conventions, and a very large booth for BART merch itself (it had a very long line that stretched from one end of the event to the other).
The stages present were the main stage (which primarily played music from DJs), the Neon Stage (which held the cosplay contest and presentation), and Concert stage (which had live band performances).
When it comes to more interactive content, it was sparse but still present. Such as the trinket trade station (a little table where attendees could leave and take small items), a stamp rally, and the manga mobile (a vehicle with books inside, and chairs next to the vehicle where you could sit and read).
All in all, this was quick event that was mostly for hanging out with people. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering it was only five hours long , free , and was based around the ease of transportation via the BART system. Unlike Fanime or Anime Los Angeles, this was more so an excuse to spend the day outside and a form of outreach for BART. Let see where BART takes us in future iterations of this event.
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]]>The post Pokémon XP & Worlds 2026: The Celebrations and the Chaos appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>This year, Pokémon Worlds 2026 was held in San Francisco, CA, from August 28-30, and brought with it a major convention and celebration of Pokémon: Pokémon XP.
(Please note that we did not have a press pass for this event, so this coverage will all be from the perspective of a regular attendee.)
Pokémon Worlds 2026
Pokémon is a worldwide phenomenon, which means players from all around the world came to compete. Pokémon Worlds was the world championship for the video game, card game, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon UNITE, making for a very full weekend of competition.
This isn’t a casual competition where anyone can walk in and enter. These are players who have mastered the metagame, earned their invitations through tournament after tournament, and proven themselves to be the top trainers of the year, and the stage they competed on showed it. Games were played from a large stadium and broadcast to large screens and Twitch, as cheering crowds watched intently.
At the end of the weekend, new champions were crowned. The 2026 winners are:
- Kazuki Kage, Pokémon VGC Junior Division World Champion
- Vikram Thiagarajan, Pokémon VGC Senior Division World Champion
- Takuma Yamazaki, Pokémon VGC Masters Division World Champion
- Yuta Araki, Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion
- Jake Ng, Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion
- Zeta Division, Pokémon UNITE World Champion team
- GGS489HIROMARU, Pokémon GO World Champion
Pokémon XP
While the Pokémon Worlds competition drew huge crowds, Pokémon XP gave attendees (and competitors between matches) plenty to do. Pokémon XP spanned the Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens and was jam-packed with events and activities.
The area in front of the Moscone Center was transformed into Rayquaza Road, filled with music, live commentary, photo areas, food stalls, and more. Attendees could help construct a massive LEGO Rayquaza, watch skateboarders on Pokémon-themed skateboards do some tricks, or watch Pokémon mascots dance around… assuming they could get through the crowds, of course.
Of course, many attendees showed up cosplaying as their favorite characters or Pokémon. It wasn’t uncommon to see people dressed as gijinka (anthropomorphized) versions of Pokémon, characters from the anime, or members of Team Rocket.
Inside the Moscone Center, there was even more to see and do. Large areas were set up to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon, showcase new games and upcoming shows, and provide activities for attendees.
This included a Pokémon museum showcasing the games and merchandise from over the years, a recording station where attendees could try their hand at dubbing an episode, a gallery showcasing art from the Pokémon TCG, and so much more.
Many events were ticketed, including craft activities, meet-and-greets, and so on. Attendees hoping to check out specific events would have to register their interest online and then hope their names were drawn, and with the huge attendance for the event, the odds were slim. With that said, there were plenty of non-ticketed events to enjoy as well.
Further within the Moscone Center, a large stage held panels and interviews with major figures in the Pokémon world. Not too far from there, Pokémon influencers held meet-and-greets and autograph sessions with fans (who managed to get tickets), and just off to the side, attendees could check out Koraidon and Miraidon motorcycles from Toyota and Honda, respectively.
In the Yerba Buena Gardens, Pokémon XP had an outdoor area. There, young attendees could listen to an outdoor storytime while their parents had their hair and makeup done, or attendees could play a game of Pyukumuku Chucking (a beanbag toss/cornhole game with Pyukumuku plushies). While there was a giant bouncy slide, it was closed during our trip, and I can’t say if it reopened.
Some of the biggest draws were the Pin Rally. where attendees could hit up different stations around the event to get free Pokémon pins. There was also a massive Pokémon Center shopping area, where attendees could buy exclusive goods such as plushies, clothing, cards, and more.
However, those might have even been too big a draw, as they led to a few issues…
Lines, Crowds, and Scalpers, Oh My!
Pokémon XP was a huge event, but perhaps it was even bigger than The Pokémon Company had anticipated or prepared for. For all that there was to do and enjoy, it’s also important to recognize where there were issues that must be addressed.
Just getting a ticket to the event was a challenge, as attendees had to register their interest for a lotto system and hope their names were drawn, either for a weekend or one-day badge. Even once they were registered, they had to enter another lotto to try to get into the events they wanted to attend. Then, they had to register for a time slot to pick up their badges. If they wanted to shop at the Pokémon Center, they needed to sign up for a time slot before they were filled up.
In other words, it was very possible (and in fact common) for someone to get lucky enough to get tickets to the event, but still miss out on tickets to every ticketed event they wanted to attend and the Pokémon Center, due to the incredibly high demand.
This high demand also led to huge crowds and massive lines. While Friday wasn’t too bad, photos from throughout the weekend showed absolutely packed crowds and lines that quickly became fire hazards.
The Pin Rally, for instance, drew crowds so large there were reports of stampede risks and blocked fire exits, while the most popular pins were snatched up immediately. By Sunday, they had to cancel the Pin Rally altogether.
As for the Pokémon Center, the lines there could take hours to get through. Attendees would wait outside the lines for their time slots, then line up to enter the building. Once inside, there was a second line they had to wait through to get upstairs, where they’d wait in yet another line to actually get inside the Pokémon Center.
This, of course, also resulted in scalpers camping alongside the sidewalk to sell everything they bought at a marked-up price.
There have also been reports of Pokémon XP failing to be ADA compliant and lacking accommodations for attendees with disabilities. Some posts online have claimed the staff said they’re “not doing ADA,” while Dexerto reports that 2024 World Champion Luca Ceribelli was removed for attempting to let a player with disabilities join him in the Pokemon Center line.
It goes without saying that these are issues that impacted many attendees. The crowding is, understandably, a major challenge for The Pokémon Company, as the popularity of Pokémon means events like Pokémon Worlds/XP will be in high demand, and scalpers have been a plague on the Pokémon community for quite some time. Meeting demand while managing crowd sizes is far easier said than done, but hopefully these issues can be addressed in the future.
Announcements
At the end of the weekend, The Pokémon Company had plenty of announcements for fans to look forward to for animation and games alike.
On the anime side, a new animated movie called Pokémon: Wild Card was revealed. This features a Pokémon TCG player and a Mimikyu, and was accompanied by a teaser trailer:
For video game players, there were plenty of announcements too, including:
- The Pokémon Champions game (a mobile app and Nintendo Switch game used for competitive Pokémon battles) will be updated with Z-Mega evolutions, including Mega Absol, Garchomp, and Lucario Z.
- Pokémon TCG Pocket will be receiving Dual Type cards and Pokémon EX cards for starter (or “First Partner”) Pokémon.
- Morpeko, Toxtricity, Jolteon, and Flareon will be making their Pokémon UNITE debuts in the coming months.
- Pokémon GO will be giving new charged moves to Mega Evolved Pokémon, who can now be used in the Go Battle League. Armored Mewtwo will also be making its return after six years.
As for TCG players, the Pokémon Trading Card Game will be introducing the new ex★ series to the game, similar to the game’s EX, V, and VMAX Pokémon.
Finally, 2027’s Pokémon Worlds event will be held in Singapore from August 13-15.
There was no news on the upcoming Pokémon Wind and Waves games yet.
Overall
Pokémon XP was a massive celebration of a franchise that’s been beloved by so many for 30 years. It drew a huge crowd of energetic fans and got attendees hyped for the future of Pokémon, giving them plenty to do while the top trainers in the world competed for the grand prize.
However, an event of that size is not without its issues, especially for a series with as big a scalper problem as Pokémon. While it was absolutely possible to enjoy Pokémon XP regardless, it’s still important for The Pokémon Company to recognize and address these problems for future events.
Still, on a personal note, as someone who’s been a fan of Pokémon since the days of Red and Blue versions, it was amazing to see how far Pokémon has come. To be among friends, fellow fans, and trainers from around the world to celebrate this series that has brought us so much joy was a fantastic experience.
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]]>The post Offkai Expo 2026 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>Heyo Humans. Recently, the convention Offkai Expo occurred between July 24-26, in San Jose California. A three event dedicated to the genre of entertainers known as vtubers. So we decided to go in and take a look at how this all works. This is Offkai 2026.
First and foremost, this type of event is focused on the dedication of fans have to their favorite vtuber talent. Whether it’s super well known or small indie vtuber, fans supporting their favorite was at the heart of Offkai. This was evident in the exhibitor’s hall, where you would find many small lines throughout. Zigzagging and sometimes lines for one vtuber will run side by side with lines for a different vtuber. Meet and Greets for vtubers were done via screens turned vertically and microphones /headphones given to fans to communicate with their favorites. In some instances, there was even special booths with 3D glasses.
In addition, many vtubers had cut outs/standees that were featured in certain rooms for attendees to take pictures with. Some were arranged together to make a small, make shift maze. Some standees could even be bid on for ownership in auctions ( some fans could be seen carrying their wins in the halls). You even had a flyer table that was constantly being combed through by attendees in order to find new vtubers to follow. There was even an 18+ section called Yabai Market, to satisfy the many tastes of the vtuber fandom.
This was all topped off by concerts on night 1 and 2 across in the civic center. A wild crowd was ready for the guests of the convention.
The other note worthy element was the interactive element of Offkai. There were such things as puzzles to win prizes, a stamp rally, ribbon collecting, trade decorations for their badges, and group meetups attendees could setup themselves on the Offkai website for whatever reason. The biggest one being the Off Choir. A choir that anyone can join that would sing as an opening act for the main concerts.
So that was the fifth holding of Offkai Expo. The big celebration and gathering of the vtuber fandom, and their strong dedication to it.
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]]>The post Fanime 2026 Photo Gallery appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>Here are a few highlights of the event:
- Stage 0 was on FIRE this year. It may be the vtuber culture booming, but the singing and chanting of the crowd seemed a lot louder this year. You could hear it all the way from the snack area!
- The front and sides of the convention were filled with photographers and cosplay gatherings. Enormous light boxes, tripods, and other equipment were set up all over the place. It felt inevitable to bump into the middle of someone’s shoot, or walk into a cosplay gathering to get to the other side.
- Even though gaming room was supposed to be 24/7, the staff of the convention center would not let attendees inside until 9:00am on Day 1.
- Because of that blockade, it helped the air from gaming room flow out, so it wasn’t as musky in the morning.
The gaming room had everything from tabletop to dancing rhythm games. It would be hard not to find something fun to play.
Did you check out any of the cosplay gatherings?
The cosplay gatherings were organized a little better this year. Finding the location of your meet was easier with maps, and just like last year, every cosplay gathering had an event photographer provided by Fanime. In fact, I was one of the staff cosplay event photographers! It was an incredibly exhausting feat. All of us were out in the blinding sun and wind almost the entire day. After the event, each one of us had over a thousand photos to sift through and edit as well!
Make sure to always thank all your photographers who help out! Photography is not as easy as it sounds.
Although this was just a small snippet of the things that happened during Fanime 2026, was there anything that you enjoyed?
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]]>The post Fanime 18+ – 2026 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
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First and foremost, are the 18+ panels. We’ll start of with my own yearly panel of An Uncensored Hentai Review (our tradition of comedy skits and hentai video clips being roasted). This year we had a slightly smaller crowd than previous years but they were the loudest we’ve had in our history (the audience chants taking on a life of their own).
One of my team members on this panel continued with her own panel called Exploring Eroge (a second year of holding this). A showcase of Japanese erotic games and those inspired by them (with an even larger number of games shown this year).
Then there was the JAV panel done by the folks over at A To J Connections. Once again they do their presenting of a variety of japanese adult films. As always they go over all the details, and going into what has become their signature element of presenting the shocking genres of JAV (it has become their tradition of seeing certain parts of the crowd walk out and counting how many remain towards the end).
Then there is the hentai themed merch sold. Over in the dealers, you had the long running booth that always sells hentai doujins behind a curtain each year.
Then over across town to the satellite location of Fanime called The Oasis (located 4 miles away at the Doubletree hotel), you had the night market. A dealers room that was exclusively filled with 18+ merchandise, and booths with cosplaying girls offering peculiar services. You had cosplayer Chyuku sell her used socks, Jennybelly sold photosets packages that also included her personal panties, and Kitty Nguyen had a customer pay to put a leash on him and lead him around the room on all fours. These young women even had a collective raffle that the gift of a canvas image print of their feet. The wild side of anime fandom was really on display at these specific booths.
In addition over at The Oasis was the hentai video room. which shows signs every year of shrinking attendance. In stark contrasts to many years ago when it was located in the convention, and you had very long lines to enter (and very loud crowds yelling at the screen). Equally sparse in attendance is the newly relocated dance. It too barely had people in it. The Hentai Video room even had a sign saying that the panel Bad Hentai was not located there and instead was over at the main convention center. Overall, my impression is that the night market continues to grow while everything at the Oasis regresses.
Then there is the infamous viral moment of the Girl Foot Juice at the unofficial event of Parkcon. Cosplayer Eimi/Chopsticks Chan had her feet soaking in a variety of liquors, lifted them out, and let droplets from the feet trickle down into the mouths of paying customers. Something that made the rounds on social media and went well beyond the community of Fanime.
Overall, Fanime has never been one to shy from the mature content of conventions. Even more so than last year it filled many corners, and something to looked forward to each Memorial day weekend.
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When Yuriko Yamaguchi auditioned for the role of Ritsuko Akagi in Neon Genesis Evangelion, she had no idea that her life’s trajectory was about to change. Now, Yuriko is a renowned voice actress, with decades of experience in the anime industry. Not only is she the voice of Akagi, but she’s also known for voicing Nurse Joy in the Pokemon anime, Nico Robin in One Piece, and so many more characters.
We had the opportunity to speak with Yuriko at FanimeCon 2026, where we got to chat about her experience as a voice actress, her professional journey, and what the characters she’s portrayed mean to her. (Please note that the interview was done with the help of a translator, so all quotes are paraphrased from the translation.)
Getting Started
Yuriko Yamaguchi began her career as a stage actor, but actors are always in need of work, so when she had the opportunity to audition for Ritsuko Akagi in Evangelion, she took it. “I auditioned for the role like I would any other audition for my stage roles, and I got the part,” Yuriko explained. “That was my beginning as a voice actress.”
As any anime fan will tell you, Evangelion is quite the series to start with. It’s an iconic anime, that’s still discussed and debated to this day. However, no one at that time could have known it would be such a big hit, much less that it would shape her career.
“When I started on Evangelion, at that time I didn’t know it would become such a huge work, and I didn’t know any of the people at the time, including the director (Anno Hideyaki) and my coworkers. … So when the series finished and it became this big hit, I was very surprised. I originally thought I would just do one anime role, but it led to so many offers that it became my career path.”
Welcome to the Pokemon Center!
From there, anime studios began reaching out to Yuriko, asking her to voice characters in their series. Shortly after Evangelion, she took on another role that would define her career: Nurse Joy in Pokemon, who she voiced for ten years.
Nurse Joy is a unique type of role, because while she is a recurring character in the Pokemon anime, it’s actually several different but identical nurses, all named Joy, and all part of the same family.
“A lot of them are relatives, like cousins, grandmas, aunts, and other family relationships. I was told that I could act similarly for them all, which was really fun,” Yuriko explained. “On rare occasions, Satoshi [Ash in the English dub] would not do well in battles and needed help, and Joy actually got to take part in the battles. I found those moments especially fun.”
Gather Up All of the Crew
Of course, Nurse Joy isn’t the only iconic character Yuriko Yamaguchi has spent years portraying. These days, she’s best known for her role as Nico Robin in One Piece.
“When voicing Nico Robin, the two things I always in my mind that she had a very, very difficult childhood, and she had to overcome that to be with her friends, and her goal is to pursue the truth.”
Robin’s character arc in One Piece took her through an extensive journey, starting as Miss All-Sunday of Baroque Works, and eventually leading to her becoming a valued member of the Straw Hat crew. One Piece is known for its emotionally resonant moments, especially as we learn more about the characters and their backstories, and Nico Robin’s tale is filled with loss and growth alike. That means that portraying all those aspects of her character is vital to the role.
“When I started voicing Robin, I knew she would eventually become a part of the crew, so at the time I knew that I had to focus on her as this mysterious figure with a dark past… When she was still an antagonist, it wasn’t just that she was a mysterious assassin, but that she had to do that to survive. So I made sure to focus on that aspect of Nico Robin’s character.
“Even before she opens up to her friends, she’s very closed off; she’s by herself, and she’s only been able to survive until now because of that. But when I reached the part where she says ‘I want to live’ and she opens up to her friends, it was a process of going from closed to open, and that was a big part of the role. So as an actor, the character has so much meaning; it’s wonderful that I got to have this role.”
In season 2 of Netflix’s live action One Piece, Nico Robin made her debut, as portrayed by actress Lera Abova. While Yuriko has not yet had the opportunity to meet her Netflix counterpart, dubbing the live action Robin in Japanese has given her the opportunity to revisit the character. Dubbing an animated show and live action show proved to be a different experience, which has impacted the way she portrays the character
“The two actually felt very, very different,” Yuriko explained. “The animated version is a flat picture, so it gives me a lot of freedom in how I interpret the character. But for the live action version, I have to match [Lera’s] acting, so I can’t even think about the animated version while I’m doing the dubbing.”
Yuriko added: “Right at the very beginning, there’s a scene where she’s killing marines, so I made sure to keep my voice lower for the role.”
With this new adaptation, Yuriko got to return to Robin’s antagonistic roots. While the character has been both a hero and a villain, from a voice acting perspective, which type of role is more fun?
“I like the more complicated roles, so I tend to like villains,” Yuriko answered with a laugh. “I like roles where there’s something that’s complicated or even a little bit twisted or difficult. Heroes are often more straightforward.”
A Moment of Gratitude
Between Evangelion, Pokemon, and One Piece, Yuriko has been in some of the biggest anime series to grace our televisions. However, it’s not something she takes for granted, and she feels very lucky to have been able to play such memorable roles.
“I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to participate in such huge works, especially considering that they’re all works that span many, many years. We’ve reached the 30th anniversary of Evangelion, the 25th anniversary of One Piece, and even though I wasn’t with Pokemon the whole time, I voiced Joy for ten years. So I feel so fortunate that I could stay with these roles for so long and grow with these characters; I feel that I, myself, have grown from voicing them.”
We’d like to thank Yuriko Yamaguchi again for taking the time to speak with us, and to FanimeCon for the opportunity. Keep an eye on G33k-HQ for more interviews and more Fanime coverage to come!
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]]>The post Fanime 2026: Unlimited Fan Works appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>So Much to Do, So Much to See
Fanime 2026 was held in the San Jose Convention Center, as it has been for years. The venue continues to be a great location, with two attached hotels, several others within walking distance, and plenty of food options, also a short walk away. (Unfortunately, the convention center’s own staff remained as unfriendly as always, although the Fanime staffers were much more polite and professional.) Within the convention center, the con made full use of the space provided, with multiple rooms for shopping, panels, and other activities.
In fact, Fanime was too large for a single convention center to maintain, so it also used the DoubleTree Hotel and Signia. The DoubleTree served as home to the convention’s more adult programming, including a convention casino, night market, and 18+ gaming. The Signia held its J-Fashion events, including a dedicated panel room and market.
Suffice to say, there was no shortage of activities to enjoy throughout the weekend.
Cosplay
C’mon, it’s an anime convention, you know there’s going to be plenty of amazing cosplays to see.
Yes, cosplay is a big part of Fanime, with attendees showing up dressed as their favorite characters throughout the weekend (with many even cosplaying multiple characters per day to get to all the gatherings they wanted to attend).
Every year, there are a few series that stand out as some of the biggest among cosplayers. This year, Uma Musume was a top contender, and Freiren: Beyond Journey’s End remained popular; there were also plenty of cosplayers from K-Pop Demon Hunters, Dandadan, and Witch Hat Atelier. Of course, Fanime attendees didn’t limit themselves to just the latest and most popular series, as attendees cosplayed from classic anime and video games, lesser-known favorites, new series growing in popularity, and more.
Cosplayers could meet up and connect with fans of the same series at cosplay gatherings, held throughout the weekend and across the convention center. Cosplay gatherings are always a great way to meet fellow fans, reunite with old friends, and make new ones, as cosplayers posed for photos together and united in their love of the same series.
And of course, many cosplayers broke out their best outfits for the Masquerade. There, their craftsmanship was judged by a panel of experienced cosplayers, and they took to the stage to show off their stuff or perform for the crowd. The Fanime Masquerade is always a big draw, and competitors go all-out with their costumes.
If any cosplays were broken, the Cosplay Lounge included a repair station where attendees could quickly get their repairs. It also served as a nice break spot for cosplayers who just needed to sit down and take their wigs off, making it a welcome sight for attendees.
(Keep an eye out for our cosplay gallery, coming soon…)
Panels
A big part of Fanime’s “By Fans, For Fans” philosophy comes through in the panels. Fanime is known for having a ton of panels, including panels from the Guests of Honor and industry panels, but also plenty of fan programming.
Guest panels included Q&A sessions and career spotlights, but also fun panels like “Let’s Talk About Cats!” from guest Emi Lo. “Anime and Manga for Parents” from Gilles Poitras, and Zack Davisson’s “A Brief History of Yokai.” Industry panels, meanwhile, included topics like Central Computers presenting “Build Your Final Form,” and a panel on manga from Dark Horse Comics.
The fan panels were the most plentiful, covering everything from cosplay to demos to debates, and plenty of panels designed just for entertainment. A few standouts included “Anime Survivor,” “(Not) Cthulhu for President,” and the “Extremely Hard Anime Quiz,” but those are just at the tip of the iceberg. Attendees could learn about “A History of Gay Erotic Manga,” discuss “Yaoi: Is It Cringe?” or flashback to their younger days at “In My Toonami Era.”
And of course, there was the Cosplay Wrestling Federation, a two-night event where cosplayer competitors would cut promos and talk smack to earn the audience’s cheers or boos, with the winner claiming the CWF Heavyweight Title. This year, Carl Wheezer defended his title in a triple threat match, facing off against American Goku and Travis Touchdown, with Travis claiming the belt after a heated match. (Full disclosure: this writer is a member of the CWF and participated in both nights.)
Even outside of the panel rooms, attendees could check out Stage Zero, which was filled with performances, shows, and games throughout the weekend. Anyone walking by could see an idol group perform, dance demonstrations for the Black and White Ball, or guest interviews at all hours of the day.
Guests
Fanime typically brings a good variety of guests, and this year, it had a great selection of new and familiar faces alike.
One of the biggest guests this year was Yuriko Yamaguchi, the Japanese voice actress best known for voicing Ritsuko Akagi in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Nurse Joy in Pokémon, and Nico Robin in One Piece. (Keep an eye out for our interview with her, coming soon.) Also joining her from Japan was Ai Nonoka (“Aipon” to her fans), known for her roles as Kyoko in Madoka Magica, Kafuka Fuura in Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, and Konoka in Mahou Sensei Negima. Other voice actor guests included Emi Lo, who voices Lucy in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries, and Khoi Dao, voice of Albedo in Genshin Impact and Kuroko in Kuroko’s Basketball.
Outside of voice actors, Fanime invited ALI (Alien Liberty International) as a musical guest, and Mint Fantôme as a VTuber Guest of Honor. Industry guests included animator and director Hiroshi Nagahama, and writer/translator/lecturer Zack Davisson. Returning Guests of Honor included Gilles Poitras, Maguma, and VampyBitMe, who are familiar and welcome presences at Fanime.
Shopping
Fanime had several halls dedicated to shopping, as well as rooms at its offshoot locations for specialized needs. The biggest was the main Dealer’s Hall, where rows upon rows of vendors sold their goods. Attendees could buy everything from manga to figurines to props and wigs, or pretty much anything else their nerdy hearts desired, although shopping around to find the best deal is always recommended.
Across from the Dealer’s Hall, the Artist Alley was packed with fan artists selling their works and attendees ready to buy them. There were plenty of prints, handcrafted goods, and acrylic standees for sale, along with some stamp rallies for attendees looking to buy plenty of fan works for their favorite series. The artists selling there had some fantastic pieces on display, showcasing the skill and passion of fan creators.
On Thursday and Friday night, Fanime also hosted a Swap Meet, where attendees could make some sales of their own. It was a great opportunity for attendees to find great deals on older goods or to find a new home for the anime, manga, and toys they no longer needed.
In short: it was rare for an attendee to leave the con without at least a few new purchases to carry.
Games
Another large room was the Gaming Hall, which was filled with video games, tabletop games, and even an arcade. Throughout the four-day weekend, Fanime held a multitude of gaming events, including tournaments and chances to win tickets for prizes. There was also plenty of free play, with a library of games for attendees to rent and rows of monitors set up for modern and retro gaming.
Tournaments included fighting games, card games, and even mahjong. The gaming hall also included rows for indie games, where attendees could try out new games in progress from up-and-coming developers, and no shortage of free-to-play arcade games, along with a few pinball games.
At the back of the Gaming Hall, the Gaming Stage hosted a massive screen to show off live events, Jackbox games, and tournaments. Between the tournaments, it often featured attendees playing Rock Band… although it could have stood to lower the volume a little, as people playing card games on the other side of the hall couldn’t hear themselves talk over the music.
Noise levels aside, for anyone looking to enjoy any sort of gaming, the Gaming Hall had them covered. It was also one of the best places to go for evening entertainment, as it stayed open late into the night.
Park Con (Or: Why You’ve Been Seeing Posts About “Foot Juice”)
Fanime is not a 24-hour con (although it used to be), so what did attendees do after dark? While many returned to their rooms to rest up for the next day, plenty of attendees congregated at the park across the street for the unofficial event dubbed “Park Con.”
To be clear: Park Con is not an official event associated with Fanime in any way. However, because it happened near Fanime, at the same time as the con, and with mostly con attendees, it’s still worth mentioning.
Park Con was filled with activity, from the sound of multiple DJs blasting music to people chatting with friends to attendees playing video games in the park. The air was thick with smoke (what kind of smoke varied depending on where one was standing), and it was hard to tell what percentage of the attendees were sober. There was drinking, dancing, people hanging out in trees or carrying each other around; yes, the attendees used Park Con as an opportunity to really cut loose… which resulted in some major problems.
By now, the internet is already aware of the “foot juice” pictures from the event, but that wasn’t the worst health and safety problem of the weekend. There are also reports of violence, including someone having their face bitten. While it’s understandable that people will want a way to have fun past convention hours, these are safety hazards that will need to be addressed if it’s to continue.
To reiterate: Park Con was not affiliated with Fanime, and Fanime is not liable for anything that happened there. But Park Con clearly went a little too hard this time around, and if another one is attempted next year, we can expect a much heavier police presence.
And More
While those were among the biggest events at Fanime, it was far from all. Fanime was filled with things to do and see throughout the weekend, including:
- A car show for itasha cars decorated in anime wraps
- The Fanimaid Cafe, where attendees could sit down for a snack served by convention maids
- Manga Ichiba, a new event for English-language doujinshi (fan manga)
- A Manga Lounge where attendees could relax and do a bit of reading
- Karaoke
- The Black and White Ball
- Video screenings
- Speed dating, for anime fans looking to make a connection
- A stamp rally to take attendees around the convention
With all the activities to do, there was very little opportunity to be bored throughout the four days.
Overall
FanimeCon 2026 continued the convention’s streak. It remains a cornerstone convention of the Northern California anime scene, filling the weekend with activities, cosplay, and plenty of shopping. It brought in a great assortment of guests this year, and the panels and events continue to be entertaining and engaging. There’s a reason Fanime attendees keep coming back year after year.
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]]>The post CarrierCon 2026: A Two-Day Tour of Fandom appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>This was CarrierCon’s first outing as a two-day convention, and by the time the doors opened, both days had sold out. So, let’s see how it went…
The Venue (and Crowd Control)
The USS Hornet is a venue like no other, as it’s literally onboard an aircraft carrier. This makes CarrierCon a unique experience where attendees can explore the ship while shopping, checking out panels, and taking cosplay photos. The flight deck was a particularly popular spot for cosplayers to hang out, as it gave them opportunities to take photos in front of historical airplanes, with the bay in the background, or in front of the hangar entrance.
However, some attendees were wary after 2025’s convention, which our previous report described as “the most crowded CarrierCon yet.” Last year, the crowd resulted in exceedingly long lines in the hot sun and a crowded interior that was difficult to navigate.
This year, however, CarrierCon averted that by splitting attendance across two days, with limited ticket sales per day. As a result, the crowd was much more manageable, and the lines moved much more quickly. So, credit where credit is due, CarrierCon saw that the crowds were a problem and made changes to address it.
For attendees who wanted to go on both days, they could book a nearby hotel, or they could get an overnight experience on the Hornet, spending a night in the ship’s bunks (complete with dinner and a tour of the ship).
Cosplay
Of course, CarrierCon provided a great opportunity for cosplayers, and as always, they showed up in full force.
Many cosplayers opted to take advantage of the unique venue with costumes from series like Goddess of Victory: Nikke, Azure Lane, or classics like Neon Genesis Evangelion. Games like Marvel Rivals, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil were also popular choices, but there was no shortage of variety.
Cosplayers also had the opportunity to showcase their skills in the cosplay contest, where cosplayers showed off their best craftsmanship and performances to the crowd and a panel of experienced judges.
CarrierCon also hosted cosplay gatherings throughout the weekend, where cosplayers from the same series could meet up for photos. In addition to many of the series mentioned earlier, such as Nikke and Marvel Rivals, as well as other gacha games (including Azur Lane and Honkai: Star Rail), anime like One Piece and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and even EPIC: The Musical.
As always, Star Wars cosplay groups like the 501st Legion and the Bay Area Droid Builders were in attendance, so it wasn’t uncommon to walk past a Stormtrooper or R2-D2.
And for cosplayers in need of some emergency repairs, the Cosplay Cleric had her booth, where she and her crew offered free repairs, including sewing, glue, ironing, or any other repair needs. As any cosplayer who’s experienced a last-minute malfunction can attest, those services are always appreciated.
Panels
CarrierCon offered a good variety of stage shows and panels throughout the weekend, appealing to a wide array of interests. This included such panels as the always-enjoyable “Fandom Taboo! Game Show,” a look at “The US Ships in Kantai Collection,” a “Pokémon Film Review Hour,” and even “Swordfighting 101.” A few naval historian YouTubers also took the opportunity to present at CarrierCon, bringing their knowledge and expertise to a thematically appropriate venue.
The Cosplay Wrestling Federation (CWF) returned to CarrierCon, with defending champ Parappa the Rapper fighting off the verbal assaults from challengers to try to retain the Best Of All Time (BOAT) title. CWF is always a fun show, where the audience gets hyped cheering for their favorites or booing heels, and the winner is determined by audience applause. This year, Skeletor returned to claim the BOAT title, although Bill Ding nearly took it for himself. (Full disclosure: this writer is a member of CWF.)
However, the vast majority of the panels were hosted by Vtuber guests. This meant there were plenty of panels like “VTubing as a Career” and “Meet the Clumsiest VTuber EVER.” The Main Stage also hosted Vtuber panels, with a second stage dedicated to events like a “VFleet Virtual Concert” and large meet & greets.
The panels were held in rooms in the lower decks, which could be difficult to navigate to. That did occasionally result in lower attendance, but those who could find the panel rooms certainly enjoyed them.
Guests
CarrierCon always makes sure to invite a few convention guests, and this year was no exception. The big human guest was Meli Grant, a voice actress known for her roles like Gorgo in Honkai: Star Rail and Kilika Rouran in The Legends of Heroes, as well as her own VTuber character, Melizande.
The other guests were all VTubers, who attended via video streams. There, they could meet and greet fans through headsets and cameras, giving fans an opportunity to meet their oshis. VTuber guests included Vampirate Odessa, Chikafuji Lisa, Vivi Chan the Dragon, and entire groups like VFleet Project and Aegis Link.
On Saturday, attendees wanting to stay late could enjoy the Oshi On Deck concert, featuring a wide array of VTuber performers streaming onto the ship for their entertainment.
And More
CarrierCon featured a nicely sized artist alley, as well as a good assortment of vendors. Not only were there convention staples like artwork, acrylic standees, and keychains, but handcrafted goods like crocheted Pokémon. One vendor was selling new tea blends inspired by VTubers, and even Nintendo had a table for enjoying Switch 2 games and getting some free merch.
Below decks, attendees could sit down to enjoy board games. This included a good assortment of go-to favorites, as well as the “Starfinder” RPG, a science fiction variant of Paizo’s “Pathfinder,” now in its 2nd edition. (While CarrierCon did offer D&D Adventurers League games in 2023, including a Dungeoncraft adventure written in cooperation with the Hornet Museum and set on a Spelljammer version of the Hornet, it has not returned since then.)
And when attendees needed a bite to eat, food trucks outside provided good options (and minimal seating). While there weren’t any food options within walking distance, the convention made sure its attendees wouldn’t go hungry. However, the usual food stand within the Hornet was absent this year, so the food trucks were the only option.
Overall
Credit must be given to CarrierCon for addressing the crowd issue from 2025. Splitting it into two days with limited tickets per day helped ensure the crowd remained at a reasonable level each day while still providing plenty of panels and events.
For VTuber fans, CarrierCon had a ton of guests for them to virtually meet, plus panels and shows to enjoy. For cosplayers, the convention is a unique opportunity to take photos on a real aircraft carrier, not to mention events like the Cosplay Contest and CWF. And for fans of anime, comics, and all other things geeky, it was a fun con to explore, check out panels, buy merch, and meet fellow fans.
Were there some areas that could be improved? Sure. The admissions being capped off meant that would-be museum attendees were turned away at the door, which is admittedly a tricky balance to strike. The panel rooms could be hard to find, the gaming options were a little limited, and the guests only appealed to VTuber fans. But those are all minor issues that can be fixed in time, and as CarrierCon has demonstrated this year, it is listening to feedback and working to improve each year.
So with CarrierCon 2026 behind us, attendees can look forward to setting sail again in 2027 and beyond.
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]]>The post Amazon Rolls Out AI Dubs and They’re Even Worse Than You Think appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>Amazon has released an English dub of the “Banana Fish” anime, but rather than hiring actual actors to voice the characters, has instead opted to use AI. The result is a soulless mess that often mispronounces simple words and lacks the ability to emote properly in any given moment.
Not long after, viewers also discovered that Amazon has re-dubbed the “No Game, No Life” anime using artificial intelligence, despite the fact that a perfectly good dub already exists. The results are equally devoid of any form of emotion or character.
Professional voice actors often spend hours in the recording booth trying to ensure they capture the character’s emotions and deliver each line properly. Yet AI is clearly not held to the same standards. As long as it’s cheaper to enter the lines into a generative engine and use whatever it spits back out, quality evidently no longer matters.
While proponents of artificial intelligence claim that AI is an inevitable future, there are some places where the technology clearly doesn’t belong. Voice acting, like other creative endeavors, falls flat when it’s procedurally generated without any human emotion or input. Unfortunately, when profits are placed above all else, the idea of replacing the human element with AI can seem appealing, and this is the result.
Amazon’s AI-generated dubs are described as being in beta. If viewers speak up, they can help ensure it never moves past that point.
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]]>The post Winter Anime Season 2026 appeared first on G33K-HQ.
]]>Heyo humans! Winter slowly approaches, and time for us to get a head-start on seeing what might be good in the coming anime season. So here are six predictions based on what might look interesting and unique. Let’s jump in!
Darwin Jihen
Charlie is a half human/half chimpanzee creature who was rescued from a science lab, and is later raised by a foster family. As he reaches his teen years he finds himself entangled in a terrorist plot by an extremist animal rights group. This one might good based on the fact that it’s a premise that would normally be used for comedy but is the topic of a suspense and drama anime.
Mayonaka Heart Tune
At a young age, Arisu Yamabuki listened to a radio show hosted by a personality known as Apollo. One day she vanished and years passed. One day Arisu finds himself meeting four girls involved in the high school broadcasting club , and one could potentially be the long gone Apollo. A good twist for a mystery of deduction story.
Champignon no Majo
The black witch Luna lives in a mushroom house making medicine, and lonesome due to the belief that her touch is poisonous and deadly. That is until she is drawn into the lives of certain people she observes. This one looks like it has a whimsical charm and appeal.
Kirei ni Shitemoraemasu ka
Wakana Kinme runs a laundry service in the seaside town of Atami. She has no memory of her past but makes many friends and memories while serving. This is a new take on the usual slice of life anime genre.
Kaya-chan wa Kowakunai
Chie-sensei is assigned to look after the troublesome kindergarten student Kaya, but soon discovers supernatural antics surrounding the young child. Billed as a “horror action series taking place in a kindergarten”, this anime is ready to give us something unique right from the get go.
Toumei Otoko to Ningen Onna: Sonouchi Fuufu ni Naru Futari
This story revolves around the invisible detective Akira Tounome and the worker at his agency , Shizuka Yakou . Romance soon begins to blossom. A fresh take on the romance genre in anime.
So there you have it, six anime on the horizon for the winter 2026 anime season. As usual, give them a good three episode viewing to decide if they are worthy of finishing. Happy watching.
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