News

We’ve Got Elegance Here at FanimeCon!

May 24, 2019

For those who love to dance, FanimeCon has ALL the options! Aside from the nightly FanimeCon Dance, there is the formal Black & White Ball on Sunday night at 6:00 pm where attendees will show off their moves. Bringing your own partner is optional.

One thing to know: the Black & White Ball is a formal attire ball with a dress code. Check the Black & White Ball Dress Code page on the website, and if your outfit doesn’t quite work, check out Idris’ Closet!

All throughout the weekend, the Black & White Ball team will be offering dance lessons in a variety of styles. Don’t worry if you’ve never done a tango because you can take one of the group lessons or sign up for a private lesson. Check online for the Black & White Ball lesson schedule.

If formal wear is not your thing, but you can’t stop and won’t stop dancing, or you just want to get more practice in, make sure to go to the Decompression Dance Party on Saturday at 10:00 pm in the San Jose Marriott’s San Jose Ballroom.

Don’t have anything formal or want to sell your formal wear? Be sure to swing by Idris’ Closet for clothing sales and to enter their Disneyland ticket drawing! Idris’ Closet is located at the San Jose Marriott in Willow Glen 2 & 3. All proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish® foundation.

Still can’t get enough of dancing? Be sure to swing by Stage Zero throughout the weekend to check out the dance challenges and competitions. Check out the FAQ page for more info!

Is It Wrong to Pick up Dakis at Silver Island?

May 24, 2019

Buckle up, FanimeCon is trying something new this year for the 18+ crowd! The Doubletree Hotel will be hosting Silver Island, your prime adult entertainment destination featuring uncensored shopping, hentai viewing (including yaoi!), an adult gaming room, and much, MUCH more. Silver Island will be in operation Friday through Sunday, from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am.

Silver Island is absolutely chock full of fantastic events that will keep you and your friends entertained into the night including a wide array of games! Those who aren’t faint of heart can try the What’s in the BOX?! game and try to guess what it is they’re being asked to blindly touch, or try their luck with Let’s Make a Deal! And as part of our Silver Celebration, we’re also bringing back the wildly popular Casino, where you can try your hand at classics like poker, blackjack, and more.

There’s enough steamy content on the Island to give anyone the vapours, so bring yourself back to life with some awesome munchies, courtesy of the food trucks of Moveable Feast! Friday will feature Twister Truck, Saturday will be 333 Truck, and West Poke will close out the festivities on Sunday!

But how does one get to the fabled Silver Island? Not to worry! A shuttle bus will take you to Doubletree Hotel and back free of charge, 24 hours a day! Check out the routes and schedule (as well as more general details) here!

In order to be a part of any of the festivities, you MUST present a valid, unexpired government ID. This could be a Driver’s License, State ID, Military ID, and/or Passport. No bicycles allowed on the shuttle, please!

If the Prize is Right, Come on Down!

May 24, 2019

Have you ever had a discussion regarding the ramifications of Chibiusa’s time travel in Sailor Moon? Did you once write an essay on the origins of the Konami Code? Maybe you even memorized all the episode names in One Piece. If this sounds like you, then you are a perfect fit for the FanimeCon Game Show!

The FanimeCon Game Show is a collection of different contests where you can be awarded prizes, all you have to do is win! Some games require a quick trigger finger and the right video game knowledge, while others only require you to be able to read a room and correctly predict what the audience is thinking. If you think you have the right ratio of random trivia knowledge, reflexes quicker than Vash the Stampede, and quick improv skills then come on down and show us your stuff!

Games will be running throughout the weekend, and will be rotating every hour! This gives you plenty of chances to give it a shot.

All contestants on stage are awarded an assortment of prizes running from gift cards to unique merchandise. Winners can advance to our final game where they can win up to $500 in cash – Or they can risk it all for a chance at our special $1000 jackpot!

Locations and Times:

Stage Zero: San Jose Convention Center – Stage Zero
Friday: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sunday: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Games Presentation Stage: San Jose Convention Center – Hall 3
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Volunteer for a chance to win these prizes: plushies, Izuku Midoriya figure, Goku figure, and more!

Volunteer for a Chance to Win Prizes

May 24, 2019

Are you interested in going to FanimeCon and getting your badge reimbursed? Want a chance to get cool prizes too? Then volunteering for FanimeCon may be for you!

Volunteer for just 20 hours to get a full reimbursement for a 4-day badge (or 5 hours for a 1-day badge). FanimeCon needs help at all hours of the day in various departments, so come to the Volunteers room to set up a schedule that works for you!

The Volunteers Department is located in Silicon Valley Room in the San Jose Marriott, and our hours of operation are:

Friday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Monday 7:00 am – 4:00 pm

Do You Hear the People Sing?

May 24, 2019

Then the Karaoke Room is where you should go! The Karaoke Contest is the perfect place for you to dazzle the audience. Showcase your vocal skills to compete for victory, acclaim, the right to sing at the Masquerade Cosplay Contest, and prizes! Sign ups will be open on Friday from 3:00 pm up until the Preliminary Round starts at 6:00 pm, followed by the Final Round starting at 9:00 pm.

Does a tournament-style comedy karaoke contest sound like an amazing time? Can you ad lib an idol dance routine while singing? Then the Ultimate Karaoke Fighting Challenge is just the competition for you! Join us on Saturday at 2:00 pm for your chance at the Championship Title!

If instrumental music is more your jam, then Acoustikaraoke! has you covered! This is your chance to perform covers or arrangements of your favorite songs, or amaze us with an original composition! Both groups and solo acts are welcome, and sign ups will be available before the contest starts on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Last, but certainly not least, is our Karaoke Gong Show! Do you have what it takes to amuse and comedically horrify the audience (and judges) to earn the notorious Worst of Show?! Sign ups will be available all weekend before the contest starts at 10:00 pm on Sunday. Keep in mind that you must be 18+ to participate, and you must be 16+ to attend the Gong Show.

Between contests, the Karaoke room will have open mic karaoke available for all your singing and listening needs with a song list wider than FanimeCon is long. The Karaoke Room is located in room 212 on the Concourse level of the SJCC. Please check the Pocket Guide for more information!

Photo Scavenger Hunt List Available

May 23, 2019

Interested in winning a figure, some Pocky, ramune, or other sweet prizes? Check out the Photo Scavenger Hunt list for FanimeCon 2019! This year the hunters will be searching for cosplayers dressed as the themes from previous years. Participants will need to find 10 cosplayers of different FanimeCon years’ themes from our list, take a picture, and return to the Scavenger Hunt judge! The first hunters to complete the challenge will win prizes! Participants will need a camera or smartphone.

You can get your photos evaluated on Saturday and Sunday at these locations and times:

San Jose Convention Center – Hall 3, Speed Painting Event
Saturday: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

San Jose Convention Center – Info Desk 4, Opposite Hilton Entrance
Sunday: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Dance Dance FanimeCon!

May 23, 2019

FanimeCon Dance is where all the dancing queens and kings get together each night, Thursday through Monday, and dance the night away. Dance opens at 8:00 pm on Thursday, and at 7:00 pm for the rest of the con. Each night ends at 2:00 am!

You can find the Dance area on the second floor of the San Jose Convention Center (Room 230). Definitely do some exploring and check out the adjacent theme room and water center.

Check the full list of rules on the website’s Dance Notices and Rules page. Remember: you may be subject to a security check; no outside food or drink; no physical or verbal harassment; you will have to wait in line to re-enter if you leave; and only CLEAR bags are allowed in the room.

You can’t stop the beat!

Swap ‘Til You Drop!

May 23, 2019

The Swap Meet is your chance to scoop up merchandise at unrivaled prices from your fellow convention attendees! Sellers that you can’t find in the Dealer’s Hall or Artist Alley will set up shop and give you the opportunity to browse their wares, revealing a treasure trove of fandom merch from the past and present. Sellers aren’t official dealers or Guests of Honor, just regular folks cleaning out their inventory, so you can be sure that you’ll get some amazing deals. You can expect to find anything and everything geeky, from sweet vintage manga to Funko Pops. You may even find the missing piece of your next cosplay. It’s like the best garage sale of all time, and you never know, you may find that rare piece of memorabilia that you’ve been hunting for!

The Swap Meet is located in the South Hall, which is the long rectangular building located behind the San Jose Convention Center. Head down South Market St, away from Plaza de Cesar Chavez, and it will be on your right!

The Swap Meet schedule is as follows:

Thursday 7:30 pm – Friday 12:00 am
Friday 8:00 pm – Saturday 1:00 am

Check out the Swap Meet page for additional rules!

Three! Two! One! Start Gaming!

May 23, 2019

Get ready to flex those fingers and show your skills at FanimeCon’s eGaming area. You will have a multitude of titles to choose from, such as Overwatch, Smash Bros, and Just Dance. Whether you are a button masher or a c-c-combo breaker, a console connoisseur or a PC pro, there is a game for you waiting to be played! There will be both free play as well as scheduled tournament events available for sign up. All tournament sign-ups will be on site only.

We are also happy to announce that for the second year in a row the arcade games will be free to play for all FanimeCon attendees! That’s right, you can once again save those quarters to buy yourself something nice in the Dealer’s Hall or Artist Alley while still being able to get your Dance Dance Revolution on!

eGaming is within SJCC Hall 3 and is open 24 hours starting at 6:00 pm on Thursday through 2:00 pm Monday.