Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because Toronto is about to be invaded by… *checks notes* …Anime North. Yes, that’s right, the annual gathering of people who unironically wear cat ears and argue about which anime waifu is superior is back from May 23-25, 2025. Prepare for maximum cringe.
So, Anime North, huh? Apparently, it’s a “celebration” of anime, manga, and other forms of Japanese culture. Translation: a weekend-long excuse for grown adults to dress up as cartoon characters and awkwardly shuffle around the Toronto Congress Centre (TCC) and Delta Hotel Airport. CGMagazine will be there, bravely documenting the… *ahem*… “best” cosplays. We’re expecting a lot of questionable wigs and even more questionable life choices. Stay tuned!
This “not-for-profit, fan-run convention” (read: organized chaos) boasts “major attractions, activities, and events.” Translation: fan-run panels where people argue about power levels, workshops on how to glue foam to your body, and musical performances that will make your ears bleed. Oh, and don’t forget the shopping areas! The “Artists Alley” (where you can buy overpriced fan art) and the “Vendors Hall” (where you can buy everything else you don’t need). Wikipedia says attendance is up every year? Probably because people keep losing bets and having to go as punishment. 🤣
The event schedule is thrilling:
* Friday: 5 PM – 1 AM (Prime time for awkward encounters)
* Saturday: 10 AM – 1 AM (Peak cringe hours)
* Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM (The slow, agonizing descent back to reality)
But wait, there’s more! You can “meet and greet some of the best anime voice actors in the business!” Translation: you can pay exorbitant amounts of money to have someone who yells into a microphone for a living sign your body pillow. This year’s lineup includes the voice of Tony Tony Chopper (because who *doesn’t* love a talking reindeer doctor?), Sochiro Hoshina (whoever that is), and Mikasa Ackerman (the only character in *Attack on Titan* who isn’t constantly screaming). Don’t forget to check out CGMagazine’s “wonderful interviews” (aka thinly veiled promotional pieces) with these “amazing” voice actors! We asked them the tough questions, like “What’s your favorite flavor of ramen?” and “Do you ever get tired of screaming?” 🍜
And hold onto your hats, folks, because MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN (aka MONSTER IDOL!) is coming to Anime North! Yes, that’s right, a group of people you’ve never heard of will be performing a concert that you definitely won’t understand. But hey, at least it’s something to do while you’re waiting in line for the bathroom. 🚽 And for all you VTuber enthusiasts (we’re not judging… much), there will be a whole host of digital personalities to… interact with? Stare at? We’re not entirely sure what VTubers do, but we’re sure it’s… something.
But let’s be real, the real reason anyone goes to Anime North is for the cosplays. It’s a chance to see people who have dedicated months (or even years) to crafting elaborate costumes that will inevitably fall apart by the end of the weekend. CGMagazine will be diligently documenting these sartorial masterpieces, so stay tuned for our “growing gallery” of questionable fashion choices. Remember, kids, it’s not cosplay, it’s *art*. (Or maybe it’s just a cry for help. 🤔)
So, there you have it, folks. Anime North 2025: a celebration of all things anime, a gathering of like-minded individuals, and a guaranteed source of awkwardness and secondhand embarrassment. We’ll be there, so you don’t have to. (But if you do go, please send us pictures of the weirdest things you see.)
Wish me luck! 🤞
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
