Anime North 2024 was simply… different. I walked into it with a heavier heart and a quieter mind. Earlier that year, I lost my grandma—right around the time panel registration and photoshoot planning started. I didn’t even check when I got to the con if an Avatar: The Last Airbender photoshoot had happened. The Avatar: The Last Airbender panel that year had been on Sunday, and I didn’t attend. After the con, my friend filled me in. Apparently, I hadn’t missed much. It just wasn’t on my radar. Grief has a way of fogging up even your favourite activities and things you normally love to do for fun.
Day one: familiar faces, no big hauls
Day one of my Anime North 2024 experience started with a meet-up with my friend.
We decided to hit Nominoichi together—a second-hand market of anime-themed merch and quirky fashion finds. I hadn’t been in ages.
Back in 2015, I scored a TRIPP NYC dress there for an absolute steal. This year? I didn’t end up buying anything.
The real wins came later. I found some great deals over in the artist alley and dealers room—less stress, better finds, and still that feeling of victory when you spot the thing you didn’t know you needed.
A special moment? I met a subscriber! I barely post on my YouTube channel anymore, so it felt surreal and sweet to be recognized.
After some catching up and browsing, we secured our goodies early on Friday. Here’s a little convention hack: while some deals drop Sunday, the real gems (and smaller crowds) show up Friday. Saturday? Pure chaos. Oh, and the artist alley and dealer’s room? They turn into saunas by midday.
Friday night vibes: concerts and exhaustion
There was a concert and fashion show Friday night I was excited to peek into. We stayed for a bit before reality (and my knees) checked in. My husband and I had already worked a full day, got dressed in record time, fought through Toronto traffic, and found a less than ideal parking spot. By 7 p.m., I was ready to collapse into a pile of cosplay fabric.
Saturday: exploring in cosplay and staying dry
Saturday at Anime North 2024 had a different energy. Normally, I’d have panels or photoshoots lined up, but not this year. We dressed up again as Fire Nation Katara and Zuko (because some things are tradition!) and wandered the artist alley once more.
The weather, however, had other plans. It poured a lot on Saturday. We mostly stayed indoors until the rain calmed down. No venue hopping, just hanging out, grabbing onigiri, browsing vendors, and peeking at a few panels.
In the afternoon, I also did a couple of cosplay photoshoots.
It actually made for a relaxing, low-key day. Though, I can’t lie: going with a bigger group does add that special magic.
The struggle of traffic and timing
The parking? Atrocious. The traffic? Even worse. Partly our fault—we rolled in late after a dim sum family outing Saturday morning (which was delicious, by the way). But splitting the day like that pulled me out of my usual convention focus. It felt like my Anime North 2024 experience was squeezed into the margins of an already packed weekend.
Sunday: choosing rest over rush
We ended up skipping Sunday altogether. It was a chill con year overall, which honestly matched where I was emotionally. Between mourning my grandmother and planning our upcoming wedding, my heart just wasn’t in full con mode. And that’s okay. Sometimes life writes its own schedule.
Final thoughts on Anime North 2024
My Anime North 2024 experience taught me something: every convention feels different depending on where you’re at in life. That year was less about panels and photoshoots, and more about taking it slow and enjoying the simple comforts of the con. Sometimes, just walking around, seeing familiar faces, and soaking up the atmosphere is more than enough.
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