Cosplayers dress up as Goofy, Donald, Mickey Mouse, and Sora from the game “Kingdom Hearts.”
The Jacob K. Javits Center transformed into a haven for anime fans, celebrating Japanese culture by indulging in cosplay, creating artwork on their favorite shows and games, and meeting voice actors. The event ran from August 21 to 24 — the first time the convention ran for four days — with over 148,000 people in attendance.
Guests were able to partake in a variety of activities throughout the four days. The convention was divided into a multitude of parts: the exhibitor hall, which featured a plethora of vendors selling exclusive merchandise imported from Japan; the Artist Alley, which had artists displaying their original and fan-made art; and the gaming hall, which included games created by independent artists.
Most notably, fans could dress up in cosplay. A combination of the words “costume play,” fans could dress up as their favorite characters. Some costumes are store-bought, while some are handmade, showcasing the dedication to their fandoms.
“I think [cosplaying] is just a great form of self-expression,” said Cody Ostarnder, a cosplayer based in Queens. “And growing up as a black anime nerd, there was a lot less representation of that. So for me to be able to cosplay and have people like my cosplays, talk to me, and be able to venture into this is really healing that part of me that never felt accepted for the types of hobbies that I had when I was a kid.”
The convention also housed special events, including the second annual American Manga Awards, a first-look at new anime premiering on Netflix and Crunchyroll, and a sold-out concert commemorating 30 years of the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
Anime NYC, which was created by LeftField Media, began in November 2017, drawing over 20,000 fans. The convention has grown tremendously throughout the years, signifying New York City’s appreciation for anime.
Both cosplayers dress up as Vocaloid artist Hatsune Miku.
Cosplayers dress up as Ken Takakura and Momo Ayase from the series “Dandadan.”
Cosplayers dress up as Goro Akechi and Kasumi Yoshizawa from the game Persona 5 Royal.
Cosplayers dress up as Whitebeard, Luffy, and young Big Mom from the series “One Piece.”
A cosplayer dresses up as a combination of Pikachu from the “Pokémon” series and Venom from the “Marvel” universe.
At the river pavilion, a small exhibition on cosplays was presented.
Anime NYC had over 148,000 attendees this year.
A cosplayer dresses up as Suguru Geto from the anime/manga “Jujutsu Kaisen.”
Cosplayers dress up as Nana and Hachi from the anime/manga “Nana.”
Cosplayers dress up as Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami from “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
Cosplayers dress up as Yor and Loid Forger from the manga/anime Spy x Family.
