Anime North 2020, Guide Retrospective

I have kept each badge and convention guide for conventions I have been to, most consistently: Anime North, every May in Toronto.  These are each and every Anime North guide back to my first convention in 2003!  Since this weekend would have been AN2020 I pulled them all out for #plaguecon2020.  (Hey, we're all at home celebrating together, right?)

This would have been the Sunday of my 18th Anime North.  My very first convention was the last AN at the original Regal hotel, before it moved over to its current location at the Toronto Congress convention center.  I had gone to see Spirited Away in theater with my mom and friends for my 18th birthday in March.  We stayed until the end of the credits and the two guys who were left til the end with us called out "If you girls like anime, we'll see you at Anime North!"  One google search later and I went that May, and every year since.  With friends, on my own, through university, sorting through anxiety, driving myself for the first time, so many adventures until the quarantine stopped it this year.

I've hard a rough time focusing on getting my costumes progressed or even being particularly creative the past few months but still wanted to celebrate the event, somehow.  I miss Anime North desperately.  I am glad to be able to look forward to future conventions.

If I manage to sustain the motivation I'll upload my badges and some other highlights from my favourite con moments.  I miss my con-buddies -- be well be well be well!

PS

Shoutout to my poor CostumeCon 2020 Montreal organizers who got the quarantine order pulled the day the con started in March.  I see your hard work even if I didn't get to see you.  I'm sorry you got any backlash at all for things completely out of your control.  Thank you.