Hundreds of anime and gaming fans flocked to Fredericton this weekend for the annual Animaritime convention. The three-day volunteer run event brings the best of gaming, anime and more to New Brunswick’s capital city. “People get to socialize with likeminded people, and we enjoy seeing them gather and enjoy themselves,” says Animaritime Co-Chair Davy Thomas. “That’s one of the reasons why we volunteer to do this every year.” The annual convention, which has been happening for over 20 years in Fredericton, has grown each year Thomas says. He says this year’s event has nearly all three days filled with various programming. That includes a range of panels at the Convention Centre, gaming tournaments at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel across the street and a costume contest that was held on the stage of the Fredericton Playhouse. There was also a large hall filled with dozens of vendors selling their gaming goods, like Justin Brooks. “Seeing someone walk up to my booth and be, oh my God, I haven’t seen it since I was a kid,” he says of his handmade items celebrating classic video games such as The Legend of Zelda. “Just to see [the look] in their eyes, it just means the world to me.” It’s a similar feeling for fellow vendor Jennifer Carignan, who creates custom leather goods like masks and wallets seen in various series. “I get to come out here and talk to literally thousands of people within the weekend, and it’s so much fun,” she says after spending countless hours in her Nova Scotia workshop preparing for conventions like this one. “You get the big high, the big rush of the show, and then you end up with… a little post con hangover.” The favorite part for most people who attended the event is seeing the range of cosplay and character costumes that many attendees wear with pride. Thomas says it’s amazing to see some of the outfits that stroll around the festivities. He says for many it is clear the costumes are handmade passion projects by cosplayers. “I would just say that I’m jealous because I just get to wear this every year,” Thomas jokes while pointing to his staff t-shirt. “[Cosplayers] get stopped, get picture. They put their heart in it and it’s authentic, so it’s fun to see that they’re enjoying it.” That includes mother-daughter duo of Angel and Ivory Jansen who came dressed up as Pokémon. The pair admits each of their costumes took about 50 hours to create. “Hers is all hand sewn,” says mother Angel. “I use a machine for any sewing I do, [Ivory] does it all by hand.” Angel admits she added a fan inside the mask of her costume with the high temperatures in Fredericton Saturday, which felt closed to 40 degrees Celsius with the humidity. They also admit to taking plenty of breaks to rest and hydrate to avoid overheating in their outfits. “There’s been some staff that have been checking up on the cosplayers,” says Ivory. “Just making sure they’re all doing okay, making sure that everyone’s keeping cool.” That includes Zachary Lumsden, who dressed up as Dr. Robotnik from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. “You have to bring some fans,” Lumsden says when it comes to dressing up in the high temperatures. “And of course, you got to drink some cold water.” When asked if he thought about not cosplaying because of the heat, Lumsden simply said “Not a chance.” “I love cosplaying,” Lumsden smiled. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
