Anime Magic 2024 was held from August 30th to September 1st at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. This fan-driven convention aimed to revive the “magic” of anime cons by offering an interactive and fun-filled experience. In its fifth year, Anime Magic continued to expand, introducing unique activities like live performances, voice actor panels, and interactive workshops. The event catered to both first-time attendees and convention veterans, with an emphasis on interactivity and inclusivity. The organizers stayed true to their mission of creating a space for fans to engage deeply with their favorite anime, while also providing a welcoming environment for newcomers.
I have attended a lot of events at the Donald E. Stephens convention center and I have to say that Anime Magic was laid out completely different to any other event I have attended there. The vendor floor was on the upper level of the convention center in one of the smaller rooms. I found that it was well-laid out and there was a lot of space. There was a good variety of vendors and the vendors were not all selling the same things.
Convention Floor Confusion
What seemed to be different, to me, was that everything else for the convention was located at the Hyatt hotel. If you wanted to attend a panel or event you had to walk all the way over to the hotel. This, in my opinion, is where Anime Magic had a major downfall as there seemed to be a lack of signage. When you entered the convention center, it was not obvious where the convention floor was. There was nothing indicating that you had to go upstairs, except the flow of people on the escalator. I was asked by several attendees where the floor was.
When it came to collecting my press badge there was also confusion. I walked up to the ticket booth and was directed to three different people before I was told I had to go to the Hyatt to get my press pass. Once there, I found that there wasn’t a lot of signage directing anyone to their destination, but the staff was more knowledgeable and once I asked, I managed to find my press badge.
Cosplay photos
More on the con in the next article. For now here are some of the photos
To see what Cosplay Conventions are coming to your area,
be sure to check out our Cosplay Convention List!
Leave a Reply