BN'K ON TOUR: THE REVIEWS

 As fandom events continue to grow in the United States, Florida, especially the Central Florida area, has seen an increase in pop-culture events. For years, if you stayed in Orlando or the greater Orlando area, you could expect a few showcases a year. Anime Day Orlando in the spring and fall, MegaCon Orlando in the early summer, now early spring, Mystic Con in the late spring, and the popular Christmas-themed Holiday Matsuri in the winter. However, a new convention has decided to throw its hat in the ring of Central Florida conventions, taking over a portion of the west wing of the Orange County Convention Center from August 8th to the 10th, 2025. That convention was Animate! Orlando . This convention is by no means a humble operation; it’s a part of the larger GalaxyCon conglomerate, which hosts around 16 shows each year in cities all across the US. The Animate show series currently has four cities it tours in, including Columbus, Ohio, and Raleigh, North Carolina. According ...

As someone who has been attending cons since 2013, I’ve seen the shift in convention culture. Conventions that once filled small hotel meeting rooms or community centers now take over convention centers and multiple hotels, growing to feature larger talent, sponsors, exhibitor halls, and venues. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is very different from the conventions of previous decades, and I’m a sucker for the conventions of that era. Smaller, cozier events where everyone knows each other, and yet each year you discover something new. You get to watch your friends and community grow, and there's something nostalgic and endearing about it all.  I haven’t felt this way about a convention in a long time, but that’s what this year's Anime Festival of Orlando (AFO) felt like. It felt like home. I've been going to AFO for nearly a decade, and I’ve seen the event change and grow over the years, but these last two years feel like a renaissance for the convention, as AFO...

Enter Holiday Matsuri, Central Florida otaku’s beloved holiday tradition where anime fandom meets Christmas aesthetics. The 2023 showcase, held at the World Marriot Center, bid a bittersweet farewell to the venue, yet the air was thick with the warmth of family, excitement, and joy. The convention seamlessly merged holiday cheer with the vibrant energy of anime culture, offering a unique and memorable experience that only Holiday Matsuri can do. Despite the various obstacles Holiday Matsuri as a convention and their staff had to face such as mid-week dates, those dates' proximity to Christmas, and some safety concerns, the BN’K team and I (Blaque N’ Kulture) genuinely believe that HolMat (Holiday Matsuri) managed to pull off a pretty stellar showcase. Attendee Experience Accessibility Let’s begin by discussing HolMat’s attendee experience. Regarding accessibility, this event showcased commendable efforts in prioritizing accessibility, setting an example for other conventions to fol...

  Anime Festival of Orlando is a gem among anime conventions-- a celebration of the vibrant world of anime that leaves attendees spellbound and eager for more. This event has been a staple in the Orlando anime community and the local convention community and for good reason. This convention is nothing short of fantastic offering tons of anime-themed activities that cater to fans of all tastes and interests. Honest Critiques and Suggestions We here at BN'K on Tour value transparency, so we do have a few critiques about the event. However, to be honest these critiques aren't detractors of the event, just places of opportunity for the event to improve. AFO is a mainstay in the Orlando area for anime cons and has held its convention at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International for the majority of the duration of its existence. Additionally, the Wyndham is a popular partner for special interest conventions due to its accessibility, bookability, and overall price point. That being sai...