Anime North is “by the fans, for the fans”, event chair Irwin Tan told Wikinews in an interview at the event, Saturday. Started by a group of university anime clubs in 1997, it has grown to become one of the largest conventions of its kind in North America, spanning three days, five venues, and tens of thousands of fans.
Along with the dealer's hall, industry tables, and artist booths typical of conventions, Anime North's  convention floor included a formal gallery space, a charity auction in support of Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital, an aerial performer, gaming tables, archery tag, dance events, and outdoor concerts. At one of the hotels surrounding the main venue, an entire 5000 volume manga library was available, for attendees looking to take a quiet pause. Full programming tracks about ball-jointed dolls — Doll North — and homoerotic-themed anime and manga — Yaoi/Yuri North — were also given entire hotels to themselves, allowing them to offer extensive programming.
As with many fan conventions, many fans attended in cosplay of their favourite characters. Some outfits included massive props, like wings, weapons, or even an additional character riding on their back. A variety of anime and manga worlds were represented, as well as video games like Undertale, Western comic books, Disney characters, even "Smug Wendy", and the Ferocious Beast from Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. The event offered panels to help costume creators and wearers develop in their hobby, such as "Thermoplastics for Cosplay", looking at the pliable polymers used to create things like character armour, and "Social Media for Cosplayers".
The cosplay subculture of animegao kigurumi, for which masks of mainly human characters are worn, was well-represented. Ride the Pig Studios, a Nevada-based studio, was set up in the industry section with a photo booth for attendees to get a photo with practitioners of the craft, and two sessions, including one hosted by Kazunori Uhyo Sugiura, a university professor attending from Japan.
Anime North was deemed the fourth largest convention in North American with a primary theme of anime, in 2016, by AnimeCons.com.
Cosplay coverage continues after the interview.
Wikinews had a chance to talk with Irwin Tan, Chair of Anime North, in the midst his busy schedule of checking in with the dozens of departments at the event. The event refers to its volunteers as staff.
((WN))  Since the creation of Anime North, it's amazing how much it's grown. How has the organization been able to deal with the growth?
((WN))  Most conventions tend to be for a certain genre, but anime is much larger than a single genre. How do you balance all of the different interests?
((WN))  How after 21 years do you remain so passionate? Is it seeing everyone else's reactions?
As mentioned earlier, many cosplayers went by the maxim of “go big or go home”, with large props, wigs, wings, and weapons.
While the app Pokemon GO has simmered among the general public from its earlier popularity, the franchise's characters remain popular among attendees.
Many fictional worlds were represented in the selection of the anime, manga, and video game cosplay.
Animegao kigurumi performers rotated in and out of the main hall throughout the weekend.
Costumes extended well beyond anime and manga, with Disney fandom, children's television series Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, comic books, and Wendy's restaurant chain's trolling Twitter account.
A portion of media attention was devoted to the Conservative Party of Canada hosting its leadership convention in the north building of the Toronto Congress Centre, simultaneous to Anime North. Allegedly, hour-long traffic delays at the venue prevented some party members from voting. Polls were Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., local time. The north building is accessed from a different road than the south.

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For fans, by fans: Toronto anime event 2017 among continent's largest