＜要約＞今年もまた、カナダのアニメファンが運営する大イベント「アニメノース」の季節がやってきました。2023年は、5 月 26 ～ 28 日、トロントコングレスセンターとその周辺の会場にて開催されます。アニメノースは、アニメ、マンガ、音楽、ゲーム、さまざまな日本のポップカルチャーを中心とした日本文化を祝うファンイベントです。近年は各種パフォーマンスやコンテストもさらに盛り上がりを見せ、今年で第11回を迎えるアイドルコンテストは、インターナショナルな芸能活動のきっかけにもなっています。

26周年を迎えるアニメノースは、90 年代半ばにトロント大学のアニメクラブ主催者のひとりで、コンベンション運営にも携わっていたドナルド シモンズと、中心メンバーたちが企画し主催した800人規模のイベントからスタートしました。

アニメコンベンションが継続していけるよう周到な計画・企画で毎年少しずつイベントを成長させ、いまや国境を越えて参加者が集まり、日本やイギリス、北米からアニメ声優やアイドルも招くカナダを代表するファンコンベンションとなっています。また、Japan Festival CANADAでも、Anime North Live!ショーを行い組織支援に参加するようになりました。

アニメノースの現ディレクターである Andrew Scott氏が、モントリオールのIrulanneさん（自らもパフォーマーでアイドルコンテストを開催、運営してきた）から引き継いだアイドルコンテストやショーをどのように展開し盛り上げているか、また、現在までのアニメノースの歴史や注目イベントについて書いていただきました。

（今年のアニメノースに関する詳細情報はこちらをご覧くださいwww.animenorth.com ）

When you think anime, many things come to mind; manga, cosplay, Akihabara, otaku, and all of these things would be accurate and relevant! Conventions are something that have grown increasingly popular over the years and a vast number of them exist all across the globe.

Conventions exist for a myriad of fandoms, and it’s no surprise that anime fandoms have spawned some of the most elaborate and entertaining cons (a common abbreviation used for conventions).
So all that being said, who, and what is Anime North? It is the largest fan run anime convention in Canada, celebrating anime, manga, music, games, and all other forms of Japanese culture, it is also one of the founding members of the IOEA (International Otaku Expo Association).

Anime North also celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022! Beginning in the mid-90’s, one of our con executives – Donald Simmons, began working with another convention called Ad Astra, while also being one of the organizers for the anime club operating out of the University of Toronto.

With anime conventions starting to gain popularity throughout the US, and his involvement with similar circles of people up here, he saw an opportunity for Toronto to take on an anime focused convention of its own. So Donald, along with his fellow co-conspirators, decided to make a one day event to start out with in order to limit financial risk, and be able to lay appropriate groundwork.

Too much, too fast would have been a disaster given that most of the people involved had never been involved with something like this. Announcing the event nearly a year in advance, the original team held monthly meetings to put it all together, aiming for 300 attendees for a break-even point, and then of course hoping to get more. The first year saw almost 800 attendees, so the crew knew they were onto something!

Most of the early staff were anime fans, but of course others were drawn in as well – some just liked working fan-run events, regardless of genre. With being in the early stages of development as well, there was no specific skillsets “required” in order to help out. Even to this day for a variety of roles this is the case, as sometimes the work is something that almost anyone can do!

Now if you have never been to convention of this kind, you may wonder what exactly you can expect to find happening. From its earliest days Anime North has had a dealer’s room (exhibitor room for vendors of anime, and Japanese paraphernalia), artist alley (booths set up for those who like to draw and do custom works and creations), panels discussing everything you could imagine (from politics in anime, to fan desired plot continuations), video showings, costume contests (now known as the masquerade) for cosplayers, and guests (early days it was mostly local).

Once the con had expanded to 3 days, they began to include dance, and gaming. Guests have included a wide range of people over the years, with 1998 being the first voice actor (Matthew Miller) joining, and a number of the English voice actors from Sailor Moon, which was incredibly popular here, in the following years.

As the years have gone on more events and guests have been added to the convention, including more traditional Japanese presentations and performances. Local taiko drum group, Nagata Shachu, has performed many times at Anime North, as well as local Yosakoi dance team, Sakuramai. Last year even saw Katsura Sunshine, a North American Rakugo performer join our event!

With game shows and contests being a great way to make the convention interactive, and adding another level or participations, it comes as no surprise that eventually something more than a karaoke contest would evolve. In 2011, Kathleen “Irulanne” Boucher, made the decision to start the Anime North Idol competition, following the years of success she had previously, in the foundation of Otakuthon Idol over in Montreal.

Being a performer herself, and embracing the Japanese appeal of idol subculture, while also combining the stylings of the televised Idol competition of the western world, Irulanne had a great event on her hands. With the aid of people she had met through Otakuthon Idol and whom she knew attended Anime North, in 2010 the convention saw the first ever Anime North Idol competition. Boasting 7 talented finalists performing to a room full of people, the competitors were judged live with voice actors Greg Ayres, and Robert Axelrod joining the panel!

4 years later Irulanne made the call to step down, living over in Alberta and having a growing toddler, made coordinating the event and travel a bit tricky – even if her husband also travelled and performed with the 404’s (an improv comedy troupe that has performed at conventions nationwide for years)!

One of her staff, Andrew Scott, however saw the potential for Idol to become a con staple and didn’t wish to see it end there. So with her blessing to continue the Anime North Idol name, he took up the mantle, bringing on new staff while also being the events emcee. Andrew was brought along to staff after meeting Irulanne at Otakuthon in 2010 as the previous years’ winner of Otakuthon Idol, and as a theatre performer he loved getting the chance to keep the show going and allow even more Idols to shine!

Fast forward to 2022, where Anime North Idol was finally able to crown its 10th winner and celebrate a decade of Anime North Idol! AN Idol’s have gone on to be amazing performers outside of the convention, some pursuing professional singing and music careers, some becoming vocal coaches, and some like Andrew, taking on roles in the music theatre world!

Others have gone on to win other competitions, like Japan Festival CANADA’s talent competition winner, Elisabeth Santos, who then went to Japan and performed at the Canadian Embassy. Of course Andrew likes to try and give his Idol’s chances to perform whenever he can, which includes the Ultimate Idol contest in 2018 (homage to the competitions start with 7 finalists, by having the 7 previous winners compete), being a part of the Anime North Live! Show at Japan Festival CANADA, and the upcoming Idol 10th Anniversary concert.

While Andrew continues to run the Anime North Idol show, as well as host a few other events over the convention weekend, he was also moved on to join the ranks of Japan Festival CANADA, and assist with its organization!

Anime North will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre and surrounding area this year, from May 26-28! See www.animenorth.com for more details.