Anime Nation Fest, touted as an ‘anime extravaganza like no other’ and held from April 19-21 at the LA Convention Center, has come under fire for poor attendance, disorganization, and allegedly misleading vendor information.
Vendor Ayime highlighted the lack of signage, minimal footfall, and limited attendees, showing TikTok clips with sparse crowds throughout the weekend. She expressed disappointment with the lack of advertised surge in people traffic and the extended period in which the lights in the Artist Alley were turned off.
Keyyahnuh, another vendor, echoed Ayime’s observations and raised concerns about inflated attendance numbers allegedly provided by the parent company to attract sellers. They stated that vendors were told 13,000 tickets had been sold, with an expected 30,000 attendees over the three days. However, a private contractor informed them that these numbers were based on the company’s best event in 2004.
The convention is organized by Mega Show, which describes itself as a ‘trailblazer’ with 30 years of event experience. The company’s website lists several other tattoo and anime shows scheduled for the year in Houston, San Jose, and Scottsdale.
Vendors expressed frustration over the high stall costs, with independent artists paying upwards of $400 and vendors around $800. They emphasized that such fees typically imply access to a large audience, which was not the case at Anime Nation Fest. Many vendors who came from out of state based on the expected attendance reported significant financial losses.
Attendees also voiced their dissatisfaction on Reddit, criticizing the limited exhibits, lack of cosplay contest entries, and short duration of the convention. Accessibility issues, such as long operating hours and limited loading dock access for vendors, added to the grievances.
Despite the criticisms, Mega Show has yet to respond or acknowledge the issues raised. We have contacted Mega Show for comment and will update if they provide a response.
