All photos taken by Kelly-Mae Matt
Article written and edited by Kelly-Mae Matt

Recently, I was able to attend my first convention in over two years. Now, I am not an avid convention goer by any means, nor am I the sort of person prone to finding myself in overly busy places for the pure sake of it. With that said, I will go where the idols go, and if a convention is where they congregate, then by all means, take me there, too.

When I do attend a convention, however, you will typically find me around the stage area, watching a performance or two and waving a penlight. And despite what I say about rarely attending conventions these days, I do love the variety of performances that happen there. Whether it is a full-fledged group or a Kaigai idol just starting out, conventions have become a haven for those who love the art of the performer, and London Anime & Gaming Con is no stranger to hosting some of the best that the UK has to offer when it comes to performers, old and new alike.

Of course, there is more to offer at a convention outside of the performers set to stun us all the moment they take the stage
—they just so happen to be my draw for attending.

From a variety of stalls selling merchandise and handmade jewellery, props and more, to cosplay competitions and artists sharing their crafts, London Anime & Gaming Con had a lot to offer, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time looking around the stalls, talking to the artists within the Artists Alley and supporting the small, incredible artists that make up this wonderful community.

A haven for fans of Anime, Manga, Gaming, TV, Movie and Japanese culture, I was completely overwhelmed by the plethora of stalls that I could see around every corner. There was a stall for everything, I would like to say, with some dedicated to snacks and props, others to Sanrio, plushies and ita bags, and others dedicated to games, books, comics, hats, as well as those focusing on clothing, jewellery and, of course, art.

Oh, and Lucky Bags. There were lots, and lots, and lots of Lucky Bags. I was a little taken aback by the sheer amount of them, I will not lie. It was almost as if there was a set of lucky bags to every other table, and something many wanted to partake in, if all of the attendees carrying the colourful bags in hand were anything to go by.

One of the biggest draws of the Anime and Gaming conventions is, of course, the guests and panellists who take to the stage. With well-known voice actors and creators in attendance, it’s no surprise that many fans will flock to a stall where they can take a picture with their favourite voice actor, or get a signature on treasured merchandise that will become even more valuable once meeting their idol.

Sadly, I did not see any of these panels (unless we count a brief listen to a DnD panel), nor did I talk to any of the special guests manning a line of tables for autographs and picture; no, my main goal for this event was to, first and foremost, watch a specific Kaigai Idols debut, mostly because my nephew is a fan, but also because her concept intrigued me. Like any family supportive family member, I wanted to nurture my nephew’s hobbies and let him see a performance by an idol he really connected with.

It doesn’t hurt that I am an idol fan myself, and I won’t lie, I took absolute glee in learning that my nephew now has a similar interest to me.

Of course, I wanted to get a general idea of the convention, too. I believe the last time I had visited an Anime and Gaming Con was back in 2019, and since then, it seems to have grown a significant amount. This specific event was held across three floors of the Novotel London West in Hammersmith, with the main stage being situated on the lowest floor, along with tables, a bar for drinks and snacks, as well as various other stalls for people to look at.

I did not buy much this time around, however the things that are sold at conventions are amazing. I absolute love looking at what others create, such as masks, jewellery or art, and talking the different vendors that attended the event was an absolute joy. The artists especially are such open, kind individuals who truly love what they do, so to support them in their journey is a rewarding thing.

I was also able to meet Scotland’s own magical cat girl idol, the adorable Meowgical Rosie! I was also able to catch a snippet of her performance while running around the con in a bid to find my way, but sadly, I missed pretty much all of it. I still got to speak with her, however, and took the opportunity to take one cheki with her after checking out all of her cute merchandise. Honestly speaking, I think that Rosie has some of the most well-made, well-designed merchandise out there, and you can really see the effort and passion that has been put into each piece that she sells to her fans.

And, as expected, Rosie herself is a sweet individual. An abundance of pastel cuteness with a wicked sense of humour, there is no doubt that her charm will endear you to her the second you meet her, so definitely check her out and begin supporting the sweet, magical cat idol hailing all the way from Scotland!

I also got to meet the wickedly talented Shao Dow ten or so minutes before his performance and had a brief chat with him. An award winning rapper, Manga author and occasional ninja, Shao Dow is a charming and talented individual whose show I did have the privilege of watching for the first time.

With music featured on Fortnite (Thunder Roll), as well as a featured artist on Tch N9ne’s Asin9ne album, it comes as no surprise that Shao Dow was an anticipated performer on the main stage, because it was packed. Already the seats had been filled, and already eager fans were waiting at the front of the stage for Shao Dow to finally step out of the shadows (haha, see what I did there?) and begin his performance.

So, with our penlights in hand—or in my case, on my wrist; I had a camera to mess around with—we prepared for an incredible, award-winning performance to unfold before our very eyes on the Anime and Gaming Con Main Stage.

Shao Dow is, first and foremost, a professional. Mixing both English and Japanese lyrics into his music, as well as excerpts of dialogue from various well-known voice actors from popular anime titles, Shao Dow showcased his power and talent on the Anime and Gaming Con stage to a besotted crowd.

It was a brilliant performance, one filled with charm and charisma as Shao Dow entertained his crowd for an entire hour. He is a passionate, proud fan of anime and Japanese culture who showcases his love for both in such a respectful and creative way. You can also see that he loves and appreciates his fans dearly in the way that he interacts with them, and there is nothing but gratitude for those who come to watch his shows and offer him their support, even in the smallest of ways.

Every moment that Shao Dow spent on and off that stage was filled with nothing but gratitude for his music, his fans and the world he can so passionately work within. He truly shines as a performer, and is just as lovely off stage. I cannot help but feel privileged to have met him and witnessed the talent he holds, so I can only urge those who have not heard of him yet to check out his music, and to consider attending one of his performances in the future to truly understand what Shao Dow is all about.

Once Shao Dow’s set had ended, it was time for the next performance, and the entire reason for why I had attended my first convention in who knows how long.

Finally, it was time to witness the official debut of Cassidy of the Cosmos.

Hailing from outer space, Cassidy has come down to planet Earth to share her music and use her presence to inspire others who may feel held back because they are ‘different’. Along with her (definitely not kidnapped) human backup dancers, Cassidy created a safe space both on and off the stage for her dedicated listeners.

Wearing a cute navy sailor uniform with star embellishments, a vibrant green petticoat and beret that barely concealed her antennae, Cassidy looked striking on the Main Stage as she walked onto the stage for her debut. Though nervous, it was wonderful to see her consideration for her audience shine through: “Some songs will be quite loud, so be sure to put on your ear defenders, or move further back if that makes you comfortable,” she would tell the attendee’s. It’s something I have seldom experienced at a live performance myself, and to hear this warning consistently throughout Cassidy’s performance was a breath of fresh air.

Of course, Cassidy herself is Autistic—it is a key part of her idol identity, and a reason why she chose her alien persona; she has felt ‘alien’ated in the past—so her understanding of those with sensory issues did not go unnoticed. In fact, I think I nearly cried when she said this.

That didn’t stop me from standing right beside the speaker, though, which undoubtedly blasted my eardrums to smithereens as I took pictures.

It’s Cassidy’s consideration for others that endears her to the audience, I believe. That, and her earnest pursuit to follow her dreams while inspiring others. Though she would comment on how she had not perfected a song or a dance, it was obvious that a lot of effort had been put into the setlist, the choreography and the songs that she sang.

For an hour Cassidy entertained us, her smile unwavering and her energy unmatched. Driven by sheer adrenaline, desire and a wish to inspire those who watched, Cassidy threw herself into the deep end and gave us a performance filled with emotion and power. Whether she was dancing to BABYMETAL’s PAPAYA, performing Wotagei in the background or singing her debut track, Invader Alert, Cassidy gave her all from beginning to end. She delivered a performance that was diverse in sound and emotional in delivery, and impacted her audience with each and every song performed.

Cassidy was remarkable and, understandably, overstimulated by the end of the performance. Yet still she soldiered on, taking free cheki with those who wanted to meet and talk to her after the performance. It seemed like Cassidy’s mission was already well underway; she had successfully inspired her audience and gave them a lease of life through her performance.

Watching her interact with her fans both old and new felt precious, and it’s clear that with each person who came up to talk to her, Cassidy was thankful. Even when I came to congratulate her myself, she thanked me for taking photos and became emotional when praised. There is no doubt that Cassidy is hard-working and determined, but she is also humble and sweet and doing her best, all while proving those who have doubted her in life wrong as she pursues her dream of inspiring others.

I’m glad I could witness Cassidy’s debut, and I look forward to seeing her announce even more performances in the future in a bid to pursue her dreams, and to capture the hearts of even more humans that watch her shows.

With Cassidy’s performance and a round of cheki finished, the rest of our time at the convention was left to simply walking around and enjoying ourselves. By that point, it was close to five in the evening and the event was still busy, however it was clear it was also winding down as most of the adult attendee’s started going back to their respective rooms or hotels to get ready for the evening events.

However, it is thanks to these dwindling crowds that we could take our time perusing the Artists Alley. I took no pictures (blast!), however the sheer talent that lies within Artists Alley is immeasurable, and there was an abundance of it to be seen at London Anime and Gaming Con. Set on the second floor, it was nice to see a dedicated floor for all of the incredible artists and creators within the film, TV, anime, gaming ad Japanese culture fandoms. There was a lot to see and, of course, all of the artists were so delightful to talk to while perusing their beautiful creations.

After that, though, I mostly hovered around Meowgical Rosie’s booth. As previously mentioned in the post, Rosie’s own merchandise is absolutely incredible and well-thought out, from really cute CD’s to adorable key chains that were practically sold out by the time I made my way back to talk to her.

I think that speaking with Rosie is actually one of my favourite memories from the convention. Though I enjoyed all of it—except the crowds, but that’s to be expected at a convention, so I can’t complain too much—Rosie was a highlight. She’s such a joy to talk to, and her sense of humour is simply incredible. Toward the end of the day, the room kept falling into darkness which ultimately brought forth Rosie’s wrath. It was an incredibly funny moment, and one of my favourite interactions from the day.

And once those conversations ended? Well, it was the end of the convention for me. It was getting dark outside, and the evening portion of the convention would begin an hour or so later, which meant that all minors would need to leave the premises. So, with my sister and nephew in tow, we left to forage for food and make our way back to our AirBnB.

Tired, a little overloaded sensory wise but undoubtedly happy, my day at London Anime and Gaming Con came to an end. It was hectic, it was exciting, and above all, it was fun. Though I don’t attend conventions a great deal compared to others, I do enjoy them when I’m there. So, I look forward to the next time I can attend one, but it won’t be for a little while, I think.