Anime North 2023 - Con Overview
COVID-19 Protocols
Convention Schedule
Guests of Honour
Check them all out through the Guests tab above.
Major Events
- Toronto Congress Centre (650 Dixon Road)
- Delta Airport Hotel (655 Dixon Road)
- Sheraton Hotel (801 Dixon Road)
The North Building will hold our convention Main Stage (a ballroom seating 2000 people) as well as costuming panels.
- Opening Ceremonies: Come and kick-off the con!
- 404s Comedy Shows: An all-geek improve pop-culture comedy troupe.
- Drag Show: Cosplay and nerdy drag performances. Firday 8:30 PM. All ages welcome.
- Anime Hell: Two hours of video weirdness with commentary.
- Fashion Show: Our fashion pageant.
- Burlesque Show (18+): Nerdy burlesque. Saturday 10:30 PM.
- Saturday Masquerade: Our epic costume contest. Saturday 7 PM. Awards presented Sunday 1 PM.
- Costuming Panels: Discuss all things cosplay related. All weekend.
- AN Idol: Our idol singing completion. Sunday 2 PM.
- Anime Music Video Contest: Our entries and winners of our annual music video contest.
- Pop Idol Dance Showcase: Attendees perform Asian pop songs. Come and cheer them on!
- Closing Ceremonies: See you next year!
The South Building will host Convention Registration as well as the following events:
- Vendor’s Hall: 400 booths of anime, manga, and much more, all for sale and waiting for you. Open all weekend in Halls F and G.
- Guests Appearances: See our VIP guests discuss their past and present work and other topics. South Building: Cohen, Pinsent and Berton front rooms.
- Artist Alley: Approx. 400+ amateur artists display their work and wow you with their talent. Open all weekend in Halls D and E
- Pro Plaza: Come and see our artist guests. In Hall E
- Gallery Momiji: Displaying professional and amateur artwork alongside special guest displays, with pieces for sale at auction and prints for sale in the Gallery Store. Open all weekend in Hall D.
- Model Show: A Mecha display presented by Gunpla Montreal. In Hall D.
- Photo Alley: Amateur and professional photographers take your picture. Halls D/E.
- Outdoor Rave: Dance away at the Otakubaloo on Friday and Saturday nights with a series of guest DJs at our outdoor stage.
- Autographs: Come and get a memento of our Guests of Honor. Autograph times will be listed in the AN Pocket Guide. Hall A.
- Nominoichi: A Flea Market of 180 tables of used anime, manga, and assorted merchandise. Friday Night in Hall C. Please note that before 8 PM, Hall C is only accessible from the outside doors on the east side of the TCC. (see the TCC map in the AN Pocket Guide).
- BotBrawl: Model robots fight it out for honor and glory! Hall E Saturday and Sunday.
- Archery Tag: Try your bow skills with inflatable arrows. Hall E Saturday and Sunday
- AnimeNia: A new cosplay gaming event combining a card game with the action of cosplayers and fans. Hall E Saturday
- Charity Auction: An auction with great prize packages donated by our sponsors. Drop by and leave a bid, highest one wins! Sunday afternoon in the Sutherland Room.
- Nagata Shachu: Japanese Taiko Drumming performance. Friday afternoon at Main Stage Opening Ceremonies, Saturday afternoon on the Outdoor stage on west side of TCC, and Sunday afternoon at Main Stage Closing Ceremonies.
- Tabletop Gaming, GO, and Gaming Demos: At the Gaming tables in Hall B. See the AN Pocket Guide for the complete schedule.
- Aerial Performer: Aerial hoop artist Miranda Tempest will perform for your amazement. Outside Hall D Saturday and Sunday.
- VTubers: The Cohen Ballroom will host VTuber events and panels, including from PRISM Project and Shylily, all weekend long.
- Kids Area: Relaxation zone for kids and parents (includes private nursing mother area). Play some games or see the LEGO display!
Main events at the Delta Hotel begin at 5 PM on Friday, and 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday. The con closes at 5 PM Sunday. Your AN Pocket Guide will list exact times for events.
- Panel Discussions: Panel discussions on anime, fandom, anime fandom, and everything else under the sun. Multiple rooms all weekend.
- Game Shows: A roster of interactive events such as Anime Jeopardy, Blind Date Hero Academia, and many more for fans to get involved in. Plaza A Room all weekend
- Video Rooms: Sit in the dark with 300 of your friends for old stuff, brand new stuff, and just plain weird stuff. Multiple Rooms all weekend.
- Anime Music Video Contest: Our entries and winners of our annual contest. Saturday 3 PM.
- Workshops: Hands on teaching for origami to leather working, to model building and more! Mississauga and Terrace Rooms all weekend.
The Sheraton Hotel hosts our Video Gaming events, among others.
- Gaming Panels: How many sides should a die have? Argue about this and many, many other things gaming related. Multiple rooms all weekend
- Yaoi/Yuri North: Making its triumphant return. Multiple rooms all weekend
- Video Gaming: Tournaments with classic consoles and brand new ones. All weekend.
- LAN Party: More computers, new and old, than you can handle. Halo, Rocket League, and more!
- LARP: Hit each other with foam swords!
- Manga Library: Take a break, read a book. Muskoka III Room all weekend.
Convention Hours
Events at the convention will run at the following times. Note that registration will open earlier, especially on Friday (see registration schedule below).
- Friday: 5 PM – 1 AM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 1 AM
- Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Convention Registration
If you have pre-registered for the convention, bring your registration e-mail with you to the Registration Desk. If you have lost/misplaced this email, please bring some type of photo ID, in the name that the admission was purchased under.
The Registration Desk will be located at the Toronto Congress Center, South Building. The main entrance will be the Hall ABC doors, on the west side of the building. Registration hours will be:
- Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM
- Friday: 1 PM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 3 PM
Weekend admissions, and single day admissions for Anime North may be available at the door but could potentially sell out (check our social media for latest announcements). At the door prices will be $5 higher (so register in advance)
Cash only will be accepted; no cheques, credit cards or debit cards.
Full Weekend Admission (in advance) (Fri, Sat, Sun): $70 CND/USD
Single Day Price and Registration Desk Hours:
Friday: $45 CDN / USD - 3 PM to 9 PM
Saturday: $55 CND / USD - 9 AM to 7 PM
Sunday: $45 CDN / USD - 9:30 AM to 4 PM
You may register online at: https://www.animenorth.com/event/index.php/buy-admission
Child Registration
Children 13 years of age and under are admitted for half-price of the corresponding adult admission, but must be accompanied either by a guardian 18 years or over, or a guardian 16 years or over with a letter of permission from the child’s parents.
Children 5 years of age and under are admitted free, but must be accompanied by a guardian 18 years or over, or a guardian 16 years or over with a letter of permission from the child’s parents.
Note that your membership badge (which you will receive at registration) will give you access to all convention events in all buildings, space permitting, with the exception of food functions and some workshops which require separate tickets. You must also provide valid proof of age to attend 18+ events.
Your membership badge must be displayed at all times. There will be a $20 Replacement Fee for any lost convention badges. If you lose (or find) a badge, go to the Info Desks at the Toronto Congress Center, located Hall D.
Public Transit and Parking
To reach the convention via the TCC, take the Laurence 52 bus west from Lawrence West Subway Station, getting off at the City View Drive stop, or take the Martin Grove
46 bus north from Kipling subway station, getting off at Dixon Road, and walking west for 3-4 minutes to the Toronto Congress Centre.
If you are driving, there is free parking at the Toronto Congress Centre. Please note however that there is no overnight security at the TCC, and leaving your vehicle there overnight is not permitted. The hotels will charge $14-$20 a day for parking.