Fans of Asian Pop Culture on the western end of the island got their first taste of convention life when Animate Jamaica held its first-ever large scale event, Animania: For the Love of Anime, earlier this month, at The University of the West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus.

“The turnout for Animania has been very good. The main thing for us is that we want to create that safe space, that haven, for persons to feel comfortable to express who they are,” Sherroy Campbell of Animate Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer.

Animate Jamaica was officially started in January 2023 by Campbell and his business partners to bring the fun and business of Asian Pop Culture to Montego Bay and its environs given the success of these genre events have been enjoying in Kingston over the past several years.

“I’m originally from Kingston. Everybody is in Kingston and I always wanted something out in Montego Bay to branch out,” said Campbell.

A fan himself, Campbell felt there was enough of a following of Asian Pop Culture in western Jamaica that wanted to share in the convention atmosphere, but were not able to do so for various reasons, including distance.

“We had our launch party in January 2023 and the response was overwhelming and the fans asked us if we were going to do a convention. We were not planning to but, based on the number of requests, we said okay and let’s put something together,” Campbell said.

Animania is the group’s third event, but their first attempt at a convention similar in manner to those on the opposite end of the country. The event followed the usual format with plenty to do all on the theme of Asian popular entertainment and culture. Competitions ranged from the now de facto Spicy Noodle eating to video game challenges. Those wanting event more interactivity could seek out the Virtual Reality simulators on hand.

As Campbell wanted, Animania was a space where cosplay lovers could come out in their favourite characters, and if they wished enter the cosplay competition. Lightly supported, it saw several popular names in the Kingston cosplay circuit in attendance to show their support for their fellow genre aficionados in Montego Bay.

“Next year, this being all well, we can go bigger and better,” said Campbell.

He hopes to expand Animania to a two-day event to allow better attendance options. This would be alongside an increase in booths, and competitions in the event itself.