With the proliferation of conventions that hit the Tampa Bay/Central Florida area, you might be asking yourself if it’s time to jump into the Con game. If this past weekend’s METROCON is any indication, there’s never been a better time.
Costumes, people watching, nerd-lebrities (work it out), METROCON was like a buffet filled with nothing but vast varieties of bacon. Unless you’re a vegetarian, however, then the popular fan-run event, offered plenty of greens. If you haven’t swam in con waters yet, METROCON proved there is lots of water in the pool, whether you’re up for the deep end, or in need of Con-water wings, it’s time to swim. Be sure to attend next year's event if you missed this one.
METROCON is Florida’s largest Anime convention, and as you might expect, elaborate to barely-there costumes were a feast for any eye. Everyone’s favorite characters from Miyazaki films, Avatar: The Last Airbender, League of Legends were cos-played. There was also a killer group of Borderlands characters, ready to take over Pandora via the Tampa Convention Center.. Left Shark even made an appearance, doing whatever the hell it wanted. You know Left Shark. If you’ve been dying to don some tights and show off your budding costume skills, a show like METROCON is a great jumping on point.
METROCON is known for offering up unique events within, like their Anime Human Chess Match, an offshoot from the Renaissance Faire tradition, which pitted characters from different shows against each other in scripted spectacle. The Con also offered up the opportunity to try your hand at fencing, and each night ended up with a full-on rave. If you’ve ever wanted to go clubbing with The Little Mermaid and Korra, METROCON had you covered.
There were foxes there, because, of course there were. If you’re a furry animal, and you worry that death might be the end of your fun, GET THEE TO METROCON!
METROCON was a success again this year, a well-organized convention in a sea of mammoth Florida conventions. If anime is your thing, or you’re into anything nerdy, or involving costumes, or like to be in large groups of people, enjoy fencing, getting autographs from the stars of your favorite shows, taking spectacular photographs, or are a taxidermied fox, METROCON is for you.
For more excellent METROCON photo coverage, check out Cardello Photography on Facebook.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2015.