Wow. Just… wow.

We honestly don’t know where to begin, because nothing could have prepared us for what happened. Its been a month and we’re still trying to catch up! When we first planned this event, we had modest expectations, even negative expectations after so many told us Maryville wasn’t the place to go. We hoped for a fun, cozy anime convention for the local community. Maybe a few hundred fans, a handful of vendors, some awesome activities, and a chill, creative vibe. But what we got was something so much bigger.

We’re talking over 300% more attendees than even the stretch goal we gave ourselves after March rolled around and we were particularly down about how things might go. We were demoralized and you all brought THREE TIMES our wildest dreams at that point. We ware floored. Stunned. Humbled. And honestly? So incredibly grateful.

To every single person who showed up; cosplayers, anime fans, families, longtime otakus and brand-new baby weebs, you brought the energy, the joy, and the love that made this event come alive. Your creativity, your passion, your vibe… it made the whole weekend feel like something straight out of a slice-of-life anime. We’re still riding the emotional high, its honestly insane to deal with.

We owe a HUGE thank you to our artists, who turned the Artist Alley (Though they were mixed in all over the place.) into a wonderland of color and imagination. Your prints, charms, stickers, and commissions brought smiles to everyone who passed through. Watching fans connect with your work was truly one of the highlights of the con.

To our vendors, you all held it down like pros. Despite the unexpected crowds, you handled everything with patience and grace. Even lent helping hands with Powerbanks, extension cords and first aid when things didn’t go quite right. Thank you for sticking with us, adapting on the fly, and helping fans find the merch of their dreams.

And our entertainers, wow. From Idols, to cosplay contests, panels and quizes, food taste testing and tournaments, Chalk fun, Photo ops, and an awesome villan entertaining the line you brought the magic that turned this into a true celebration of fandom. You kept the energy going even when our tech was temperamental and our schedule was… let’s call it “fluid.” You’re all stars.

Most importantly: thank you for your kindness, your community spirit, and your excitement. We saw people helping each other with costume fixes, hyping up strangers’ cosplays, sharing snacks, and just being good. It reminded us why we do this in the first place.

We’re already working behind the scenes to figure out how we can grow with this amazing turnout. Bigger venue? Food trucks? Extra AC? (Yes, we know.) We’re listening, we’re learning, and we’re going to make the next one even better.

From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you.
You turned a little anime convention into something unforgettable.

We’ll see you again real soon!