AnimeCon UK, a new convention that launched earlier this year in Birmingham to positive reception from fans, will be making its London debut next year and the organisers have announced that they will be partnering with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) for this first event in London.
CALM is one of the UK’s leading mental health charities dedicated to suicide prevention, as it is reported that at least 125 people in the UK take their own lives. CALM exists to change this by offering life-saving services, provoking national conversation, and bringing people together to reject living miserably.
This partnership between AnimeCon and CALM will see the most talented artists build a collection of exclusive art, just for the London show. The art will then be sold at the show, with a portion of the proceeds being donated directly to the charity. Attendees will also be able to pledge a voluntary donation at the point of sale when purchasing a ticket, with tickets priced at £20+VAT for Saturday and £15+VAT for Sunday tickets.
In addition alongside AnimeCon’s commitment to mental health the organisers also plan to hold themself to the highest standard of accessibility to ensure that people from all walks of life are able to attend and feel welcomed at its maiden event at Drumsheds, as AnimeCon’s Clive Norgaard Morton explains:
“Creating a safe space for attendees to enjoy the event and to be free to be themselves is at the heart of what AnimeCon is all about. It’s of paramount importance to the event organisers that people have the facilities they need to be able to comfortably enjoy their day.”
AnimeCon will be working hand in hand with Drumsheds to produce visual guides which are easier to digest for those with communication difficulties to ensure they can prepare themselves well for the event. Drumsheds has step-free access from Meridian Water station via a lift and is served by low-floor TFL bus services with dedicated wheelchair spaces and ramps. The venue has mobile accessible toilets outside the venue and accessible toilets on levels 0 and 1. They also have a fully trained medical team on hand at every event, while security staff will be on hand to ensure the safety of the attendees and will be briefed especially for the care of event attendees.
The upcoming AnimeCon event in London will take place at Drumsheds on 3rd and 4th February 2024, with confirmed guests including Keith Silverstein, who plays Zhongli in Genshin and Torbjörn in Overwatch, Brianna Knickerbocker the voice of Hu Tao, Josey Montana McCoy who voices Kaeya and Nazeeh Tarsha who plays Alhaitham. More guests are expect to be announced in the coming weeks and fans can also expect a raft of entertainment including the Artists Alley which will feature a pop-up market bursting at the seams with anime artists showing off their wares, cosplayers and even an appearance from the celebrated London anime themed restaurant Uzumaki.
If this wasn’t enough those attending can also purchase a ticket for the After Party which will be held in the illustrious Drumsheds music hall. This event will be hosted by Level Up Leroy.
Further details about AnimeCon, along with ticket availability, can be found on the official website. In the meantime AnimeCon UK will take place on 3rd & 4th February 2024 at the Drumsheds in London.
