Weebcon 2023

Texas Anime Convention
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Weebcon is an anime convention based in Dallas, Texas. For being just three years old it’s doing great. It moved to the fabulous Gaylord Texan this year and had a great turnout. I’d estimate it to be around 15k attendees. While there might be some bumps and growing pains along the way, I’m pretty sure this con is going to keep growing and improving. Definitely consider it if you’re looking for a new convention.

The Venue

The Gaylord Texan features an impressive atrium with themed landscaping.
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The Gaylord Texan features an impressive atrium with themed landscaping.

The Gaylord Texan is part of Marriott’s Gaylord chain of destination resort hotels. They all feature an impressive atrium and theming of the area in which they are built. Being in Dallas, Texas, this one is of course Texas themed. It has stars on everything, pictures of cattle and ranches, and rustic wood finishes. Unfortunately it also has country music playing in the atrium (I don’t like country music 😝).
The Gaylord Texan is themed in Spanish Colonial style.
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The Gaylord Texan is themed in Spanish Colonial style.

I called this area "Pirates of the Caribbean".
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I called this area "Pirates of the Caribbean".

The "Riverwalk" area features a Tex-Mex restaurant.
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The "Riverwalk" area features a Tex-Mex restaurant.

The theming and construction of this resort is particularly impressive. It looks like an old Spanish fort that is worn and weathered from time. It reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean, to be honest. There are lots of plants and trees and even a creek and a fountain blasting water 40 feet into the air.
Another view of the Riverwalk area.
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Another view of the Riverwalk area.

The creek area was themed with Easter decorations.
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The creek area was themed with Easter decorations.

The Seal of Texas sits in the center of the atrium floor.
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The Seal of Texas sits in the center of the atrium floor.

Even the ceiling has a star.
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Even the ceiling has a star.

Multiple restaurants fill the space so you have some good choices of places to eat. That’s good because this resort is basically an island unto itself. You have to drive to find somewhere to eat outside of the resort. That presents a problem when you realize there is no parking available at the busiest times. There were some food trucks parked outside the convention center, but they weren’t well advertised.
Food trucks were parked just outside the convention center entrance.
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Food trucks were parked just outside the convention center entrance.

There was a food court inside one of the convention center halls.
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There was a food court inside one of the convention center halls.

Pricing in the food court was reasonable.
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Pricing in the food court was reasonable.

The Convention

The vendor hall was impressive for a convention this young. It was quite large and had perhaps the largest number of guests I’d ever seen at an anime convention. They lined the walls of the hall. While I did peek my head into the main events room just to see what it looked like (large but boring looking), I didn’t spend any time in panels or other events. There was just too much of a good opportunity to film people at the fantastic resort.
Guest booths lined the walls around the vendor hall.
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Guest booths lined the walls around the vendor hall.

Itasha cars in the vendor hall.
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Itasha cars in the vendor hall.

The main events room was large but rather boring looking.
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The main events room was large but rather boring looking.

There is actually a second convention center area at the Gaylord Texan. It has a more modern design and is set on the opposite side of the resort from the other convention center. Weebcon didn’t use this part of the resort, but I can see it expanding here as it grows.
The more modern expansion of the convention center, set on the opposite side of the resort from the original convention center.
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The more modern expansion of the convention center, set on the opposite side of the resort from the original convention center.

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click to enlarge
There were some notable issues at Weebcon. Firstly, registration was backed up on both Friday and Saturday. The queue stretched from the convention center all the way into the atrium ,which is probably a good city block long.
The registration queue stretched from the convention center all the way into the atrium.
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The registration queue stretched from the convention center all the way into the atrium.

The registration booth.
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The registration booth.

Being held on Easter weekend there were a number of families roaming around on Sunday taking family pictures. It created that odd mix of "normies" and girls in bunny cosplays. It would be nice if the event could completely take over the resort so that it had a "closed profile" where only attendees are allowed in. That or move to a different weekend. Since everything essentially happens indoors it could be held at almost any time of the year. Fellow photographers should be informed that Marriott resorts typically don’t allow light stands. There were a couple of security guards who took this one step further and said no lights were allowed, but I think they were misinformed. Another said he wasn’t aware of such rules and I should just keep shooting until they tell me not to 😆. It’s something to keep in mind if you use lights for your photography.
A photo area in the convention center had a number of themed booths.
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A photo area in the convention center had a number of themed booths.

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A different photo area had these large cardboard cutouts.
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A different photo area had these large cardboard cutouts.

The Cosplayers

If you haven’t already, please watch the video to get a glimpse of the resort as well as the fantastic cosplayers. I met a lot of new people at this convention and a lot of people new to cosplay. Thank to everyone who filmed with me!
@spookymoogs Easter Bunny Hatsune Miku
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@spookymoogs Easter Bunny Hatsune Miku

@_yawnz._ Misa Amane from Death Note
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@_yawnz._ Misa Amane from Death Note

@jenjicos Bride Zero Two from Darling in the FRANXX
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@jenjicos Bride Zero Two from Darling in the FRANXX

@iyasensei.cos Mitsuri Kanroji from Demon Slayer
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@iyasensei.cos Mitsuri Kanroji from Demon Slayer

@rainyy.chuu Spirit Blossom Evelyn from League of Legends
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@rainyy.chuu Spirit Blossom Evelyn from League of Legends

Nekopara
@hagumiiz Cinnamon
@syd.bun Vanilla
@bingsoka Chocola
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Nekopara @hagumiiz Cinnamon @syd.bun Vanilla @bingsoka Chocola

@_crybaby_cosplay Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia
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@_crybaby_cosplay Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia

@heartpixxel Bride 2B from NieR: Automata
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@heartpixxel Bride 2B from NieR: Automata

@saepoid Vanilla from Nekopara
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@saepoid Vanilla from Nekopara

@liabeecosplay Bunny Power & Makima from Chainsaw Man
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@liabeecosplay Bunny Power & Makima from Chainsaw Man

@tsunii.bunnii Nilou from Genshin Impact
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@tsunii.bunnii Nilou from Genshin Impact

@phee_cosplay Lucina from Fire Emblem Heroes
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@phee_cosplay Lucina from Fire Emblem Heroes

@canela.cosplay Princess Peach from Mario
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@canela.cosplay Princess Peach from Mario

@saiyangodcosplay Freddy Fazbear from Five Nights at Freddy’s
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@saiyangodcosplay Freddy Fazbear from Five Nights at Freddy’s

@ithileryn Sailor Venus from Sailor Moon
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@ithileryn Sailor Venus from Sailor Moon

@kyatorin Gawr Gura Vtuber
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@kyatorin Gawr Gura Vtuber

@cplaya.2 Raiden Shogun from Genshin Impact
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@cplaya.2 Raiden Shogun from Genshin Impact

@cherrymandyxo Eula from Genshin Impact
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@cherrymandyxo Eula from Genshin Impact

@phee_cosplay Hange Zoë from Attack on Titan
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@phee_cosplay Hange Zoë from Attack on Titan

Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan (no socials)
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Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan (no socials)

@mmaarib Mikasa Ackerman Attack on Titan
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@mmaarib Mikasa Ackerman Attack on Titan

NieR:Automata
@basementbunni 2B
@cavakage A2
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NieR:Automata @basementbunni 2B @cavakage A2

NieR:Automata
@jcconspiracy Eve
@thet_man101 Adam
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NieR:Automata @jcconspiracy Eve @thet_man101 Adam

NieR:Automata
@hidansreaper A2
@strawbunnybuns 2B
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NieR:Automata @hidansreaper A2 @strawbunnybuns 2B

@cosmicmist Yor Forger from Spy x Family
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@cosmicmist Yor Forger from Spy x Family

@ithileryn Elizabeth from Bio Shock
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@ithileryn Elizabeth from Bio Shock

@irv.jpg Todoroki from My Hero Academia
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@irv.jpg Todoroki from My Hero Academia

@kxttykxtty Yor Forger from Spy x Family
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@kxttykxtty Yor Forger from Spy x Family

@reid_irl Shenhe from Genshin Impact
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@reid_irl Shenhe from Genshin Impact

Resident Evil 4
@linh_tinh.c Leon
@heartpixxel Ada Wong
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Resident Evil 4 @linh_tinh.c Leon @heartpixxel Ada Wong

@arys_kei Kotori Love Live
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@arys_kei Kotori Love Live

@shinigami_gotei13 Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy
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@shinigami_gotei13 Lunafreya Nox Fleuret from Final Fantasy

@callenreesecosplay Sha Hualing from The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS)
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@callenreesecosplay Sha Hualing from The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS)

@supersaiyansonic Eddie Munson from Stranger Things
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@supersaiyansonic Eddie Munson from Stranger Things

@_maddie.mason_ Inosuke from Demon Slayer
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@_maddie.mason_ Inosuke from Demon Slayer

@heartpixxel Eugen from Azur Lane
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@heartpixxel Eugen from Azur Lane

@iyasensei.cos Eremite from Genshin Impact
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@iyasensei.cos Eremite from Genshin Impact

@cplaya.2 Shinobu Kocho from Demon Slayer
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@cplaya.2 Shinobu Kocho from Demon Slayer

Super Mario Bros.
@xspaceelfx Chompette
@itsnickforshort Mario
@evie_cosplays Bowsette
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Super Mario Bros. @xspaceelfx Chompette @itsnickforshort Mario @evie_cosplays Bowsette

Five Nights at Freddy’s
@murderof.crows Sun
@rascal.cosplay Chica
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Five Nights at Freddy’s @murderof.crows Sun @rascal.cosplay Chica

@_maddie.mason_ Yor Forger from Spy x Family
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@_maddie.mason_ Yor Forger from Spy x Family

@cherrymandyxo Mitsuri Kanroji from Demon Slayer
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@cherrymandyxo Mitsuri Kanroji from Demon Slayer

@charmingkitsune Kiriko from Overwatch
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@charmingkitsune Kiriko from Overwatch

@cplaya.2 bunny Marin from My Dress-up Darling
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@cplaya.2 bunny Marin from My Dress-up Darling

@basementbunni 2B from NieR: Automata
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@basementbunni 2B from NieR: Automata

@heartpixxel Nazuna from Call of the Night
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@heartpixxel Nazuna from Call of the Night

@pixiemsty Rebecca from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
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@pixiemsty Rebecca from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

@tomatoosoupyy Tamari Kototsu from Fire Force
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@tomatoosoupyy Tamari Kototsu from Fire Force

@tempestys Stanley Schneider from Dr. Stone
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@tempestys Stanley Schneider from Dr. Stone

@rascal.cosplay D.Va from Overwatch
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@rascal.cosplay D.Va from Overwatch

@rin.zombie Makima from Chainsaw Man
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@rin.zombie Makima from Chainsaw Man

@krispykhick Himiko Toga My Hero Academia
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@krispykhick Himiko Toga My Hero Academia

@princessaluraa Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion
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@princessaluraa Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion

@thatscrubboog Mona from Genshin Impact
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@thatscrubboog Mona from Genshin Impact

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