Animaga Expo 2024 – Melbourne – an anime fan festival without the big names

Animaga 2024 was hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over the 24-25 August 2024 weekend. Animaga is an entirely fan-made festival for Melburnians. It’s been running for well over a decade and I’m hoping that it will eventually grow bigger and bigger with bigger names and more stores, options.

I visited Animaga back in 2013 when it was still in its infancy back when it was hosted in the Royal Exhibition Building near Melbourne Museum and Imax. Back then it was a small event with a few vendors, a Maid cafe, and some creator stalls.

Now the Expo is bigger with a maid café, trivia contest area, table top area (for trading card games), video game area (with Dance Dance Revolution), local vendors, and a creators’ hall area. While there were some cosplay competitions, some guests, and some stage events, most of the festival for me was spent wandering around the various stalls seeing what was on sale or on offer.

The maid café had a long queue with way too many interested people and not enough tables.

There were things I was hoping for like a screening area, more panel discussions, an interactive zone, and more exhibitions, but my hope for a Madman Festival or even a Crunchyroll Expo level event are unlikely to be fulfilled.

Please support the website by liking the article or subscribing to the mailing list. The review and the experience above are based on my own views. No commission, freebies or payments have been received.

Here are some of my recent articles:

• 
  Kafe on Hemmings – Dandenong – a local cafe for coffee and brunch
• 
  Colombian Tojos at Dandenong Market – a stall that will grab your attention
• 
  Sloppy Joe Deli – Melbourne – sloppy joes for $14 and their famed mushroom and truffle toastie
• 
  Pa Tong Thai – Melbourne – Thai restaurant in an old pub
• 
  Cumulus – Melbourne – delicious fine dining dishes using Victorian produce