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| Fan Expo Canada | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-Genre |
| Venue | Metro Toronto Convention Centre |
| Location(s) | Toronto, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Inaugurated | 1995 |
| Attendance | 47,000+ in 2008 |
| Organized by | Hobby Star Marketing Inc. |
| Filing status | Corporate |
| Website | http://www.fanexpocanada.com/ |
Toronto, Canada's Fan Expo Canada is an annual multigenre fan convention. It was founded as the Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1994 by Hobby Star Marketing Inc. It is traditionally a three-day event (Friday through Sunday) typically held the weekend before Labour Day during the summer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television and related pop art, the convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, anime, manga, animation, toys, collectible card games, video games and web entertainment. The convention is the largest of its kind in Canada and among the largest in world, filling the entire South building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with over 47,000 attendees in 2008.
Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, there are previews of upcoming feature films, portfolio review sessions with top comic book and video game companies, and evening events such as The Masquerade; a costume contest, and the Diamond Comics Industry Night Dinner and reception for industry professionals only.
Traditional events include screening rooms devoted to Japanese animation, gaming, and over 175 hours of other programming on all aspects of comic books and pop culture.
Like most comic book conventions, Fan Expo Canada features a large floorspace for exhibitors. These include media companies such as movie studios and TV networks, as well as comic book dealers and collectibles merchants. Fan Expo Canada also includes a large autograph area, as well as the Artists' Alley where comic book artists can sign autographs and sell or do free sketches.
Exclusive Collectibles
In recent years Fan Expo Canada has become one of the few events that provides the selling "Exclusive" products to attendees. The vast majority of the exclusives offered at Fan Expo Canada are licensed properties of popular movie, comic book and related characters.
History of Fan Expo Canada - Locations and dates
Issues
Capacity attendance at Fan Expo Canada in 2005 has raised crowding issues. Concerns have been that the event is possibly too big for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, even though they have moved to the largest halls in the facility. The worry of fans is that the event will sell out and potential attendees will be denied entry as has happened at similar events such as the New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con International. Other documented issues include online harassment of attendees and threatening dealers.
Commercialization
In recent years, the increasing prevalence of video games, major-studio movies and television at Fan Expo, has drawn some criticism from those who believe that show is losing focus on comic books.
Organizers claim this perception is simply an illusion as the physical aspects of the Expo have doubled in growth in the last four editions, building around the original comic book focus. They point out in their Corporate sales kit that the floor space for comic retailers, exhibitors, studios and artist alley have all grown in size over these years along with the new additions to the event.
Community
Hobby Star Marketing, the company that organizes Fan Expo Canada also sponsors several smaller comic book and anime events throughout the calendar year in support of the local community of fans, retailers and local artists. Some of these events have offered free admission and prize give away premiums for those attending and some have offered free space to local creators and even retailers. The organizers also instituted a policy of free admission to those twelve years old and younger in 2005 to encourage young people to be exposed to the content, and hopefully become the next generation of fans. Most of this was in response to feedback that Fan Expo Canada and it’s organizers were bad corporate citizens, losing touch with the grass roots community of fans.
Criticism
Hobby Star Marketing (HSM) organizers of this event have been criticized for harmful practices towards other competing conventions, specifically during the years 2004-2006. The various issues have been quiet of late.
External links and references
- Fan Expo Canada Twitter account 2009
- Fan Expo Canada 2008 Review by Toronto Blog
- Marvel news from Fan Expo 2008
- Fan Expo Canada 2008 review by local Blogger
- Hardcore Nerdity Group and reviews of Fan Expo Canada 2008
- Interview with former Paradise Co-Promoter (now Fan Expo employee) Kevin Boyd and re: the con war from 2007
- Listing of Sequential Comics Fan Expo Canada 2007 Show Reports
- 5 reasons to/not to go to Fan Expo by Torontoist 2006