Orobouros.net Convention Reports and Photos

ColossalCon Prime

ColossalCon is a series of conventions held throughout North America, typically at the Kalahari chain of hotels and resorts. The Kalahari resort features huge water parks, both indoor and outdoor, including wave pools, regular pools, slides for individuals, slides for groups (using up to four person inflatable riding tubes), and the essential lazy river and hot tubs with bars. For many the main attraction of the convention is the water park itself, with the convention a convenient non-resort entertainment option and excuse for those with similar interests in anime and manga to get together. Note that while hotel guests have access to the water park, many con attendees still need to purchase separate (discounted) water park passes -- it's not included in the convention admission. The waterpark theme of the whole convention invites a lot of "casual" and "vacation" style cosplay and is particularly popular with photographers.

Though this report focuses on ColossalCon Prime (held in Sandusky, Ohio), much of the same experience can be had at the ColossalCon East event held in the Poconos in Pennsylvania.

That's not to say the convention itself isn't fairly well done and very enjoyable in its own right. In spite of the discount, the water park passes are not cheap and many attendees will opt to go to the water park only on one day or one evening. Though open to the general public during the day, the convention holds a private attendees-only event in the evening, which is a shorter time period and indoors only, but still plenty of time to experience most of what the park has to offer. The convention understands that part of the big draw is the water park experience and sets up the convention to mesh well with the other entertainment draw.

Perhaps the biggest draw of the convention -- after the water park -- are the many domestic English-speaking industry guests and their autograph sessions. These guests' panels and autograph sessions are a focus of the convention and often what draws people to the event. Lines for autograph sessions were always long and full of excited fans. Another big draw of ColossalCon, and a kind of feature that tends to be missing at a lot of conventions, is the official flee market. This is a room and area separate from the artists' alley (amateur and professional art sales) and from the dealer's room (general merchandise), where individuals can sell from their personal collection of toys, games, figures, etc. without the need to go through all the same requirements of dealers. (As I haven't done this myself, please check with the convention on their policies and requirements for participating in the flea market.) This harkens back slightly to the yesteryear of conventions, before online retail became huge and most goods could be had even if at inflated prices. It was a really good place to see unique items or things that haven't been available for years. Those selling their own things also seemed pleased with the experience, able to participate on their own schedule instead of the longer dealer's room hours.

One thing different about ColossalCon Prime is that it really goes big. The convention starts with an official "Day 0" on Wednesday, with a full line of programming and events starting at noon. This isn't just badge pickup or a few isolated evening events as other conventions tend to do on their “Day 0,” but almost a full day. The convention proper then runs Thursday through Sunday. Again a good move by convention organizers, programming each day starts at 10 AM, as opposed to many cons that start at 9 AM or even 8 AM. (8 AM is typically the bad luck time slot for panels that got accepted but didn't get a priority time slot.) Programming does run late, both for those who may not be partying and those who may not be participating in the water park festivities. Event events included a fair number of different bands playing music with different shticks. Two I caught were an anime theme cover band (who did a great rendition of History Maker, the Yuri on Ice ending theme) and a dressed-as-Transformers band. Daytime panels had a lot of quiz-style shows and comedy retrospectives (such as the "History of Nintendo Commercials" panel). Overall the programming is very much designed for and successfully caters to a relaxed, party atmosphere.

ColossalCon is definitely a party convention. The resort setup is particularly nice with many rooms facing the interior pool area. Though closed in the evenings, the walkway around it is fully open, and most rooms on that side have balconies. At night many a balcony was the spillover from the room party. Even though enough parties went until 3 or 4 am and could be heard outside, the rooms are actually fairly well sound insulated, and only your direct neighbors' party's sounds will make it through. (Though not yet announced for 2024, the 2023 cruise was three days long and probably even more of a party event.)

If there's one objective downside to ColossalCon Prime (and specifically Prime), is that it's out in the middle of nowhere. While Sandusky, Ohio, does have a few other attractions and places to go, the Kalahari itself is mostly in the middle of farm land. A good place to get a lot of land easily and not bother any neighbors, but the resort is pretty much the only thing around. In and of itself that's not such a big deal, but the dining option in the Kalahari were a bit limited. There is an Italian restaurant, which is fairly standard fair at only slightly elevated prices, an overpriced cafeteria-style fast food restaurant in the arcade area (with a bar, which was great), and a fancier Burger and Shakes restaurant (with a long wait for seating). For breakfast, a buffet was available; while slightly over-priced for the fairly small variety of offerings, the food quality was good and the best part was made-to-order omlettes. Overall this is pretty much exactly what you would expect from a resort of the sort, and it's just enough variety for a weekend. However, those who wish to include some finer dining or genuine local cuisine to the convention experience may be disappointed.

Having gone to both ColossalCon East 2022 and ColossalCon Prime 2023, I can say they’re both great events and worth going to. However, with both cons -- and presumably the other ColossalCon events around the country being similar -- if you want to experience the fun and unique anime convention slash water park, find the one near you. They’re similar enough that doing more than one a year is probably only for the water park enthusiast. If you’re in that group, though, you can get a discounted year pass for ColossalCon, valid at all events. It pays for itself if you go to more than one, and since I intend to go to ColossalCon East in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania in early September, that’s what I got. Will I see you there?