The Old School Otaku Lounge

Hey all,

I discovered and joined this forum to respond to a question in another post, then spent some time browsing older posts. While I was a bit nostalgic for those early days of anime fandom, I resisted the urge to reply to some of those 5-6 year old posts.

Instead, since AX is just around the corner, I thought I'd share my collection of AX badges. My first AX was in 1992 up in San Jose, and I went every year until 2020. AX had changed enough to the point that 2020 seemed like a good time to step away. Unfortunately I didn't start to regularly save my convention badges until 1999, so I'm missing the early ones.

Thanks for sharing! This is a historical exhibit of badge printing technology in real life - I love seeing how the badges change from simple pinbacks to full color die cut holographic hanging lanyard badges.

Oh yeah, and even the lanyards evolved from a simple cord to another place to put advertising.

Very cool! I always love seeing folks' badge collections, even if I they're for shows I've never been to.

I didn't realize AX had early shows up in the Bay Area, was that directly related to the fallout of AnimeCon? I'd always associated AX with SoCal, specifically LA (or Long Beach but then remembering the Anaheim years, too...).

my understanding is that the staff of the 1991 AnimeCon split. One group started Anime Expo in 1992 in San Jose, and another group started Anime America in Santa Clara, which is right next to San Jose, in 1993. Anime America would be in the Red Lion in San Jose up until their last show in 1996, while Anime Expo moved to the Los Angeles area (Anaheim) in 1994, which I think was my first and only Anime Expo.

Ah, ok, that make sense. Moving down to Anaheim really early is why it was cemented in my mind as a SoCal anime convention but there's still one AX that was in the Bay. Thanks!