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Pop culture celebrated at Fan Expo Canada 2016 in Toronto

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Wednesday, September 7, 2016

The far end of part of the convention floor, shortly after opening Friday.
Image: Nick Moreau.

The 22nd Fan Expo Canada took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this weekend, attracting thousands to the event, one of the most popular in North America. Crossing between the genres of science fiction, horror, anime, fantasy and comics, the event sprawled throughout all corners of the facility. Hundreds of vendors offered products new and old, joined by celebrity guests like Stan Lee, Mark Hamill, and Margaret Atwood. Various local fan organizations were there in a charitable capacity, and thousands of fans donned costumes, many of which they themselves created.

Atwood, a Booker Prize-winner, was there to launch her graphic novel Angel Catbird, with illustrator Johnnie Christmas. Lee was making his final Canadian convention appearance, part of a larger farewell tour. Hamill's schedule included a panel with Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman in Batman: The Animated Series, in which the Star Wars lead played the Joker.

Ubisoft, Microsoft, and PlayStation VR all had large areas set up for attendees to try their latest games. In the 20-minute PlayStation VR demonstration of Batman: Arkham VR, players are dropped down a secret elevator in Bruce Wayne's manor, to the Bat Cave, to suit up. From there, the demonstration took players to investigate the murder of Nightwing.

The Northern Arena Esports Championship ran throughout the weekend, facing off teams of video gamers in a packed hall. Even in early rounds, the event was well attended, with the stands full of gamers, watching the matches with live colour commentary. The finals saw US team Cloud9 and Immortals, from Brazil, face off in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Both unbeaten teams going in, the Brazillian team won the championship and $50,000.

Gameplay was delayed during the "third map" (third round) of the finals, when one Immortals player was caught with their headset off. After nearly half an hour, the team was deducted a point, leading to a sudden but temporary rush of success by the US team.

Playstation VR demo
Image: Nick Moreau.
Northern Arena
Image: Nick Moreau.
Ample merchandise abounded, including Funkopop figures.
Image: Nick Moreau.
A cosplayer dressed as Misty from Pokemon is interviewed.
Image: Nick Moreau.
When retailers throw prizes, crowds form.
Image: Nick Moreau.
File:Fan Expo Canada 2016 EBGames going for prizes IMG 0228 04.jpg
A LEGO Wonder Woman at the Hasbro display.
Image: Nick Moreau.
File:Fan Expo Canada 2016 EBGames going for prizes IMG 0228 05.jpg
A larger-than-life Ninja Turtle at the Toys'r'us display.
Image: Nick Moreau.


Displays of charity at event

The Canadian garrison of 501st Legion returned with their setup of photo-ops, with proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Volunteer organization Comic Corps of Canada collects donations of comics, to distribute to children and youth in the hospital. Along with collecting comics on-site, the group was fundraising through raffles and button sales.

Other charitable fan-based groups included The Ontario Ghostbusters, Doctor Who Society of Canada, and Klingon Assault Group.

  • Brampton Spider-Gwen and Symbiote Spidey pose at the Comic Corps booth. Image: Nick Moreau.
    Brampton Spider-Gwen and Symbiote Spidey pose at the Comic Corps booth.
    Image: Nick Moreau.
  • A showdown at the 501st Legion booth. Image: Nick Moreau.
    A showdown at the 501st Legion booth.
    Image: Nick Moreau.
  • Successful Stormtroopers share a high-five. Image: Nick Moreau.
    Successful Stormtroopers share a high-five.
    Image: Nick Moreau.

Cosplay celebration of craftsmanship and characters

File:Fan Expo Canada 2016 Epic Mickey IMG 0133.jpg

Epic Mickey by The Katherinator.
Image: Nick Moreau.
(Image missing from Commons: image; log)


The thousands of cosplay outfits on parade around the various halls offered a tremendous cross-section of genres and eras of pop culture. The majority of outfits involved at least some elements made from scratch, a fantastic display of craftsmanship. Of the thousands, Wikinews spoke with a cosplayer going by the name "The Katherinator". She was outside the building in the gardens, waiting for a photographer she had arranged to shoot her new Epic Mickey costumed character-style outfit. With shoes as wide as a forearm, and a rigid torso of carved foam, she remained exuberant even when caught in the traffic between halls, many hours into wearing the outfit.

Disney

Belle
Image: Nick Moreau.
Gravity Falls character Grunkle Stan
Image: Nick Moreau.
Hipster Ariel
Image: Nick Moreau.
Brianna Mick as a flapper version of Cruella de Vil
Image: Nick Moreau.
Lily Spitfyre as Jessica Rabbit
Image: Nick Moreau.
Judy Hopps
Image: Nick Moreau.


Superheroes

Black Widow and Captain America
Image: Nick Moreau.
Transparentfawn as Ladybug from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
Image: Nick Moreau.
Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl
Image: Nick Moreau.
An adaption of Iron Man, by Lady Di Cosplay
Image: Nick Moreau.
Teen Titans Raven, Starfire (seconddegreebyrne), and Robin
Image: Nick Moreau.

Image: Nick Moreau.
Scarlet Witch and Vision
Image: Nick Moreau.
Ottawa Knight as Batman, with Hawkgirl
Image: Nick Moreau.
Deadshot
Image: Nick Moreau.
Wolverine, Hawgirl, etc.
Image: Nick Moreau.


Anime

Three of Digimon's "Digi-destined", including cosplayer Jessica Anderson.
Image: Nick Moreau.
Local band The Cybertronic Spree, which played at a Fan Expo after-party.
Image: Nick Moreau.
A Katara "bent water" by spinning a flag.
Image: Nick Moreau.
Ray Slay Cosplay as MegaMan.EXE
Image: Nick Moreau.
No-Face from Spirited Away
Image: Nick Moreau.
Celty Sturluson from Durarara!!
Image: Nick Moreau.
Pidgey
Image: Nick Moreau.
Object Head cosplay
Image: Nick Moreau.


Video games, movies, and more

Lady Cassandra from Doctor Who.
Image: Nick Moreau.
Peekaboo Cosplay as The Fawn
Image: Nick Moreau.
One of a trio of aliens
Image: Nick Moreau.

Image: Nick Moreau.

Image: Nick Moreau.

Image: Nick Moreau.

Image: Nick Moreau.
Sarah and the Goblin King, from Labyrinth
Image: Nick Moreau.
The cast of Indiana Jones
Image: Nick Moreau.
Legend of Zelda characters
Image: Nick Moreau.
An orc
Image: Nick Moreau.
Twilight Sparkle, by Stephanie, a woman whose My Little Pony items have been featured on Extreme Collectors.
Image: Nick Moreau.
Undyne from Undertale
Image: Nick Moreau.



Sources

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Wikinews
 This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

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This page is archived, and is no longer publicly editable.
Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.

Got a correction? Add the template {{editprotected}} to the talk page along with your corrections, and it will be brought to the attention of the administrators.

Please note that due to our archival policy, we will not alter or update the content of articles that are archived, but will only accept requests to make grammatical and formatting corrections.

Note that some listed sources or external links may no longer be available online due to age.

The text of this article is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License
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