2026 Old School (Pre-2001) Cosplay Gathering

[InsaneDavid]

Greetings old school cosplayers!  The Old School Gathering last year was a blast as always, thank you all for your amazing attendance, awesome cosplay, being genuinely considerate of your fellow cosplayers, and continued representation of the fandoms that created anime conventions!  We're back to host yet again!  Continuing the tradition of the gathering that got me into cosplay, I announce the...

Fanime 2026 Old School (Pre-2001) Cosplay Gathering!

Come celebrate the rich history of Japanese entertainment culture!

This is a hugely open gathering for those of you / us who cosplay as characters from the previous century.  Essentially if your cosplay character appears in Anime, Manga, Video Games or Live Action that began PRIOR to 2001, then this is the gathering for you!  Although I like to have a decidedly Japanese lean to this gathering, it is not completely exclusive.

Name of the Gathering : Old School (Pre-2001).
This Gathering Includes : Anime, Manga, Video Games or Live Action that began PRIOR to 2001.
Day : Friday, May 22nd, 2026 (Day 1).
Time : 6PM - 7PM.
Meeting Place : Same as Location.
Location : Gatherings G3, Panels Wood Stairs.
Legal Statement : FanimeCon will be taking group pictures during the Gathering/Event this year. If you do not want to be included in those pictures please step aside for those photos. By remaining with the group when the pictures are being taken you give your consent to be photographed.

This will be our ninth consecutive year hosting and ELEVEN YEARS since we began hosting duties!

Gatherings G3 is the wooden tiered platform area along the stairs that lead down to the panel rooms inside the convention center on the lower level.  We will be on the downstairs wooden tiered platforms between the stairs and the escalators.  We weighed a lot of options for location and decided upon continuing to be at G3 as it provides better protection for some of our younger cosplayers and better accessibility for some of the older.  We also really like the tiered platforms.


Cosplayers : If you would like, please post who your cosplay character is, what title it is from and what year you are representing!  As this gathering is a total wildcard mix of different characters, series, studios, and genres - spanning time rather than properties - a definitive list is otherwise not provided.  Part of the fun of the OSCG is seeing just who shows up.


Photography Order : If there is any specific setup or shot you would like, just let me know!  This gathering is to celebrate all of us as cosplayers who keep the vintage fire alive.

Group shot.
By era - 1960's (or earlier).
By era - 1970's.
By era - 1980's.
By era - 1990's (to 2000).
Characters who use swords / knives / blades / etc.
Characters known to get physical / fighters / brawlers.
Military / rank and file / soldiers.
Characters with psychic powers / spiritual powers / espers / magic / etc.
Pilots / drivers / craft operators / mech jockeys.
Teachers / students / faculty / school attendants / etc.
Characters who use firearms / laser guns / projectile weapons / etc.
Magical girls.
Animals / pets.
Spacefaring characters / those who live off-world.
Robots / androids / synthetic people / mecha.
Characters who are mysterious / shadowy.
Public servants / government organizations / secret organizations.
Characters with secret identities.
Characters in uniform of any type.
Battle teams.
Video game characters.
Characters who are on the run / fugitives / scoundrels / bounty hunters.
Monsters / demons / youma / zombies / etc.
Characters who are technically minded / deductive / intelligent / geniuses.
Great warriors / legendary masters.
Civilians.
Aliens.
Heroes.
Villains.
Heroes vs Villains.
Cosplayers representing the manga version of their character.
Age vs Youth / old characters vs young characters.
Live Action only characters.
Pairings / couples.
Group shot for late attendees (regular / humorous).

Series groups (dependent on attendance / cosplayer request).
By studio / production team (dependent on attendance / cosplayer request).
Solo shots (cosplayer request).
Additional requests (cosplayer request).

I am always up for future ideas to add to the list!  A good portion of the photo order is built upon suggestions from previous years.  We have continued to consolidate the list to get the order cycled faster.


Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2167499687384661


This is an excellent gathering to psyche you up for the convention weekend.  If you're an old school cosplayer, stop by and join us!  Feel free to pop in for a moment to say hi, see some incredible cosplay, pose for some pictures, and continue to prove that just because it's old doesn't mean it isn't awesome!


Thank you so very much.  Let's have another great turnout and continue this wonderful Fanime tradition!

[InsaneDavid]

Hold Space (A).

[InsaneDavid]

Good evening old schoolers!

The gathering submission form isn't live yet, but we're planning on hosting the Old School (Pre-2001) Cosplay Gathering for a ninth consecutive FanimeCon!  We're aiming for our traditional Fanime Friday evening 6pm-7pm at our gathering's preferred location of G3.

[InsaneDavid]

Good evening old schoolers!

Gathering application has been officially submitted.

[InsaneDavid]

Good evening old schoolers!

We are confirmed for what has become our usual space, gatherings location G3, on our traditional day and time, Friday, Day 1 at 6pm.

[Mizu]

oof, might have to duck out early this year but I'll be there!

[InsaneDavid]

oof, might have to duck out early this year but I'll be there!

All good. If you need to head out early, be sure to grab a badge ribbon (that we always have to make sure no one sticks to their badge because Fanime hates that) from me before you go.

[InsaneDavid]

Here is the full set of FanimeCon 2026 Old School (Pre-2001) cosplay gathering photos taken by us as hosts. These are not the "official" FanimeCon photos, but we will share those as soon as they are made available to us.

Thank you to all who attended or showed interest in this gathering, our ninth consecutive FanimeCon hosting. We hope to see you all again for FanimeCon next year and the 2027 Old School Cosplay Gathering! It will always be held the evening of Fanime Friday!

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