The immigration officer inquired about the purpose of our visit to the United States as he scanned the faces of my two granddaughters who accompanied me from Manila. I informed him that we were on holiday and planning to visit relatives. He then asked where we were headed, to which I replied that our main destination was Los Angeles, where my granddaughters were eager to attend an anime convention. Curious about the concept, the officer inquired further, to which 22-year-old Julia explained that anime refers to animated films based on Japanese manga characters and that they were enthusiastic fans. The conversation shifted to whether Julia and her sister made films, but she clarified that they were solely fans attending the convention to meet fellow anime enthusiasts and see the various costumes on display. Upon leafing through our passports to find our American visas, the officer continued the conversation by asking for details about the convention. Julia promptly informed him that the event would take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center starting on July 1. The officer, although still serious in demeanor, expressed interest and wished us an enjoyable stay.
I am fortunate to have five grandchildren, two of whom traveled with me from Manila and two who arrived from Singapore with their parents. One grandchild resides in Los Angeles. The opportunity to spend nearly three weeks with all of them together would bring me immense joy. While I hadn’t originally planned on joining them for any theme park or cosplay convention activities, as a grandparent, I felt a desire to understand their passions, particularly those of the older grandchildren. I wanted to comprehend why Julia has been fascinated by Japanese manga since high school and why 13-year-old Jacinta is such a dedicated fan of the drag queens in the show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” I was curious about what 11-year-old Xavier admires in Elon Musk and why 7-year-old Alonso can spend hours engrossed in the music of the pop rock band Imagine Dragons and eagerly discussing “X-Men” actor Ryan Reynolds. Furthermore, I was intrigued by 4-year-old Lila’s unwavering enthusiasm for dressing up as a Disney princess with her playmates. Although tickets for the anime convention were sold out, my daughter Nadya, considerate as ever, purchased an extra ticket in case I decided to see what the event was all about. It was at this moment I realized that the girls who traveled with me considered the convention the highlight of their visit, and they even packed their own costumes in anticipation. Julia chose to dress up as the fictional character Gwen Stacy from “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” while Jacinta portrayed Venti, the free-spirited character from the “Genshin Impact” world. Alonso, like his parents, opted for a Spider-Man costume. In my loose jeans and button-down shirt, I felt like a complete outsider in a world of fantasy inhabited by captivating characters.
Upon arriving at the convention, we were welcomed by a stunning display of people dressed in colorful outfits, representing video game characters, manga and Marvel comic book heroes, Disney personalities, and anime characters. Like a curious toddler entering a vast playroom, I followed my granddaughters, observing their joyous expressions as they recognized the characters that had long populated their imaginative worlds. One character caught my attention—an individual wearing black pants, a white shirt, and a tie, appearing like an office clerk at first glance. However, he had a chainsaw for a head and two additional chainsaws in place of arms. Puzzled, I repeatedly asked who that character was, receiving a response only once when Julia informed me that it was Denji, known as the “Chainsaw Man.” Most of the time, I received no reply, suggesting that my granddaughters wanted me to embrace the moment and simply be entertained. Realizing that it was best to let the girls immerse themselves in the event at their own pace, we agreed to meet at a designated location at a specific time and parted ways. As I made my way to the restrooms, seeking a quiet spot nearby for some rest, I was disappointed to find no available seats or tranquil corners. When lunchtime arrived, the youthful crowd retreated to the edges of the venue, sitting on the floor to enjoy their snacks. Feeling exhausted and parched, I ventured through the expansive hall in search of refreshments. Observing the long queues, I decided it would be quicker to reunite with my family instead of waiting in line. However, I discovered that my Wi-Fi connection had vanished, leaving me unsettled. To compose myself, I settled on the floor, contemplating why I found myself in this situation. Moments later, I made my way to the exit, longing for a breath of fresh air. That’s when a series of delayed messages arrived. Julia texted me, wondering about my whereabouts and directing me to take the escalator down to meet her near the merchandise booth. The sight of familiar faces filled me with joy, as I had spent two hours lost in a realm of make-believe, desperately attempting to comprehend its purpose. It was then I realized that instead of questioning why people engage in cosplay, I should have asked myself, why not? As noted by writer Stuart Jeffries in his book “Everything, All the Time, Everywhere,” “Once only artists could do this. But we are all creatives now, all of us makers of masks.”
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