Calling all fanboys, Gothic Lolitas and anyone else ready to let loose their inner geek! If you sweat Coca Cola, live in your parents' basement, like to LANparty, own a 12-sided die, or you've heard of the SDF 1 or The Legend of the Overfiend--heck even if you haven't but have always been curious about the growing Harajuku-style cosplay sub-culture--then dust off that Dante costume you made last Halloween, you'll be tickled silly this weekend as suburban Toronto is threatening to be lousy with japanamation anoraks and costumed folk of every sci-fi/fantasy stripe congregating at the annual premier Canadian fan-run Japanese Animation and Culture event: Anime North.

Situated over three sites and three days running between May 25th to May 27th The convention covers a variety of anime and video game themed proceedings, panel discussions, contests & games, a slew of other Japanese pop culture stylings and video rooms chock-a-block with enough anime to make your eyes bleed, natch.

Tickets for the event are available at the Toronto Congress Centre just inside the main entrance doors of Hall D:

* Full Weekend: $50
* Friday Only: $30
* Saturday Only: $35
* Sunday Only: $30

Highlights will include some movie premieres including the live action version of Cutey Honey, autograph signings by the voice talent behind some of your fave cartoons, a Nominoichi (japanese flea market) where you can pick up some import dvds or some model-kits to complete that Gundam set you've been working on since you were 16; there's even a live performance by J-Pop band ZZ.

Stay tuned to BlogTO for roundup coverage from the event.

Anime North Convention
Friday May 25th - Sunday May 27th
10 am - Midnight (Friday start 5 pm)

Toronto Congress Centre - 650 Dixon Road - 416.245.5000
Doubletree International Hotel - 655 Dixon Road - 416.244.1711
Rennaisance Hotel - 801 Dixon Road - 416.675.6100