FunimationCon
Virtual Convention
With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in global isolation, anime fans were crushed to realize that anime conventions—the places that truly felt like home—were being cancelled indefinitely. As leaders in this community, we needed to meet fans where they were, delivering the familiar experience they craved from the safety of their homes as a completely virtual anime convention.
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Thomas Roach
Art Direction, Graphic Design, Web Design, Merch Design, 3D AnimationVic Ochoa
Creative DirectionRokuban
IllustrationJonna Miller
CopywritingRoger Young Jr.
Motion GraphicsJenna Capozzi
ProductionAustin Black
MusicFreeman
Production Partner
Opportunity
When the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 caused shutdowns of physical anime conventions, we recognized a need to provide a virtual experience to anime fans needing an escape.
By offering a free, all-virtual experience, we gave fans a way to engage with their favorite anime content safely from their homes.
Challenge
In uncharted technological waters with a severely compressed timeline, we had several challenges to creating an authentic and immersive convention experience for anime fans.
In addition to internal logistical challenges, we also needed to navigate complicated licensor relationships (who were under logistical challenges of their own).
Strategy
By working extensively with voice actors, Japanese studios, and industry partners, we created an international convention that blended virtual aesthetics with physical convention terminology.
This created a feeling of self-aware immersion to reassure the community that they were not missing out on an authentic con experience.
Results
When the dust settled, we had delivered 26 hours of free and original content to the fan community, including 21 panels, 6 music segments, and 3 premiere screenings, with fans enthusiastically engaging and sharing the content with everyone they knew.
The event generated over 400 million organic impressions and increased the Funimation social footprint by over 66k. Moreover, attendance skyrocketed with in-platform chatter reaching over 100k total messages and over 500 cosplayers contributing to the online showcase.
Key Art Timelapse
Renowned Japanese illustrator Rokuban catalogs his process of developing the key art visual for FunimationCon 2020.
FunimationCon 2021
Developed as a hybrid convention with a globally integrated virtual and physical presence, FC21 was cancelled halfway through production due to the Crunchyroll merger and brand transition.
Graphics Sizzle