Frequently Asked Questions

General | Location | Registration | Vendors | Guests | Programming

What is Animaritime?

Animaritime is the Canadian Maritimes only three-day anime and gaming convention.

What will be going on?

Animaritime 2013 encompasses a large number of events and demonstrations including a masquerade, karaoke, video games, board games, vendor room, artists' alley; as well as contests like the AMV contest, art contest, and the fanfiction contest. If that isn't enough to get you excited about Animaritime 2013, we've also got special guests of honor from the anime and gaming industries excited about joining us this year.

When is it?

Animaritime 2013 is being held on Canada Day weekend (June 28th - 30th).

What is the average age of people coming to Animaritime?

As a family-friendly event, we draw people of all ages. The average age of people attending Animaritime is 14-27 years old, but we see people from age 2 - 62.

How can I volunteer or staff at Animaritime?

If you're interested in being a volunteer or staff member for Animaritime, please visit the volunteer section or staff section of the website. There you will find descriptions of staff or volunteers and instructions how to apply.

Why is Animaritime 2013 on Canada Day weekend?

There are a lot of considerations that go into choosing dates for Animaritime. Most importantly is availability of the Fredericton Convention Center, cost of the facilities, and room rates at the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook hotel. Because of this, it can mean that the dates for Animaritime change in order to keep the convention cheap for attendees. This year it means holding Animaritime on Canada Day weekend.

Will there be an Animaritime 2014?

Yes, we're working on the dates for Animaritime 2014 right now, and as soon as we know when it is going to be held we'll announce it on the website.

Why don't you run 24 hours?

We want to provide you the best possible convention that we can. Unfortunately, that becomes much harder when out staff are exhausted and stretched thin. Late night programming is generally under attended, so we've decided to instead to provide you the absolute best programming during the days of the convention.

Where can I learn more about Animaritime?

For more information or to keep up to date with Animaritime 2013, we recommend visiting our website, or our forums. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.

What do you mean by 'peacebonding'?

From Wikipedia: "A peace-bonding is a conspicuous lock, tie, or mark which makes or identifies something as unusable as a weapon, that is, that the owner's intentions are purely peaceful." In other words, peacebonding means that we have inspected the weapon or prop and have determined that should not present a threat to others. Once we have inspected the item we will put a mark (not permanent) on the prop to show other staff members that it has been inspected.

Please note that even if your prop has been peacebonded, if you act inappropriately with the item Animaritime staff can still take it away from you if we determine it is a threat to the safety of other attendees.

Where is Animaritime 2013 held?

Animaritime 2013 is being held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, at the Fredericton Convention Centre and the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel. More information about the location and booking a room at our hotel can be found on the location section of our site.

Is there a limit on the number of people that can attend Animaritime 2013?

Not really. Although there is a capacity of the hotel for maximum occupancy it is very unlikely that we will reach this number, and we don't see the need to cause any undo confusion by posting that number.

Where can I park my car?

The Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook hotel offers parking to anyone staying in their hotel. The Fredericton Convention Centre has an attached East End garage, providing 7 levels of parking, and additional spaces are located underneath the FCC. There are also several parking lots and garages in the area, and metered street parking is free after 5pm on Friday, and free on weekends.

What happens if the hotel rooms are all booked before I get a chance to get a room?

Animaritime has reserved a block of rooms in the hotel at a reduced cost. If all of those rooms are sold out then you can still get a hotel room at the normal cost. If the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook hotel is completely sold out of all rooms, then there are other hotels near by that may be available.

Is there a bag or coat check at Animaritime?

No. Attendees of Animaritime 2013 are responsible for taking care of their own bags or coats during the convention.

How do I register for Animaritime?

There are many ways to register for Animaritime. The first and most common is to pre-register on Animaritime's online registration site. The second is to print out and mail in our pre-registration form with payment as described on the form. More information can be found in the registration section.

Can I pre-register by mail?

Yes, see above.

Do you take Paypal? Do you take credit cards?

Yes, the online registration site listed above accepts Paypal and credit cards.

Is there a discount for kids?

Yes, children under the age of 6 get in for free.

Is there a group discount?

No, Animaritime does not offer a group discount.

What if I just want to go to the Vendors' room? Is there a badge for that?

Yes, Animaritime offers a Vendor Only badge for $10.

Why do you need my email address?

We use your email address to send you a receipt for your registration. This receipt should be brought with you to the con to pick up your badge and registration packet. We also use your email to send you important information about the convention. We never give your email address to any third parties.

Why do you need my birthdate?

We use your birthdate to determine whether we'll require an adult signature for you at the convention, as well as for demographic information that we analyze at the conclusion of the convention.

How old do I have to be to attend Animaritime without an adult?

Animaritime requires that all children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while attending the convention.

I pre-registered and haven't received confirmation. Am I registered?

Maybe. The confirmation email may have been caught by your spam filters, so be sure to verify that it hasn't ended up in your junk folder. If you are unsure if you're registration has been received, please send an email to registration@animaritime.org with your name and the details of your registration.

When will registration be open at the convention?

On-site registration will open Friday at Noon (12pm) for those who've not pre-registered. Badge pick-up for those who have pre-registered will open at 11am.

Why do I have to bring ID? What type do you need?

In order to prove that you are who you say you are, and to prevent people from stealing other peoples badges, we ask that you provide a photo ID when claiming your badge and registration packet. The ID is required to have a photo, full name, and birthdate. The best forms of ID are driver's license, passport, or school ID. If your ID doesn't have a birthdate on it, we will be unable to verify your age and will require an adult to sign for your badge.

If you don't have one of these forms of ID, we highly recommend that you get a provincial ID made prior to the convention.

Can I have a friend pick up my badge for me?

No, each attendee is required to pick up their own badge.

I can't go to Animaritime any more. Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately, we can't refund purchased tickets. This is clearly stated on the registration page, and has been a rule since the con started in 2003. There is no exception to this rule.

Can I transfer my badge to someone else?

No, pre-registration is a commitment to attend the convention, and can't be transferred to another person. This means that the name on the registration must match the ID used for pick up at the convention.

Do I have to bring the confirmation receipt?

We strongly recommend bringing the receipt with you. Without it, picking up your badge and registration packet can take much longer. It also serves as a proof of purchase, showing that you've paid for your registration, even if something goes wrong with our system.

I want to sell stuff at Animaritime, but I'm confused about where. Who sells in Artists' Alley and who sells in the Vendors' room?

There is no 'set-in-stone' rule for who can sell items in the vendor room, but typically the vendor room is used by retailers selling merchandise that was not created by them. The artists' alley on the other hand is specifically for people selling art, goods, or services that they have created.

How many people will be at Animaritime?

For Animaritime 2013 we are expecting an attendance between 1,200 and 1,300 people.

How do I get a table in the Vendors' room?

Contact the vendor coordinator at vendor@animaritime.org. The vendor coordinator will work with you to determine if your items are sell-able at Animaritime. If they are and you are still interested, then the vendor coordinator will send you a contract that must be signed and returned before your table(s) can be assigned.

What can I not sell at Animaritime?

Animaritime has very strict policies regarding bootleged materials. If you have any questions as to whether or not your merchandise is considered bootleged we recommend you read the Pirate Anime FAQ provided by Otaku News.

Why was I told that I couldn't vend at Animaritime?

There are a number of reasons that the vendor coordinator may have rejected your request to become a vendor at Animaritime. The vendor coordinator should have explained why you were rejected, but these are some of the more common reasons:

• Your merchandise was deemed to be 'bootleg' material
• (see 'What can I not sell at Animaritime?')
• There are too many vendors selling the same merchandise already
• In order to create a diversity of goods for the attendees, and to prevent direct competition among the vendors, Animaritime attempts to draw a variety of vendors to the convention
• There is no more room
• The Animaritime vendor room tends to fill up very quickly and sometimes vendors are unable to reserve space quickly enough. If this is the case, unfortunately you'll have to wait until next year.

Can I have merchandise/boxes shipped to Animaritime?

Yes. Please contact the vendor coordinator to determine arrival and pickup times for your items.

Is there a load/unload policy for setting up in the Vendors' room?

Yes. The setup/teardown policy and times for the vendor room are listed in the contract that will be sent to you by the vendor coordinator.

What vendors will be at Animaritime?

You can view the list of confirmed vendors for Animaritime on our website under the vendors section.

What will they have for sale?

For more details about a particular vendor, try clicking on the link provided under our vendors section of our website to view the vendor's website. Some vendors do not have websites so no link will be available.

I have other questions about being a vendor. Who should I talk to?

The vendor coordinator should be able to answer any questions you may have. You can reach the vendor coordinator at vendor@animaritime.org

What is a guest of honor?

A guest of honor is a person from the anime or gaming community. There is no set-in-stone rules or regulations dictating who can and cannot be a guest of honor at Animaritime.

How are guests selected?

A guest is selected to attend Animaritime through the guest selection committee. Our committee takes many things into consideration, including previous experiences and contributions to the community or communities and distance from the convention location.

Can I be a guest?

If you would like to be a guest at Animaritime, please contact the guest committee at guests@animaritime.org.

Is it true that ___ is going to be a guest at Animaritime?

The best way to see who is coming as a guest of honor to Animaritime is to visit the guests section of our website.

I'm friends/know/have contact info for someone I'd like you to have as a guest. Can I ask them to come to Animaritime?

Animaritime asks that you do not contact guests directly. If you have a recommendation for a guest of honor we are always accepting ideas. If you have contact information or know them personally then that's even better! You can email us your ideas for guests of honor along with any information you may have about them to guests@animaritime.org.

However, Animaritime requests that you do not ask the individuals to attend Animaritime on your own. There are many reasons for this but the primary one is that it makes official contact by Animaritime more difficult and confusing. We would prefer that you provide us with the contact details and let our guest department handle the official invitation.

Why don't you say who you're trying to get as guests?

Until a guest is confirmed to be attending Animaritime, we will not mention their name specifically in any updates. The reason for this is that we do not want to create a rumor or misinformation regarding a particular person's attendance. If we announced who we were talking to or wanted to talk to it would be inevitable that someone would mis-understand that to mean that the person would be attending, and then be very disappointed when the guest did not show up at Animaritime.

What is there to do at Animaritime?

See the question in General called "What will be going on?".

How can I run a panel or event?

If you have an idea for an event or panel that you'd like to see or run, please contact volunteer@animaritime.org with your suggestion. If you want to run the event please make sure to include that in your email, along with any materials you might need for the panel (examples include projectors, easels, and paper/pencils).

How do I get a table in Artists' Alley?

When information is available, a news announcement will be posted and the information will be found on the events section of the site.

How do I sign up for the masquerade?

When information is available, a news announcement will be posted and the information will be found on the contests section of the site.

I'm almost 18, and I really want to go to the 18+ events. Can you let me in anyways?

No, if you are not at least 18 by the date of the convention, then you are not allowed into the 18+ events.

Why was there time in the schedule where there was nothing I wanted to do?

We try to create a schedule full of things to do for everyone and with enough events to keep all the attendees interested for the entire convention. Unfortunately this often means that there will be times during the convention where someone cannot find anything that interests them, or more commonly, there are multiple events that interest them running in the same time slot.

We do our best to prevent obvious conflicts (such as scheduling a cosplay event during the masquerade), but sometimes these sorts of conflicts are unavoidable.

Why did you schedule two things that I wanted to do at the same time?

See the answer above.

When will you post the convention schedule?

We will post the schedule as soon as it is complete. Often times the schedule for the convention is changing constantly up until a few weeks before the convention. We do not to put the schedule up until we are positive that only the smallest of changes will be made between time time it goes up and the actual convention to prevent people from getting confused.

Please note: You should always rely on the schedule provided at the convention as it will always be the most up to date. Sometimes even that schedule can change due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or weather. In such an event Animaritime will put posters around the venue space to try and inform you of these changes.