Along with a revamped website, Animethon has published new policies that change several things about the event including restrictions on bulky and indecent costumes, tougher regulations regarding harassment, limits placed of Photography, and an expanded list of banned prop weapons and restrictions regarding the use of prop weapons.
A number of events have been instituting tougher regulations this year. Otafest instituted a blanket ban on all prop weapons from their event and a Taste of Animethon has banned the sale of all weapons from their vendor’s hall.
A complete list of their policies are available on the Animethon Website, however key sections are quoted just below.
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Attire and Costumes
18. All patrons are required to dress appropriately, in accordance with public decency laws, while attending the Event.
19. All patrons are required to wear footwear. Socks or bare feet are not acceptable.
20. The Event reserves the right to deem any attire or costume unacceptable and request the wearer to either change or make modifications as necessary.
21. Patrons should be aware that they may be asked to remove all or part of any costume that is bulky, difficult to maneuver, or otherwise presents a possible safety issue for the wearer or other patrons.
Harassment and Assault22. The Event has a zero tolerance for any type of harassment and/or assault.
a. Harassment is any behavior that annoys, alarms, or threatens another person. This includes any unwanted physical contact, following someone without a legitimate reason, or threatening to harm someone.
23. Sexual misconduct is unacceptable at the Event, and will result in the revocation of the patron’s Pass.
Photography and Video Recording
30. Photography of original artwork in Artist Alley is not allowed without permission of the artist.
31. Photography may be restricted to specific events. Patrons will be informed in any event which photography or video recording is prohibited.
32. Photography of all other aspects of the Event is allowed as long as it does not disrupt events, the flow of traffic, and the subject does not object to the photo.
33. Please be considerate and ask first before taking pictures of guests, other patrons, or the general public.
34. Please be advised that you may be video recorded and/or photographed by the Event for promotional purposes.
35. Posing with a weapon for a photograph is acceptable. However, the weapon may only be drawn for that picture and no patrons in the immediate area must feel threatened.
36. Photographs of the Venue, both interior and exterior, must be approved by the Venue in advance.
Weapons, Props, and Replicas
40. The Event defines a weapon to be any item that:
a. Is made from wood, metal, or dense plastic, of any length, and can be swung or lunged at someone, or can cause any physical harm;
b. Resembles a thrown or missile weapon;
c. Resembles a pistol, rifle, bow, or any other form of gun or projectile weapon;
d. Resembles an item that could reasonably be considered a weapon.
41. The Event applies the following policies to weapons:
a. In cases where this policy is found in conflict with the policy of the Venue, the more restrictive of these policies will apply.
b. Failure to comply with any portion of this policy will result in confiscation of the offending items. Warnings prior to confiscation will be issued at the discretion of Event staff. Confiscated items will be returned at the end of the day. Repeated violations of this policy will result in the offender being removed from the Venue.
c. Upon reaching the event grounds, all weapons, props, and replicas must be checked in with event staff for peace bonding. This peace bonding must be left on the weapon at all times. Any items deemed not permitted must either be confiscated or stored off of the event grounds.
d. There may be events where the restrictions on the use of props, replicas, or weapons may be different. These events will have their own policy that will apply only to the specified event.
· Examples: “Cosplay Contest” at an Anime Festival, Sword Demonstration.
e. No weapons prohibited by Canadian law shall be permitted. Any illegal weapons brought to events will be reported to the local authorities.
f. No props or replicas indistinguishable from a real weapon will be permitted.
g. No weapon, prop, or replica shall be constructed of or be constituted primarily of glass, ceramics, metal thicker/denser than tinfoil, stone, or any similarly hard material.
h. No weapon, prop or replica will have sharpened edges or points.
i. No live firearms, regardless of how they may have been disabled, and no replicas of modern firearms (manufactured on or after 1898) shall be permitted.
j. No projectiles may be loaded/strung in any weapon, prop, or replica at any time.
· Examples: Nerf Gun, Bow & Arrow, Blowgun, Replica Antique Firearm.
k. At no point in time may a permitted item be drawn or brandished as a weapon while on-site.
i. Photography is an exception to this rule. (See Section 35)
l. All gun-like weapons, props, and replicas must have the muzzle area painted in neon orange and have the barrel blocked.
m. Bows may be strung providing one end of the bowstring can come loose easily.
n. All chains must be ornamental and secured at both ends.
o. Paddles, while permitted, may not be used on other individuals.
p. Roller Blades, Scooters, and Skateboards must be ornamental and may not be used as transport on event grounds.
q. The following weapons are specifically excluded:
· No bought or manufactured weapons.
· No Tonfa, Night Sticks, Batons, or Asps.
· No Staffs, hard wood, or pressed wood shorter than four feet six inches.
· No Nunchuku made of wood, steel, or rubber with chain.
· No Training Nunchuku made of soft rubber and/or form with rope.
· No impairing or electronic discharging devices.
· No Escrima sticks, Billy clubs, Leather slappers or dusters, Fighting fans, or Kubotans.
· No hard plastic throwing stars or shurikens.
· No hard plastics like PVC or ABS shorter than four feet six inches.
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Victor Vargas is the manager and editor of Anime-Alberta. He's the former chair of Animethon 16 & Animethon 15 as well as a former president of BAKA (The Banzai Anime Klub of Alberta)