2002 we already had our forth Animagic. The fan community had grown over the last few years. Thanks to the internet becoming more avaible online communities like Animexx formed and it was easier to connect with other fans.
That's how gained friends to go to Animagic together. It felt very cool and adult to book a hotel and travel without my parents. I even made a matching costume with my friend, random Samurai Outfits made out of old bedsheets (Don't aks why we thought bringing blunt but heavy swords with us. Security checks weren't a thing yet). And I had dyed my hair pink and violet a bit earlier. I was more than ready!
So lots of changes. The AnimaniA magazine had changed alot, too. The editor-in-chief and other staff had resigned and made their own magazine (the Mangaszene) and started organizing their own conventions.
Let's have a look at the convention guide from Animagic 2002:
There were even more guests of honor: Shinichirô Watanabe came back, there was Yôko Kanno, Satoshi Shiki, Nobuteru Yuki, Range Murata and many more. A really great lineup!
There were also two german voice actors guesting: Rubina Kuraoka and Sandro Blümel (who was a guest at NonkiCon on 2025, over 20 years later). And the german comic artist Sascha Nils Marx, who doesn't seem to be active anymore.
Generally the main activities at Animagic were the same as the year before. Just a bit more of everything.
Lots of Animes to watch and a few great movies at the cinema like X - The movie and the Cowboy Bebop movie 'Knocking on Heavens Door'.
In 2002 there were lots of panels with the guests of honor where you got to ask questions, get autographs or a photo. My friends and me went to the Yôko Kano and Shinichirô Watanabe. I get the X-Movie poster signed by them and we took a photo together. When the film was developed later I was so sad, because one of my friends had her eyes closed and well, I didn't look great either. But we were so lucky because our photo got printed in one of the next issues of Animagic with a much better photo with all of us smiling! So I have this nice photo and the memory of Yôko Kano telling me my hair looked pretty.
In 2002 with my friends we actually went to RPG area and joined some game were created some characters, but I can't remember much other than my friends' character liked digging.
The showact scene got bigger: There were three groups now performing. Tsuki no Senshi that were already well knows, Nansensu that focused on comedy and Yume that performed a Sailor Moon musical based on the real ones in Japan. I remember Yume being quite professional with live singing and well made costumes.
Chibi Chibi XXX from last years cosplay contest was so well liked they ended up performing as a music act! They performed cover songs with lyrics changed to Anime and con scene subjects with funny slide shows and lyrics to sing along. They really rocked the whole hall.
For the first time there is also a whole page of sponsors in the convention guide. It shows how big and also more commercial Animagic had become.
