Events
Here are brief descriptions of the events and exhibits we have planned.
Schedule of Events (Details Below!)
Main Stage Descriptions (Click Here)
Opening Ceremony (12:00 - 12:15 PM):
Join us for the Opening Ceremony! We'll have a brief rundown of the day's events and what you can expect at LoboCon 2024.
Anime Hot Takes (12:15 - 1:00 PM):
Have a strong opinion you're dying to share? Or just something you want to debate with reckless abandon for the opinions of others? The Anime Hot Takes stage sounds just right for you!
Hosted by Jackson Hammond and Josh Emery!
History of FInal Fantasy (1:00 - 1:30 PM):
A presentation going over the history of the Final Fantasy. What was the game development process like? How did the games get so popular? Come and find out this and much more during this overview of the renowned JRPG series!
Presented by Cameron Hourigan!
Anime Trivia Contest (1:30 - 2:30 PM):
So you know a lot about anime. Looking to prove it? Then compete in the LoboCon Anime Trivia Contest! Answer a variety of questions on the Main Stage and prove to the world that you know anime, or at least whoever happens to be watching. Correct answers keep you on the stage but wrong answers will kick you off it, whoever stands on stage the longest wins! (But don't worry, you can always return to the stage after getting knocked off).
Presented by JT DePriest!
Ash Can't Catchum (2:30 - 3:30 PM):
Ash Ketchum has been a Pokémon trainer for longer than most of you have been alive, but for some reason he has the same game sense as I did when I didn’t understand what the save button does. Together we’ll try to figure out how many battles he won only due to OSHA required indoor sprinkler systems and try to quantify exactly how much money Jessie and James have spent trying to capture something that has a 25% encounter rate at the Power Plant.
Presented by Maxwell Kappes!
How Anime Took Off in the West (3:30 - 4:00 PM):
Just how did anime become so popular in the United States? Join us for a presentation on the history of anime becoming mainstream overseas. How did anime influence Western animation? How did Western animation influence anime? And how did they bounce off of each other before properly exploding in the West?
Presented by Justin Larson!
Cosplay Contest + Charity Auction (4:00 - 6:00 PM):
This year, we will be combining our Cosplay Contest with our Charity Auction! You'll have the chance to show off your cosplay to the crowd while everyone can support a good cause as the judges make their decisions. More details can be found below!
Hosted by Justin Hou and Curtis Manley!
Special Guest: Animator Supporters: What Is It Like to Animate in Japan? (6:15 - 7:45 PM):
We'll be having a very special guest at LoboCon this year: Animator Supporters, a non-profit organization from Japan that seeks to improve the lives of animators through providing housing, fair wages, and more! They will be giving a presentation on the state of economics in the animation industry and how animators fit into that, a showcase of in-progress animation projects from their animators, sharing success stories of those who have used their resources, and a demonstration of the animation process itself! They will also provide a Q&A at the end for you to ask any and all questions you may have.
Closing Ceremony (7:45 - 8:00 PM):
Finally, we'll discuss how the event went and say our goodbyes for this year at our Closing Ceremony!
Cosplay Contest:
Interested in showing off your cosplay skills? You’ve come to the right place! Compete against your fellow cosplayers (and costumers) while showing off your hard work at the cosplay contest! You are given 3 minutes to show your stuff! Want to pose a bunch? Dance to a song? Sing? Act out a skit? The possibilities are endless! Sign-ups are available now, up until an hour before the Cosplay Contest!
Sign up for the Cosplay Contest here!
The SSU props/weapons policy is listed below.
Cosplay Props/Weapons Policy
All participants are subject to inspection by event personnel, event security and/or police, and must be approved before admittance to the event.
No weapons or items that could violate university regulations or state or federal law may be brought to Sonoma State. This includes any type of replica.
All real weapons, including firearms, knives, swords, etc are prohibited, whether or not they are functional.
No explosives or fireworks of any kind.
No props, costume or accessory will receive pre-approval, and all participants will be inspected on site.
Any participant not willing to be inspected will not be allowed at the event.
Any participant in non-compliance or in possession of a prohibited weapon may be subject to arrest.
Props, including weapons, must be made from foam and/or cardboard. No hard plastic, metal or wood may be used. Prop bows must have arrows without tips, and the string may not be tightened.
All props, costumes and accessories will be deemed agreeable at the sole discretion of the university, event staff, security personnel and/or police.
Any participant with a prop will receive an approved wristband that must be worn while attending the event noting that their prop has been inspected and approved for the event.
Charity Auction:
Looking to pick up miscellaneous merch while also providing for a good cause? Then check out the LoboCon Charity Auction! All proceeds go to Lobo's Pantry, a Basic Needs Initiative run by Associated Students at SSU which provides nutritious food, CalFresh food program assistance, referral services, and hygiene products to all students at SSU.
Artist Alley:
Have a wall in desperate need of decorating? Maybe you have some art for decoration and other goods but lack enough walls to put it all on. Not to worry, the LoboCon Artist Alley is here to unite both in a mutually beneficial business transaction. If you're looking to buy, be sure to check it out!
Vendor sign-ups have now closed.
Gaming Hall/Tournaments:
🚨GAMING ALERT! GAMING ALERT!🚨 Someone set off the gaming alarm, that means there's going to be gaming! It's going to be at the LoboCon Gaming Hall, which will have tons of console, card, and board games for attendees to play. There will also be a couple of tournaments going on throughout the day in order to spice things up with the flare of competition.
This year, we are also offering various TTRPGs, as well as a Magic: The Gathering draft to play! You will be able to sign up for these games on the day of the event. These will be available in the Student Center Valley Rooms, one floor below the main venue. Signage will indicate where to go for these games.
Below you can find the schedule for these games. We encourage you to give them all a shot, the MTG Draft will have a $15 entry fee (to buy packs) and the TTRPGs are primarily playtests of games created by our community members!
TTRPG/MTG Schedule
