Photos: OtakuFest 2025 Offered a Glimpse Into Miami's Growing Cosplay Scene

"5! 4! 3! 2! 1!"

The echoing countdown heralded the march of attendees entering OtakuFest 2025 at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC) this past weekend. Fans dressed as Goku, Starfire, Shadow the Hedgehog, and other instantly recognizable characters made their way through the convention gates, one of a growing list of local events for otaku (the Japanese term for pop culture fanatics).

Winji Mesadieu, an otaku himself, founded OtakuFest in 2018 after working for defunct convention organizer Super Conventions.

"I'm a fan too, so getting to help build something that people feel connected to is really special," Mesadieu told New Times of hosting his own convention. "We always remind ourselves: Every show is someone's first con. We want to make sure it's a good one — hopefully one where they make lifelong friends and memories."
This year's exhibitors included Pro-Play Games, KnoWhere Toys, and Flynn's Arcade. Japanese media dominated each booth's merchandise, displaying figures, plushies, and posters of franchises including Sailor Moon, Gundam, and Godzilla. Attendees flooded the exhibit floor by 1 p.m. on Saturday. Amid the chaos, cosplayer Trevohnn Garner and other content creators chatted with fellow attendees on both floors.

Programming was relatively standard for a convention. OtakuFest held four cosplay competitions across three days: The Cosplay Runway Costume Contest, Anime After Dark Costume Contest, the Costume Competition, and the Masquerade Costume Contest. The Costume Competition drew the largest audience, with competitor Link Martinez winning the Best In Show award for HunterCrew787, his Five Nights at Freddy's inspired costume group.

The royal ballroom's cosplay rave, Gotta Glo Fast, kicked off the after-dark programming. DJs Obi-Wan Shinobi and HauteCore's booming sets had attendees running in circles and crowdsurfing.
Getting last-minute autographs and photos with guests is a major goal for fans on the final day of a convention. Actor Lee Majdoub, best known for his role as Agent Stone in the Sonic the Hedgehog film adaptations, drew legions of fans to his table. "I'm really fortunate to have such great fans in the Sonic world and in the community as a whole," Majdoub told New Times. "I don't think I'd have the opportunities I have without [the fans]."

While OtakuFest's programming is a bit formulaic, the convention is worth attending if you prefer a convivial atmosphere over a large-scale convention with huge celebrity guests. It's also more economical than landmark conventions, costing roughly $30 and $80 for single-day and three-day passes, respectively. Guest autographs and photos are also priced within that range.

For otakus searching for a bigger convention, Florida Supercon returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center this July. The festival unveiled its programming lineup last week.