​Keeping up the trend we've seen in 2019, AI was quite busy. Although we've never subscribed to the theory that there's a con bubble, this year has proven, thus far, that well organized shows facilitated by knowledgeable showrunners are more popular than ever.

While AI is a much smaller show than many we cover, there's a definite energy that is fueled by the celebration of music and cosplay that seems to consistently be at the heart of the con. This year, the growth of the show helped this cause by moving the main stage outside and into the center of the two housings for the show. This freed up more room for additional vendors inside and gave panels and performances a festival vibe. Also, the cosplay cars moved outside to allow for a larger artist alley. Adjacent to the car display was a bar and karaoke stage that was consistently busy.

On the floor, there was a bit of deja vu, as many of the exhibitors at AI were also on the floor at the previous weekend's Anime LA. With the expanded artist alley, there were far more options for those seeking original art, prints and craft items. On the main floor, shirts, hats, statues, plush and other con staples were readily available.

With the larger space on the floor available, AI was able to put in a gaming area that was quite popular.

As previously mentioned, cosplay is a big part of AI's identity as a pop culture show. With larger crowds in 2019, it is no surprise that cosplay was as strong as ever.

All in all, we had a good time at AI. We will go into more depth in an upcoming podcast and we already have video here to give a bit more of a feel for the show.