Buzz
After purchasing tickets for Anime NYC, I was concerned that the event’s chaos might be too much for my daughters’ first convention experience. Having started my convention journey a decade ago at New York Comic Con and attended numerous events since, I knew how overwhelming it could be. Anime NYC marked my 15-year-old twins’ debut at such a large gathering. To make it easier, I searched for a scavenger hunt to guide them through the convention but found none online. Determined, I stayed up late the night before and crafted my own anime-themed scavenger hunt.
Similar to New York Comic Con, Anime NYC takes place at the Javits Center, a sprawling 3.3 million square foot venue. In 2024, Anime NYC attracted over 100,000 attendees, marking its largest turnout in its seven-year history. For anyone who has attended a convention, the sheer scale can be daunting: endless events, panels, booths, and ads vie for attention as you navigate miles of crowded spaces. These events are far from beginner-friendly, and Anime NYC was no different.
The scavenger hunt was designed to add structure to our adventure and alleviate the exhaustion, and it succeeded. It transformed the experience, making it far less stressful and much more enjoyable for my family. I can’t imagine attending another convention without one.
Personalize This Comic Convention Scavenger Hunt
Feel free to download this comic and anime convention scavenger hunt for free to use at your next event, or let it inspire you to create your own. The scavenger hunt is divided into three parts:
The first section features simpler tasks, each worth one point. Including bonuses, you can earn up to 15 points in this part.
The second section includes more complex challenges that require greater social interaction with others, each valued at two points. With bonuses, this section offers a potential 20 points.
The final section involves recording videos of group members actively participating in the community, with each task worth 5 points. Including bonuses, this section can net up to 25 points.
The scavenger hunt structure is adaptable to most comic, anime, and gaming conventions, allowing you to tailor it to your group’s preferences and interests. For instance, you could replace certain tasks with characters from other comics or video games, or adjust the difficulty based on age (or level of enthusiasm). As a Black family, we enjoy spotting representation in anime, so one of our tasks involved asking strangers to name five Black anime characters.
How much time does the scavenger hunt typically require?
For adults, completing the convention scavenger hunt usually takes about 4-6 hours. With children, the process may take longer, depending on their stamina for walking. My family spent roughly six hours at Anime NYC, and out of a maximum 60 points, the winning team secured 48 points, narrowly beating the losing team’s 47.
Creating a personalized convention scavenger hunt
Crafting your own scavenger hunt allows for endless customization. Basic hunts require just a list of items or tasks, team rules, time constraints, and rewards. For competitive groups, key considerations might include:
Allowing team alliances
Permitting team sabotage
Enabling teams to purchase clues (A controversial rule in my family's hunt, where my team secured an anime voice actor's autograph for extra points.)
Establishing a tie-breaking method beforehand
Scavenger hunts are excellent for convention organization
A favorite saying of mine is, “The only way to consume an elephant is one piece at a time.” This metaphor highlights how breaking down massive tasks into smaller segments can make them more approachable. Whether preparing for a marathon, authoring a book, or instilling a love for conventions in my daughters, I focus on tackling one task at a time. Scavenger hunts serve as effective task management tools—essentially fun-filled checklists—and I intend to utilize them for various events like vacations and museum visits. When existing hunts don't meet my needs, I aim to design my own.
