Last year I attended my first Cars N Anime Fest – a fusion of anime and car culture. Held at the Al Palladini Community Centre, the second annual Cars N Anime Fest brought together an energetic crowd of fans, cosplayers, car enthusiasts, gamers, and curious onlookers for what is a trending and unique pop culture event in the GTA.
Walking into the event, you’re met with revving engines, bass-heavy anime remixes, and chatter from excited attendees. What made this fest stand out was the merging of two cultures that, while seemingly different, share a deep appreciation for personalization, creativity, and community.
The heart of the show was the Itasha car exhibit—vehicles decked out with eye-popping decals featuring characters from anime, video games, and manga. For some, it was their first time seeing an Itasha car up close, and the level of detail on the wraps are impressive. From sleek sports cars covered in Demon Slayer motifs to old-school imports flaunting Initial D designs, the creativity on display was incredible.
Of course, it wasn’t just about cars. Inside the venue, things got even more animated (pun intended). There were over 60 awards and giveaways spread across different competitions. The gaming tournaments drew a modest crowd (and the gaming section definitely has room to grow), especially the Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter showdowns where cosplayers competed. The Pokémon card tournament and live voice-over contest were fun to watch, even if you weren’t participating.
People appreciated how different this event felt compared to traditional anime cons or car shows. One attendee, dressed as Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, said, “It’s honestly refreshing to be around people who are just unapologetically into the same weird, nerdy, fast car stuff I’m into.” That pretty much summed it up.
A portion of the proceeds went to Hemophilia Ontario, which added a feel-good layer to the whole experience. Seeing communities rally around causes like that, even while geeking out over anime and JDM cars, just shows how powerful fandom can be when channeled into something bigger.
In the end, Cars N Anime Fest delivered on its promise — a day of color, noise, energy, and shared passion. It doesn’t come near the size of Anime North, but for those who made it inside, it was a great experience. Hopefully the coming years build on the strong foundation.
If you’re into anime and cars—or even just one of the two—it’s definitely a growing event to check out. This year’s event is happening Sunday, June 8th, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
