AniFest encourages our attendees to dress up in creative and interesting cosplay, but for the safety of yourself and others, we have created rules and regulations that determine what is acceptable at AniFest. When bringing in your cosplay, costume, prop, or anything else, please keep these rules in mind.
Anifest reserves the right to inspect all costumes and weapons on an individual basis in order to ensure that the event remains completely safe and family-friendly. Those who violate these rules assume all responsibility in the event of death or injury.
Cosplay Rules
- Keep it PG-13: All attire must cover any area normally covered by a swimsuit. Cosplay and props must all be PG rated as determined by event staff.
- Safety of props: All cosplay must not be dangerous in any way to anyone who is in proximity of your outfit. Costumes and props that pose a danger to their wearers, such as stilts, skateboards, roller blades, pressurized vessels, heating elements that may cause fires, or chemicals that may be caustic are not allowed.
- Metal props: Any prop, whether on or off costume, that is made of a material that has a hardness sufficient enough to use used as a blunt weapon, is strictly prohibited. Props that have the appearance of metal but is made of a material that is soft (e.g. EVA foam) is acceptable.
- Size of prop: Any prop that exceeds 6 feet in length on it’s longest size is prohibited at the event, unless deemed safe and acceptable by OP SEC. Please use the form below to send detailed photos to our team who will determine if it is allowed on the premise.
- Bludgeoning objects: Any prop that can be used as a bludgeoning weapon (bat, golf clubs, etc.) are strictly prohibited from the premises unless prior authorization has been made with the OP SEC staff. Any display of such an object in a threatening manner will result in your immediate removal from the premises.
- We will ask any attendee who has a prop that is unacceptable to leave the device in their vehicle.
- Music: Costumes and props that have amplified audio must have volume control and should be kept at a volume where the music is not heard past 20 feet. Owners of portable speakers and/or amplified audio must turn the volume down when asked by event security.
- Projectile weapons: All projectile weapons, including nerf guns, bows, slings, crossbows, airsoft guns, must be disabled and unloaded. All bows or string-type projectile weapons must be unstrung or strung with an unusable material such as twine. No bolts, arrows, or missiles can be carried unless they are fake, not fire-able, and not sharp or dangerous.
- All props that conform to these rules will be checked, disabled, and peace-bonded by the OP SEC staff.
- Airsoft and Gun-like props: In accordance with California law, any and all props that can be considered an imitation firearm, that has colorization that is similiar to a real firearm in color, size, and shape are prohibited from the event. Gun-like props that have been modified with appropriate florescent marking may be acceptable pending review from OP SEC. No ammunition of any kind may be carried, this includes inert, BB, pellets, or any other projectile that can be fired by chemical propellant, pneumatic, or hydraulic methods.
- Firearms: Any firearm, disabled or unloaded, are strictly prohibited in all event spaces. If you are an off-duty law enforcement officer carrying a sidearm through the event space, please contact the on-site OP SEC team so that we can inform the team of your presence.
Service Animals
- Registered, tagged, and leashed service animals are allowed entry to AniFest and it’s venue at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center.
- Beginning on March 15, 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA.
- In addition to the provisions about service dogs, the Department’s revised ADA regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. (Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches measured to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.) Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies to permit miniature horses where reasonable. The regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated in their facility. The assessment factors are (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the owner’s control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.
- A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
- Generally, title II and title III entities must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go.
- Beginning on March 15, 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA.
- No animals are allowed at AniFest with the exception of registered service animals. This policy is the policy of the venue, and not the policy of AniFest or it’s parent organization.
Event Advertisement Rules
- Only authorized organizations may promote their event at AnIFest:
- You are not allowed to:
- Pass out Flyers
- Pass out Business cards
- Pass out any other materials
- You may not display any:
- Banners, feather flags, poles
- Cosplay showing any type of event theme
- Vehicles
- You may not announce, yell, or shout any unauthorized event or brand to the attendees
- Violators of this rule will be promptly removed from the premises.
- You are not allowed to:
If you have any questions regarding your prop to see if it’s acceptable under our rules and regulations, please send a clear image to our OP SEC team who will review it. You can also check if your prop is allowed at our OP SEC table located near registration. Any prop that is unsafe or threatening manner will be confiscated by OP SEC. Please note that our policies and procedures may change at any time, and keep common sense in mind when bringing your prop to our event.
