Anipop

Anipop was an annual anime convention in Sintra, and then later Lisbon, Portugal. The convention spawned other events: Anipop ½ and Anipop Kyuu-Ti.
On September 3rd 2003, with the support of the Instituto Português da Juventude, IPJ (Portuguese Youth Institute), Anipop's non-profit, Associação Juvenil de Animação e Cultura Japonesa, or AJACJ (Japanese Animation and Culture Youth Association) was created by the fans running the con in order to gather more support for future cons.
Anipop helped showcase Japanese animation and manga in Portugal, with activities focusing also on traditional Japanese customs. In later years it also received attendees from non anime fandoms.
Through various connections and partnerships, Anipop allowed fans to gain access to Japanese media they otherwise would have not had easily come in contact with.
== Association and Membership ==
Fans could join the association after its inception in 2003, with a sign-up fee of 10€ and a annual fee of 5€. This granted them access to a membership card, restricted areas of the forum, discounts at events and AJACJ's Japanese Language Club, Cosplay Club, Videogame Club, Drawing Club and the Journalistic NucleusInformation regarding the Association and Membership 
https://otakuportugal.forumeiros.com/t2193-associacao-anipop-ajacj. Many of the members/organizers went on to work in fan related fields. 
== Influences ==
It also supported and was present in other, later created, anime conventions in Portugal, like Animatosinhos, until it's eventual closing. 
During the early years of the convention, the focus on "Japanese Culture" was empathised as a way to gain the respect (and founding) of the Portuguese audience that wasn't yet familiar with anime and manga, and tended to scoff at the sort of fannish behaviours that were present at cons. Because of this, during its run, the convention attracted the attention of the Japanese Embassy in Portugal and the Museu do Oriente (Orient Museum). 
The President of the AJACJ, Inês Torrão, also appeared on national televisionYoutube recording of the interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-qbB48WJgW4&ab_channel=AnaIsabelaSantos together with Ana Santos, 2011 European Cosplay Gathering (ECG)'s winner of the Group Category, after the success of anime, in general, began reaching mainstream media. 
Before this, Portuguese viewers were already deeply familiar with Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon, which had originally aired in the country during the 90s.Wikidobragens page with the dates of the first and last episodes Dragon Ball, in particular, had been so popular amongst older people when it came out, that it had been common for many viewers of the anime to skip work, or work schedules in general be changed, so people could watch the new episodes when they came out.Kamehameha e outras lições de vida que aprendemos com “Dragon Ball”, Kamehameha and other life lessons that we learnt with "Dragon Ball" article in Portuguese, by NiTVídeo procura explicar a razão do sucesso de Dragon Ball em Portugal, Video tries to explain the reason for Dragon Ball's success in Portugal, article in Portuguese by IGN Portugal Although it was truly a phaenomenon, anime as a style wasn't really well known in Portugal at the time, and after the show was over, many of the first devout viewers never watched anime again. 
The Anipop interview helped spread the concept of Cosplay in Portugal. While the interview was a success, unfortunately, Cosplay and Cosplayers have occasionally been misrepresented and mocked in Portuguese television since, often harassed by interviewers, who mistake the activity of creating one's cosplay and donning it as kink. The activity, when accepted, was usually considered a child's pastime, since most people liken it to carnaval, and weren't aware the costumes and props were handmade. 
Anipop is credited by many as the inspiration for more mainstream anime and, eventually, comic conventions in the country. Many of its early participants and organizers, mainly from the cosplay community, have continued to be part of conventions in Portugal, mainly through the Cosplay Competition, as judges and presenters.
== References ==
Category:Anime Conventions
Category:Conventions
Category:Conventions in Portugal
Category:1999 Conventions
Category:2000 Conventions
Category:2001 Conventions
Category:2002 Conventions
Category:2006 Conventions
Category:2007 Conventions
Category:2010 Conventions
Category:2011 Conventions