Policies
Cosplay is encouraged! However, nudity or partial nudity will not be allowed, as this is a family-friendly event. No hate speech or symbols will be allowed as a part of your costume. See the weapons and props link below for more details on that.
Click on the following links to read more in depth about each our rules and regulations for our weapons/props and harassment policies.
Other policies are below
Admission Badges and Wristbands
At check-in/registration, you will receive both a badge and a wristband. You will need both to enter into the various AniPop event spaces. They will be checked for at the entrance to every AniPop-related area. More details are on our Registration page.
Photo/Video Recording
Photos and video recording are allowed. By attending AniPop you acknowledge that you may be photographed or video recorded at some point – by official AniPop staff or by other AniPop attendees. You are still to abide by appropriate behavior with respect to photographing fans, cosplayers, and other attendees. See our harassment policy for more information.
Animals and Pets
Animals and pets will not be allowed at AniPop. It’s for their safety and protection, as well as for the guests of AniPop. Please leave your pets at home – this includes birds, reptiles, dogs, cats, zebras, elephants, horses, and pretty much every animal.
AI - Generated Artwork
AI-generated artwork and its place in the convention/festival space (vendor rooms, artist hallways, etc.) has recently become a topic in discussions. Our team has been watching the conversations and has determined that based on the current nature of its implementation and lack of regard towards artists, we cannot in good faith let this kind of product exist in our space.
We at AniPop, and all of Silk Road events, do not condone or accept any form of AI-generated art piece being used within our promotional materials, nor sold in our Exhibit Hall or Artist Alley. This applies to our vendors, artists, panelists, performers, special guests, and anybody involved with our events.
If any form of AI generated work being sold is determined to be as-such by our staff, it will be considered a form of counterfeit/bootleg merchandise and will be required to be removed, or for the vendor(s) to be asked to leave as well.
In regards to our brand, we are protective of the work that our contributing artists create and recognize the value they bring to our identity and convention space. Anything you see on our website, our promotional pieces, or our products is (and always will be) created by an artist that we have reached out to work directly with. Anything AI-generated is unofficial and not approved by by our team.
For the purposes of this policy, the Silk Road team considers any work that is created with an AI-program that uses sources the artist does not own or hold rights to, to be in violation of this policy.
Smoking
AniPop is a smoke-free event. If you need to smoke, find an appropriate area at the Sheraton designated for smoking.
Outside Food and Drinks
Guests are permitted to bring their own food and drinks, as well as purchase some from the food venues on the California Center for the Arts site. However, while drinks and beverages will be allowed in the rooms, no food will be allowed in any of the AniPop programming rooms (panel rooms, dynamic room, exhibit hall, featured artist room, future room, video game room, tabletop room, etc).
Drugs and Alcohol
Drug use is not permitted and will not be tolerated during AniPop.