MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – Anime Oklahoma, the annual celebration of anime and Japanese culture, was held over the weekend in the heart of the Sooner state. Overall turnout for this year’s convention was high, but to the dismay of the event planners and many in attendance, toxic anime fans cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a good weekend.

“Like, I love anime, but those guys LOVE anime. Like, love it more than anything,” said Fiona Li, a casual Dandadan fan who was looking forward to connecting with fellow fans. “Like, I was talking to a group of other fans, and I mentioned I didn’t really like Momo suffering from amnesia. It immediately split the group down the middle. Half stood with me and then began to shout about everything else they disliked. The other half called me a tourist and that I ‘just didn’t get it.’ I think I’m just going to keep to myself at these things for now on.”

Li was not alone in feeling ostracized by the anime fandom at Anime Oklahoma.

“My thirteen-year-old son is just getting into Dragon Ball, so we decided to give Anime Oklahoma,” said Reginal Stahls, a local area mom. “He met a few other fans. I was a little concerned because some of them were elder millennials, but everything seemed fine, everyone was meshing well and being friendly. I look down to my phone to disassociate from the smell for a bit and the next thing I know, my son is in a heated argument with someone over the power levels of Garlic Jr. versus Gohan. My son screamed words I’ve never heard come out of his mouth. Words like senzu bean and Kamhameha. I don’t know what anime is turning my kid into, but I know we will not be returning to Anime Oklahoma, ever again.”

Brian Teller, Head of Oklahoma Convention and Event Planning, is no stranger to fan toxicity and says this is not just exclusive to the “anime knuckleheads.”

“Yeah, there’s some bad eggs in anime, but there’s bad eggs in every fandom,” Teller said as he oversaw the post-event Febreezing of the venue. “If you think anime fans are bad, you should see these yahoos at the Lawn and Mower conventions. They all smell like they just cut grass, and they argue over mower blade height settings and the best type of grass. I’ll tell you what I tell new conference goers. Avoid the toxic fans and you’ll have a much better time at the show.”

At press time, Teller attended a conference planning conference, where he was berated by a fellow attendee for his booth layout.