COVID-19 Items
AnimeSTL COVID information:
By attending Anime St. Louis 2024, our attendees understand that there is a risk of pathogen spread. Attendees will indemnify the event and venues and cannot hold them accountable for possible illness.
Currently No Mandates For 2024’s Show
At the time of this update, we are not planning to have masking or vax/test mandates in place for our convention taking place in late April 2024. If attendees and anyone else still wishes to mask at the convention, they are welcome to, and any harassment of those doing so will not be tolerated. Masking mandates may be put into place if a new, deadlier variant arises, case numbers heighten, or any other factors that would require us to put masking into place to better protect our attendees and guests. Keep up the good fight against con plague and practice safe attendance!
Bag Checks
The St. Charles Convention Center may have bag check stations at our open entrances during the convention. No bag types are restricted at this time. Clear style totes and bags can help expedite the process.
Code of Conduct
All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our events are required to agree with the following code of conduct. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Anime St. Louis is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of guests or participants in any form. Members and event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event (without a refund) at the discretion of the Anime St. Louis event organizers.
Be kind.
If you need to submit a complaint or need help in regards to the code of conduct, please find the nearest staff member or stop by the Show Office.
Costume Policy
All attendees must observe county, city, state, and federal laws at all times. Anime St. Louis is a family-friendly event, so we ask that costumes reflect that idea. Costumes and clothing must cover what an average bathing suit would cover. While we respect our attendees’ freedom of expression, we do not consider underwear or similar lack of clothing appropriate. Nudity and clothing with inappropriate language is not allowed. Walking in bare feet on the show floor is also not allowed due to potential hazards like stepping on sharp objects, but you can pose in bare feet (just check your photo area before you do). We also ask that any costume that poses a risk to others (protruding wires, spikes, loose swinging chains, etc.) be examined by security for risk assessment. If the costume is deemed a risk, we ask that you respect the decision and either change clothes or alter the costume.
Weapons and Props
Updated for 2024 – Realistic firearm props are not allowed at Anime St. Louis. These include and are not limited to Airsoft guns, BB guns, and self-made props that look like real life firearms. Having an orange tip does not matter. If it looks like a real, working gun from afar and up-close, it is not allowed at our venue. Fantasy and fictional props are still allowed, but security and volunteers may request to inspect them to check for mechanisms.
Anime St. Louis does not allow live steel or any real weapons of any kind (dull metal swords included). Prop weapons may be made of wood, plastic, foam, plaster, cardboard, cloth, etc. Props more based on fantasy and fiction are allowed. All props and models cannot be used to fire projectiles and cannot be loaded or have any ammunition. Volunteers and security may ask your assistance to prove if the prop has any mechanisms, even if it has already been tagged; same with other props for any other reason. Please cooperate with these requests.
Any live steel weapons that are bought from the Dealer’s Room must be removed from the venue immediately and stored either in a vehicle or hotel room.
Explosives and chemicals are strictly prohibited (this includes fireworks, sparklers, etc.) as are hover boards and wheeled footwear. Prop skateboards are allowed but may only be carried and not ridden. We ask that attendees do not engage in mock fighting in the venue. Please do not use a prop weapon to threaten, endanger, or harm another person. If your prop violates Missouri State or Federal laws outside the venue, it violates them here too. Please ask a staff member if you are ever unsure about your prop.
We currently do not have a size limitation for props and costumes, but we ask that your creations be mindful of a large crowd. Anything that becomes a fire hazard or constant traffic blocker may be asked to be removed.
Alcohol Policy
The legal drinking age is 21. Anime St. Louis badges are not valid forms of ID for purchasing or consuming alcohol. Only a government issued ID or passport will be accepted as a valid proof of age. Alcohol is only to be consumed in designated areas of the venues, not within the public lobbies, hallways, or in the programming areas of Anime St. Louis. Public intoxication can result in being asked to leave the venues and/or a revoked badge. While Anime St. Louis will not police activity outside of convention areas, any underage drinking that comes to our attention will be immediately reported and dealt with by local authorities.
Smoking/Vaping/E-cigs
No smoking is allowed inside any of the buildings, including e-cigarettes and vaping. Please smoke outside, and be considerate of others when you do.
Badge Policy
You will need an attendee badge to take part in everything the event has to offer. Badges must be visible at all times, worn on the front of the body and above the knees. Please do not hang them off purse straps or other accessories. If you lose your badge, you can purchase a new one for $35 at the registration desk, as long as a record of your initial purchase is in our records. Only one replacement may be bought for the weekend. Please do not share badges. Anyone caught sharing a badge will have it revoked.
18+ Events
Some events are considered age restricted and will only allow attendees of ages 18 and older. Attendees must present a government issued ID in order to enter. Parents and friends are not allowed to accompany 17 and under attendees into these events.
Lost and Found
Anime St. Louis is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property during the course of the convention. A lost and found box will be kept at the venues during the event for anyone who turns in items or wishes to claim them. Possessions left unclaimed at the end of the convention will be turned over to the St. Charles Convention Center and Embassy Suites for any inquiries afterwards. The Lost and Found at-con can be located at the Guest Services booth near the Exhibit Hall.
Sign Props Policy
Signs with inappropriate language or solicitations are not allowed. This does include “free hug” style signs. Signs that promote a business or selling of products and/or behavior without the knowledge and consent of Anime St. Louis are also forbidden.
Advertising Fliers Policy
Please do not post signs/fliers on the walls of the venue. Fliers may only be handed out if you have a booth at the event. Soliciting and unapproved distribution of fliers can cause you to lose your badge and be requested to leave. If you have fliers you would like hung up or placed for distribution, please bring them to the Show Office for approval and distribution. Unapproved fliers left around the convention can be thrown away by senior staff without warning.
No AI Creations for Promotional Use or Sales
The following policy includes and is not limited to art, graphics, and presentations created using AI technology programs such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. Things created using such programs are not allowed at Anime St. Louis for the purposes of promoting a business or for commercial and personal sales. Items must be created via the entities’ own skills with available physical tools and non-AI software. They cannot be created utilizing prompts input into learning software or algorithms. This policy excludes digital tools created by others (ie, brushes in art programs), pieces made using editing software that operates without algorithms, and other hardware and software that requires learning and applied skill from the user themselves.
Common Courtesy
Please turn your mobile devices to silent or vibrate when you’re in programming and event rooms. If you must take or make a call, please step outside into a hall.
By attending Anime St. Louis, attendees understand that they may be photographed or filmed. As a courtesy, attendees should ask permission before filming or photographing others. Same goes for hugging and glomping. Cosplay is not consent.
The convention center, hotel, and their respective parking lots have neighboring houses and apartments. If an attendee’s enjoyment of the convention occurs outdoors and in the parking lot, please note that noise complaints can occur from both hotel patrons and local neighbors. Please be courteous and avoid late night loud noise. Please also be respectful of our venues’ property.
Room Parties and Hotel Use
Room parties are not allowed at Anime St. Louis. We define a room party as an open door gathering within a hotel room that causes excessive noise and exceeds reasonable capacity; or one that spills out into the hallway. Please keep your hotel room doors closed to not only help with noise levels, but also for your own safety. Please respect the hotel staff if they are responding to noise complaints.
Please respect hotel property and avoid having elevator parties or causing excessive noise in the hallways.
Pictures and filming
Events where photography and filming are not allowed will be announced during the event. Otherwise, photos and filming are generally allowed throughout the venue. Please respect people who do not want to be on camera, and also be sure to ask someone’s permission before taking their photo. Cosplay is not consent.
Miscellaneous items
Announced events and programs are subject to change and/or cancellation.
Except for ADA-compliant service animals, pets are not allowed in the venues.
No outside food or drink is allowed inside the St. Charles Convention Center.
Have fun!