The SwampCon @ UF 2025
Last weekend I finally got to visit SwampCon. Unfortunately, I was only able to stay there for a short while and caught a glimpse of the event because I had many other plans that filled up my weekend. Also, during my time there, the only active event is the presentation on the Legend of Zelda. Fortunately, however, Zelda is my favorite and I really enjoyed the presentation! It was my first time going to an anime convention. I had never seen this many people dressed up in anime costumes in one place. I was surprised by how serious and detailed the outfits were. I could tell that some people put in a lot of effort. I could only see that they were not just fans, but participants. I walked into Zelda's presentation room without knowing what to expect, but the room was already full of people. The speaker (funny enough, she is actually in Link's Gerudo Outfit) was breaking down the timeline of the Zelda games into three branches. She explained how the story is split such that some parts of the timeline go forward while others loop back. It was like looking at a tree that kept growing in new directions. I knew Zelda was a popular game and my personal favorite, but I never realized how much lore it had. The presenter talked about how certain characters reappear with slightly different roles, how the world resets across games, and how that keeps fans interested. What surprised me was how seriously the fans around me followed the details. They already knew the timelines, the names, the items, and even the smallest events in the story. That moment showed me how fandom is not just about watching or playing, it is about knowing and digging. In class, we discussed the idea of fandom as a form of participation. I used to think it only meant liking a series. However, now I realize it is more about building knowledge, sharing it, and living with it. People at SwampCon were not just there to enjoy the event. They were showing that they belonged to something. Some fans dressed as their favorite characters and some others gave talks. These people were working out of passion and turning their interests into products or performances, and people appreciated it. This kind of activity turns media into something personal. Additionally, the timeline discussion showed how fans do not always follow a story from beginning to end. Instead, they take pieces and put them together on their own. They mix ideas, select elements they like, and form their own understanding of the story. This is like how anime fans follow specific tropes. They do not always care about the plot. They care about what they already like. For example, some fans only care about character types like tsundere, or certain settings like school drama or fantasy worlds (isekai!). It is about finding elements that fit their preferences. This explains why some anime look similar but still have their own fan groups. It is not always about the story but fitting the database. The panel also made me think about otaku culture. The presenter was clearly an otaku. She talked fast and with excitement. She knew the Zelda universe better than anyone in the room. She was not just sharing facts, she was performing her love for the games. The fans watching were reacting with the same energy. Otaku culture often gets criticized for being too obsessive, but in that room, it felt more like dedication. These fans were not hurting anyone. They were enjoying something deeply and trying to share it. Even though I did not stay long, the event helped me see fandom in a new light. SwampCon is not just about watching anime or playing games. It is about being part of something bigger. I saw people connect through what they loved. I saw fans teaching each other, laughing together, and just being excited to belong. I did not expect to learn much from a short visit, but I left with a better understanding of how fandom works. Even if I was only a visitor, I could see how important these spaces are for fans.



















