Whether it’s posters, props, or any other anime merchandise, the vendors who gathered at The AniMeet had it all. On 30th of March 2024, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting most, if not all the stands that came to showcase their products at the event that was organized by Nerd Otaku. From simple stickers that make your devices take on an interesting look, to A1 posters that would definitely make your room a topic of conversation. These artists and vendors are pretty much every Anime and gamer nerd’s fantasy. The following is a list of artists and vendors I observed and what they had to offer the nerd community, not just during AniMeet but at any other time!

Carbine Studios

Carbine Studios definitely stood out to me the most because of their 3D-printed work. They make all kinds of props and art for anime lovers and gamers; maybe even collectors. I was impressed with their moving props especially! Their work is unique and something I personally haven’t seen at any convention so far. As a cosplayer, I am very interested in their work because I enjoy making props for my cosplays but it is a tiresome hobby. So knowing there is a talented group of people willing and ready to make my props come to life is amazing news! I was particularly impressed with their hollow mask prop! That is quite crafty.

Certified Otaku

A name not unfamiliar to the Anime merch world in Lusaka, dare I say Zambia? These vendors have established themselves as quite a reputable and durable one. Their t-shirts are of fine quality and their prints are always very cool and to die for. I wanted to get a Gojo Satoru T-shirt which was on display at AniMeet, I blinked twice and they were all finished! That’s how wild the crowd goes for Certified Otaku merch! Truly a one-of-kind vendor!

Call them on +260972022855

Chonky Art

There was something very Studio Ghibli about their artwork and that isn’t just because they had paintings of characters from Spirited Away. Their art reminded me of childhood, because there was something innocent and adorable about it. It was really beautiful. A friend of mine purchased a portrait from them and said she had a pleasant interaction with them and the portrait she got was budget friendly.

Kondwani & Miiiiirage

I just absolutely love their art style. I got hit by a wave of nostalgia when I went to their stand and saw Ben 10 artwork! That was amazing. There’s a specific piece I loved which had a person sitting down with their face coved by a piece of paper. I don’t know the technical term for that style of art but it’s my favourite because they once did a drawing of me in that style and it invoked a wave of emotion in me. Their work is deep.

Wilz’s Animerch Store

Wilz’s AniMerch Store is another favourite of mine in that he always seems to have everything I’m looking for. From Dragon Ball t-shirts, to phone cases, to that really awesome Demon Slayer sneaker that took my breath away! Wilz’s AniMerch store is a one-stop store for a variety of anime merchandise, as the store’s name suggests. They can take my money anytime.

Ichiban Animerch

The embroidery is always impressive every time I see their work. I love how carefully curated each product is, whether t-shirt, hoodie or cap. It’s a perfect blend of anime merch and trending aesthetics. And their showcase at the AniMeet was nothing short of amazing. Their handiwork is quite neat. And their products being embroidered merch, longevity comes with it, since embroidered work takes a very long time to wear out. You definitely get your money’s worth!

Call them on 0953738717 or send them an email mwizachitambi@proton.me

Gaisekai

These guys have my heart. I absolutely loved their A0 portraits of Sukuna and Gojo! I’ve never seen posters that huge before! They were massive and would be perfect for my room! A lot of effort definitely went into their art pieces and that makes them worth the price. I also loved the bands and stickers they were selling.

Amy’s Art

Their art was very beautiful and drew me in. I purchased an anime artwork from them and had a brief conversation about their work. They do watercolour paintings and their work isn’t limited to anime. They also had a beautiful painting of a peacock that would go so well on my wall. But alas! I am short of funds but definitely not words of praise and appreciation for them. Not only is their work aesthetically pleasing, but also quite affordable too.

Uncrowned King

The glamor, the bling and the bang! Uncrowned King brought not only their A-game for The AniMeet, but the entire alphabet! Almost every anime merchandise you can think of, they had it! And if you want to cosplay but don’t have a cosplay? Uncrowned King is definitely at your service because they have mainstream cosplays readily available! Think Naruto, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc. You want it, they got it. My favourites were definitely the anime towels. Their work was also showcased in a very attention-grabbing manner. It was like walking into my very own anime closet!

Call them on +260779321978

Rizz Apparel

Their products were fresh to me and I loved that. The quality was very good; one thing that’s always important to me is a products longevity. My favourite products were the cute bucket hats, especially the one with a daisy on it. But I also appreciated their anime tote bags and jeans.

Partyfavor x Sepo Summer

Their products were fresh to me and I loved that. The quality was very good; one thing that’s always important to me is a products longevity. My favourite products were the cute bucket hats, especially the one with a daisy on it. But I also appreciated their anime tote bags and jeans.

Mwicheblue x Peter McHydra

I appreciated the rawness in their original pieces, the artwork is impressive! I also liked their A2 Chainsaw Man poster, it was so cool.

Mazuba Q

I’ve always enjoyed Mazuba’s artwork. His posters are really cool and affordable, and they have a unique touch, in that, you can recognise his work without even being told it’s his. I had a chat with another AniMeet attendee who mentioned that they loved Mazuba’s artwork as well as his own comic stories that he has written. I am very intrigued to check them out! My favourite poster of his has to be the Hunter X Hunter posters. You don’t see many of those posters these days.

Get Thrifty

Figurines, socks, jeans, t-shirt and stick-on nails! What didn’t Get Thrifty have?! I loved their products; especially the Gojo figurine and the stick-on nails. They also had really cool Dragon Ball socks that would make you the talk of the social club! Not forgetting their chainsaw man printed jeans, absolutely amazing. I couldn’t stop touching them!

Get Thrifty

Figurines, socks, jeans, t-shirt and stick-on nails! What didn’t Get Thrifty have?! I loved their products; especially the Gojo figurine and the stick-on nails. They also had really cool Dragon Ball socks that would make you the talk of the social club! Not forgetting their chainsaw man printed jeans, absolutely amazing. I couldn’t stop touching them!

Call them on +260979156560

Sensei Romario

My heart nearly jumped out of my heart when I walked by these vendors and saw a painting of Sukuna at his finest! Way to get a girl’s attention! They had many Jujutsu Kaisen artworks which pleased me immensely. I loved how their work had an authentic look to them; you could tell that someone spent a great deal of time and energy perfecting the work.

Eerie Threads

They brought a new kind of sticker I haven’t seen before and I liked them a lot. They had funny characters and references on them. I also liked that their posters were framed, this gave them an elegant touch. Their t-shirts and posters. I loved the Jujutsu Kaisen posters because it was exactly like my lock screen, what are the odds?

Call them on +260770296106

Imbo Arts

I love crochet, so I loved their pieces. Everything they had was so adorable but my favourite was the hat. It was beyond cute! Once again, it was nice to see different vendors and artists who didn’t have exclusively anime or anime-themed merchandise. They appealed to a lot of attendees. I loved their posters as well, which were originals if I’m not mistaken.

Asterin Arts

They specialize in abstract art which I find very intriguing and an important concept in animation in general. I loved their pieces and their services of giving people the opportunity to do their own abstract art. They gave us the freedom to express emotions on paper in the form of art. My favourite piece by them was the Hange Zoë piece. Once again, if I was raining money, I would have indulged. As an observer and spectator only, I was still pleased.

Ryo Adventures Pictures

They had a variety of Anime, marvel and DC stickers as well as One Piece posters. I know this because I have interacted with them before and that they also make their own original stickers, which are pretty cool. It’s safe to say they were a fan favourite at AniMeet because their items were sold out before I had the privilege of getting some myself. But I spoke to an AniMeet attendee who said they got some of their stickers and they were very affordable!

Studio Tsepo

The products reflected the owner’s bright and cheerful personality. They decorated their stand so beautifully and I loved the canvases they had; they were quite lovely. My favourite was the colossal titan canvas. For the quality of their work, which was really good, their work was moderately priced and I would definitely spend my money on them!

And with that, I end my experience of what AniMeet was like with regards to the vendors and artists. I hope to see them again at the next event, showcasing their work and going all out to bring us merchandise.