Derpycon has been around since 2014 in New Jersey. I remember seeing signs advertising Derpycon’s inaugural event back in the mid 2010’s.  The convention returned to New Jersey in the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick for its 2025 run. The event is close to the nearby Rutgers University. The convenience with public transport, proximity to the college, and easy access to food makes it a good con for locals!  

I arrived at the convention on Thursday, a day before it officially started. Thursday is sometimes called ‘Day 0’ among convention attendees. The con wasn’t too busy on Thursday, but having some extra time to get settled, explore the area, and relax was quite nice.  

DJ Ranma arrived at the con on Friday afternoon. He hosted a panel about streaming on Twitch! I helped him get settled behind the scenes. Ranma even met attendees from Another Anime Con! I also watched the Idol Festival on Friday. Many performances were by VTubers and streamers. Derpy Con continued to showcase great tech skills behind the stage. Idols had custom backgrounds based on the character like in previous years. This was such a great detail, and I’m so glad it’s back!

On Saturday, I attended a panel by a cosplayer named Lady Ava Designs. She participated in and was a finalist in the Her Universe Fashion show for three years. In 2025, she was the Audience Winner! I stumbled across her YouTube videos before the panel and loved her detailed craftsmanship. I am a fan of the Her Universe brand. It’s an option for nerdy apparel outside your usual t-shirts. Ranma also covered the masquerade Saturday evening, which he discussed more in detail in an earlier podcast episode. There’s even more amazing con highlights, including…a silly and surprising Chuck-E Cheese appearance? 

On Sunday, I attended a VTuber panel called VTubers vs. Reality. A VTuber and streamer shared some common misconceptions of VTubing. VTubers are Virtual YouTubers who stream as characters. Software typically  captures a real life person’s movements, which then show through the character on screen. VTuber could be compared to puppetry or motion capturing. The panelist discussed the preference of VTubers to remain faceless to maintain privacy. Although not all VTubers remain faceless and anonymous, it seems common based on the presentation. The panelist also discussed aspects of the VTubing such as software and getting access to a VTuber model. I wish I got the presenters name–there was not a PowerPoint, but he was quite engaging and animated throughout.

After the panel, I met up with a friend for yummy bubble tea! Derpycon continued its collaboration with local eateries for con attendee discounts. One of the bubble tea spots was one such location. They also brought some itasha cars along too! One of the cars shown on display is pictured above.

In terms of attendance, the con wasn’t as busy as prior years, especially on Saturdays and Sunday. Attendees had some more room to wander the con floor and crowds weren’t as big of a concern. I made some last sweeps to the artist alley and dealer’s room. The con changed up its layout in a positive way. The artist alley was moved to the video game room and sound proof walls blocked out the ambient noise. The dealers room also had its own space this year. Although gaming was sized down, there was still a satisfying variety of cabinets and consoles to play.

The con was a quick drive to Edison’s Kura Sushi and our group finished up our con weekend. Plates of delicious sushi rolled by a conveyor belt. A con year also rolled on by at a slow, yet more leisurely pace.

Decreased con attendance overall  may be more common– cause isn’t causation, but I do suspect outside factors outside of the con’s control, such as inflation, may have impacted numbers. Registration lines were minimal due to staff mailing many badges before the con–this kept the lobby clear. I had an overall relaxed weekend, a nice reprieve before starting a brand new job. I’m open to going to this con next year!

And yes…the convention did have muffins, maybe in reference to the con’s namesake? There were allergy friendly versions available, much to my delight.

Cinna Knight

CinnaKnight has been in the convention-scene for over a decade! C.K. runs on candy, coffee, and sometimes ...chaos! She's an avid writer, foodie, and a big fan of the Kirby franchise. She will also remind you to hydrate and almost always has safety pins and Advil handy.

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