Convention News

SunnyCon Anime Expo Explicitly Bans ‘Ahegao’ Hoodies

One of the weirder trends spotted at a lot of anime cons lately has been the prevalence of a certain piece of clothing. Technically there is more than one design, but you know, that one.

We speak, of course, about the rising popularity of the “ahegao hoodie.”

For those of you blissfully unaware what “ahegao” means, it refers to a certain kind of exaggerated expression on a female character’s face in hentai. To put it bluntly, it’s cartoon porn face. If you want to know more, I’ll spare your google search history by pointing to the Wikipedia page for it, but that’s really the gist of things.

Needless to say, it’s controversial.

People who defend them will point out that the clothing only features the character’s faces and that nothing explicit is displayed. Critics will point out that the imagery comes from a pornographic source and that anime conventions (where the hoodies are most often seen) are often supposed to be family-friendly events. I tend to take the middle ground — that it’s just really creepy to tell strangers what kind of porn you’re into, and that I really don’t consent to participate in your scene. Like, dude, you’re in public. Stop being so gross.

Apparently conventions are starting to wake up too. Recently UK based SunnyCon Anime Expo has announced that they are banning the clothing from their event. Earlier this week the convention posted the following to their twitter account:


Honestly I think it’s the right step, and I hope more cons decide to do this as well. I literally saw dozens of these at a con earlier this month, and it’s just… it’s just gross folks. I can’t believe I have to keep saying stuff like this, but I honestly never at any point need to know what gives you a boner. It’s just unnecessary, and odds are no one else wants to know what gives you a boner either if you’re wearing these things.

Just please stop.

Trae Dorn

Trae Dorn has been staffing conventions for over twenty-five years. They also wrote and drew the now completed webcomic UnCONventional, and produce the podcasts BS-Free Witchcraft, On This Day With Trae, Stormwood & Associates, The Meatgrinder, and The Nerd & Tie Podcast. This leads many to ask how the heck they have the time to get it all done. Trae says they have the time because they “do it all quite poorly.”

6 thoughts on “SunnyCon Anime Expo Explicitly Bans ‘Ahegao’ Hoodies

  • Sacchinftw

    Wow, nearly 2020 and there are still people who are uncomfortable with the thought that women can actually enjoy sex…

    Reply
    • cannibalcoalition

      Women created by men for the enjoyment of men and put on display for shock value are not shining examples of bodily autonomy.

      Reply
    • Jessica Reese

      Way to gloss over the fact a lot of those characters are definitely not adults.

      Reply
  • Xylrot /AMP/

    Are they also banning cosplay that shows too much skin?

    Reply
    • Many cons have dress code restrictions on nudity already, so I’m not sure what your question is.

      Reply

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