AX Chibi’s most immersive programming came alive through two standout events that offered attendees completely different emotional and atmospheric experiences: the daytime Husbando Café and the late-night Starfall After Dark. Both relied on character-driven performances, but the contrast in tone made each feel unique, deliberate and memorable.
The Husbando Café embraced a bright, upbeat and welcoming tone. Held during the day, the café offered lighthearted conversations, character interactions and quick comedic moments. Seated at small tables, attendees were visited by a rotating lineup of performers, each adding their own style to the room.
@BLACKOUTCOSPLAY delivered an impressive Loid Forger, portraying his gentle warmth and sincere attentiveness with striking authenticity. His calm, fatherly sincerity made interactions feel comforting and wholesome. Meanwhile, @AICOSU’s Levi brought sharp wit and deadpan comedic brilliance, firing off perfectly timed sarcasm and unimpressed looks that kept tables laughing.
The rest of the cast—@KETHAR.B, @SAKKUMI, @ALLTHEPOTSNPANS.COS and @NIPAHCOS—added flirtation, humor and sweetness to create a dynamic balance of personalities. Together, they crafted a polished, engaging experience that felt like a curated sampler of beloved fan archetypes.
Themed drinks were beautifully presented and flavorful. While the food was less memorable, its simplicity fit the café’s 45-minute rotation and didn’t detract from the overall experience.
Starfall After Dark, however, operated in an entirely different emotional universe.
Designed for an 18-plus audience, Starfall created a darker, more intimate and sensual atmosphere. The room was lit in warm, candle-like dimness. Deep red tablecloths and a single chandelier cast a dramatic glow, giving the space the feel of a gothic lounge or starlit parlor—perfect for a fantasy built on tension, closeness and allure.
Performers leaned fully into the tone. Interactions were slower, gentler and intentionally steamy while staying within clear boundaries. Actors tugged at ties, played with lollipops, leaned close and whispered in guests’ ears—small gestures that generated electricity throughout the room. Moments of suggestive, comedic dancing, including a playful routine set to Justin Timberlake, added levity without breaking the sensual mood.
Guests described the event as cinematic and emotionally immersive, comparing it to stepping into the climax of a romance anime filled with dramatic lighting and whispered secrets.
Behind both events was Darling Santa Maria, proprietor of AICOSU LLC, who created and emceed the shows with her husband and longtime cosplay partner, Sylar. The couple has been cosplaying since 2009 and has worked with Anime Expo since 2015.
According to Santa Maria, the idea for Starfall After Dark began taking shape long before AX Chibi existed. She and Sylar had run several family-friendly cosplay cafés in the early 2010s and recently found inspiration in adult fan events tied to games like “Love & Deepspace.” She said she longed for more adult-oriented programming at conventions—something intimate and performative without leaning into nightlife or rave culture.
“I love vintage dinner shows and burlesque and have always wanted nerd culture to merge with those experiences,” she said. “A lot of our inspiration for Starfall is based on adult theater and cabaret”.
Working with AX Chibi to build the show was “amazing and seamless”, she said. SPJA encouraged experimentation and provided guidance drawn from its experience running maid cafés.
Casting the Husbando Café performers required a three-week audition process in September. Every performer submitted videos and completed interviews. Experience mattered more than character accuracy, Santa Maria said, and many members of the cast had professional acting backgrounds or had worked in maid and host cafés.
Planning the events was a two-person operation.
“It’s just my husband and I”, she said. “We discuss character by character the interactions we can imagine. Then it’s long nights doing drink math, buying permits, testing the menu, ordering décor and practicing games. We did everything from character guides to the online menu to the food and drinks.”
Her proudest moment came during the event itself as she moved between the café floor, the kitchen and the waiting line. “After months of working silently in my room, it was crazy to be in the thick of this machine I had made and hear it respond with so much energy and fun,” she said. She also recalled crying with the cast after the final Husbando session and finally getting her own photobooth picture taken with them.
Looking ahead, Santa Maria said improvements will focus on tightening operations, expanding games, increasing merchandise and evolving the atmosphere to match attendee feedback. She and her husband already have concepts prepared for future activations, including Alien Stage, Twisted Wonderland, anime villains and an Ouran High School Host Club experience. Her “dream project”, she said, would be a Bioshock Rapture New Year’s Eve show.
When asked which Husbando caused the most chaos, she admitted the answer wasn’t Levi, despite expectations. “As he’s played by my husband, and our performance officer, he actually directed our cast very much in a cordial but military fashion”, she said. “Perhaps Kakashi and Loid. Those two together are dangerous”.
Above all, Santa Maria said her goal is for attendees to feel special, connected and able to indulge deeply in their fandoms—something adult cosplayers rarely get to do in a structured, immersive setting.
“If Zayne taking your pulse or Jinu winking at you can give you some magic and let you play for an hour with people who are also enjoying it, that’s exactly what we want,” she said.
Santa Maria said she remains grateful to her cast, crew and every attendee who took a chance on a brand-new concept. “Not only did you trust me to deliver something memorable and fun, but you also have given me expectations to meet”, she said. “We want to make things even better and showcase even more talent.”
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