are anime conventions still popular

by Willard Hills 8 min read
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Anime is just as popular as it used to be, even if the idea of what an anime convention should look like has changed. RELATED: Anime To Watch If You Love Teasing Master Takagi-san Unfortunately, the last few years haven't been kind to large gatherings.

Updated on April 21, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: Anime conventions have retained their popularity despite the COVID epidemic, and a few that were on hiatus are starting up again. It's a happy fact that we can lengthen our list with a few more of the biggest anime conventions in the world.Apr 21, 2022

Full Answer

What are the biggest anime conventions?

With nearly 1,500 attendees, it is one of the largest fandom events in Central Pennsylvania and the fourth largest annual anime convention in the state. Setsucon was named the Penn State Student Organization Program of the Year in 2018. The next convention ...

Which state has the most anime conventions?

  • European Countries: United Kingdom – U.K. ...
  • Canada – Anime conventions also perpetuate Canadians’ love for anime. ...
  • Australia – ‘ Anime Lab ’ targets its main audience in Australia, New Zealand, and other Oceania countries; hence, why many Australians grow to love anime as well.

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What is the biggest anime convention in the US?

Anime Central is the largest anime convention in the American Midwest, and takes place in springtime each year. Guests from the Gaming and Manga industries and Japanese pop culture icons come to visit and meet fans at the convention, and other interactivities are available in between.

What are some anime conventions?

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Why are anime conventions popular?

Attending an anime convention gives you the chance to bond with other fans, meet special guests, put on your best cosplay, and have loads of fun. You just can't beat the feeling of standing in a room with thousands of fellow fans. It's a relief to have so many people you can relate to in one place!

Should I go to an anime convention?

Anime conventions are a great way to meet other anime fans, learn about your favorite anime, and have a lot of fun. You don't have to spend much on costumes or tickets, and you're sure to have a great time. Even if you've never attended one before, you should consider going to an anime convention.

When did anime conventions become popular?

Yamatocon, generally considered to be the first US anime convention, was held in Dallas in 1983 and attracted 100 attendees. 1990 saw Project A-Kon, also in Texas, which is one of the main hubs for anime fans in America, hit almost 400 attendees. In 1991, AnimeCon in California broke the 1,000 attendee mark.

How long does an anime convention last?

four daysThe convention is traditionally held annually on the first weekend of July, spanning the course of four days. Anime Expo is regularly hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center but has also been held in other cities such as Anaheim, San Jose, New York, and Tokyo. Anime Expo is currently the largest North American ...

Should I cosplay at my first con?

Absolutely, in fact the majority of attendees don't do cosplay for the event. And if this is your first time, it may be for the best if you opt for comfort over creativity. If you have a relevant t-shirt, Comic-Con is a great place to wear it.

What should I wear to my first anime convention?

There is going to be a lot going on and you are going to want to dress to the nines cosplaying your favorite anime characters. Whether that cosplay requires a something simple like a tee-shirt and slacks or something as elegant as giant angel wings, you need to make sure that your cosplay is fun but still safe.

What is the biggest anime con?

Biggest Anime Conventions In The World8 Sakura-Con, Seattle. ... 7 Polymanga, Switzerland. ... 6 Comic Fiesta, Malaysia. ... 5 Montreal Comiccon, Canada. ... 4 Anime Expo, Los Angeles. ... 3 AniMinneapolis, Minnesota. ... 2 Anime Matsuri, Houston. ... 1 Japan Expo, France.More items...•

Do anime conventions make money?

In 2014, Anime Expo brought $55 million to Los Angeles, mainly in commerce, tourism, and dining sectors, making it one of the events with strongest economic impact on the city.

Where is the largest anime convention?

1. Comiket, Japan. Short for “Comic Market,” Comiket is the definite largest anime and manga convention in the world, bringing in over 750,000 anime fans, ambitious artists, and cosplayers in 2019. Comiket is also Japan's largest indoor public gathering.

Do you have to cosplay at Anime Expo?

At Anime Expo (“AX”), we celebrate the creativity of cosplayers and encourage everyone to cosplay whomever they wish–regardless of size, gender, age, religion, shape, color, or even species.

Do you have to cosplay at a convention?

Not at all. You can definitely enjoy a convention without dressing up. What do I do if I want to take a picture of a cosplayer? Simply ask if you can take their picture.

Where is the next anime con 2022?

the Los Angeles Convention CenterAnime Expo 2022 Bringing fans and industry together for an annual celebration of Japanese pop culture. Join us for Anime Expo 2022 on July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center!

Where to go to anime conventions?

Make sure you go to at least one of the following biggest anime conventions in the United States. 1. Anime Boston. If you’re an anime fan living in the northeast, you must attend Anime Boston. This convention is typically held in the spring and rakes in over 20,000 attendees.

How many people attend the anime expo?

Anime Expo is the United States’ largest anime convention, boasting over 100,000 attendees. It usually takes place in the middle of summer, so make sure your schedule is open—you won’t want to miss this convention.

Where is the anime weekend?

Anime Weekend Atlanta. Head down to Atlanta, Georgia, for a four-day convention full of panels, concerts, and video games. Anime Weekend Atlanta takes place in autumn and brings in over 30,000 anime fans. Along with an artist’s alley and dealer’s room, Anime Weekend Atlanta also has a manga library and fashion show.

Where is Sakura Con?

Image credit: Aranami. Location: Seattle, Washington. On the other end of the coast lies Sakura-Con, a huge pacific-northwest anime convention with a growing guest list. In 2017, the convention saw about 25,000 anime fans. Sakura-Con started in 1998, giving it plenty of time to grow.

When is Youmacon?

Youmacon covers the umbrella of Japanese pop culture, touching on anime, video games, artwork, music, and more. This event opens in late October to early November, and lasts four days. Youmacon has everything that your typical anime convention has.

When did Sakura Con start?

Sakura-Con started in 1998, giving it plenty of time to grow. Step on the convention center floor, and you might not find yourself going to sleep. The convention is open 24 hours with plenty of things to do—you can sing karaoke, meet famous voice actors, attend plenty of diverse panels, and listen to live music. 3.

Where is the anime matsuri?

Location: Houston, Texas. At Anime Matsuri, you can expect all-night fun—food trucks and events run until 4 am. The 40,000-person event is held in mid-summer, and brings together anime fans from all over the country. Anime Matsuri has plenty of unique events that make it stand out from other conventions.

What are anime conventions?

Anime conventions are a popular source of entertainment for geeks. The chance to bond with fellow fans, look for cool merchandise, or see your favorite celebrity is what draws us to these cons. Here is a look at some of the ten biggest conventions, picked by peak capacity. 10. Anime Matsuri, United States.

How many people attended the anime convention in 2019?

While recent controversies have cut the total attendees down from 40,000 attendees in 2018 to 29,000 in 2019, as of this writing it is still one of the most popular anime conventions in the United States. What's unique about this event:

How many attendees did the anime Japan convention last?

Probably the most recent example on the list, Anime Japan is a merger between two former conventions that started in 2014. Its last run brought in over 140,000 attendees.

Where is the anime festival held?

Anime Festival Asia. From Southeast Asia right to you. Held in multiple countries, AFA has been based in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The largest conventions, held in Singapore, have seen 120,000 visitors. What's unique about this event: ⦁ The AFA Film Fest shows the latest in anime movies.

Where is the largest anime convention outside of Japan?

Japan Expo, France. An extraordinary convention. The largest anime convention outside of Japan, the Expo had over 252,000 visitors in 2019. Based in Paris, Japan Expo runs multiple events in Belgium as well as other places in France.

Where is the biggest comic festival?

Comic Fiesta, Malaysia. Comic Fiesta is one of Southeast Asia 's largest conventions, bringing in 65,000 visitors in 2019. It plays host to the biggest amateur creative market in Malaysia, as well as to many guests in the comic, music, and animation industries.

How many people attend Comiket 2019?

Comiket, short for "Comic Market," is the largest anime and manga convention in the world, bringing in over 750,000 fans, aspiring artists, and cosplayers in 2019. That's more than half a million people for those of you that, like me, stink at math. Comiket is Japan's largest indoor public gathering.

Where is the longest anime convention?

4. A-Kon. Cosplay and fish. Double the awesome. A-Kon takes place in Dallas, lasting four days. It's North America's longest-running anime convention, starting in 1990, and including a huge list of guests who have been there. Dozens of voice actors, industry people, singers, and bands earn A-Kon the spot on this list.

What is the name of the anime convention in Michigan?

Youmacon. A Halloween party for anime lovers. Michigan's largest anime convention, Youmacon has a horror-inspired theme because of its name which comes from the Japanese word for "demon" or "ghost" and because of its timing, taking place around Halloween. The spooky four-day convention will send chills down your spine.

What is the oldest anime dance party?

The Soap Bubble is the oldest anime dance party in the U.S. Guess you really can't stop the beat! ⦁ Kit's Kids Club offers hands-on and off panels designed to teach any 14-year-old and under who's accompanied by an adult about Japan, cosplay, and geekiness.

What is the anime central?

Anime Central, also known as ACen, has been happening only a short drive from Chicago since 1998. It's on this list because of its focus on the animation industry. t was founded by the Midwest Animation Promotion Society.

Where is Fanimecon based?

Fanimecon. Some of Fanimecon's fabulous fans. Fanimecon, based in San Jose , is billed as "Northern California’s largest anime convention". It offers a broad range of gaming, anime, and cosplay events, as well as panels celebrating and educating in Japanese fashion.

Where is Sakura Con?

8. Sakura-Con. Set in sweet Seattle. The Pacific Northwest's oldest anime convention, Sakura-Con is another non-profit "by fans for fans" volunteer-run con. Sakura-Con's appeal comes from its programming, covering all aspects of fandom and the anime industry. What's awesome about this event:

Is Otakon going to have a costume contest?

Otakon's 2020 costume contest. One of the biggest anime conventions in the east, the Washington DC-based Otakon has been going strong since the mid 1990s and going strong ever since. Otakon gets a place on this list because it had more guests, in both the anime and the music industry than any other convention I've seen.

28. Anime NYC

We are starting off our list from anime NYC. As the name suggests, this is one of the world’s largest anime conventions that happen every year in the city of New York. There’s a lot to love about anime NYC. The whole anime NYC event culture started in 2017, and they got such massive attention that it turned into a trend.

27. Madman Anime Festival, Australia

Welcome to the world of anime where you’ll experience a top-notch culture held by Australia’s two biggest leading anime organizations. Without the Madman Anime Festival, no anime convention list can be completed due to the fact that it provides such a nice environment for people to enjoy together.

26. Sakura-Con

One of the earliest anime conventions that started in the US is Sakura-Con. It is one of the largest anime events that happen in Washington DC every year. You’ll find more than 25,000 visitors every year, and it is a three-day event for the fans to enjoy and partake.

24. Youmacon

In the state of Michigan, this convention is popular for breaking records! Youmacon is one of the largest anime cons in the US. However, they like to play middlemen. In their advertisements, you will find them to be totally humble! Hence, Youmacon also takes rules and regulations pretty seriously too.

23. Anime Friends

One of the world’s largest anime conventions happens in South America! While it initially started in Brazil, this expo has expanded itself to a number of countries like Chile and even Argentina. Moreover, for the most part, it is held in July every year, and the stunning cosplays are on a whole other level.

22. Otakon

Man, there are a lot of anime fans in the US. It figures why there are so many anime cons happening in Washington. The Otakon occurs in the Walter E. Washington Convention center every year. It is one of the largest anime cons out there that people from all over the US enjoy.

21. AmeCon

AmeCon is the UK’s largest anime event, and it gave me a chance to take a look at how anime is viewed in the UK. Turns out, AmeCon is fan-organized, and the love that we get to see from the fans is unreal. Otakus from all over the UK actively join this anime con and show their enthusiasm and interest in cosplaying.

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